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The most beautiful cosmetic you
can wear is a healthy skin. That's why everything we develop
is a true extension of skin care. Our makeup is not just a
refinement of conventional makeup; it's a new technology. It's
so effective it is recommended by plastic surgeons,
dermatologists and skin care professionals.
FOUR IN ONE
Our micronized mineral bases are concentrated pigment. (We
use no fillers such as talc.) Because of this concentrated
pigment, a minimum amount gives unsurpassed coverage and
becomes a foundation, powder and concealer all in one. This
concentrated pigment also gives high sunscreen protection
without the need for synthetic ingredients.
SPF (Sun Protection
Factor) and the FDA
SPF 20 PurePressed Bases
& SPF 20 Amazing Bases - Formulated with titanium dioxide
and zinc oxide, the minerals give instant, broad-spectrum,
chemical-free sun protection. They also have a Very Water
Resistant rating. Please refer to our SPF
Explained chapter.
FAST, WEIGHTLESS
COVERAGE
Apply with a brush or a sponge for
coverage that it would normally take three products to
achieve. The result should look sheer and luminescent and feel
weightless.
NON-COMEDOGENIC AND
OIL-FREE
Under a microscope, the mineral crystals
look like overlapping fish scales. These crystals form a
filter that allows the free exchange of gasses. The minerals
are non-comedogenic. We have many testimonials from acne
patients claiming improvement in their skins since using our
mineral makeup. The only oils we use in our formulas are in
products where we want to help condition the skin - such as in
our under-eye concealer and lip products.
MINIMUM ALLERGY
RISK
Allergies and sensitivities are usually
caused by substances that cause irritation to the skin.
Reactions are particularly common in skins that have been
compromised in some fashion through, for example, a weakened
immune system, sun damage, chemical peels, laser resurfacing,
etc.
Substances that most commonly
cause these sensitivities are chemical preservatives, chemical
dyes (usually labeled as FD&C), perfume and alcohol. Our
makeup contains none of these sensitizers. In fact, zinc oxide
and titanium dioxide are anti-inflammatories and may help calm
the skin.
All of our products have undergone
sensitivity testing in an FDA-approved laboratory with zero
sensitivity recorded.
SENSITIZERS
All our individual Material Safety Data Sheets of raw
materials in our powder bases support that irritation, burning
and stinging of the skin are not caused by our ingredients.
Further, our processing does not result in any chemical change
in the raw materials, so the reaction of the mixed ingredients
remains the same as the individual ingredients. We have
eliminated from our powders all perfume, chemical dyes and
chemical preservatives. These are the top three
sensitizers.
FD&C
DYES
When the letters FD&C precede a color,
it means that the color has been approved by the FDA for use
in foods, drugs and cosmetics. When D&C precede the color,
it signifies that it can be used only in drugs or cosmetics.
FD&C dyes are derived from petroleum or historically coal
tar; some are also synthetic.
CONCENTRATED PIGMENT
(COVERAGE)
The word "pigment" usually means a
colored or white compound that is insoluble in a solvent. (The
word "dye" generally refers to a chemical compound, most often
of petroleum origin, which is soluble.) Our pigments are made
from micronized minerals only.
The reason our powders work so
well as a natural-looking beauty makeup and/or a camouflage is
because the concentrated pigment not only masks color but
interacts with light to create a soft-focus effect that
creates an illusion of perfection. A small amount of the
minerals will cover most types of redness including acne,
rosacea and erythema (redness).
ADHERE
Because of the micronization process our mineral
particles undergo, they bind together on application. When
applied to a clean, moisturized skin the surface tension this
creates overcomes gravity and holds the minerals tightly to
the skin. The result is that they resist running, creasing and
smearing and will only come off with a cleanser or our Magic
Mitt. No special cleanser is required.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Titanium
dioxide and zinc oxide have anti-inflammatory properties and
will help to calm erythema. Zinc oxide is also
anti-microbial.
NO PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN TESTED ON
ANIMALS
SPF and
FDA
What is an SPF
rating?
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) refers to the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approved techniques
to assess the efficacy of a sunscreen in the Ultraviolet B
(UVB) portion of the spectrum. An SPF rating does not measure
Ultraviolet A (UVA) protection.
The textbook definition of SPF is
the ratio of the time of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure
necessary to produce minimally detectable erythema in
sunscreen-protected skin to that time required to produce the
erythema in unprotected skin. A typical testing protocol is as
follows: skin in a non-skin-exposed area, such as the buttocks
or lower back, is covered with light-proof adhesive foil; 1-cm
areas of foil are removed sequentially so that each area
receives a defined dose of UVB. The following day, the patient
returns to be examined and areas are assessed for erythema
(redness).
So, the SPF number gives you some
idea of how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For
example, if you normally burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen
and you've applied a liberal dose of a sunscreen with an SPF
number of 15, you should be protected from sunburn for 150
minutes. This does not mean that you are protected from other
radiation damage. A broad spectrum sunscreen is required to
give protection in the UVA range as well.
