Anyone here use Bare Minerals foundation?

[XanaDUer]

I have to say that I think I want to get some. The sunscreen aspect also has me intrigued.

Anyone ever use it?

[Beaverhausen]

1. I use it.

I like it. I've used it for about a year. I have an extremely oily t-zone and the "mineral Veil" which you put on after the foundation is really the only thing that keeps me from being a shiny mess all day.
But if your skin is dry it won't dry it out.

I actually sleep in it with no problems.

It doesn't cover as well as I'd like but maybe if I put it on more heavily it would. I did get a spot cover that I use sometimes that works.

They carry it at Sephora so you could try it there and see how you like it.

And yes, since I've used it I don't get sunburned on my face anymore.

[XanaDUer]

4. Does it do more like even out your skin tone?

I don't need heavy coverage, just evening out.

Thanks!

[Beaverhausen]

2. and I see QVC is doing a special on Wednesday night

7-8 eastern time.

I got a good deal on the concealer from QVC so you may want to watch.
You can get good deals on the powder and brush combos.

I don't mean to sound like a commercial for QVC - that is the only thing I EVER bought through them!

[XanaDUer]

3. Thanks.

...

[DawgHouse]

5. I started using BE about a year ago

and I'll never go back to regular foundation.

I love the coverage and it feels like nothing. QVC does have some good deals on it. ULTA sometimes has a "try me" deal too.

[XanaDUer]

6. Is BE another brand of mineral make-up?

Is it cheaper? How do you know which color to use?

[Beaverhausen]

7. Bare Escentuals is the same thing as Bare Minerals

If you have a Sephora store near you you can try the colors there. And some malls have Bare Essentuals stores.

http://www.bareescentuals.com/


The first place I got it was at my hair salon.

[NMMNG]

8. I don't often wear makeup but I've been thinking of getting some of that

Given that it works as a sunscreen, evens out your skintone and doesn't clog your pores it sounds like a winner to me.

[Bullwinkle925]

9. I use it and I love it. I'm older so the skin is beginning to dry some.

I brush it on after my SPF30 moisturizer and like the way it feels.
Not a greasy, shiny mess after a few hours.

I purchase mine at Ulta.

Hope you try it and let us know what you think.

[DemBones DemBones]

30. How do you keep it from sticking to your moisturizer?

I know BE has an SPF (it has zinc oxide in it) but I don't feel comfortable not using a regular moisturizer with SPF 15 or better under it because I'm very fair-skinned and have had surgery for skin cancer on my arm just recently.

I like BE but am afraid to go out in the daytime with just BE.

[musette_sf]

31. a really good moisturizer with high SPF

is Estee Lauder DayWear Plus Multi Protection Anti-Oxidant Lotion SPF 30 for Normal/Combination Skin.

second place winner is Clinique Superdefense Triple Action Moisturizer SPF 25 - Normal to Oily Skin.

both of these are plenty moisturizing unless your skin is really, really dry and/or you live in a really dry area.

my biggest problem with moisturizers with higher SPF, is that they are either really greasy, have a ghastly white tint, or both. after my extensive testing, these are the two i like the best.

i moisturize, give it a few minutes to sink in, then apply a makeup primer. MAC Prep and Prime works great, but so does Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel (same ingredients as Smashbox primer.) a primer is essential under mineral makeup.

PS, for those of you revisiting this thread, i have a NEW favorite mineral makeup. Meow Cosmetics is the BEST! it applies like a dream and they have the biggest selection of shades anywhere.

http://www.meowcosmetics.com

[Longhorn]

32. Did you ever try Everyday Minerals?

www.everydayminerals.com

If so, I'm curious how you thought they compared to Meow. I've used BE and Everyday and prefer Everyday, mainly because it's just as good but much less expensive. :)

[musette_sf]

33. yes - i tried it earlier this year

i tried Original Glo, and thought it was too shiny for me. i also tried one of the matte formulas, and it was okay, but i didn't like it as well as Aromaleigh (my favorite at the time).

i tried some BE samples a while ago, and i did not like it. it also was too shiny, and i couldn't get past applying the shiny foundation and then the powder to cut the shininess. i didn't care for the texture, either, compared to the other brands i had already tried by then (Aromaleigh, Alima, Pure Luxe, J. Lynne, Val's, and several others).

