K is concerned…As I was applying my loose mineral foundation, and it occurred to me that I was inhaling these fine particles daily. Is this ok for my lungs? Is there any research or testing done on the effects of inhaling these powders daily? Thank you for your help! If it matters- my Coastal Scents foundation contains: Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides, Rice Powder, Zinc Oxide, Boron Nitride,Magnesium Myristate, Kaolin Clay, Ultramarine Blue. (They readily list the ingredients on every product they sell. I appreciate that!)

The Right Brain calms K:

You’re right to be concerned about the effects of chemicals that enter your body, K, but in this case there is research that indicates foundation powders are safe for every day use.

Foundation power peril?

There are really two questions here: Do the particles enter your lungs and if they do, are they dangerous? The first question can be answered by looking at particle size. Inhalation is basically a function of size: large particles can’t get into the sensitive areas of your lungs. The general rule of thumb is that particles have to be below 10 microns before they can work their way into your lungs. (For those of you who are metric impaired, a micron is a millionth of a meter. In other words its very very very tiny.)

Here’s why: According the National Institute of Health, our respiratory system is pretty good at keeping airborne particles out of our lungs. The upper respiratory system, consisting of the nasal passages, trachea, and associated airways are good filters. Particles 100 microns or larger don’t really enter the airways at all. Particles between 10 and 100 microns get caught on nasal hairs, nasal mucosa, or mucus-covered ciliated epithelium in the bronchi and bronchioles. It’s the stuff thats smaller 10 microns that are able to travel into the alveolar ducts sacs where respiration takes place.

What size are powders used in makeup?

According to a typical source of cosmetic powders, mica is somewhere in the range of 10 to 60 microns. So there’s little chance it will penetrate deep enough into your lungs to pose a threat. Particles of titanium dioxide, on the other hand, are only about 0.30 microns in diameter which means they are small enough to be inhaled. But that doesn’t automatically mean it presents a health hazard. According the the Annals of Occupational Hygeine, Tio2 has been studied and found not to present an inhalation danger, even in large quantities Similar results were found for zinc oxide, another common ingredient with a particle size of about 0.12 microns.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

There is research done to ensure that cosmetic powders don’t post a health hazard so there’s not much to be worried about from using foundation powder. If you have specific health concerns our legal eagle, Bird Brain, would encourage you to consult your physician. Or you could just cover your face with one of the stylish hats shown in today’s picture while you apply your foundation powder.

What do YOU think? Are you worried about breathing the cosmetics you use every day? Leave a comment for the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

HeyHazelHazel…Recently I’ve heard that silica powder, like Coastal Scent’s silica powder spheres can cause Silicosis. I thought it was the same thing as Make Up Forever’s HD powder, which is also listed it’s ingredients as 100% mineral silica powder. Are they really the same? Are either of them going to cause Silicosis if I breath them? Both of them float around in the air really easily when you open their jars.

The Right Brain replies: 

For those of our readers who aren’t familiar with Silicosis, it’s a lung condition caused crystalline silica is inhaled. This chemical is toxic to the lining of the lung and causes a strong inflammatory response.  Over time this inflammation causes the lung tissue to become thickened and scarred. Symptoms of Silicosis include: chronic dry cough, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping and nails with a bluish tint. But before you start thinking this blog is called the Bronchial Brains, let’s get back to cosmetics. 

Mineral Makeup

Fortunately for those of us who love mineral makeup, the kind of silica powder used in cosmetics is not a problem. Hydrated silica (aka silicone dioxide) is a mineral used in many mineral makeup products including Makeup Forever HD and Coastal Scents. This type of silica doesn’t react with lung tissue like the crystalline form does so these products are safe to use.  As Forum member Guiness pointed out, additional information on hydrated silica can be found at Cosmeticsinfo.org. So you can stop fuming about your foundation. 

The Beauty Brains bottom line

We’re glad we can help clarify the difference between confusing chemicals. There are many kinds of chemicals with similar names and sometimes it takes a chemist to really tell them apart. That’s what we’re here for!

From The Beauty Brains Forum Member: Pas71

I have really oily skin and live in a humid climate, so I was super excited to have the chance to review Neutrogena’s Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation. Not only does it come with lots of great “extras” (SPF 20, time-released anti-oxidants, and the claim that it is actually good for your skin), but it also seemed to be the perfect product for me. I was thinking that it would be a great for providing enough coverage to hide my trouble spots while combating my skin’s natural oiliness, which is, of course, exacerbated by humid weather. Unfortunately, it was not quite the miracle product I was hoping for.

Feeling flaky

First, any flakiness you have will be extremely noticeable when using this product. I don’t usually notice flakiness with my oily skin, but I do get it at times because I use such strong anti-acne products. However, when using a liquid foundation, the flakiness is usually concealed… not so with powder foundations. The first time I used this product (on top of a moisturizer and primer, mind you), my face was a mess! All you could see was what looked like dry, flaky skin. The product and its somewhat rough sponge applicator flaked my skin all over. So, I immediately washed it off and exfoliated my face the best I could. I then tried the product again with better results. If you decide to try it, please be sure to exfoliate well before using!

