If you are anything like me, a little bit of help to look and feel your best when heading out to teach/ coach your class is welcome. But, when it comes to make up, I'd rather err on the side of too little than too much, not only in how it feels on my skin, but also in how it looks.
Enter mineral foundation. Its versatility is amazing and don't be fooled negatively by its powder form. A true, quality mineral foundation will not settle in lines and wrinkles, because it is not powder, it's minerals in a powder form.
Let me pontificate on what mineral foundation should, may and shouldn't contain and why it's so versatile:
Mineral foundation should contain :
-Titanium Dioxide, a naturally occurring mineral used for sunscreen and pigment.
Mineral Foundation may contain:
-Bismuth Oxychloride, a naturally occurring mineral used for pigment and brightness
-Mica, a naturally occurring mineral used for pigment, brightness and luminosity
-Iron Oxides, widespread in nature, used for intense color pigment
Mineral Foundation probably should not contain:
-Zinc, a metallic chemical element, which can be quite drying and is best left out of mineral foundations for that reason
-Talc, as in talcum powder which settles in lines and wrinkles
-Corn Starch, a starch powder derived from the endosperm of the corn kernel, is simply a cheap filler that settles in lines and wrinkles
Mineral Foundation's Versatility:
The brush determines how your minerals are applied.
The trick is in the brush: the larger the brush, the lighter the coverage. The smaller the brush, the more specific and ‘flawless' (read: heavy) the coverage. So, if you want just a dusting to even out your already beautiful skin (lucky you!), then just a light brushing with a large powder brush, or mineral foundation brush will suffice. If you need a little more help, a more specific brush can be used. For example, my niece uses a liquid foundation brush to apply her powder minerals for a flawless finish. You can also use a small concealer brush, or dab a clean finger directly into the powder and apply and blend into specific trouble spots.
Desiring a quick, custom-made tinted moisturizer? Drop a bit of your mineral foundation into your favorite moisturizer, mix- and there you have it! Try it with your eye cream for a custom concealer as well. Want a bronzer without all the ‘glow' or Bath and Body sparkles? Buy a dark shade of the mineral line you love (see below for some I've tried) and use it as your bronzer.
A note of caution about the sunscreen rating of mineral foundation. Because Titanium Dioxide is a potent, natural sunscreen, mineral foundations are known for their sunscreen protection. However, the sunscreen rating of your mineral foundation is only as good as the thickness in which it is applied. So, if you are a ‘light duster', your sunscreen will not be as effective as those who are ‘flawless finish' appliers.
Mineral Foundation is easy to match. Find 3 colors close to your natural skin tone and apply them at your chin/ jaw line. The color(s) that aren't right will sit on top of your skin, but your mineral match will literally melt into your skin. The goal of foundation is to match skin and even out skin tone. Too often women ask for foundation too deep or too light. This is the job for a bronzer or highlighter.
Here are some Mineral Foundations I have tried and/ or played with and my thoughts. I would LOVE to hear from you about brands and things you have tried. Please comment! I look forward to hearing from you.
–Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics: by far the purest of all the mineral cosmetics I've found. 4 ingredients total and plenty of colors to chose from to get your perfect match . The only problem- it's only available in Salons and Spas, or at Cosmoprof (for licensed professionals only). I have used it and like it a lot.
-Elizabeth Arden: plenty of colors to choose from and I like that it has a twist up ‘shaver' that brings up the needed amount of product. No waste, no mess.
-Bare Minerals: of course, the original mineral makeup. It now comes in a matte formula as well. Many colors and ancillary products.
-Clarins Skin Illusion Loose Powder Foundation: with light reflecting pigments, minerals and plant extracts. I've been using this since January and get compliments on my skin quite often….trust me, it's the makeup, not my skin!
As a side note, my favorite mineral makeup was Lancome's Ageless Minerale, but unfortunately Lancome chose to discontinue it.
Do you find yourself wondering why your skin is red much of the time? Not red, like “I just worked out in Zone 4 for 60 minutes red”, but rather a red that doesn't go away after you have recovered and gone on with your day.
Maybe you're also wondering why your skin seems more ‘sensitive' than it used to? Like it's in a semi-irritated, it might flair at any moment, state?
Through the years, many Fitness Instructors and work out members have shared this dilemma with me, and I recently suffered from this plight myself.
There is a reason for the redness/irritation, a couple causes and lots of solutions:
The reason:
By the time we've gotten red and irritated, we've ‘irked the merkel' as we call it in the beauty business. Simply put, our merkel cells are responsible for sensitivity. Once the merkels are upset, they take awhile to calm down. More on how to calm the merkel in a minute.
The cause:
Either OVER cleansing: the over cleanser is vigilant about removing every ounce of sweat and bacteria from their face and would not consider leaving the gym without showering. 3 classes…3 showers. No time for a shower- the over cleanser will run to the maintenance department, grab the rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls and wipe the sweat off their face! Too much cleansing/cleaning/rubbing/scrubbing (especially with harsh products) can really rile up the merkel.
Or UNDER cleansing: eh- a little sweat never hurt anyone! Besides, sometimes the salt from their face tastes good. Leaving salt/sweat and environmental pollutants on our skin throughout the day, and especially overnight (please no- not overnight!) can make even the nicest of merkel's upset.
