Mineral Makeup Tips & Tricks

According to she of the flawless face, Laura Mercier, mineral foundation has a high amount of pigment, so you get medium to full coverage without it looking heavy. Because it's made with natural minerals, too, it's less irritating for sensitive skin tones.

Allure magazine's 5-step instructional

PREP
Start with clean skin. Apply moisturizer and sunscreen, and give them a minute to sink in. If your face is still moist, lightly blot it with a tissue ˆ otherwise the powder won't blend well. Dab regular concealer on undereye circles.

LOAD
Shake some powder into the container's sifter. Dip a short-handled powder blush with firm, domed bristles into the powder. Tap off excess, then swirl the brush on the back of your hand to work the powder into the bristles.

APPLY
Working inward from the perimeter of your face, apply the powder by making small, tight circles with the brush. Start at ear level and buff each side of your face, then move on to your forehead, nose, chin, and jawline.

ADJUST
If you need more coverage in areas, don't dip into the powder again. Instead, go back over those areas with your brush alone. To hide a zit, dip a concealer brush in the powder and pat it over the blemish only.

COLOR
Blend away the line where the powder meets your undereye concealer with a clean, fluffy eyeshadow brush. Sweep on a powder blush or bronzer - not cream, liquid, or gel, which can cause powder to cake or streak.

Bare Escentuals makeup artist Bravon Pascua has one last secret: "Give mineral makeup 5 to 10 minutes to melt into your skin. Because it's made to sink in and become a second skin, less is always more. You'll really be surprised at how little you need."