Bare Escentuals i.d. bareMinerals
Ahh, Bare Escentuals. How I love you, despite the teeth-grindingly annoying way you choose to spell your name.
I have seen the light, and lo, it shines from the EARTH. Where MINERALS live. Did you know that this makeup is made of only pure, crushed minerals? From the EARTH?
Whatever. I don’t really care if the chief ingredient is dried hyena fetus, this is some kick-ass makeup. I’ve been using it for about a month now, and I am fantastically pleased with the results.
I’ve used foundation for years because my skin tone is uneven, I always have at least one zit, and I have rosacea-related blotchiness and…well, the word “bumpiness” is just too gross, so I’ll say “non-smoothness” instead.
In comparison to the scores of liquid brands I’ve tried, the bareMinerals stuff goes on like buttah, then completely disappears into my skin, leaving behind Skin 2.0: even, smooth, and seemingly blemish-free. Even if I peer at myself in a magnifying mirror in NATURAL LIGHT, I don’t see a layer of makeup on my face. It covers red spots in a bafflingly effective manner, and I even use it under my eyes in lieu of the goopy concealer wand I have relied on forever.
As the day wears on, my oily skin does succumb somewhat to the inevitable Exxon Effect and I get shiny, but much less so than before. I hate using a compact for de-glaring my nose now, because I can instantly see powder in my pores as opposed to the freaky magic act the bareMinerals does.
I bought the Get Started Kit in Fairly Light/Light, which includes two shades of foundation (in this case, the Fairly Light and Light), a “skin rev-ver upper” (I used it a few times and saw no point), the Mineral Veil finishing powder, a “Warmth” all over face color (which looks dark bronze, I’ve never used it), a Kabuki brush, a “Flawless application” brush, and a concealer brush. That whole thing cost $60, which I now consider a decent deal.
The pieces I use and love are the Fairly Light foundation ($25.00), the Mineral Veil – which acts, I swear to god, like a subtle Gaussian blur over your whole face – ($19.00), the Kabuki brush ($28.00), which I use to put on the foundation, and the “Flawless” brush ($22.00), which I use for the Mineral Veil.
The kit comes with, ha ha haaaaaaaa, an instructional DVD, but don’t get intimidated by the thought of a complicated application process. You swirl some powder onto a brush, then buff it onto your face. Oh, and try not to put on a whole giant shitload of it. The end.
I am such a fan of this makeup I actually took before and after photos, not because I think I look so great or anything, but just to show you the lengths I will go to in order to pimp the crushed minerals. Which are from the EARTH. Or possibly a hyena.
Link: Bare Escentuals Get Started Kit; Bare Escentuals line
Ballpark price: Varies, kit runs $60.
P.S. For the record, here are some other mineral makeup lines people have recommended that may be less expensive:
• Physicians Formula Mineral Powder
• Mineral Basics
• Neutrogena mineral sheers
• Aromaleigh
• J.Lynne Cosmetics
• Everyday Minerals
Posted: September 21st, 2006 under Makeup, Personally recommended by Linda.
Comments: 30
Comments
Comment from MRW
Time: September 22, 2006, 9:17 am
I love! this makeup! - if not for you and your helpful commenter, I would never have heard of it or tried it, SO glad it came up. I too have rosacea issues and am getting zits (WTF, I’m in my late 30s for god’s sake - ANYWAY) and this make up takes care of it all without looking like I’ve dipped my face in concealer. Because I’m a make-up idiot, I watched the instructional DVD and it’s not really complicated, but good to have someone show me how to do it. ANYWAY, I happily buy this stuff for ridiculous sums of $ because it’s the best make-up I’ve ever used. Thank you all for raving about it!
Comment from PattM
Time: September 22, 2006, 9:33 am
I also love! this makeup! and totally decided to buy it based on your glowing recommendations. I am very skeptical about beauty products, but this is amazing! Totally in love! Thanks!
Comment from orangepeacock
Time: September 22, 2006, 9:53 am
I have to third the thanks for mentioning it your other journal awhile back. I bought it after reading all the you-and-commenter-induced hype, and it was definitely, definitely worth it. I like to compare my visage to the “before” picture in a Proactiv ad, and it makes me look human. I will never, ever be able to thank you enough for writing about this!
Comment from Julie
Time: September 22, 2006, 10:14 am
I really like this makeup too - the only negative is that it’s extremely messy!! I usually end up with more in my sink than on my face.