You get the idea.
The solution:
Calming the merkel. But how you ask? It's really pretty simple. Keep your skin clean (i.e. gently cleanse after every workout) with products that have worked well in the past in calming your skin and use them faithfully for 60-90 days. Steer clear of products that contain alcohol, abrasives (exfolliants), vitamin A derivatives, fruit acids, etc. And use sunscreen. Introduce something new only when your skin is completely calm for at least two weeks.
I had to start fresh. Because I was starting a new account position with Clarins USA, it made sense for me to try the Clarins product line. I started using the Water Comfort One Step Gentle Cleanser at the gym – Mint for oily, Peach for dry and Orange for all skin types. It's so easy because no water is needed and it's cleanser and toner in one step. I just packed some cotton rounds in my gym bag. I used Gentle Foaming Cleanser at home– with Tamarind for oily, Cottonseed for normal/combination and Shea Butter for dry skin types. This cleanser foams up really nicely with water and so little is needed. I think this tube is going to last me a lifetime!
Okay, now I needed a serum and moisturizer. I used Clarins ‘Gentle Protocol' consisting of Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate, Gentle Day Cream and Gentle Night Cream. The Gentle products have Licorice and Lavender in them to calm and sooth. There is no anti-aging in the Gentle products, so after 90 days of calm, normal looking skin, I was thankful to move on to a heavy hitting anti-aging regimen!
Another product used faithfully during my red, aggravated phase was Adjust Foundation Corrector by smashbox. This fabulous green primer adjusts redness and smooths skin beautifully. The magic ingredient is Japanese Grass. You can use it alone, or as a foundation primer. I don't wear foundation when I teach, but I do often brush on some mineral powder. The two together hide redness and irritation so I felt confident when in front of a group.
I'm not saying whether I was an over, or under, cleanser, but I definitely had an ‘irked merkel'!
Now that my skin is no longer red and irritated, the Skin Beauty Repair Serum is still a staple in my house. It is 90% essential plant extracts (licorice, lavender, avocado) and is very healing for burns and ouchies.
*I receive no compensation from anyone for writing this, including John :). If I do in the future, I will happily reveal that information. You can reach me: amyjo@groupfitnessradio.com
Hi and welcome to the very first ‘PRO Style' post. I'm so glad you're here! As we start out together, I thought it might be helpful to do the ‘what' and ‘why' thing and then a little about me:
So, ‘what' is ‘PRO Style'? It's a place for us to come and get quick, useful information on products and application methods/ techniques that can help us feel more confident and beautiful inside and out as we teach our classes, work outside the studio, assist our families and give back to our communities. I hope it won't just be me posting here…I want really want to hear from you all! Questions, likes, dislikes, what has worked, hasn't, etc.
‘Why' do the ‘PRO Style' posts at ICI? 70% of our membership at ICI/PRO is female. Guys…you are welcome to read too! I hope some of what we talk about will be for everyone (great skincare, sunscreen, deodorants vs. antiperspirants, etc.).
I was asked a few years ago to do something like this, and have been contemplating it ever since. Now is the time! There isn't a practical, honest cosmetic blog for those of us that teach and exercise and want to know what does and doesn't work in this situation. We need to take into account sweat, microphones, windscreens, headbands, etc. Also, I wasn't born with awesome skin, hair and luscious lips. I need a little help in these areas, especially now that I am 51 and many of my teammates are uhm…younger. We will delve into what is good out there and what is not…and hopefully get a lot of feedback from all of you!
A little about me: I started in the beauty industry 14 years ago when my kids were little. I am currently an Account Development Specialist for Clarins USA. Prior to that, I was with Lancome Cosmetics for 13 years as a Makeup Artist and Beauty Consultant. I was also an Artistic Design Educator for Youngblood Cosmetics for 2 years. In addition, I have done runway, photo shoots and many weddings on a freelance basis. I love to help women feel confident and beautiful.
Because of my familiarity and experience with Clarins and Lancome products, you will see many of them in my posts. This is simply because I know them well. I, in no way, am trying to sell anything for them, or to you. I receive no compensation from anyone for writing these posts.
I hope we can have some fun together, learn some things together and feel more confident together! Please reach out to me at by leaving a comment below.
Truly, the more we hear from each other about our experiences (good, bad, great and the ugly!), the better this blog will be! I look forward to hearing from you soon.
With 6.4 million downloads on Spotify, this almost a cappella song- perfect for a flat road, isn’t just a favorite of mine! This 17 year old from New Zealand knows how to put out the singles. She’s already released 3 this year and she’s still finishing Year 12 at Grammar School.
My class has been enjoying the great harmonies and driving beat of this 3:21, 85 bpm by Lorde’s. Here’s “Royals”:
‘You can’t just give it away like it means nothing’, is the lead line in today’s Free Friday Favorite from an English electronic music producer that features beautiful female vocals.
The heavy bass and drum kick up a motivating flat at 87 rpm’s. The original version is 3:47, with an additional 4 remixes immediately available on Spotify & Deezer, varying in length from 4:10 to 6:28. I am currently using this tune right after warm up, as we launch into steady state aerobic work.
