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 100% Natural

· Hypo-allergenic & Non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores)

· All-in-One Product — Sunscreen, concealer, foundation, setting powder.

· No fillers, dyes, chemicals, oils, preservatives, etc.

· No by-products like Bismuth Oxychloride

· Lasts all day — sweat-proof & water resistant

· Natural sunscreens & anti-oxidants

· Light-as-air, complete & natural-looking coverage

· Jar of foundation lasts 1 year with average use

· No expiration date (nothing to spoil or grow bacteria like other makeup

I thought not. Come in and try the very best in mineral makeup!

September 2008

Our Ingredients

Mica – in nature, mica is found in thin crystallized sheets that are easily separated; can be dull (adding no additional shine) or shiny (for a healthy, luminous glow); adds lovely gliding properties to powders; light–reflective, helping to obscure fine lines and wrinkles.

Serecite – Colorless mica; used alone or as an ingredient in setting powder; can also be used as a primer beneath foundation powders to aid in oil control; translucent (adds no color); silky to the touch; reflects light, reducing the appearance of pores and wrinkles.

Zinc Oxide – a naturally occurring mineral found in limestone and dolomites; anti–inflammatory; may encourage healing of skin conditions; often used in ointments because of its antiseptic ⁄ anti–microbial properties. It is the broadest spectrum UVA and UVB absorber that is approved for use as a sunscreen by the FDA, and is completely photostable.

Iron Oxides – iron combined with oxygen creates iron oxides and can be found in nature; intense pigment (a little goes a long way).

Titanium Dioxide – derived from naturally occurring minerals such as rutile and limonite; offers the most complete coverage and tinting of any white pigment.  The FDA lists Titanium Dioxide as one of the purest and most effective ingredients for sun protection.

Their Ingredients

Sheer Cover (per their web site): Mineral Foundations: Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide (12.00%). Other Ingredients: Boron Nitride, Bisabolol, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, May Contain (+/-): Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Mica, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)

Bare Minerals (per their web site): Foundation Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Mica, Iron Oxide, Bismuth Oxychloride.

What’s NOT in Our Makeup

Sometimes it’s more important to mention what is NOT in something, than what IS. You won’t find the following ingredients in our mineral makeup:

Boron nitride - does not occur in nature and was first prepared in 1842 by reacting molten boric acid with potassium cyanide. Commercial production was initiated in the 1950s. (Acid? Cyanide? Not on my face.)

Bisabolol - is known to have anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Is a natural monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol. (Not a mineral.)

Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract - antioxidant & anti-aging properties. (Definitely not a mineral.)

Bismuth Oxychloride - a by–product of lead and copper refining, occurs very rarely in nature and is used as a very inexpensive filler; very heavy, must be buffed into the pores to stay on the face; similar to arsenic; a skin irritant; can clog pores and cause blemishes; many people are sensitive to this ingredient. (This is used in many, many brands of makeup - mineral and “traditional” - because it’s cheap and spreads out the “real” ingredients to make you think you’re getting a lot for your money, when you’re just getting a lot of filler and a much smaller percentage of the actual product that does the job. There’s a lot more information on the Internet if you want to go look for yourself: discussion groups, postings, e-zines, etc. about people and their personal experience with using mineral makeup with Bismuth Oxychloride.)

Talc - a known carcinogen; very drying and irritating to skin;  accentuates lines; linked to uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and respiratory problems in infants. (A no-brainer.)

Corn Starch - Something your mother uses to make gravy with on Thanksgiving. (Better than talc, but honestly . . .)

Chemical Preservatives – allergenic; mineral cosmetics are inert, no preservatives are necessary. (Again, a no-brainer.)

Chemical Dyes (usually labeled as FD&C) – carcinogenic; allergenic; usually derived from
petroleum and coal tar. (Ditto)

Perfumes – allergenic; derived from synthetic chemicals; irritating to sensitive skin. (Ditto)

Alcohol – allergenic; drying (Ditto)

Mineral Makeup

Mineral makeup is (and should be) just that, minerals. The more stuff you add to it, the less effective it will be.

Minerals are highly concentrated pigments that sit on top of your skin, bind with your skin’s natural emollients so they stay on, and let your skin breathe; and because they are light-refracting, discolorations and imperfections seem to disappear without the heavy, pore-clogging makeup of yesteryear. It’s as light as air, has no expiration date, has natural healing properties, and looks amazing while at the same time looks as if you’re not wearing anything; you begin to lose these exceptional qualities when you start adding other ingredients, whether or not they may be good for your skin - they either add weight, create a need for an expiration date, irritate the skin, or they’re simply not necessary. 

Added September 2008

Mineral Makeup and Bismuth Oxychloride

By Lynn Starner

Mineral makeup is becoming ever popular as we become more and more conscious of what we are putting onto our skin and bodies. Because of this increased awareness people are asking more questions. And one of the most popular questions is about the ingredient bismuth oxychloride. Women want to know what it is and why it is in so many brands of mineral cosmetics.