Comment from sundry
Time: September 22, 2006, 10:19 am
Comment from Jane
Time: September 22, 2006, 11:20 am
I just bought my first mineral makeup yesterday, Jane Iredale PurePressed base (I also took the opportunity to buy a lovely new makeup brush). It’s awesome! I don’t look made up, just…better.
Comment from Katie
Time: September 22, 2006, 11:29 am
I, too, went for the Starter Kit after you posted about it on All & Sundry. I love it! And I’ve never really loved makeup before. In fact, I rarely wore it before this because it always looked too…makeup-y. I think my coloring is similar to yours and I’ve been using the Fairly Light as a concealer (under eyes, freckles, etc.) and the Light as the all over. The Warmth looks scary, but if you just use a bit (I grab what is on the lid) and use on your cheeks, nose and forehead it adds a very subtle, um, warmth. Thanks so much for posting about it - long live the mineral makeup!
Comment from Sonia
Time: September 22, 2006, 12:09 pm
I bought this stuff because of you! Thanks!!!!
Comment from DiWriter
Time: September 22, 2006, 12:12 pm
I’m with you there, on the BE makeup. I went to Sephora to try it out after my sister in law recommended it. . Went to dinner - had steak and red wine (both things to make my rosacea go “WHEEE” and checked myself out.
I was pale. Lovely and dare I say, normal looking.
I went back the next day and bought the starter kit.
Comment from K
Time: September 22, 2006, 1:55 pm
Thanks again for recommending this awhile back! BE needs to start sending you a cut of their profits or something. I was always curious about this stuff, but you provided the only before/after picture I’ve seen, and that’s what sold me. I LOOOOOOVE the nonmakeuppy look. I’ve started getting shiny after a few hours, but I might try the Mineral Veil and see if that blots it up. I’m going to steal some of my mom’s Warmth and see how it goes!
Comment from Gillian
Time: September 22, 2006, 2:33 pm
You forgot Abbey St. Clare (www.abbeyclare.com) who’s got AMAZING mineral makeup (especially the “colours” - which is from the same supplier as MAC makeup)!
Comment from Gracie
Time: September 22, 2006, 4:42 pm
Love this website (and your other one, too!). I’m always on the lookout for sites like this because I love to get ideas from others on what they like/use/hate/would-never-buy-if-hell-froze-over. I’m already planning an Illuminations purchase and I’m definitely getting the Old Navy slouchy pants since I can’t ever seem to find pants that fit my 41-year-old butt and waist at the same time. I also love BE makeup. Discovered it a couple years back via QVC and I’ve worn nothing else since. I also like BE’s eyeliner shadows. They last forever and come in lots of great colors.
Comment from christen
Time: September 22, 2006, 7:27 pm
FYI–I too love the B.E. (medium/medium beige) and, once you know what colors you like, hit up ebay. Foundations can be found new, sealed, for around $5-$10. Also? I got their eyeshadows from ebay–LOVE! Personally, I like the Fantasy Island (copper) and Sunshine (shimmery yellow/white/gold).
Comment from Jamie :)
Time: September 22, 2006, 9:42 pm
“like a subtle Gaussian blur over your whole face” Haha! You crack me up! Also, love the effects on the pop-up picture! 
Comment from Mama Ritchie
Time: September 22, 2006, 9:54 pm
I told my mom I went to Sephora and she was all, “To get Bare Minerals?” I thought she was high. Then you mentioned it, Sundry, and I was all, “Wow I guess I have to get this shit.” And I like it - I do. But either I’m doing something wrong or I need the concealing powder cuz the redness I have around my nose and the circles under my eyes still show up - albeit not as glaringly. Also, have any of your Kabuki brushes shedded? I end up looking like I wiped my face off using my fawn-colored pug. I even watched the DVD - I feel like a retard! Help, people!
Comment from Em
Time: September 22, 2006, 10:28 pm
I love the bare minerals stuff! Two cents that I can add for fellow users: When my skin gets a little shiny, I find that rice paper blotting sheets work quite well. I use Palladio blotting sheets. Secondly, the “warmth” functions well as sort of a blush. When I’m looking kind of pallid, I use a little bit (seriously, less is more) and sweep it from my cheek bones to my forehead and back down to my chin in a pattern that looks kind of like a cursive “e” or the number three depending on which side of my face you’re looking at.
Comment from Lesley
Time: September 23, 2006, 12:50 am
I’ve been dying to try this but hesitant to order on line because I live in Canada and have experienced products not arriving…plus the exchange and duty adds up. I just discovered a beauty salon three blocks from my place sells escentuals. I can’t wait to get down there to buy some.
