Is Bare Minerals Worth Buying?

[pinksatin]

Honestly I don't really like BM . I have tried their foundation powder and a blush and I've thrown them out. I did an experiment wearing it for a week and not using it for a long time and then trying it again. I conclude that I break out more while using it. ALso I don't like the coverage. I think the texture is unflattering on me in little areas where my skin is drier, it looks cakey. So I don't think this is for everyone. I don't think any makeup brand/product is gonna be perfect for everyone.

That said I do LOVE their eye glimmers. THe colors and pigments are great and layerable from sheer to opaque, they stay on, and the shimmeriness is wonderful! And only $13 each.

 

[lostinemotion]

i think it depends on the brush you use, because it won't work that well, unless you get a compacted brush, like the kabuki brush. i noticed some of their brushes that are allegedly the "same" brush have different textures. so, i'd feel it first, to make sure you get a firm one. the one that comes in the trial kit, isn't always good..
also, as with any make up brand, skin care is ideal.
i think if you have dry patches, you should try using a nourishing toner like Decleor Rose Water toner, then a nice light cream that is nourishing.
Wait 10 minutes to let it absorb, then use the BM. Tap on nose and move out word.
You have to really "buff" kind of hard to get it in there.
My skin has actually improved since using it. I tried everything.
My sister was using it and she had the dry skin too, but when I did the make up for her, she looked flawless.

 

[iLoveCouture]

Since you have started to use BE, have others around you started to use it as well?
Most of the women in my family wear it now b/c they saw how clear my skin became and while their liquid foundations melted in warm weather, my face still looked fresh

 

[pinksatin]

lostinthemotion- I did actually buy the buki brush the salesgirl recommended. I don't know. I guess I just don't really like the product. I have used powder foundation before but it was pressed powder. I don't know if this is too off topic but Im using Benefit's "some-kinda-gorgeous" for foundation right now and for about the past year. I like how it's a soft solid cream (I don't know if that makes sense). I just like how it's so smooth and invisible. I guess everything isn't for everyone right?

 

[Maliya550]

I sell BM to clueless clients all day when I work. Those silly commercials really do a wonderful job in making people believe the product is fabulous for everyone no matter how horrible they look with it on their skin. I literally cringe when clients come up asking for a color match. Ugh! Anyway, the bottom line with this product is if you have light colored, young, oily skin it's going to look great on you. Anything outside that...forget it.

The only decent product they have is the Warmth. If used correctly, it actually looks fantastic on most skin. As far as their eye glimmers go...try MAC's pigments.

 

[2Nova]

^ yea... my mother has oily skin and no wrinkles to be found and she looks great w/ BE
I have patches of dry skin and... it doesn't stay on me for crap... even w/ primer

the warmth is amazing and so are the eyeshadows but i totally believe you when you say that!

 

[SuzannaMars]

I wore BE exclusively for three years, foundation only. I've since switched over to a Cover Girl foundation called Advanced Radiance that is working better with dry winter skin (this is a truly admirable cheap product). When I wore BE, I used cream blushes for adhesion so I was still able to use my Nars blushes. BE makes a tremendous difference for someone with ruddiness or discoloration, although it works better in the summer. I found that many people were unclear about how to apply it correctly. I also think the BE approach to merchandising within their boutiques is simply dreadful.

I found the shadows useless, for a variety of reasons, although I commend their color selection. These products were difficult for me to use, too fine, and didn't have enough color payoff without dampening (I was using shadows like Tan Lines).

I think their association with QVC, plus their hiring of the gal from Urban Decay (correct me if this is the wrong company) caused them to go into a frenzy of product releases, confusing and overwhelming many customers, especially new ones. Right now I have lost interest in investigating new products simply because of the commitment it takes to keep up with them. Some of the kits are brilliantly conceived; last year's Rose Gossamer was a brilliant idea. But they are fatiguing.

Bottom line: If you can apply this product correctly, by all means go for it. It works so well in the summer that it is hard to find anything better.

A funny aside: I have Fairly Light. I'm a Caucasian with a medium ivory tone. I was at ULTA one day and the clerk there had made up an Indian woman, quite dark-skinned, with Fairly Light. When this customer stepped away from the SA for a moment, I interceded and explained that I wore Fairly Light and that it was too light for her and that perhaps she should check it in daylight before purchasing. She insisted that the SA must know what was right, even as it should have been apparent that she and I had very different skintones. She bought it while the SA glowered at me.

 

[YOcaroline]

I'm starting to use BE again since the weather is getting hotter and my skin is getting oilier by the day. I like their foundation. The only time I don't use it is when I'm breaking out because I think it accentuates the mini bumps. But other than that, I guess great coverage and my skin looks awesome. Plus I'm a huge fan of their blushes. I just bought their eyeliner kit... I'll see if that's worth it.

 

[melfreya]

the best foundation EVER!!!!!thanks lostinemotion and cosmogrl for suggesting it!!it covers my acne so well!!!to think that i used both a liquid foundation and powder foundation on top to hide all of my skin's problems (looking cakey and heavy as hell too) and now it only takes one product with the effect of not wearing anything??????
BE where have you been all my life?????!!!!
one question:is mineral veil necessary with my oily skin?i'm gonna buy it anyway along with the blushes but i don't want to lose the glow i have now with only the foundation!!

 

[lostinemotion]

congrats!
i only use the mineral veil, if i really want a matte look, like going to a meeting etc or if I know photos are going to be taken.
you will see that it will actually make your acne go away. i had little bumps and some acne around my cheeks and chin and I think my skin has improved.
i can't believe i used to cake on mac make up and loose powder either!
Also, I am light colored with a yellow under tone, but tan well in summer. It still works when I darken the shade.
Also, my friend, who is half african and half portuguese, has very tan skin and she looks flawless with no detection at all that she has make up on. I question her all the time to see if she is still using it and she definitely is! :-)
Her complexion is probably a couple shades darker than halle berry.

