Cosmetic Camouflage

By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 13th August 2010

Mineral make-up is the latest buzzword in beauty but it can also tackle tougher challenges as nurse prescriber and clinic owner Mary White of Outline Skincare knows personally. After trying every make-up brand around she has finally discovered gloMinerals, a range that covered up a large port wine stain on her face and leave her feeling – and looking – fresh and natural

What inspired you to a launch Outline Skincare?

I have worked in the industry since 1993 as a nurse prescriber and worked for many of the big medical organisations before deciding to set up my own clinic.

Outline Skincare is split into two separate parts; the clinic and the online skincare shop. The clinic came first and then I realised that there was huge demand for online sales of products that you can’t buy on the high street. I can offer either an online or telephone consultation service and as a registered nurse I am able to discuss with the clients what they need and give them a tailor-made regime to fit their skin type.

How did you first come across the gloMinerals range?

We use Wigmore as our supplier for a wide range of products, including prescription products for the clinic such as injectables, and they launched this range in the UK. I wanted to do a range of mineral make-up and I just loved it. It was one of the best ranges I’d seen, especially the foundations.

Were you more interested in it from a professional or personal perspective?

It was both really. I have tried it myself and love it. Professionally, I wanted to stock it because it is a big range with every kind of product that clients would want and it also has a fantastic range of colours.

You often find that when women discover mineral makeup they want to buy everything from the same range, from base products through to lip gloss. This is different to how women buy mainstream cosmetics where they pick and choose products from different brands.

What products have you tried previously to cover the port wine stain?

I have used every coverage product known to man and I was sceptical about gloMinerals to start with because I couldn’t believe they would give me the coverage I needed, but I have been so impressed with how well they camouflage the stain.

I have had laser treatments with the Candela VBeam – which is used on children’s birthmarks – and that has helped lessen the stain, but the great thing with the gloMinerals make-up is that it can be applied straight after a treatment such as a skin peel, laser procedure or even injectables.

You stock a lot of different make-up ranges – what is it about gloMinerals that sets them apart?

I still stock other mineral make-up ranges for clients that are die-hard fans of those brands but gloMinerals is the range that I stock in the clinic and would recommend to new clients.

It’s great value and cost-effective and very versatile; they do a liquid foundation, a tint for those who don’t want heavier coverage, pressed powder, loose powder as well as the concealer and camouflage products. It has everything anyone could want.

Often the mineral make-up foundations are just in the form of loose powders and they can be messy, incredibly wasteful and hard to apply.

What is the standout product from the gloMinerals range in your experience?

For me, personally, it is the concealer which is fantastic, but our bestselling product is the pressed powder.

Expert opinion: Mary explains how to camouflage

The make-up is applied just as a normal department store make-up range but I also use it to cover the large port wine stain on my face, broken thread veins on my cheeks and under the eyes.

Firstly, I use the Camouflage Brush to apply the Golden Honey Camouflage and Concealer; the Camouflage is used to cover the stain and then I use the Concealer to blend the edges in. I then allow it to settle for a few minutes before applying the pressed base powder with the Ultra Brush.

I swirl the brush through the powder and apply in a circular, buffing motion and work it in. The secret is to work it in thoroughly and to build up the layers. Then you can just use the eye, blusher or lip products from the range on top.

The coverage is great and you don’t need a lot to achieve a fantastic camouflage. I have used medical make-up ranges in the past and they seem false and unnatural and you have to apply it so thickly that you look and feel as if you’re wearing a mask. glo products look natural and let the skin breathe.

The gloMoist Hydration Mist is also a great product; you spray it on during the day and it revitalises the minerals so you don’t need to reapply your make-up.