What does the 'NS' in NS Minerals stand for?
NS is an acronym for Nature's Source. When the company was founded in 2005, we wanted a name that described the basis of what we were about. Which is simply using nature's natural sources to derive the best cosmetics available. Mineral cosmetics is not a new concept. For thousands of years minerals have been used for cosmetic application. It's the simplistic concept that Nature sources us with a myriad of practical uses. Although the cosmetic industry has used glitz and glamour and big branding to make you pay high dollars for cosmetics that neither look as beautiful or last as long as basic minerals. Although the formulating behind which ingredients to combine to make the best cosmetics is complicated, the concept that natural is better, is not.
What is Mineral Make Up?
Mineral makeup is minerals that are mined from the earth and treated, coated and grinned to produce cosmetic grade pigment. These pigments used by alone are considered natural but when mixed with chemicals, dyes, and cosmetic fillers they no longer can be called natural. Which is the process of most cosmetic companies. Nature's Source mineral foundations and shimmer powders are all natural. Mica, titanium dioxide, zinc and iron oxides, can be the coloring agents for conventional cosmetics but in Nature's Source Minerals these minerals are the only ingredients used.
What is the difference between the foundations that are in the market (liquid, pressed powder or cream foundations) versus mineral foundations?
When mineral foundation is done right (like NS Minerals), mineral foundation looks more natural to your skin and covers without looking caked on. Often times liquid and creams can make the skin appear like it has a greasy mask. One big advantage of modern mineral makeup is that it has a natural sun block, due to its use of Titanium Dioxide. Mineral Makeup also avoids the use of Talc, a common product in most makeup, which is what gives make-up it's "caked" look. Talc is baby powder without the fragrance and it's usually the number one ingredient in cosmetics. It aids in very little adhesion but mostly is used by cosmetic companies because of its low cost and it causes faster use of the product. Mineral make up allows your skin to breathe, it just uses your natural oils and body chemistry to stay on for an all day wear. Most liquids actually trap in toxins that your face needs to have evaporate off throughout the day, which causes clogged pores and break outs. Most ingredients in liquids are aggravating to skin problems, but mineral make up actually improves common skin problems. Pure mineral make-up has a lightweight coverage is easy and faster to apply than liquids and creams.
What's the difference between NS Minerals and other mineral cosmetic lines?
Almost every single customer we have try on our cosmetic line, switches from the current mineral line they were using. We can only go by the day to day customer feedback. On a daily basis we've been told, our mineral foundation has better coverage and has more of a matte finish than most other lines. Although we have light dewy appearance, it's not sparkly or shiny like a lot of other mineral lines. Some mineral make up will look great when first put on, but then will not last on the skin throughout the day. Our feedback is that women don't need to do touch ups throughout the day with our line. Experiencing the difference is the only way to know what's best for your skin. A strong majority of women are passionate about NS Minerals, because they've seen the difference in coverage while still looking and feeling natural.
Isn't it cheaper to just buy mineral make up from the drug store?
Drug store brands are experts in giving you less content and filling their products with cheapened ingredients to give you a "better" price point. The best recommendation we can give is COMPARE the net weight, and ingredients. We encourage everyone to just see for themselves. If a mineral foundation has 5 grams (half of our content) and is filled with talc and other unnecessary fillers for $14, well, you're not getting the deal you think.
How well is the coverage?
Mineral foundation looks and feels much more natural, without sacrificing any of the coverage! It smooths and evens out skin tone, giving the look of naturally flawless skin, rather than the look of a caked on mask of makeup. Plus, ours is a foundation and concealer in one! Just use your finger or a concealer brush to concentrate and blend the foundation in a certain spot that you need more coverage. You can also layer the foundation, as many times as you'd like, for a heavier coverage.
Do I need a special brush to apply mineral make up?
Remember that if the brush is cheap or free, you are probably getting what you paid for. The better quality the brush (the softer the bristles, and the more tightly compact) the better the application of make up. Plus, cheaper brushes make you use the minerals up faster. It's good to invest in a quality brush. NS Minerals carries only the highest quality brushes possible. We make our brushes as affordable as possible, because it's significant to the quality of how the make up is applied. Using a tapered, short handle brush works the best to apply the foundation all over the face (which is why we recommend our Kabuki, or our bronzer brush for heavier coverage). These brushes are especially made to pick up loose powder and apply and blend evenly on the face. The concealer brush is excellent to apply in a concentrated spot where more coverage is needed (under eye, blemishes, dark spots, etc.). A large eye shadow brush is good for an all over color or to highlight the eyebrows. A smaller eye shadow brush is good for putting a darker color in the crease or getting contrast when blending multiple colors. The angled liner brush is perfect for wetting and mixing with the pigments to make any of them into an eye liner.
