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Breaking Into and Succeeding as A Mineral Cosmetics Maker
How to to Become A Mineral Cosmetics Business Owner

I don’t have a lot of capital, only a few hundreds of dollars. Can I still start a career in Mineral Make-up?

You absolutely can. Many wholesalers of raw ingredients and ready-to-use make-up bases have set low purchase minimums specifically to help people like you get a start in the industry. A couple hundred dollars will buy you enough filler and pigment to get you started. Or you can subscribe to a reselling program where a small fee grants you access to a favorable wholesale-to-retail price ratio and, in some cases, a list of people who have already expressed interest in the product.

You can open an online store for very little up-front expense and sell your cosmetics without invoking any of the overhead of a physical outlet. Mineral make-up isn't a no-cost business, true, but it's definitely a low-cost startup if you're willing to start small and expand as you go.

What are the benefits of mineral cosmetics?

The purpose behind the burgeoning mineral cosmetics movement is to provide alternatives to the synthetic, toxic, skin-aging and -irritating compounds that make up most of the mainstream cosmetics industry. Make-up is reduced to as few all-natural and inert ingredients as possible: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for filler, iron oxides and mica and other mineral pigments for color. Because these minerals do not react to the skin, they're less likely to cause irritation. They don't clog pores. They aren't toxic to our skin or to our environment. And because they are inorganic, they won't go rancid in a few months, so they don't need preservatives to boost their shelf-life.

In addition to this, the filler ingredients mentioned above are known soothe skin and to provide UVB protection. And some companies have begun adding to this minimal ingredient list therapeutic ingredients such as anti-oxidants and vitamin E. Mineral cosmetics are good for your skin and good for the Earth. What's not to like?

In addition, you have the potential of earning tons of money if your products get accepted widely by the public. You also will earn the respect as women’s “skin savior.”

Can I really make a living out of creating a mineral cosmetics line? What’s the profit margin on a tub of mineral powder?

The profit margin can actually be quite substantial. According to some rough calculations involving a particular online wholesaler and a recipe, an outlay of about $100 can be enough to produce about 30 jars of foundation. One jar can sell for anywhere between $15 and $55, depending on the market. So at the low end of that price range we're looking at a profit of about $350. We’re talking about more than 200% of profit margin. The more you make, the higher your profit margin will be.

I’m not a chemist. I have no previous training in chemistry or cosmetics making.

You don't have to be a chemist to get into this field. Mineral cosmetics are made from inert inorganic ingredients ground up and mixed together. There are no chemical reactions involved. As for cosmetics training, that shouldn’t be a problem either.

If you have an eye for color and a willingness to experiment, you have everything you need to develop your own line of mineral make-up.

I’m not an herbalist. I have no training or experiences in herbal ingredients.

That's fine too. The majority of mineral make-up products don't actually use any herbal ingredients. It's all minerals. If you want to add skin-soothing botanicals to the mix, recipes are easily come by. Most wholesalers in the mineral and natural cosmetics industry will offer their customers guidance in using their products.

In fact, many mineral make-up retailers sell kits wholesale to new business owners along with instructions to help them get started. There's also any number of classes you can take and books you can read--including this one! Anything you don't know yet, you will soon.

I don’t have any formula for making mineral cosmetics.

Don't worry. While many mineral make-up business owners do create their own lines entirely from scratch, it's certainly not a requirement. In addition to all the sources, we'll show you for learning how to develop your own formula, we'll introduce you to private label companies and contract manufacturers.

These companies will help you put together your product line as easily as ordering from a menu. You can choose from their list of ready-to-go items, request some custom tweaks to the active ingredients or the pigment blending, and end up with a catalog of beautiful cosmetics items entirely unique to your company.

I don’t know any cosmetics manufacturing plant.

That's all right. We'll get you started with a list of private labelers and contract manufacturers who'll put their laboratories to work for you. And if you're creating your own mineral mixes from raw ingredients, you certainly don't need a huge factory to do it.