A Very Water Resistant rating is
given if that same sunscreen still tests at the same SPF after
being applied to human subjects and submerged in moving water
for four 20-minute immersions. Our powders achieved an SPF 20
for the loose and pressed bases . They all received a Very
Water Resistant rating. Under the new FDA monograph, it is no
longer permissible to claim a "Water Proof" rating.
What's the difference
between a sunscreen and a sunblock?
Under the new
FDA monograph the word "Sunblock" is no longer allowed. The
FDA is trying to eliminate any confusion the public may have
or sense of false security. However, the titanium dioxide and
zinc oxide in our bases literally block UV rays by acting like
tiny mirrors on the skin reflecting, refracting and absorbing
rays. Most chemical sunscreens have highly efficient
absorption capabilities through the UVB, partly the UVA, and
in some instances infrared wavelengths. Once the chemicals
have absorbed their limit, the sunscreen ceases to be
effective. (Absorption is the process in which light is "lost"
when it falls on a material. The light is not actually lost,
but is converted into some other energy, such as heat.)
Dr. Nicholas J. Lowe and Dr. Josia
Friedlander, both from the Skin Research Foundation of
California, said in their recent book Sunscreens: Development,
Evaluation, and Regulatory Aspects: A new subclass of physical
blockers, micronized reflecting powders, have more recently
been made available from a variety of manufacturers. Unlike
traditional physical blockers, micronized reflecting powders
are less visible, yet provide broad-spectrum protection
against UVR. These should prove useful in UVR-sensitive
patients resistant to older physical blockers for cosmetic
reasons. An additional benefit is that they do not cause
photosensitization.
Not all mineral powders have an SPF
rating. If they do, the SPF rating must be specified on the
label.
How much sunscreen
must be applied to get the protection advertised?
Much more than you think! At a recent conference
of dermatologists, we learned that if you imagine your cupped
hand mounded with shaving cream, that's the amount you must
apply to achieve the SPF rating that the product claims. The
FDA suggests: to get the maximum protection from your
sunscreen, apply at least one large handful about 30 minutes
before you go outside, and reapply after swimming, toweling
dry, or participating in any vigorous activity that causes
heavy perspiration.
Is there such a thing
as a safe tan?
No! A tan is a sign of injury. It
is the body's attempt to increase sun protection after the
skin is already permanently damaged by an overdose of
ultraviolet radiation! 80% of the visible signs of aging is
due to sun exposure. And that means all sun exposure, because
radiation is cumulative. Walking to the mailbox, getting in
your car, and sitting by the window all count! Unprotected
exposure to the sun is like sitting in a time machine on
fast-forward.
Which are the most
damaging rays?
UVB rays were once thought to be
the culprits because they penetrate and affect the epidermis,
but UVA rays are now known to be equally if not more damaging.
According to Dr. Madhu A. Pathak at the Harvard Medical
School: Many lines of evidence indicate that the primary
biological actions of UVA radiation involve DNA damage.
UVB emissions from the sun undergo
significant seasonal variations; the UVA emissions, however,
do not appreciably change over the course of the year. The
amount of solar UVA reaching the earth's surface is much
greater than that of UVB. Also, UVA is transmitted by most
window glass and many plastics that do not transmit UVB.
Always check to make sure your
sunscreen protects from UVB and UVA, but be aware that
regardless of the advertising no sunscreen product screens out
all UV rays. The best defense is to try to minimize your
exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The effects
of infrared rays (felt by the body as heat) are not fully
known, but according to Drs. Lorraine and Albert Kligman from
the University of Pennsylvania; they cannot be ignored in
connection with photoaging.
What are some of the
effects of sun exposure?
Lines, wrinkles and
sagging are the direct result of sun damage to the underlying
collagen and elastin fibers. Hyperpigmentation can be caused
or exacerbated by sun irritation to the melanocytes, which in
turn causes over-production of melanin, which is in fact the
body's attempt to protect itself. Then add hypopigmented
macules, telangiectasias and raised, roughed precancerous
actinic keratoses, and the result of tanning is not a pretty
sight.
Didn't I just hear
that sunscreens aren't effective against melanoma?
No, Dr. Marianne Berwick only said that it is not safe to
rely on sunscreens to prevent melanoma. This doesn't mean stop
wearing them. Melanoma is now the 10th most common type of
cancer in the U.S. The number of cases has risen dramatically,
increasing to 42,000 a year. Most dermatologists feel that it
takes over 20 years for melanoma to develop. Those with this
cancer today had to have been exposed to the sun's damage two
decades ago before effective sunscreens had been developed.
Dr. Roger Ceilley, president of the
American Academy of Dermatology said: To be most effective,
sun protection should begin in childhood and continue
throughout life. Overwhelming evidence supports the beneficial
effect of sunscreen usage, not only in preventing painful
sunburn, but also in preventing photoaging and skin cancer,
including melanoma. We believe it would be irresponsible to
recommend that regular use of sunscreen be discontinued.
Can sun damage be
reversed?
We are told that some of it can be if,
and only if, the skin is always protected from the sun. The
excellent skin care products on the market today can
substantially aid the skin in reversing sun damage. But they
do no good if they aren't combined with sun protection. Months
of hard work can be undone in one morning working in the
garden with no sunscreen, hat or gloves on.
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