Nature's Minerals Foundation from The Body Shop

There seems to be a crazy Mineral Makeup Mania these days. Almost every single cosmetic brand out there is having their own mineral makeup line. Unfortunately, I also hear lots of complaints about mineral makeup from my readers too. Most have difficulty finding the right shade for their skintone and some even suffered from dryness and breakouts. Bleagh! I've just recently been introduced to mineral makeup and still quite slow to pick up on it since I seldom use foundation, mostly tinted moisturizers. Being a newbie at mineral makeup, my best bet would be to try out The Body Shop's latest Nature's Mineral Foundation ($25). After all, TBS is one of my favourite brands to date and I trust it for great products everytime.

My verdict? I love, love, love Nature's Mineral Foundation and I'm hooked. Let me tell you why:

1) Natural Ingredients
[ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Titanium Dioxide (24.4%). INGREDIENTS: Kaolin, Illite. May Contain: Mica, Iron Oxides. ]

These ingredients are natural ingredients and are all precious minerals from earth. Not only that, they provide wonderful skin benefits too. Here it is in further details:

• Kaolin clay and Mediterranean clay are absorbent minerals that provide long-lasting coverage.
• Mica adds luster and has light-diffusing properties to help disguise fine lines and pores.
• Titanium dioxide and iron oxide protect skin from the sun without clogging pores.
• Dermatologist-tested with no added fillers, preservatives or fragrances.

And the best part of it all - Titanium Dioxide and Iron Oxide are natural sunscreens. So, this mineral foundation comes with SPF 25!

2) Coverage - Natural finish
I'm a huge fan of the sheer and natural look. This mineral foundation really aced it. It does not look heavy after application and does not look cakey. In fact, I look like I'm not wearing anything, yet with the perfection that I crave. I'm sold on this already. However, I have to note that the makeup does not wear well for long hours. Maybe about 4-6 hours max. For me, it's not really a problem, just simply touch up and you're good to go. It's natural looking, so don't worry if you have to layer on more for your touch-up. To be honest, I wore this mineral foundation on a long trip and I only needed to touch up maybe about twice only. To me, it's really very wearable.

3) Color Selection
There are 6 shades to choose from and I chose #2 and it suited me perfectly. It really blends well with my skintone. I only use the mineral foundation on areas that needed more coverage and voila I look naturally beautiful. Normally, I really have a hard time choosing foundations but this color really nailed it. My complaint would be, the color selection is too limited. A wider color selection will be perfect.

[Note: Another important point to note, I've heard complaints that this mineral foundation will oxidize, so you'll have to choose one shade lighter just on the safer side. However, for me, I feel that it didn't oxidize much or it was barely noticeable.]

4) The finish
I love putting on the foundation. My skin looks so radiant and healthy. The mica in the powder helps to reflect light, which gives off a radiant pearlescent finish. The mineral powder is very, very fine and it blends right into my skin. Never cakey, which is a very important criteria for me. I'm prone to dry skin but surprisingly, the mineral foundation does not dry out my skin at all! It does help to cover up blemishes and flaws, but it takes alittle blending to achieve the flawless look. For me, I first dust the mineral foundation loosely on my face. On problem areas, I press the powder onto the trouble spots and slowly blend onto my skin. Sometimes, I need to layer on a little more to cover up the trouble spots. It does take a while, but it's worth it, trust me! So far I've not seen any acne breakouts yet...touch wood!

5) Packaging
The packaging is simple and it comes in a tub with a fine sifter, which helps to ration the amount of powder that comes out from it. Most of the powder is kept neatly inside the tub, minimizing any spillage. I'm prone to that, maybe because i'm quite a klutz most times, especially in the mornings! Oh, that also means the foundation lasts longer with less spillage. Also, don't skimp on the foundation brush. Application is much easier and better using the Nature's Minerals Foundation Brush. [I know that first hand, coz I thought I could substitute it with my other kabuki brushes, but nah, you'll see and feel the difference. I subsequently got the brush the next day]. The brush is also much denser and softer and it really makes a difference in application.

So TBS has come up with a gem with this new Nature's Minerals line. I really love how it feels and looks on me. I'll be reviewing their eyeshadow and blush too. So stay tuned people. By the way, interested in more mineral foundations, you can check out more Minerals Foundation Reviews here!