Many entrepreneurs have turned their basements or spare rooms into a color-blending studio and sold the resulting cosmetic products over the internet. One way or another, you can get started in this business!

I don’t live in a fashion city like Los Angeles, Paris, London, or New York. Can I start any sort of cosmetics business from out in the suburbs or even in a rural area?

Absolutely. Cosmetics aren't solely about the fashion catwalks in sophisticated metropolitan centers. Anywhere people put on make-up is a place where a make-up business can thrive. And as one business owner we interviewed told us, it's the rural areas that desperately need health-conscious, safety-conscious, earth-conscious cosmeticians to give the big-box retailers some competition.

What's more, an Internet-based business can sell to anywhere in the world no matter where it's based. So don't let an insufficiently glamorous hometown discourage you from starting your business. Your next-door neighbor probably wears make-up; why shouldn't she wear yours?

History and Which "Minerals" are Used?

Minerals have been used for beautification purposes ever since. Skipping forward to the 19th century, we see lead oxide on men and women's faces once again, this time in concert with hydroxide and carbonate to whiten the skin in accordance with an aesthetic for mimicking the pale, untanned skin of the upper-class, non-laboring elite.

As you can see, one can certainly make the claim that mineral make-up is one of the oldest known forms of cosmetics known to humanity. The use of naturally-occurring inorganic compounds in the pursuit of beauty is probably as old as the species. Today's mineral make-up movement is in many ways a return to our roots--with certain improvements over our ancestors, of course.

Exactly which "minerals" are we talking about here?

After reading the above paragraphs, you may find yourself protesting that ancient Egyptian cosmetics weren't necessarily all that they were cracked up to be. Lead oxide? On their faces? Surely no one is suggesting we return to that particular root? And in fact we're not; being choosier about our ingredients is one of the improvements we're talking about here.

The simple fact is, not all minerals are equally suited for close proximity to the largest and least protected organ of the human body, i.e. the skin. Arsenic, cyanide, and lead are all minerals, ones which famously fail to contribute to our health. Anything is a mineral so long as it conforms to these basic requirements:

• It must be a solid; oxygen is not a mineral, because it is a gas.
• It must be inorganic in nature and source; neither pearls nor amber can be called minerals, since they are produced by living organisms.
• It must occur naturally in the world, not be synthesized in a laboratory.
• It must have a definite, but not fixed, chemical composition.
• It must be homogenous, unable to be broken down into smaller structures.
• Its atomic structure, like its chemical composition, must be definite, but again, not necessarily fixed.

As you can see, there is no requirement that a substance be safe, hypoallergenic, or noncarcinogenic to be a mineral. But most players in the mineral cosmetics industry want their products to healthy. So obviously not just any mineral will do.

Lead oxide, for instance, was one of the first ingredients to be crossed off our lists. Zinc oxide was the replacement our face-whitening forebears came up with when the lead's poisonous nature came to light. Zinc oxide is a favorite mineral today not only in cosmetics but in sunscreen, since we've found it to be excellent protection against the sun's ultraviolet rays.

The copper oxides which the ancient Egyptians used are also out of favor today for similar reasons. Instead, mineral make-up gets most of its coloring from iron oxide, titanium dioxide, and, once again, zinc oxide.

Another is Mica. Mica is an extremely versatile mineral. It's available in every sheen from opalescent to matte, making it a very useful color ingredient. But its usefulness goes beyond color. Its thin, flaky structure also makes it an ideal base. It covers and clings to the skin evenly, such that a very little goes a long way. It reflects the light, which gives the face a more radiant appearance. And it's semi-translucent, which allows the skin's natural tone to shine through.

Sericite is another possibility. A mineral which is similar to mica in chemical composition (and in fact has to be referred to as a type of mica in accordance with NCI labeling requirements, it can be used as a base ingredient in eye shadow and blush to create a matte finish. It is best blended with iron oxides and other pigments, since it doesn't adhere very well on its own.

What are “mineral cosmetics”?

