Overview
Nowadays, it seems like mineral cosmetics are a dime a dozen; there are enough to trip up even the most savvy makeup maven. A bevy of beauty pros have indicated their top picks among the masses so your only doubt will be which colors to buy. Use brush applicators that you clean weekly and keep your mineral eye shadows tightly closed to prolong shelf life. Since mineral eye shadows have natural ingredients, make a note of each product’s expiration date so you can toss them out on time.
Colorscience
Josephine Fusco, a professional makeup artist in New York recommends Colorscience Eye Shadow, which is formulated with pure-mineral pigments and free of dyes and preservatives. The loose mineral eye shadow comes in a wand that provides customizable color to create beautiful eyes. Fusco says you can sweep on sheer color to create a natural look, or layer on color for a more dramatic effect.
gloMinerals
Michelle Phillips, author of “The Beauty Blueprint,” favors gloMinerals eye shadows because they offer a variety of matte or shimmery shades that won’t crease. You can choose among 28 shades that run the gamut from demure pinks and crèmes to vivid blues and berries.
Jane Iredale
Pro makeup artist and president of BeautyAlert!, Stacya Silverman, prefers Jane Iredale's mineral eye shadows. According to Silverman, the brand is her top pick because “The color range is fantastic, and they are loaded with pigment so the darker colors make great liners.” She says choosing your best color matches is easy because the brand separates colors into cool, neutral and warm shade families.
MAC
Makeup artist Heather Adessa of New York says MAC Mineralize eye shadow is her hands-down favorite. “They are highly pigmented, so unlike many other brands, the color you see in the plastic container is exactly the color you will get with one swipe of a brush,” she says. The baked Mineralize shadows are sold individually or with two coordinating shades packaged together in a single pan. It’s made with micro-fine pearl that leaves a slight shimmer on eyelids.
Sweet Libertine
Healthy beauty expert Todra Payne says, “I adore Sweet Libertine eye shadows because they have about 100 fun colors that are deeply pigmented to work on all skin tones.” Payne gives the brand her endorsement because the products are made without any added chemicals or preservatives. They won’t break the bank either, at less than $10 each. A thrifty tip from Payne: Keep an eye out for 30 percent sales at the online store. If you are unsure of color, request a few free samples so you can try before you buy.
Youngblood
Orlando makeup artist and corrective skincare specialist Marcella Cardinal prefers Crushed Mineral Eye Shadow by Youngblood. “These mineral eye shadows can be applied wet or dry. They come in beautiful soft shades to create a natural look, contour shades and highlighters for a more dramatic looks and brights for a bold pop of color,” she says. The hypoallergenic shadows are suitable for those with sensitive eyes. A pro tip from Cardinal: Blend these shadows with your favorite gloss for incredible lip colors.