Comment from Jen
Time: September 26, 2006, 9:15 am
OK, ever since I read your first entry on this I have been intrigued, not to mention plagued by the mental picture of you running around in a circle flapping your arms and shouting “Bare Minerals!!!” Anyway, so did you buy this at a Sephora where they showed you how to apply it, and how to get the right shade? I am seriously an idiot about makeup stuff, and I’m a little scared to just buy this off the web.
Comment from Audrey
Time: October 6, 2006, 3:49 pm
Chiming in late, because mine just arrived in the mail last night. A friend of mine, who also reads Sundry, ordered some a few weeks ago and loves it. That was the tipping point for me to order the get started kit. That’s what I would recommend, Jen. I am an idiot about make-up, and also had to order online because between work and kids, going to Sephora in person? ha HA, not going to happen! The light/fairly light worked well for me, and the DVD was helpful. My skin feels a little dry, but I have Sahara skin. At almost 4 p.m. the first day, I am blown away by the fact that I still have some make-up on! Normally, it’s long-gone by now, and I am way too inept to reapply anything once I leave the house. So, Jen, if you are still out there, the web purchase went fine for me, and I have never bought make-up on the web before, let alone anything that was not chosen for me by a professional. This BE makeup seems to be kind of idiot-proof.
Comment from JenE
Time: October 7, 2006, 7:23 am
Bought mine online, too, and it arrived yesterday. I don’t normally gussy up on Saturday, but I just watched the DVD and applied the make-up. Loving it so far!
Comment from Brenna
Time: November 2, 2006, 6:57 am
Just the other day I was saying to someone “I want to invent Photoshop makeup, like a constant skin softening layer that you can wear” and after trying this stuff out at my sister’s house and staring into any reflective surface in arm’s reach, I ordered my own. Yay! Just one-to-two weeks until I’m ready for my closeup.
p.s. If my HTML markup displays when I see this post I’m going to be pissed.
Comment from Kristen
Time: November 7, 2006, 4:25 pm
So sad that this was no good for me. I am mixed and have medium-dark skin and it literally looked like I wiped ashes on cheek. I did, however, encounter Makeup Forever Mat Velvet foundation, which is a great alternative for those who need good coverage but have darker skin.
Comment from Beth
Time: November 14, 2006, 5:03 pm
I bought the starter kit the day after you originally posted this on All & Sundry, and am considering any child I may have after you for this awesome tip. Seriously. Cleared up acne, rosacea, and all without making it appear like I was an understudy for an off-Broadway play.
So now here’s a tip for you and yours in thanks: QVC often has vats of this stuff for cheap. Granted, it means checking the QVC website periodically, which is often an exercise in bad UI, but the prices cannot be beat.
Comment from lynn
Time: December 13, 2006, 7:34 pm
I, too, am a BE fan, and can add that if you need spot or under-eye dark circle coverage, the “bisque” or similar toned eye shadow can be applied with a flat eye shadow brush as a concealer. I use it for under-eye circles, and it blends really well.
Comment from laughing mommy
Time: February 28, 2007, 3:39 pm
Thanks for recommending this. I finally tried it and I LOVE it. I got the starter kit. Now I’m thinking of getting the eyeliner (liquid! scary!) and the blush.
Comment from ycxcwjltgd
Time: July 3, 2007, 12:37 pm
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! oynehkmkhtcde
Comment from Erica
Time: November 2, 2007, 4:14 pm
I’m not sure if you still get comments on old posts, but I wanted to tell you that I bought the starter kit today because of your review. I LOVE it! I can’t wait to get some eyeshadow to try. I feel so pretty!
Pingback from The Anvil Tree » I Wish My Name Were Diablo.
Time: February 25, 2008, 8:39 am
[…] Also, I’m giving a second shot to a product I initially detested: BareMinerals makeup. I tried the line when they first came out, some eight odd years ago, and the stuff ate up my skin. But everyone, including the lovely Linda, just raves about it. Can I really be SO odd that I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t like this makeup? So I’m trying it one more time. (With a 60 day risk-free trial, who wouldn’t?) So far? I’m not seeing a WORLD of difference.. but I guess that’s to be expected when the “Well-Rested” eyeshadow, which is touted as a “skin brightening, lightening eye shadow”, is dark enough to use as an actual shadow on my pale-ass skin. […]
Comment from Niki
Time: March 27, 2008, 5:41 am
Question - do you think you could put this mineral powder on before playing tennis? Or going to the gym? I received it as a gift and absolutely LOVE the way it makes my skin look — hate to go out without it now!!
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