For a useful nutshell description of this type of product:

Mineral make up, as the name suggests, is made from mineral elements. This range of make up is created after mixing minerals with other inorganic pigments for a wide color range. Natural minerals are finely milled, pulverized and purified before they are used in mineral make up items. Various pigments are then added to lend exciting colors and dramatic shimmer effects.

Mineral Makeup is FDA approved cosmetic grade, natural source ingredients, such as titanium dioxide, zinc, biron, bismuth, micronized minerals that are usually safe and healthy for facial skin.

Technically speaking, the practice of mineral cosmetics goes back a long way. The ancient Egyptians had a fairly wide range of make-up, even by our standards, and a great amount of it had mineral sources. They used an eye shadow called mesdemet, which was made of copper and lead ore, and an eye-liner called kohl which also included oxidized copper and lead amongst its ingredients (the other components being burnt almonds, ash, and ocher). Their use of clay to rouge their cheeks and lips was another example of ancient mineral cosmetics.

Why should I prefer mineral cosmetics to the other sort?

A little goes a long way!

Typically customers are advised to use a light touch when applying mineral make-up. It takes relatively little powder to create the desired effect. This means that even if the make-up is more expensive per unit than mainstream products, it will last longer, costing the customer less over time. And less make-up on the skin means less of that dreaded caked-on look and skin that can breathe more easily.
It looks more natural

When applied properly, mineral make-up looks less like cosmetics and more like a naturally flawless complexion. The semi-transparency of the mineral particles allows your skin's natural oils to shine through, so that instead of getting a plasticky flat look you get a lovely glow.

It lasts longer

Unlike mainstream cosmetics, mineral make-up doesn't run. Being made of solid mineral particles, it can't melt! Many women find they don't need to touch it up nearly as frequently.

You can sleep in it!

Because mineral cosmetics both last longer and don't clog pores, many women find they can put it on at bedtime and wake up with one less chore to do before leaving the house in the morning (It's still a good idea not to sleep with eye make-up on, just to prevent those little particles from getting into your eyes.)

It's all natural

Mineral make-up ideally contains no preservatives, no weird chemical names you can't pronounce, and nothing in the ingredient list that sounds like "petroleum," "cyanide," or "formaldehyde." It just feels good to have one less source of synthetic chemicals in the daily routine.

It's practically hypoallergenic

We can't claim that mineral make-up is 100% allergy safe. There's no substance on the planet that hasn't got at least one human being breaking out in hives. But a cosmetic made of 100% minerals is going to contain no fragrances or synthetic dyes such as are often responsible for adverse reactions. Also, it's chemically inert.

The minerals in these cosmetics don't cause chemical reactions in the skin. While some people do have reactions to certain mineral ingredients, most notoriously bismuth oxychloride and, less frequently, mica, these reactions are due to the physical properties of the particle, not the chemical properties of the molecule.

It's good for your skin

Two of the main ingredients of mineral make-up, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, are known to have a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. Additionally, they provide protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays. You heard that right: depending on the concentration of titanium dioxide present, your mineral foundation may in fact be sunscreen! All of these traits mean make-up that helps the skin look younger and fresher rather than aging it prematurely.

And, It's kind to tender, post-operative skin.

Trends in Mineral Cosmetics

Within the hot, growing trend that is mineral cosmetics itself, two significant trends distinguish themselves clearly--and they are going in opposite directions. It would be overly simplistic to call one of them "good" and the other "evil," not to mention completely one-sided--but for the health-and-safety-conscious consumer it's hard to look at these two sub movements without making a judgment.

That's because one trend is about creating make-up that's cleaner, more natural, more friendly to sensitive skin, and the other is about only pretending to do so in order to attract trend-focused customers.

Mineral Makeup: “Cleaner” Ingredients and Fresher Formulas.

While the mineral makeup trend is still going strong, the increased competition in the marketplace will force industry players to come up with new concepts in order to cater to increasingly more discerning consumers.

Expect to see more brands touting talc- and bismuth-oxychloride-free formulas as well as more color and liquid- or cream-based mineral cosmetics.

