As more and more mineral makeup products hit the market, I'm often asked about their benefits. But the fact of the matter is, I've never found any benefits that convince me mineral makeup is any better for skin than non-mineral products. In fact, when it comes to three major issues, I'm concerned that consumers aren't getting all the information they should about this trend:

Mineral makeup increases a user's risk of gold allergy. No, these products don't actually contain gold -- but the microscopic minerals they contain can scratch tiny particles of metal from your jewelry, introducing them to your skin. Over time, this can lead to allergic reactions, particularly to gold. Gold allergies have risen dramatically in recent years, and many of my colleagues and I attribute at least some of that increase to mineral makeup's popularity.
The SPF values on mineral makeup products are not truly accurate. Many of my patients choose mineral powders and foundations as an alternative to greasy, uncomfortable sunscreens. What they don't realize, though, is how much of these products you would need to apply in order to get the SPF on the label: In the case of facial powder, for example, you'd need to use about 1.2 grams to get the SPF on the label. Trouble is, most women only apply about .085 grams of powder -- or 14 times less than the necessary amount. Mineral makeup should never be substituted for a good sunscreen.

The minerals in question have no real effect on the skin. It's not that these minerals themselves are harmful -- provided you don't develop a gold allergy or use them in lieu of sunscreen, of course! -- but they simply don't offer any benefits to explain their popularity. Some claim they are better for sensitive skin but I have not seen proof of this or any scientific explanation of why this would be the case.

If you've found a mineral product that you love and that hasn't caused you any adverse effects, you certainly don't need to discontinue use immediately -- just pay more attention to any allergic reactions and invest in a great facial sunscreen! But if you're not using mineral makeup, don't worry that you're missing out on something -- there's nothing in these products that makes them worth a special visit to the drugstore.

Wishing you great skin!

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Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book," The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site, SkinTypeSolutions.com.

All of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available online, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.