Foundations for a germ-free look

Hong Kong-based Geoflair says the shelf life of mineral cosmetics depends on the product.

Although the minerals don't go bad, the products also contain organic matter, which means bacteria can reproduce.

A mineral foundation, for example, should last about four to six months if you use it every day. Geoflair says that if the foundation turns damp, toss it out. It's best to try to keep mineral makeup dry.

'One of the benefits of mineral makeup is that you can blend it with other powders to get the right colour - even the foundation,' a spokeswoman says. 'You can mix the foundations by shaking them in a container.'

Ingredients used in its cosmetics include titanium dioxide, mica, iron oxides and serecite. The minerals and pigments are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Geoflair says it doesn't use talc in its products.