Bare Minerals

When I began seriously wearing make up around March of last year, I was told by a friend of mine who went to cosmetology school that if there was one thing I should buy at Sephora, it was foundation. When I asked for a recommendation, she told me Bare Minerals. She told me it would improve my skin as well as make me look great. So, off to Sephora I went the next weekend, and picked me up a jar of Bare Minerals' matte loose powder foundation.

Initially, I was in love. I think I was just trying to convince myself I loved it. (I had previously been using Revlon's Photo Ready Airbrush Mousse Makeup, which I had a love/hate relationship with, and I had just tried out the horrendous Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Makeup so anything would've been better than that.) Other than realizing that I did buy a shade too dark, I liked the matte foundation. I especially liked that I could leave it on all day and I didn't get that "makeup" look. Sure, I realized it did make me oily (and my skin is not oily at all) but I kept happily wearing.

And then something happened. After a few months, I began to hate the foundation. I noticed it wasn't improving my skin at all, it was oxidizing and turning orange, it wasn't covering anything, and it just seemed to make my pores look huge. And it made my skin look dirty. I still continued to use it, and just figured that it was too dark and maybe I should try the original finish next time around.

So, I bought the original foundation after seeing the infomercial. I mean, the deal was just too good to pass up! But it was the same deal: oxidized, didn't cover, didn't even last (even with concealer and primer), and made my skin look dirty. Bare Minerals loose foundation, we are officially finished. I don't even want to finish the stupid jar I have (but I will because I bought it and I really try to use up everything unless it is just horrendous, like that Neutrogena foundation).

But I ended up either buying or accumulating a lot of their other products, with varying degrees of success.

Yes, their Flawless Definition mascara is wonderful, for a basic mascara. It doesn't really volumize or curl your lashes but I wear it everyday to work (if I want to look a bit fancier, I wear a different one). If I hadn't gotten this for free, I would never buy it. It is not worth $18 because there's nothing special about it.

I also received a sample size of their All-Over Face Color in Warmth, and I really like this product. A little goes a long way, and it does provide a very natural bit of color. If you do use too much, it looks ridiculous, so you do have to be careful. I probably will repurchase, especially since I received their Ready Bronzer in Skinny Dip and it provides no color what so ever. I really have to use a lot (on a kabuki, by the way) to get it to show up. Maybe Skinny Dip is too light for me? It is just a disappointing product, especially since the color is lovely.

The first blush I ever bought for myself was the Bare Minerals' loose blush in Hint. It's a pretty color but again, a little goes a long, long way. It is very pigmented. It's nothing special, so I may not purchase again (especially since Nars' Orgasm is so fantastic).

I also received a sample of Mineral Veil. Everyone RAVES about this product and I am still at a loss for what to do with it. It does work well over the loose foundation to minimize the oiliness but I've tried it as a setting powder for other foundations and it just doesn't do anything for me. It doesn't make me look airbrushed, like it claims to do. There are much better translucent powders out their for much cheaper.

I do really like the Correcting Concealer but only to hide blemishes/marks. It cakes under the eyes but then again, I feel like all cream concealers cake do that.

And last but not least, the controversial Ready Foundation...

I was very excited about this but bought it before I read the reviews that all said to buy one shade up from the loose foundation. (What is with this company? Too dark, too light. Where is Bare Minerals' Goldilocks?) The first night I tried it out, I was so pale and the make up looked so heavy on my face. It was terrible. I had to try a few brushes before I was able to figure out how to get this to not look so unnatural. Even though I did, I still had to contend with the damn shade problem. That was where the Warmth came in. Warmth does make it look more natural. But I don't want to have to go through all of these steps in the morning when I'm doing my make up for work. I just wanted something quick and easy, which is what I thought the Ready Foundation would be. I don't really love this product, and I feel like I need to try it out one more time in the right shade to really judge it.

But I am just incredibly disappointed by Bare Minerals as a whole, so I am trying to just stop buying their products. There's so much hype surrounding their stuff but to be honest, it didn't improve my skin as advertised. It did nothing for me. I really tried. I really wanted to like it. But now it's time to start trying new brands and products to really figure out what is best for my skin and the look I want to achieve. I probably won't repurchase any of these products for the time being.

However, there is one exception. Bare Minerals' Active Cell Renewal Night Serum is like the nectar of the gods. I will always repurchase this. It has dramatically improved my skin, made my pores smaller, and has minimized my break outs. I recommend this to everyone.