There are a lot of almost facts and half- truths flying around out there. In this article we'll learn what bismuth oxychloride is, where it comes from, why it is used, and if makeup with it as an ingredient is a good choice for you.

Bismuth is the by-product of lead and copper refining, as well as other metals to a smaller degree. Bismuth occurs very rarely in nature. It is on the periodic table of elements under the symbol Bi at atomic number 83. It is very heavy and chemically resembles arsenic and antimony. It has a whitish/iridescent hue and has a very high shine property to it. Of all the heavy metals it is the only non-toxic. Bismuth is a carrier for fuel in nuclear reactors. Bismuth components are used in everything from detection work, to making acrylic fibers, to safety devices in fire detection and extinguishing items, soldering, magnets and medicine as well as cosmetics. Because it is a by-product of lead refining, Bismuth Oxychloride should be lead free when companies begin using it in their cosmetics.

Companies use this in their cosmetics because it is cheap to buy and is an inexpensive filler. It does have binding qualities, so the makeup will "stick" to your skin, so to speak. There are other products that are just as effective at adhesion, and are better for your skin. Because of its molecular make up, it is often viewed as shiny or pearlescent. It is often sold in these two varieties. This makes it highly refractive, which is something companies want. Refraction will camouflage fine lines, wrinkles and discolorations. If you use a brand with Bismuth Oxychloride you'll notice a shiny look after applying the makeup. Not like oiliness, but almost shimmery. That's the Bismuth Oxychloride.

It's a very heavy element, which makes it difficult for many people to wear. It has to be forced into the pores (hence the buffing technique) otherwise it is capable of sliding off the wearer's face. The heaviness can result in clogged pores or irritated skin. Bismuth Oxychloride often feels silky and not rough when rubbed between the fingers. Mineral makeup companies that do not use it have a lighter feeling makeup that usually blends into the skin better and with less effort.

Its molecular makeup is a crystalline shape, which may be a cause of the itchiness some women get when they wear it. Many women experience noticeable itching when they sweat. Don't forget it is also kin to arsenic, chemically. Your body will reject things it does not like, and if you'll get sick from ingesting arsenic, it would make sense that your skin would get irritated from having arsenic forced into it.

So, if you find you're experiencing some problems with your current mineral makeup and it contains bismuth oxychloride, you may want to consider switching brands. Many women experience skin irritation when using mineral makeup and don't know why. It's likely that bismuth oxychloride is the reason.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynn_Starner

August 26, 2008

(excerpt from CosmeticsDesign.com "Mineral cosmetics firm undergoes makeover" By Guy Montague-Jones)

Growth in the mineral make-up market

. . .  

Earlier in the year, California-based BellaPierre Cosmetics announced its intention to turn its mineral-based make-up line into a global brand through the development of a worldwide family of franchises.

Both companies are following in the footsteps of Bare Escentuals, which bought mineral make-up to the market and has grown rapidly in recent years reaching a turnover figure of $511m in 2007.

In a recent study on the color make-up market, Euromonitor said mineral make-up was spearheading growth in the category because it provides natural sunscreen, long-lasting coverage and is suitable for use on sensitive skin.

September 2008

Sheer Minerals just opened a new store on August 8, 2008 at the Salem Center Mall in Oregon. We sell BellaPierre Mineral Cosmetics and skincare, plus anything we think will enhance this amazing product line.

Updated 10-18-08

Here are links to some Health & Beauty Web Sites that you might find useful, fun, informative, and/or interesting:

(Be sure to Save our Web Address before you go visit other sites. You can also right click on any link and choose to open it in another browser window or just another tab.) 

Kiss and Makeup

More Magazine - Celebrating Women 40+

November 2008

Sheer Minerals is currently working on their very own product line to add to and enhance the already extensive line of BellaPierre mineral cosmetics. We will be adding a bigger variety of foundation and blush shades and more sizes to meet the needs of our customers.  We will have trial sizes and medium sizes for all those who have requested those.

Sheer Minerals will be offering products like finishing powders, mattifying powders, oil absorbers, color correctors, heavier concealers for those that want or need a heavier coverage but still as feather-light as ever, etc. We will also have a mineral primer that really does minimize pores and creates a smoother, silkier surface to apply your foundation on! (Like so many others, I've tried primers before only to be quite disappointed - not now though.)

Either come in and see for yourself, or keep checking back here to see all the fun new things!

December 26, 2008

SALEM — Mother and daughter Shalom Bonham and Elsa Bonham have opened Sheer Minerals in Salem Center Mall.

The mineral makeup business offers a full range of hypoallergenic, 100 percent natural mineral makeup.

The team also is developing its own mineral products.

For more information, go to www.sheer-minerals.com.

— Kathie Hodges (Statesman Journal)