It's probably safe to say that talc-free mineral make-up has become the norm. Enough companies and customers are convinced that it's potentially carcinogenic (though, as we've discussed in the Ingredients section), the actual study findings are much more nuanced and much less conclusive than this conviction would suggest) that including talc could very well be a liability.

More and more manufacturers are indeed offering products free of bismuth oxychloride as well. Mica-free product lines are another manifestation of this trend. Nanoparticles are on their way out as we learn that they are small enough to get absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin. The bottom line is that the entire purpose of the mineral cosmetics movement is to eliminate irritants and toxins from the make-up business; to stay true to that purpose, manufacturers need to heed new data about current mineral make-up ingredients and be prepared to find solutions to any problems that data suggests.

The other trend, unfortunately, consists of big-name cosmetic companies releasing a new "mineral cosmetic" product line in order to cash in on the new movement's popularity--but without providing the benefits the movement was intended to bring. It's a similar problem to that of a dairy with some 5,000 cows abusing loopholes in the letter of the law (how much pasture per cow meets the "access to pasture" requirement?) to slap the customer-attracting "organic" label on a product that violates the spirit of the ideal. In the case of mineral cosmetics, there is no letter of the law to find abusable loopholes in. Any make-up manufacturer can call their product "mineral make-up" without it containing any significant mineral content--not to mention all the dyes, preservatives, and other nasties they might throw in there.

The FDA's labeling requirements do prohibit "misbranding," but if there's even a trace of zinc oxide in the compound, it would be hard to successfully bring a misbranding complaint to bear consequences for the manufacturer.

Which isn't to say that the big, recognizable name-brands are constitutionally incapable of creating a mineral make-up line that adheres to the ideals of the movement. However, these companies tend to be less responsive to customer concerns even when they are well-intentioned. They may tend to lag behind the curve, continuing to include ingredients that the smaller companies have sworn off.

They may use unnecessarily wasteful packaging (contrary to the environmentally friendly aspect of the mineral make-up movement) or packaging that's hard to get into without a powder explosion (demonstrating a lack of understanding of the nature of loose minerals). Some customers have complained of streaky application; others of a lack of colors to suit darker complexions. And where such companies are less well-intentioned you'll find them simply adding some mineral content to an old formula that still contains dyes, preservatives, and toxins.

The trend of "drugstore brand" cosmetics responding favorably to the mineral market boom is only as beneficial as the quality of their cosmetics. When big household name brand companies jump on the mineral make-up bandwagon, they certainly help bring more attention to the concept of mineral make-up--and they can often offer mineral products for a much lower price. However, when they do a poor job of it, they give the impression that mineral make-up isn't worth the hype:

"Quite frankly, I think mineral makeup is just a genius marketing plan -- a new way of selling women the same ingredients that technically have been in makeup for years," says dermatologic and pharmaceutical chemist Ben Kaminsky, author of the new book Beyond Botox: 7 Secrets for Sexy, Ageless Skin.

The main ingredients (minerals such as mica, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide) have been the basis of most makeup foundations for decades. And he says mineral makeup has no special health or beauty properties.

Now, how much money can you make?

Depending on the types of mineral cosmetics you make and how you promote them, you can expect anywhere from 200% profit margin that can translate a conservative estimate of at least six-figure to seven-figure income annually. The sky is the limit. Once you have grown tremendously, you can be the next Estee Lauder or Body Shop.

Need we say more?

This eGuide provides insightful information, advices and tips for anyone who is contemplating to break into as a mineral cosmetics business owner with confidence. We have included a very long list of private label and contract manufacturers in the USA and Canada for you to start the production as soon as possible.

About the Authors

Jennie S. Bev is THE fashion, image and fun careers expert, whose reputation has been acknowledged by prestigious media internationally. She has been profiled and mentioned in Entrepreneur, Teen People, Canadian Business, Home Business, Dong (France), San Francisco Chronicle, The Independent, Daily Southtown, The Arizona Republic, Femina (Asia), and Dewi (Asia).

