If you find yourself caught in an endless cycle, forever in quest of the perfect makeup, it may be time to dip your brush into mineral makeup, if you haven't done so already. Just swirl, tap and buff away, as a popular ad for mineral makeup says and experience the difference.

Mineral makeup is the fastest growing segment within the multi-billion dollar cosmetics industry and supposedly works magic on your skin, while still making you look natural and beautiful.

Wildly popular as an alternative option to mainstream cosmetics that may contain synthetic, possibly toxic, preservative-filled, skin-irritating and aging ingredients; experts say mineral makeup is so good for your skin you can literally sleep in it.

"What you have in mineral makeup is natural, finely ground minerals from the earth, without any of the chemicals, dyes, and preservatives found in traditional makeup," says Rose Colborn, a licensed cosmetologist at Southern Illinois Plastic Surgery. "Mineral makeup uses all-natural and inert ingredients: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for filler, iron oxides and mica and other mineral pigments for color."

Dr. Ted G. Van Acker, board certified dermatologist and owner of Southern Illinois Dermatology says he would recommend mineral cosmetics instead of chemical based cosmetics to any of his patients.

"Mineral cosmetics are non-comedogenic, so they don't block the pores like a chemical based foundation," Van Acker says. "Mineral cosmetics are inorganic; therefore there is a decreased chance of harboring bacteria."

Van Acker, who happens to own three boutiques in Southern Illinois that sell Bare Escentuals and Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup, admits it is often very difficult to convince his patients to wear sunscreen on a daily basis. Since mineral cosmetics naturally contain a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB sun protection, which is extremely important for everyone at every age, that's an added benefit as well.

Amy Scutt, manager of Van Acker's DermaCare Body Boutiques in Herrin, Carbondale, and Murphysboro swears by Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup. A mother of two children, Scutt's mornings are pretty hectic, since she drives the morning car pool every day for three other children.

"I put my makeup on at 6 a.m. and my busy lifestyle prohibits me from retouching my makeup throughout the day," Scutt says. "Yet I still look fresh and my skin looks great when I get home at 5:30 p.m."

Enjoying an impressive 90 percent success rate with repeat customers, DermaCare Body Boutiques' most popular product remains Bare Escentuals.

"Mineral Makeup has swept the nation, and anyone who tries it, is hooked," Scutt says. She likens wearing mineral makeup to wearing nothing at all, since your skin not only looks great but it also feels great.

The downside? You cannot go back to wearing traditional makeup in most cases, since it "makes your skin feel heavy and dirty," Scutt says.

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Are all minerals equal?

"You have to keep in mind that in order to be labeled as a mineral makeup, the product only has to contain three percent minerals," says Amy Scutt, manager of DermaCare Body Boutiques in Herrin, Carbondale, and Murphysboro.

The truth is every mineral makeup is not the same. "Maybe a particular brand is more translucent, while another is more opaque, some go on easier than others, some suit your particular skin tone better," says Rose Colborn, a licensed cosmetologist at Southern Illinois Plastic Surgery.

That's why it is always a good idea to try before you buy a product, by taking advantage of free makeup applications offered at outlets that sell mineral makeup. "It really prevents you from spending a lot of money on a product that you won't use otherwise," Scutt says.

To ensure you are putting a good product on your skin, it also helps to read the ingredients. "If you want to be a purist, look for iron oxide, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide," Colborn says. "They are closest to nature and aren't processed. If you don't see petroleum, talc, fats and oil-based products in the ingredients list, you are okay."