In the past couple of years mineral makeup has exploded onto the market, with reported sales growing by sixty percent last year alone. So what accounts for this huge and sudden popularity with today's women?

Mineral makeup is developed using minerals that are first sterilized and ground into a granular powder and then treated with selected natural inorganic pigments to create a variety of colors. Using a mineral makeup instead of a chemical based makeup provides significant benefits.

Mineral makeup is appealing to women with sensitive skin, because mineral makeup is non-comedogenic, which means it does not enter the pores of the skin, but instead permits the skin to breathe. As a result, for those women who suffer with rosacea, dryness, acne or other skin ailments, utilizing mineral makeup permits them to enjoy a skin-friendly product that will not exacerbate their problems. In addition, the primary ingredients used in mineral makeup are, unlike most makeup, inorganic, meaning that bacteria and microbes cannot live in the makeup and infect the skin. The components of mineral makeup being inorganic also means that no preservatives need be included and that the makeup will have a long shelf life, as long as sufficient care is taken to use brushes that are clean.

Mineral makeup of high quality does not leave one feeling as if one is wearing a mask, unlike traditional makeup. Mineral makeup has a much lighter, almost weightless character. Most users report that wearing mineral makeup can feel like they are not using any makeup. It also leaves the skin with a natural, translucent radiance.

The finest mineral makeups use ingredients designed for the purpose of improving the skin's health. These may include a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB sun protection, as well as zinc, magnesium and some anti-inflammatories. Many women have oily skin. For these women, mineral makeup provides an excellent answer. Traditional chemical-based cosmetics are very much a liquid, as a result of the oils they include. These oils cause many problems, especially in women with an oily complexion. Since mineral makeup includes no oils, these types of problems can be avoided.

Since the main purpose of any makeup is to make the skin look better, we need to ask how mineral makeup compares to normal cosmetics as far as aesthetics are concerned. The clear answer is - very well indeed. Mineral makeup is especially useful for covering up the skin's crow's feet, wrinkles and the like, due to the fact it reflects the sun's rays. It offers a very natural, healthy look. The top brands of mineral makeup need only be applied once a day and are water resistant. Also, unlike chemically-based alternatives, you will have no problem sleeping with your makeup still applied to your face, so it can be applied the night before if you know you will be pressed for time the following day.

So the benefits of mineral makeup over traditional cosmetics are quite significant. Mineral makeup does not imbue the skin with harmful chemicals, oils and preservatives. It does not impede the skin's pores or provide a home for bacteria. It can contain beneficial ingredients to protect the skin from the sun's harmful rays and to invigorate and rejuvenate it. And it provides the wearer with a very natural, healthy look. So it is rather obvious why mineral makeup is flying off the shelves.

By now you mush have seen the infomercials and seen the mineral make up ads in all the beauty magazines. Chances are you have tried mineral make up whether it's the powder foundation, eye shadow or blush. Here are some specific tips on the optimal ways to apply mineral make up to your face to maximize the effect.

First a bit of history of mineral makeup and what makes it different from other make up. Unlike regular foundations which rely on chemicals such as sodium laurel sulfate and other bases, mineral make up is usually composed of pure minerals. Because of this it has less chance of irritating sensitive skin and clogging pores and it also creates a natural look as if you are not wearing make up at all. The downside to mineral makeup is that it can be a bit messy in the bathroom as the powder is somewhat hard to manage.

1. Pay attention to the weather and the season when applying your mineral make up. In summer time it's best to use less make up as skin tends to get more oily and even mineral makeup can sometimes clog the pores. In summer months go with lighter colors to reflect the weather. During winter it's ok to use deeper, richer colors so that your skin will have a certain "warmth" to it.
2. Use a makeup brush that you are comfortable with for the type of mineral make up you are applying. For example for mineral foundation a kabuki brush, which is a shorter and wider brush is ideal because it prevents the powder from going everywhere. If you are applying liquid mineral foundation it's best to use the tips of your fingers instead of a brush. For eye shadows you need a fluff brush which is a thinner and longer brush that will focus the shadow on the areas you need.
3. If you have oily skin avoid the liquid mineral foundations and go for the powder. For oily skin you will want to make sure the makeup does not contain the ingredient "mica" which can make oily skin look even more shiny. For dry skin a liquid mineral foundation is preferable since it is a bit richer and provides better coverage than just mineral powder foundation. If you have sensitive skin be sure to talk to a dermatologist about what make up is right for you, but generally the mineral powder makeup is the way to go.
4. You can also mix mineral make up with your daily moisturizing cream to create a foundation with some color in it. There are tinted moisturizers on the market already, but this way you are in control of exactly how much color you add to your foundation.

It's important to know how to wear mineral make up for your skin type and based on the weather to make the most of your appearance.