I've been hearing lately that some "mineral" make up brands can actually be toxic and harming to your skin and the environment. There are so many ways to mask the unnatural ingredients that it has become difficult for me to find a brand that I can trust. Does anyone have any suggestions for natural ingredient or mineral make up that won't be harmful to the skin or environment?

I don't know through personal experience but some brands that you can usually trust are Burt's Bees, Bare Minerals, and Aveda. Sephora also now carries a lot of eco-friendly brands. But some things to look out for in the labeling:

A. Parabens--a preservative linked to breast cancer, weight gain and hormone disruption. Its prefixes are ethyl, methyl, butyl, isobutyl or propyl.
B. Talc--contains a chemical that is similar to asbestos and can increase the risk of certain ovarian cancers.
C. Fragrance--this term is used to mask hundreds of chemical ingredients including phthalates which disrupts the endocrine system and may cause reproductive and developmental harm.

Or you can search the products you already use or may be interested in trying at:
http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/
Skin Deep is a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products brought to you by researchers at the Environmental Working Group.

If you have time and are interested in making your own (probably the safest way to ensure no chemicals), Greeniacs offers the guide, "Make you Own Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Supplies" at http://www.greeniacs.com/GreeniacsGuides/Make-Your-Own-
Eco-Friendly-Cosmetic-Supplies.html