Mineral makeup is hot right now. Many people who normally don't wear makeup at all are using mineral makeup everyday. Yet many people are wary of spending money on something that might not work for them. Afterall, who wants to waste money on something that doesn't complement your skin?

The most often asked questions are:

• What ingredients go into mineral makeup?
• Will it match my complexion?
• Will it make my skin break out?

• Will it make my brown skin look chalky?

I can tell you that this makeup is popular for a reason. Trends are just that--trends. They're around for a little while, then the word gets out that the product doesn't live up to its hype and it fades away. Mineral makeup has been popular for several years now, and there's no evidence that it's going away. In fact, sales show that it's growing in popularity.

Part of the reason is that dermatologists recommend it. Mineral makeup is so gentle that many women are told to wear it after having a procedure such as dermabrasion or a skin peel. That's just how gentle it is. Unlike regular makeup, mineral makeup also has some natural sun protection factor (SPF).

You may be familiar with Bare Escentuals because it is so heavily marketed; howvever, there are several other excellent brands of mineral makeup on the market such as Afterglow, Larenim, and Valana to name a few. Each brand contains its own particular mix of minerals. If you try one and it doesn't work for you, don't give up on mineral makeup--just try another brand. Experiment until you find the one that's right for you.

So the short answer is yes--mineral makeup lives up to its hype. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try.