Mac and top name brands using bismuth oxychloride

Are top name brands still using bismuth oxychloride?

Many people this that it is only the cheap cosmetics brands  that use bismuth oxychloride. Well this could not be further from the truth. I love Mac cosmetics,  there products are a great quality and they are reasonably priced.  However even Mac use bismuth oxychloride in some of their products despite the risks.

If you suffer from the harmful irritation  caused by bismuth oxychloride always read the label. Do not be fooled by the fact that you are buying a top branded product. 

 I would always suggest reading the label and looking for bismuth oxychloride or any word containing bismuth. If not you should go online and use websites such as cosmetics-ingredients, where you can check for the full list of ingredients and find products that are completely free of harmful irritants.

Alima Pure and bismuth oxychloride

As we have stated in previous posts bismuth oxychloride can be an irritant to many persons with sensitive skin.  Since it has become well known that bismuth oxychloride can cause skin problems such as rashes and acne, some mineral cosmetic companies have gone out of their way to produce a mineral cosmetic range that does not include harmful chemicals.

One such product that is popular in the market place is Alima Pure. This is one of the best products on the market for people seeking a bismuth oxychloride free mineral cosmetic.  It also boasts that it is free of other allergens making it perfect for people who have sensitive skin or who suffer from CIS (cosmetics intolerance syndrome) 

There are also added benefits in that Alima Pure contains natural sunscreens, which mean the user s with sensitive skin who are also photosensitive are given a degree or natural protection. 

As someone who suffers from the effects of bismuth oxychloride, i would thoroughly recommend trying Alima Pure as an option to dealing with sensitive skin and applying makeup.

Bismuth Oxychloride and Acne

For many young girls suffering from acne the makeup they wear to cover the acne up, might actually be the very thing causing the acne in the first place.

Bismuth Oxychloride is a compound that is found in many foundations. The problem is that with many people suffering from sensitive skin, bismuth oxychloride can be an irritant and can actually cause skin problems such as acne and or Rosacea.

bismuth oxychloride is most commonly used as a filler in foundations and blushers. Its provides the nice sheen that foundations offer, without skin looking oily.  It also helps with the adhesion (the way the makeup sticks to your skin)

However as an irritant, it can cause Acne. The small crystals that make up the compound bismuth oxychloride can clog pores and scratch the surface of the skin causing irritation, rashes and even swelling. 

Bismuth Oxychloride is also classified as a heavy metal, so its use is strictly governed by most civilised counties.  Cheap imports however do sometimes contain higher levels of bismuth oxychloride.

The best thing to do, if you are worried about Acne is to read the label of the ingredients and look for bismuth oxychloride or any compound containing bismuth. Also avoid other "natural minerals" as they are often not as natural as they would appear to be.

How is Bismuth Oxychloride created ?

Bismuth is a brittle metal which was first named in that late 1660's. It is a bright white metal that is very brittle in a raw state. Discoloration can occur when the metal is in the presence of oxygen.

It is a rare substance but not as rare as Gold. In fact it is calculated that it is roughly twice as common as gold. It is found in China, Australia but viens of it can be found in other locations around the world
huge amounts of Bismuth are needed in the cosmetics industry. The manufacturers of  bismuth generally produce it as a by-product from refining lead, copper and tin.

Bismuth then has to go through a long and complicated process to create bismuth oxychloride which is needed for cosmetics.

How is it Processed?

Firstly the metal is separated into a rough mix through smelting but the process leaves many impurities.

Impurities can only be removed through adding other ingredients this mix is then mixed with water and dried. A solution of nitirc acide is then used to wash out the impurities and leave the bismuth oxychloride.

So when someone tells  you that mineral foundations are completely natural, you wil know they could not be further from the truth.

Mineral foundations and bismuth oxychloride

The term mineral foundations is often thrown around but what does it actually mean ?

Well, mineral foundations are a form of makeup that is created by turning minerals that occur naturally in the earth into a fine powder and using them in foundations. It should be noted however that just because minerals can be naturally occurring does not mean cosmetic companies use naturally occurring minerals in their brands. More often than not naturally occurring minerals such as bismuth oxychloride are recreated in industrial processes and packaged to look like natural products.

When mineral foundations are powdered and applied as a very thin layer across the face, the effect is that the foundation distorts the light to give a flawless or unblemished appearance. They also use bismuth oxychloride to their products because it gives skin a natural looking shimmery glow.

If you have sensitive skin mineral foundation can be mildly irritating, this is down to their crystal like structure.

Bismuth Oxychloride and sensitive skin

Due to the layout of the crystals in bismuth oxychloride, some women find that they can have minor reactions to make-up that are made from it.

Effectively what happens is the jagged crystals can jab or prick the skin or potentially embed themselves in the pores of the skin.  This can be very irritating to people with sensitive skin. 

However this problem is rarely a serious problem and more often than not, the resulting irritations can be cured with a anti inflammatory cream.  While bismuth oxychloride can cause this irritation, people who are very sensitive to this, will likely react badly to most if not all types of make-up.