Editor-in-Chief Jennie S. Bev was named EPPIE Award finalist in Non-Fiction How To category for excellence in electronic publishing. She has published over 80 books and 1,000 articles in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, China, France, Germany and Singapore, and Indonesia. She is also a college professor based in San Francisco Bay Area.

Co-author Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little is an accomplished author, freelance writer, and web designer from the New Orleans area. She graduated from Metairie Park Country Day School and went from there to the University of Washington to pursue B.A. in English.

Her fiction and essays have been published in a diverse handful of literary and New Age magazines, including PanGaia. An aspiring novelist, she has been an annual participant in National Novel-Writing Month since 2002. She now resides in Colorado.

This 129-page instantly downloadable StyleCareer.com eGuide Breaking Into and Succeeding as A Mineral Cosmetics Business Owner brings you valuable insider tips, advice and suggestions not available elsewhere to help you embark on this highly lucrative career path.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Myths, the Realities, and the Basics
I don’t have a lot of capital, only a few hundreds of dollars. Can I still start a career in Mineral Make-up?
What are the benefits of mineral cosmetics?
Can I really make a living out of creating a mineral cosmetics line? What’s the profit margin on a tub of mineral powder?
I’m not a chemist. I have no previous training in chemistry or cosmetics making.
I’m not an herbalist. I have no training or experiences in herbal ingredients.
I don’t have any formula for making mineral cosmetics.
I don’t know any cosmetics manufacturing plant.
I don’t live in a fashion city like Los Angeles, Paris, London, or New York. Can I start any sort of cosmetics business from out in the suburbs or even in a rural area?

Mineral Cosmetics in a Nutshell
Earning Potentials
Why the world needs more mineral cosmetics
What are “mineral cosmetics”?
Exactly which "minerals" are we talking about here?
Ingredients
Preparation
How much can you do with mineral make-up?
Are mineral cosmetics "organic"?
Why should I prefer mineral cosmetics to the other sort?
A little goes a long way!
It looks more natural
It lasts longer
You can sleep in it!
It's all natural
It's practically hypoallergenic
It's good for your skin
It's kind to tender, post-operative skin
Trends in Mineral Cosmetics
Ten Popular Mineral Make-up Niches
Safety First
...for you and your staff
...for the consumer
Color Additives and Carmine
Labeling requirements
...as cosmetics
...as sun protection
...as organic products
Licensing, registration, and certification
Licensing Your Business
Registering Your Trade Name
Registering With the U.S. FDA
Organic Certification Revisited

Starting Your Own Mineral Cosmetics Line
Planning Your Catalog
Loose mineral foundations and colorings
Pencils and pressed, cream, and/or liquid make-up
Lip Products
Do-it-yourself color kits
Finding Your Formula
Developing Your Brand
Identity
Trademark
Patent
Manufacturing Your Products
Private Label
Contract Manufacturing
Legalities
Non-Disclosure Agreements
Incorporation
Insurance
...for Manufacturers
...as a Retail Store
...as a Home-Based Business
...Liability

Being Successful
Promotion on A Shoestring Budget
Throwing A House Party
Getting Reviewed by Lifestyle Magazines
You and Shopping Mall
Joining Professional and Trade Associations
Trade Shows

Success Profiles

Trend and Formula in Mineral Cosmetics
Fragrance and Flavor Laboratories
Private Label and Contract Manufacturing Companies

This eGuide literally saves you hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent on professional workshops and training and hundreds of hours of research. It will help you break into the career of your dream faster without having to repeat the same mistakes that most newcomers do.

We have also included resources on the following:

Where to outsource the private label or contract manufacturing of your mineral cosmetics line, which include a very long list of US and Canada-based manufacturers and laboratories.

You can have this exclusive eGuide right away by instant download for only $119.95, which you will earn many times over with your first paid job. This special low discount price is reserved for today, Friday, September 05, 2008 only. (Regular price: $139.95)

Breaking Into and Succeeding
as A Mineral Cosmetics Business Owner
Regular Price: $139.95
Sale Price: $119.95

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