Alima Pure mineral cosmetics are:

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about mineral makeup and Alima Pure.

Are mineral cosmetics natural?

All ingredients used in our formulations are created from natural minerals and mineral pigments that are carefully refined in laboratories to very specific standards set by the FDA and the European Cosmetic Directive. We use only pigments that are free of dyes, carmine and other additives. Our titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are pure untreated minerals. We always choose the very purest ingredients available for our products.

Is mineral makeup organic?

Actually it's inorganic - mineral-based vs. plant or animal-based. What this means is that our pure mineral makeup doesn't require preservatives or pesticides. It's also naturally chemical free.

Do your products contain nano-particles?

Absolutely not. And they never will.

Do your products contain gluten?

None whatsoever.

Do mineral cosmetics work for all skin types?

Yes. If you are prone to breaking out, have sensitive skin, chemical sensitivities or even Cosmetic Intolerance Syndrome (CIS), the gentle minerals in our cosmetics are likely to be beneficial. In addition, minerals form a protective barrier on the surface of the skin rather than cross the dermal barrier as some liquid cosmetics do. Mineral makeup works well for both oily and dry skin, so your skin can breath. Many of our customers with rosacea tell us that their skin condition improves when they use our mineral foundation. And if you have sensitive skin rest assured - Alima Pure mineral makeup is bismuth oxychloride free.

How long will a jar of mineral foundation last?

You can expect your jar of mineral foundation to last at least 4-6 months.

Can I mix my mineral powders?

Yes. One of the delights of mineral cosmetics is their versatility. You can customize your colors by simply combining them. Tweak a foundation by adding a little bit of another shade and adapt your eye colors as desired. The possibilities are endless! This is a great way to play with your extra samples as well.

Does Alima Pure mineral foundation contain sunscreen?

Two of the primary ingredients in Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation are natural, physical sun blocks. It has been our experience (and many customers have shared this as well) that Satin Matte Foundation provides enough coverage for incidental sun exposure. If you will be getting a lot of sun, we recommend sunscreen. Even when makeup contains SPF factors very few women apply makeup thickly enough to go without sunscreen.

What foundation shade should I wear?

This question isn't as simple as it might seem. In order to narrow down your shade, we invite you to visit our How to Choose Mineral Foundation page.

I'm ready to order some samples, but I'm confused with all of these different powders. What do I really need to start?

All you really need is the Satin Matte Foundation. All of the other face powders are great, but not necessary unless:

Do I need to buy your brushes?

That depends. If you have been using a mineral foundation with a brush, and are happy with that brush, you should continue to use it. We believe our brushes are the perfect complement to our products. We designed the foundation brush ourselves, and we were definitely one of the first companies to offer man-made bristles, but that doesn't mean that you need to purchase one. After you use our products for a while, you may want to invest in an Alima Pure brush - you will be surprised at what a difference it makes. If you don't already have a brush, you will want to purchase one, and we think ours is the best choice!

Help! I just got an order of full-sized products and I can't get anything out of the jar!

This could be one of two different situations. Our products come with a seal over the sifter. It's a clear seal and sometimes is hard to see unless you look closely. If you have already removed the seal, it might be that the product is packed too tightly into the jar. We want to be sure that you get a generously-filled jar, but it can cause the powder to come out slowly the first few uses. If the product is packed tightly, it can be difficult to get out until you have more space below the sifter. The easiest solution is to turn the jar upside down (with the lid on!) and give it a solid whack on the counter. This will usually dislodge enough product for one use; and once you have done this several times, the rest of the product will come out easily.

I switched to your product from a line of mineral cosmetics that contains Bismuth Oxychloride, because it made my skin itch, but now I'm trying yours and I still itch!

Sensitivity to Bismuth Oxychloride can cause itching, but it isn't as common as you might be lead to believe. The actual culprit is more likely to be your brushes. First, are you using an animal hair brush? Almost every person who has written to us with this complaint has been using an animal hair brush. You may have used them all of your life, but until you use them to apply a mineral foundation, the contact with your face is quite limited. With mineral foundation, the bristles are in contact with the skin longer - especially if you "buff" the foundation into your skin (which is not necessary with Alima Pure). You are quite likely sensitive to the animal hair bristles. Try applying the foundation with a brush with man-made bristles or with a flocked sponge. We are almost certain your problem will be solved.

Can you tell me about your shipping charges?

We ship all of our products using the Postal Service's Priority and First Class Mail. We charge a flat rate based on the base or flat rate for shipping. We prefer Priority Mail for our domestic packages because the rate includes Delivery Confirmation and the delivery is fast and reliable. We use Global Priority Mail for our international packages because it is faster and considerably more reliable than Air Mail. For more information please visit our shipping page.