Is Bismuth Oxychloride bad for your skin?
A lot of companies use propaganda techniques of saying a certain ingredient is bad for your skin, and they do not contain that ingredient. A mineral make-up company found often in infomericals contains A SUBSTANTIAL amount of this ingredient, and at times can irritate skin or cause an allergic reaction. Although it is more common for someone to be allergic to sun screen (which is the titanium dioxide, mineral that makes the foundation sp15) altogether mineral make-up very seldom causes an allergic reaction. This ingredient is on the periodic table (for those who say it's a chemical) and it is refined into a cosmetic ingredient that is excellent at making the make-up more smooth and gives better coverage. Without this ingredient mineral make-up is often chalky, less opaque and won't stay on well. We choose to use Bismuth as it ads great adheasion, glow and helps makeup feel amazing on your skin.
What if I don't want sparkly eye shadow? Can I wear anything sparkly at my age?
NS Minerals uses only MICA as a carrier to our pigments (versus the usual talc, no where near the quality of Mica to cosmetics). The mineral Mica has more of a sheen to it, but it has the best application and adhesion qualities. There are myriad of different ways to cut mica, but we've used only the best kind there is, which does add sheen to our pigments. We do have to matte pigment collections, Simplicity and Savvy, found on our HD Pigments page. We recommend the use of eye primer with these stacks because of the difference in consistency to make those pigments matte. You can use any of our pigments with eye primer to tone down the shine. The eye primer is already a must have, but when you blend the pigment with it using a brush or finger, it tones down the shine significantly.
If you're worried that sparkly make up isn't appropriate for your age, we can't change your opinion. But know that it isn't! We would recommend steering away from our Nightlife collection because those contain an ingredient that appears very glittery. Our pigments look amazing on mature skin, and make the eyes pop. Definitely use the eye primer for the best look. Remember, blending is the key!
Is NS Minerals good for my skin type?
Every skin type can benefit from Nature's Source Mineral Makeup.
Oily skin: Mineral Makeup is perfect for this skin type. Liquid foundations contain oils, additives and fillers that can clog the pores and cause breakouts. The rice powder and a new ingredient found in the Advanced Oil Control Setting Powder is excellent at absorbing excess oils throughout the day. It's PH is also at best to provide all day oil absorption.
Dry skin: Mineral Makeup leaves your skin with flawless look and because there is no talc like the pressed foundations Nature's Source will not settle in tiny lines and wrinkles to that can make your skin look dry and old. The foundation can blend beautifully with any moisturizer to create a tinted moisturizer at any desired strength in color. The trace minerals found in our foundation have hydrating qualities to the skin. We also recommend our Green Tea Setting Powder for those with dry skin. The Green Tea is actual Green Tea extracts which make for a potent and excellent formula. Green Tea is anti-inflammatory and hydrating to the skin.
Sensitive skin: People who are sensitive to makeup are really sensitive to all the fillers that are in cosmetics. Nature's Source has no fragrance, no oils, no fillers, no chemical dyes to irritate skin. We recommend the Green Tea Setting Powder for this skin type as well.
Rosacea: Titanium Dioxide acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and has no ingredients that will irritate their condition. It covers up redness phenomenally, so they are receiving the coverage they need to feel better about their skin with out aggravating the condition. We recommend the Green Tea setting powder because of it's anti-inflammatory qualities.
Young skin: Start taking care of your skin at a young age. When you're young, you just need something light and natural. Nature's Source provides a sheer and light coverage to young skin versus the caked on look of cream foundations. The minerals will not aggravate any acne conditions and in fact allows the skin to breathe rather than harboring bacteria. This will help them prevent sun damage and breakouts.
Mature skin: Mineral Makeup contains mica which is a natural light reflector for a healthy glow, and it utilizes the titanium dioxide, which is a natural sunblock. Does not settle in lines or wrinkles. NS Minerals' trace minerals also helps with improving the hydration and smoothness of the skin.
