[shortcake]

Within the last couple weeks, my skin has started itching pretty badly. I'd been switching between using EM and Lumiere's FF and Luminesse formulas. I've worn EM for several months before in the past (and wore it this time for about a month and a half) and never really had a problem with it. It seemed like if I hadn't worn it in awhile, I'd get a little itchy the first day or two I wore it but then it would go away and I'd be fine. And I'd been testing out the samples of Lumiere for about a month with no problems whatsoever.

The only thing I changed was that I'd ordered mini sizes of the Finishing Dust and Natural Reflections finishing powder from EM and I know the itching started immediately after I tried the FD for the first time. I used it for a few days thinking maybe it would go away, but it didn't so I stopped using it and the itching continued. I ended up getting several little red irritation bumps in various spots on my face.

I got so frustrated with not being able to find the culprit(s) that I finally broke down today and used the regular liquid foundation I used before - Revlon Colorstay, and I haven't had any itching. I'm gonna be so bummed if it's the MMU that's doing it. It just seems very strange to me that all of a sudden I would just start to itch from various MMU products. I definitely have issues with Bismuth but neither of those brands use it. My skin is somewhat sensitive, but I very very rarely have any problems with makeup products. I'm much more sensitive to the harsh ingredients in many cleansers. I think I've only used one makeup product that I had problems with and that's because it contained a small amount of AHAs and my skin *hates* those. So to think that I would be allergic to mineral makeup, which is made to be extra gentle and work very well for those with sensitive skin, seems really weird.

I just ordered a kit from Lumiere a few days ago so I think that until it arrives, I'll keep using my liquid foundation. Then I'll start back up with the Lumiere ONLY and see if the itchies return. I really think it had something to do with EM's finishing powders. I tried using their foundation for a couple days but used Lumiere's finishing powders and didn't itch nearly as bad. I guess if I have to stop using EM's foundation and finishing powder it's not a huge loss... For some reason my skin has been looking really "blah" with it lately. It's not really giving me the coverage I want (and I don't even need very much) and just doesn't do much for me overall. I still love their eyeshadows and blushes. Luckily I'm not having problems with those!

Has anything like this ever happened to anyone else out there?

[skinaddicted]

I haven't had reactions to mineral makeup and i am not really allergic to any specific ingredient that i know of but there is one time when i used a heavily infused herbal serum and moisturizer that made my skin itch for a week. i seriously thought i did permanent damage to it, but my skin normalized. Mineral makeup ingredients are also present in nonmineral cosmetics like revlon so i think your skin may just be reacting still from the EDM stuff. i think your skin should be fine unless you're really allergic to the basic MM ingredients, and can only use them when they are the lesser ingredient and with filler ingredients.

[Adrienne]

Well, I've heard that EDM (I'm assuming EM is everyday minerals) finishing dust has caused for some ppl to have an allergic reaction to it. EDM finishing dust and BE/BM's Mineral Veil have constarch in it as their main ingredient. Some ppl can't handle it and it does give an itchy feeling. EDM, as far as I know, does not contain bismuth which is one of the reason's they're so popular.

Test it EM without finishing dust. You might want to try Their silk dust which is made of silk powder and currant powder. You might find the finishing dust to be the culprit

Edit:
And before you decided to give up EDM, try out some different samples in foundation shades or their different types (glo, matte, intensive). As your skin color changes throughout the year, you have to change it slightly. You may find yourself mixing different colors to give your skin that oomph back. Good luck!

[laurie_lu]

My suggestion is to use what feels and looks the best on your face even if it isn't mineral foundation. I think there are worse things we put into and onto your bodies than non-mineral makeup.

As you probably already know from the EDM forum, I have had some pretty bad reactions from the majority of EDM's products. Their Original Glo foundation is the only thing that doesn't hurt my skin. I don't wear blush everyday but when I do, by bedtime I have little bumps on my cheeks.

I'm very close on giving up on EDM because when I see my face in the mirror, I am not completely 100% satisfied with the coverage or look. I just hate to start all over with the sampling process with other companies. I'm more likely to go to the 'dark side' and buy drugstore versions of mineral products.

I really think their ingredients come from a raw source supply company that are not that high in quality and this allows them to sell their products at a lower cost.

Zinc Oxide for example can be obtained and processed several different ways. No common ingredient is created equal. I think there are high grade and low grade versions of the same ingredient.

Maybe it's possible your containers and brushes have been contaminated by the finishing dust. Your brush that touches your face gets the finishing dust on it and then you use that same brush to swirl in the lid of other products.

The only foundation that I ever got compliments on was L'Oreal's Bare Naturale Mineral foundation. And that was by more than one person. This product never bothered my skin.