The label “mineral” is plastered over everything from eye shadow to lipstick, as though it were the biggest thing since Cleopatra’s milk baths. But what does it mean, anyway, and can we use it to cover a birthmark?

Mineral powder makeup was a new idea some 30 years ago, when the demand arose for natural products. Real mineral powder makeups contain NO chemicals, just a bunch of minerals with various beneficial properties. The best makeups include good-for-your-skin-minerals such as:

Titanium Dioxide--provides opaque coverage and sun protection
Zinc Oxide--good sunscreen; calms irritations; used in baby lotion
Serecite Mica--reflects light to diminish large pores and fine lines
Magnesium Stearate--magnesium plus stearic acid, which comes from vegetable oils, helps the powder stick to your skin

You’ll find these minerals listed first in the ingredients of the best mineral powders. What you shouldn’t find is a lot of talc, or an ingredient called bismuth oxychloride. which adds shine but is irritating to many skins, even causing break-outs.

The mineral makeups now crowding the shelves of your local drugstore are likely to have a little of the good stuff, and a lot of added chemistry. Real mineral powder makeups are purely that, just finely ground minerals. Read the labels carefully before you spend your money. It’s not necessary to buy the coordinating blushes, eyeshadows, brush cleaners.

Can a powder really cover a birthmark? Yes and no. Powder alone is unlikely to cover a darker mark. Whether mineral powders do a better job of covering lighter birthmarks than some of our favorites is a matter of taste and opinion.

I’ve found that drugstore products by Max Factor, Revlon and L’Oreal are messy, full of dubious ingredients, and do a lousy job on my birthmark. If you’d like to give mineral powders a try, look for a good, pure product. The following products have all worked well on my birthmark, which is now a rose color.

Jane Iredale
This is the gold standard of mineral makeup. It’s pricey but worth it because a jar of powder lasts a long time, and the effect is terrific.
Downside: You’ll have to use a concealer under the powder in order to cover your birthmark.
Upside: The pure minerals protect your skin from pollutants and sun with an SPF 20. The makeup is relatively waterproof and sweat proof. And it never looks caky or thick.
The essentials: Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powder, one powder brush, Enlighten Concealer (lighter birthmarks can try the Disappear with Green Tea extract).
Available online at http://www.janeiredale.com and in select stores.

Sheer Cover
Sold exclusively through infomercials hosted by Leeza Gibbons and featuring an impressive lineup of celebrity testimonials.
Downside: It’s at least a three-step process, with concealer plus two layers of powders. Because its only available through television or online, you can’t really try before you buy, and once you’ve ordered, replacement products are automatically sent to you unless you cancel.
Upside: It gives good coverage, is long-lasting and looks great.
The essentials: Available only as an introductory kit at http://www.sheercover.com?.

ID Bare Escentuals
Sold through infomercials and at Sephora, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom and at their own boutiques across the US. Perhaps the most popular mineral powder makeup, and definitely one of the best. Covers a lighter birthmark without using a cream concealer under the powder, so it’s easier to use.
Downside: None that I can think of.
Upside: The introductory kit is a good buy, with good quality brushes.
The essentials: Original foundation and mineral veil (You’ll need to layer the two powders), face brush, concealer brush. Available online at http://www.sephora.com and http://www.bareesescentuals.com.