KLS BEAUTY: Foundation Stick
KLS Beauty Foundation Stick
I personally wouldn’t use this makeup because of the presence of Talc and Zinc Oxide. But the foundation stick also contains Isopropyl Palmitate, a very comedogenic ingredient. If you have normal skin that tends not to breakout, then try it. Otherwise it may be best to give this one a pass.
Ingredients: Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Talc, Copernicia Cerifera Wax (Carnauba), Tricaprylin, Isostearyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isopropyl Lanolate, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax (Candelilla), Isopropyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Magnesium Carbonate, Ozokerite, Octyldodecyl Stearate, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter (Mango), Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter (Cocoa), Persea Gratissima Butter (Avocado), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 88491, CI 77492, CI 77499)
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $24
GIORGIO ARMANI: Face Fabric SPF 12
Georgio Armani Face Fabric
Shades 4, 5, 6 and 7 will work for a wide range of women of color, but I did think that shades 6 and 7 had too much orange in them (a recurring theme lately!). The very simple formula is silicone heavy, which may cause problems for some women. Also, Aluminum Hydroxide may irritate the skin. It’s definitely a foundation I’ll be eager to try in the future.
Active Ingredient: Octinoxate 2%.
Inactive ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Aluminum Hydroxide. May contain: Mica, Red 36, Yellow 5 Lake, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $45
MAKE UP FOR EVER: Face & Body Liquid Makeup
Make Up For Ever Face & Body Liquid Makeup
Face and Body Liquid Makeup has a pretty simple list of ingredients. Mineral Oil isn’t considered a highly comedogenic ingredient, but I’ve had problems when I used so it clearly depends on the individual. Sorbitan Sesquioleate has caused contact dermatitis in some medical tests, but it’s unclear how much of the ingredient doctors used during testing. This is definitely one product that should be tested in a small area before using it all over the face.
Ingredients: Water, Mineral Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Magnesium Myristate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $12.99
NEUTROGENA: Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation Compact
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation
Natural cosmetics are huge in the cosmetics industry these days and Neutrogena was one of the first drugstore lines to enter the natural cosmetics fray. One thing I’ve long hated about Neutrogena cosmetics is the line doesn’t even try to cater to women of color.
Take this compact foundation. The darkest shades are soft beige, natural beige, honey beige and tan. If you have medium to dark brown skin you’re out of luck. I personally couldn’t use this product because of the Titanium Dioxide content, but it is Talc- and Bismuth Oxychloride-free. The other ingredients are not particularly comedogenic or irritating. If the powder foundation came in a wider range of shades, it could offer women of color a low-cost way to try mineral makeup without having to splurge on lines like Bare Escentuals or Aromaleigh.
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (6.6%)
Inactive Ingredients: Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Dimethicone, Oryza Sativa Starch (Rice), Magnesium Myristate, Methicone, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Panthenol, Glycine Soja Flour (Soybean), Alumina, Silk Powder, Water, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, May Contain: Iron Oxides, Nylon 12, Carmine
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $12.99
MAC: Select Tint SPF 15
MAC Select Tint
This was one of the products I considered trying before finally settling on Nars’s Oil Free foundation. I liked the lightness of this tinted moisturizer. Plus MAC is known for creating a range of shades that work for women of color. But two things stopped me from really embracing Select Tint.
This TM has a few comedogenic ingredients – Isostearic Acid, Ehtylhexylglycerin and Stearic Acid – towards the middle and end of the list. Also when I was considering purchasing this product, the shades were either too orange (NW45) or too light (NC45) for me. They’ve since added an NC50, which is a darker shade of brown with a yellow undertone. Don’t know if it would actually work for me though.
Active Ingredient: Octyl Methoxycinnamate
Other Ingredients: Water, Purified, Dimethicone, Silica, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Polydecene, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Isostearic Acid, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caffeine, Linoleic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Cholesterol, Polyethylene, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, PEG-9 Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Stearic Acid, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben. May contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Chromium Oxide Greens
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $25
PRESCRIPTIVES: Custom Blend Concealer
Prescriptives Custom Blend Concealer
Prescriptives has long offered customizable foundations. Recently they added a few other customizable items, including concealer. I love the idea of getting a concealer custom made to suit your skin color and tone. Women often have an extremely hard time finding makeup that matches.
Prescriptives already has a number of concealers available; the custom blend concealer simply fills in the gaps. It does contain Steareth-10 which has a pretty high comedogenic rating. But this ingredient is towards the middle of the list, so intrepid users may want to try it.
Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, TEA-Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glyceryl Distearate, Steareth-10, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Bisabolol, Cholesterol, Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, TEA-Isostearate, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Methylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Phenoxyethanol [May contain: Titanium Dioxide (ci 77891), Iron Oxides (ci 77491, ci 77492, ci 77499), Ultramarines (ci 77007)]
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $32
VINCENT LONGO: Light Canvas Tinted Moisturizer
Vincent Longo Light Canvas Tinted Moisturizer
I had to go on a brief search for a new foundation after someone told me that the Kaolin in my former Holy Grail foundation, Nars Oil Free, contains titanium dioxide. This tinted moisturizer, which was introduced last year, quickly became a dependable replacement. It looks very natural looking, while providing buildable coverage. It also doesn’t leave the skin slick and oily by the end of the day as the Nars unfortunately did.
I’ve been using the Vincent Longo TM for three weeks, and it hasn’t broken me out. But I spoke to someone at Vincent Longo recently and she told me they’re reformulating this product by adding one new ingredient. It’s out of stock in many places now. I just hope that the new ingredient doesn’t irritate my skin. The only negative comment I have about this TM concerns its strong orange undertone. But the shades are very forgiving and adaptable, so I think every woman of color could find a shade that works.
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 8.00%, Octisalate 4.00%, Oxybenzone 3.00%
Ingredients: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, C20-100 Alkyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylene Brossylate, Propylene Glycol, DEA-Cetyl Phosphate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Tocopheryl Acetate, C20-C22 Alcohols, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Xanthan Gum, Diazolidinyl Urea, Propylparaben, Methylparaben. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica (CI 77019), Carmine (CI 75470)
Italics=potentially comedogenic or irritating ingredients.
Cost: $38
MultiFACEted Cosmetics 