HealingHQ.com chats with natural mineral makeup mogul Jane Iredale

World-renowned natural makeup maven Jane Iredale has become a household name among women everywhere. Since 1994, her eponymous skincare makeup line has been enhancing the lives of A-list celebrities to stay-at-home moms with its flawless coverage and color that actually helps the health of the skin. Jane recently emailed us to expose the ugly truth behind the beauty business and how looking good is no longer just skin deep.

When did you first have the idea to launch your own cosmetics line? What is your background?
My background has been in film, theatre, and television. I started as a casting director, working in television commercials with models like Lauren Hutton, Jaclyn Smith, and Cybil Shepherd, and then in film and television with actresses like Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close, and Sarah Jessica Parker. I’ve also worked with Francis Ford Coppola on The Outsiders and Steven Spielberg on The Color Purple. I then owned a production company and produced over fifty programs for PBS and HBO. 

Throughout my career, I’ve worked with some of the best makeup artists in the field. I’ve seen first hand that true makeup artistry comes not from trying to make a face conform to the latest fashion trends, but from enhancing the wearer’s natural beauty and, as a result, allowing her personality to shine. My experience in working with women whose careers depended on a clear complexion has allowed me to see how skin disorders and sensitivities not only threaten careers, but can also destroy self-confidence.

Why did you think it was important to create a beauty brand that does not use synthetic, chemical-based ingredients?
Healthy skin needs nourishment and protection without the use of sensitizers, dyes, fragrances, binders and synthetic preservatives. Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics uses natural ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that provide anti-inflammatory properties and broad-spectrum, chemical-free sun protection.  Pomegranate extract, green tea, buckwheat wax, and essential oils are also some additional “natural” ingredients found in Iredale products. Synthetic and chemical-based products cause irritation, burning, itching and inflammation. 

There seems to be a growing trend for mineral makeup. Are all mineral makeup brands the same?
No, not all mineral brands are the same. Iredale Mineral Cosmetics uses the highest quality of ingredients and pulverizes minerals into the finest dust. Jane Iredale-The Skincare Makeup was the first full mineral makeup line on the market to offer not just color enhancement, but also benefits for the skin. The products are based on micronized minerals and are made without fillers and binders (such as talc and mineral oil) and without chemical dyes or preservatives. As a result, the Iredale products are carried by destination spas, salons and medical clinics throughout the world.

What is the Jane Iredale philosophy?
We pledge to provide a product line that has the utmost integrity and the ability to enhance the lives of women through its effectiveness, simplicity and beauty.

Your makeup doesn’t contain talc. Why is talc bad for the skin?
Talc is used in makeup as a filler and binder, blocking pores. It is a known irritant and many studies have linked talc to cancer formation. As a cheap binder to stretch color, talc is not only unhealthy for the skin but causes creases, rubs off and creates odd color tones.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to continue to provide new and innovative products that will have the same quality and integrity as the existing Iredale Mineral Cosmetics line.


Interview by Mar Yvette