 

[melfreya]

thank you for replying my saviour!!!!i'll definitely buy it for my t-zone mostly..i am also light with yellow undertones and I tan well too!!my acne is always around that time of the month only in the chin and cheeks area but the last week of using it not even one simple whitehead appeared..and i slept with it one night too (just to put that ad to the test like the guinea pig I am)and it actually dried an old zit faster than mario badesku's drying lotion..Miracle I tell you!!!Miracle!!!Thank you so much!!!
I was ready to buy again a thick foundation when I came across this thread..it literally changed the way I feel about my skin..Major Karma for you sweetheart

 

[lostinemotion]

your welcome. me too!
i used to order it from another state before they started carrying it at my local sephora.
it really made my confidence go way up.
people that have perfect skin don't understand how this make up is life changing, but if not thinking abt acne is one less thing to worry about, it's one major thing.
i tried their nighttime rare mineral thing too. if you put it on after a shower before bed...omg, you wake up with firmer skin.
weird, i know! lol

 

[melfreya]

I know!!!(monica from friends voice)
people with acne will just appreciate this like nothing before!!
i'm still in shock!!i actually like my skin now..(and i haven't said that in nearly 10 years..)

 

[lostinemotion]

aww, that's awesome. I've been using these products since 2002, and I love to find a reason to change and still have not.
it just gives you that extra something that makes heads turn. even if your not a 10. something nice about glowing skin that gets attention.
i was able to just focus on other things after that.

 

[eunhe]

i feel like i'm missing something! The first time I used BE I found that it applied way too thick and cakey. Especially with the kabuki brush. So, i gave up on it.

Then I watched another infomercial several months later and decided to give BE another chance. again, I felt like a geisha girl with thick makeup.

AM I just applying this stuff incorrectly?

Believe it or not, I bought it a THIRD time, when my sister and her friends were raving about it, and I still don't get it.

I went back to using giorgio armani foundation...

p.s. i have moderately oily skin

 

[Maliya550]

I wore BE exclusively for three years, foundation only. I've since switched over to a Cover Girl foundation called Advanced Radiance that is working better with dry winter skin (this is a truly admirable cheap product). When I wore BE, I used cream blushes for adhesion so I was still able to use my Nars blushes. BE makes a tremendous difference for someone with ruddiness or discoloration, although it works better in the summer. I found that many people were unclear about how to apply it correctly. I also think the BE approach to merchandising within their boutiques is simply dreadful.

I found the shadows useless, for a variety of reasons, although I commend their color selection. These products were difficult for me to use, too fine, and didn't have enough color payoff without dampening (I was using shadows like Tan Lines).

I think their association with QVC, plus their hiring of the gal from Urban Decay (correct me if this is the wrong company) caused them to go into a frenzy of product releases, confusing and overwhelming many customers, especially new ones. Right now I have lost interest in investigating new products simply because of the commitment it takes to keep up with them. Some of the kits are brilliantly conceived; last year's Rose Gossamer was a brilliant idea. But they are fatiguing.

Bottom line: If you can apply this product correctly, by all means go for it. It works so well in the summer that it is hard to find anything better.

A funny aside: I have Fairly Light. I'm a Caucasian with a medium ivory tone. I was at ULTA one day and the clerk there had made up an Indian woman, quite dark-skinned, with Fairly Light. When this customer stepped away from the SA for a moment, I interceded and explained that I wore Fairly Light and that it was too light for her and that perhaps she should check it in daylight before purchasing. She insisted that the SA must know what was right, even as it should have been apparent that she and I had very different skintones. She bought it while the SA glowered at me.

Your "funny side" is definitely funny. LOL This is VERY typical with Indian and Middle Eastern women. Most of them want to be way lighter than they are. They'll insist upon purchasing makeup that makes them look extremely pasty and unnatural. I've given up on trying to convince these customers of trying their actual color.

You're right about the shadows too. I don't understand why people love them so much. Better colors and a better product in MAC's pigment.

 

[Maliya550]

i feel like i'm missing something! The first time I used BE I found that it applied way too thick and cakey. Especially with the kabuki brush. So, i gave up on it.

Then I watched another infomercial several months later and decided to give BE another chance. again, I felt like a geisha girl with thick makeup.

AM I just applying this stuff incorrectly?

Believe it or not, I bought it a THIRD time, when my sister and her friends were raving about it, and I still don't get it.

I went back to using giorgio armani foundation...

p.s. i have moderately oily skin

The kabuki brush is for full coverage (i.e. cake face) so, if you love the product you should try using the flawless face brush. You can put on a much lighter layer with it.

 

[lostinemotion]

I think you have to be careful that it's not like a "normal" loose powder.
You have to use a very light amount. Literally, one dab, swirl and tap off and you can do your entire face. It might not seem like a lot, but just wait a few minutes and you will see it's there. I know I did not understand it at first either and insisted that they keep puffing it on because of my imperfections, but you just have to do that light layer and wait, then see if you need a second one.
I use the kabuki brush and manage to get it on lightly ( I think :lol) )

 

[Sloan]

^very true, about not using it like a regular loose powder.

I love the stuff and have tried other foundations, both powders and liquids. I always go back. It just looks so light and fresh!

Don't spill the warmth on your cream colored carpet though!! It doesn't come out!

 

[shoegal2183]

I don't know that Bare Minerals is worth buying. I tried the ELF product that is so similar to the BM foundation (even down to the packaging) and for me there has been little to no difference in quality.