New Mineral Makeup from Clinique and Origins

Mineral makeup continues to take the beauty world by storm, and though I'm not much of a fan, I know loads of you are. While Bare Escentuals and its ilk have rabid, hardcore followers who decry anything that isn't 'pure', I think the fact that minerals are being developed and expanded on by bigger companies is a good thing. They've got huge teams, pots of cash and access to the latest technologies and ingredients, which can only be positive news for consumers - choice is always good.

On that note, both Clinique and Origins are launching mineral products this Autumn. Clinique's Superbalanced Powder Makeup SPF 15 Mineral Rich Formula costs €42 and is on counter now. The companion to their liquid Superbalanced makeup, it combats the dryness powder often has by using encapsulated Phytosqualane and Murumuru Butter, which are dispensed along with the makeup powder via a grinding system similar to those used by Smashbox and Elizabeth Arden. In six shades, it provides sheer-to-medium coverage.

We'll have to wait a while for Origins' foray into mineral makeup: Multi-Grain Makeup SPF 14 sounds more like something you'd have for breakfast, and it's actually fortified with oats. Sounds bananas, but there's method to Origins' madness, and here's the gen:

"A patent-pending formula with a blend of Organic Oats, Organic Tapioca, Soy, Rice Flour, Wheat Germ and Barley immediately bond with skin as Silica absorbs excess oil.  Vitamin C and Vitamin E help keep skin looking radiant.  A potent antioxidant complex of Pomegranate and Goji Berry help protect against free radicals.  Natural mineral clay pigments help provide the perfect amount of color, minimizing discolorations and imperfections, while still allowing the skin to breathe.  Shea Butter gives the powder a creamy, smooth texture, and Titanium Dioxide provides all-natural broad-spectrum sun protection with SPF14, helping to stave off visible signs of aging caused by sun exposure."

Phew. But all that makes it sound really rather good, doesn't it? In five shades, it'll be on counter from October and will cost €31.