Why Choose Makeup without Bismuth Oxychloride

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by Marilyn Etzel

Mineral makeup is everywhere you look these days. The minerals in the cosmetics are found naturally in the earth. Using them adds a natural glow to your face. But, all mineral cosmetics don’t only contain minerals but other compounds.

Bismuth oxychloride is a common filler in makeup. It is a compound created from a metal on the periodic table, bismuth. It is sandwiched between arsenic and antimony. If you don’t know what antimony is, you’ve most definitely heard of arsenic. Bismuth in its natural state gives off toxic fumes when burned.

Bismuth undergoes a process of refinement for it to become cosmetic grade. Bismuth is combined with chlorine first. The reaction produces hydrochloric acid as a byproduct which is still dangerous. Oxygen is then thrown into the mix to produce a stable bismuth oxychloride compound. It has two textures: diamond and pearl. Both are used in mineral cosmetics.

Bismuth oxychloride feels silky to the touch. Alone, it resembles a crystalline powder. It provides smooth coverage in mineral makeup and helps the minerals stick to the skin.

Women using mineral makeup containing bismuth oxychloride have a glow to their skin. Using the diamond texture of bismuth oxychloride leads to a shimmery effect on the skin. The pearlesque powder leaves a matte finish.

While some of the qualities of bismuth oxychloride may seem not so bad, your mineral makeup doesn’t need this filler to still provide good flawless coverage to your face. In fact, many mineral makeup manufacturers have omitted it from their list of ingredients.

Why you are better off without bismuth oxychloride

1. Bismuth oxychloride adds shine and shimmer to the skin. For many women this look is over the top as far as looking natural. If you have oily skin, the shimmer makes the oily look more noticeable. No one will object to how bronzing from the sun makes their faces look, but they’ll want to eliminate the shining.

2. Large pores appear larger when bismuth oxychloride is present. The compound doesn’t do a good job of concealing that fact. Using makeup is one way to reduce the appearance of larger pores when bismuth oxychloride is not present.

3. Bismuth oxychloride is not a naturally occurring mineral. The basis of mineral makeup is to use natural products to enhance the look and health of your skin. Traditional minerals blend into the skin when it warms and do no harm even to people with skin issues. As a manufactured compound, it can cause problems.

4. Women using cosmetics with bismuth oxychloride can experience skin irritations. It causes itching, rashes, and breakouts on the skin. This can happen to women with healthy skin. Even if you don’t suspect you will have any problems with the compound it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your makeup.

If your mineral makeup contains bismuth oxychloride consider switching to one without the compound. Your skin will be healthier for the switch.

Need more information about mineral make up? Marilyn Etzel’s Beauty Talk answers all of your questions about mineral makeup cosmetics and more. As president of ME Naturally, LLC, Marilyn is dedicated to providing you with quality mineral makeup with the finest natural ingredients.