Tiny texture

Second, it seems the texture of the powder is not fine enough. After applying what I needed to give me a bit of coverage, the powder was very noticeable on my face. This was solved by taking a big fluffy brush and basically buffing it out. However, I was then left with less coverage than I was hoping for and far less coverage than I would get with my semi-sheer liquid foundation.

Questionable coverage

Which brings me to my next point: the level of coverage. Though Neutrogena claims that the product is build able to the desired level of coverage, it is not. If you put more than a sheer dusting on, the texture of the powder is far too noticeable. And, the sheer dusting doesn’t do a whole lot for skin like mine that needs some coverage. I did get better results when using a liquid concealer on problem areas prior to putting on the mineral foundation, but I still did not get the even-looking result that I do with liquid foundation.

As for oil control, this product actually passes my high standards. When using this with a light moisturizer and my foundation primer, I found my skin to be far less oily than normal, even in the humidity! I hardly needed to blot my face while wearing this, which is definitely a plus in my book.

Overall, I really can’t see a difference between this product and a regular pressed powder. In fact, that is what I’ve decided to use it as and it’s doing quite well controlling the shininess in my T-zone that I am used to getting by 10am. In sum, I would recommend this product for someone who doesn’t need too much coverage and whose skin is not particularly dry.

What do you think about about mineral foundations? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Pas71 directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!

Emily asks: I`ve read in so many magazines that have said tinted moisturizers are better than foundation on the skin. What exactly is the difference between tinted moisturizers and liquid foundation apart from the fact that tinted moisturizers is lighter? I`ve also heard from some friends that tinted moisturizers are bad for your skin. So are tinted moisturizers good or bad? The Right Brain responds:

Elizabeth Arden makes both kinds of products so let`s look at the ingredients in their Sheer Lights Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer and Bare Perfection Flawless Finish Foundation as an example. We won`t reprint all of the ingredients here but you can find ˜em on Drugstore.com.

Both products contain sunscreens as active ingredients. They both use water as a solvent and they both contain mixtures of humectants (chemicals that bind water to skin) and emollients (oily chemicals that smooth skin and create a moisture barrier). Since these are emulsion-type products they both use surfactants that keep the water and oil soluble ingredients mixed together in a creamy base. Of course they both contain preservatives and ingredients to control the thickness and pH. And, since both are designed to give your skin a bit of color, they contain pigments. Specifically they both use iron oxides and titanium dioxide.

They sound pretty similar, don`t they? They are similar, but not identical. How are they different? Well, the amount of color they contain will vary and so will the consistency of the products. And the moisturizer version appears to have more humectants so we`d guess it will bind water to your skin better. But overall, they both are basically delivery vehicles for skin tinting pigments.

Given the similarities, it’s hard to imagine why one product would be “bad” for you and the other wouldn’t. Now, if you have very dry skin, you may prefer the moisturizing version. And likewise if your skin is oily, you might want to use the lighter version. But this isn’t a case of “good” versus “bad.” It’s more about finding what you like. (This reminds me of the question we had about the religious implications of using make up.)

The Beauty Brains Bottom Line:
Tinted moisturizers and foundations may look and feel different, but ultimately they function the same way. In case you didn’t realize, the beauty industry often takes similar products and makes them sound very different. There’s nothing wrong with that, as long as they’re honest about the products’ benefits. You’ll have to experiment with different products to cut through all this hype and and find the one that’s right for you.

Pamela ponders: Tyra Banks recommends Milk of Magnesia as a make-up base in order to prevent the skin from getting oily. Will it work for acne prone skin or will it only irritate or aggravate the acne? The Right Brain responds:

While we don`t normally put much stock in supermodel science tips, Tyra might be on to something here.

First, for those of you who don`t know, we should explain that Milk of Magnesia (or MOM) is a common over-the-counter laxative. That`s right, its main purpose is to make you poop. Technically speaking, it`s a solution of magnesium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite and it works by drawing water into the intestine to help gently pass the bowel movement. (Hey, you asked!)

Interestingly, its ability to drive water absorbtion into the intestines could also make it capable of tightening skin and leaving a smooth surface for make up. In addition, it has some mild antibacterial properties. And since it`s such an effective absorbent it may dry your skin out. Based on these properties, MOM might help against acne. (If you really want to know how to fight zits, you should read our post about what causes acne.) In any case, at least in theory, Milk of Magnesia could have some benefits on skin. But does anyone LIKE the way it feels on their face?

A quick web search shows mixed results. Some people swear by it, saying that it keeps their make up looking better for longer. Others say they can`t stand it because it makes their skin look and feel chalky. Our guess is that it depends on your skin type and the type of make up you wear.

(By the way, be careful when you read what other sites say about ingredients. One forum said that MOM is a cheap alternative to Smashbox Anti-shine because it uses the same ingredient. That`s not exactly true Anti-shine contains Magnesium Aluminum Silicate which is NOT the same as Magnesium Hydroxide.)

The Brains Bottom Line:
If you`re a fan of DIY cosmetics, you might want to give Tyra`s tip a try. MOM is cheap “ and aside from potentially drying your skin, it`s unlikely to cause you any harm. This might be a good experiment for the Beauty Brains community to try! Let us know what happens.