Meow is a new company, i don't even think they were around when i started with MMU. i continue to be impressed with all their products. i've even participated in a new product trial, which was fun. they have what i think is the largest selection of foundation shades of any MMU company. the formulas are all wonderful, they apply smoothly, they look great all day long. the people who run the company are nice, they have a great message board, the customer service is great, and the prices are very reasonable. i think they are still running an introductory offer where you get a huge tub of their original foundation, Purr-fect Puss, for $16.95. prices are comparable to Everday Minerals since you get more product from Meow, their jars and quantities are larger than EM's. all of their product names are just darling... my foundation shade is "Frisky Mau", and i love their "Skinny Bitch" eyeshadow.

their blushes are also terrific. i tried Aromaleigh, Alima, and BE for mineral blushes and i just didn't care for them. Meow has a really nice selection of shades, and they apply and look great. i was about to share my blush's name but i just checked and it is discontinued! oh no! "Harlot" is gone! looks like i will have to try what looks like its replacement, "Spasm".

hope this helps... the Makeup Alley website has a great product review board, it does require joining to read and contribute to the board, but it's worth it if you want to get some good information before trying something new. (http://www.makeupalley.com) MUA has lots of reviews of many of the mineral makeup lines.

[Longhorn]

34. Thanks for all the info and advice!

I've got plenty of Everyday Minerals left right now but I'll check into Meow when I'm ready for more.

By the way, have you tried their concealer and is it any good? I have really bad dark circles under and above my eyes -- my mother says I inherited them from my great-grandmother. ;) I have yet to find a good concealer. Either they don't cover or they look like pancake makeup. I don't even have a lot of wrinkles there -- the skin is actually darker. I rarely even wear eye shadow unless it's highlighter.

Thanks! :hi:

[musette_sf]

35. on the dark circles

i have them too, they are hereditary, and i have never found anything that works. i have enough bags under the eyes now, that concealer looks really extra super crappy on me. i can dot on a teeny tiny bit, but that's about it.

i've tried the Meow concealer and it seems to work a bit better than cream concealer, but i have no great hopes for any product.

what ends up working out the best for me, is to use something under the eyes like BeneFit's Ooh La Lift, or Boots' eye cream (Time Delay Instant Eye Brightener) that is slightly pinky and reflective (they work similarly), then make sure my makeup application under the eyes is very, very light. i rely on illusion instead of on cover :-)

[Longhorn]

36. Thanks!

I realized that one product that seems to work the best for me is something I got at the grocery store. It's made by L'Oreal and it's a yellow tint but it doesn't look yellow when I put it on. Then I just put the mineral make-up over it and it seems to work as well as anything.

Sorry we're in the same boat! Dang those ancestors! :)

[mtnester]

10. There are quite a few mineral makeups out there..BE is NOT the only one

However, it is very popular. Sheer Cover and Pur Minerals are also shown on the shopping channels, as well as Philosophy. My skin has NEVER been better for it. I find there is no need to put parabins, talc and other junk (suspected carcinogens) on my face to get the look I want. And since I am so Peri-menopausal, it is great for my weird skin right now as well.

If you would like a wealth (probably too much) of information on mineral makeup, the best place I have found it at Delphi forums. There are so many message boards about mineral makeup and make at home beauty products, a zillion people who have worn all kinds, and their opinions, good and bad.

I currently use JLynne Cosmetics, BareFaced Minerals and Mineral Boutique. I have tried Cory Minerals, but found it to be a heavier concealer, but some ladies like it because their skin needs it and can handle it. The hardest thing about mineral makeup is finding a true foundation match, but, all the companies offer samples, and there are places to trade and swap them if they do not work for you. And the boards are very helpful if you sign up for just a posting account for Delphi and ask for help on foundation.

The ladies that make the makeup are serious about their ingredients, and at least most of them do not use Bismuth in their formulas (lots are sensitive to it, and it is what gives BE that shine, and the pore accentuation)

The thing about these discussion forums is that there are folks there of all ages and skin types who have tried them all, have their favorites, KNOW their stuff.

Here is a link with the search line of Mineral Makeup:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=searchpage&webtag=delphicomz

Here is the link to just the Delphi forums if the above link does not work. Just Click on the search tab, type in Mineral Makeup, and then hit the search button (do not hit enter, it won't work that way)
http://www.delphiforums.com/

My favorite is Mineral Makeup Mania, http://forums.delphiforums.com/mineralmania

which list ALL the known mineral makeup companies, many of them are specially hand ground by people just like you and I who are serious about their ingredient listings, purity, and understand FDA laws about what they can and cannot do. You can go into the message boards, or see all the companies links on that home page as you scroll down. Many of the makeup manufacturers have opened their own brick and mortar stores, or distribute through places like Sephora stores as well. Many have shops in their own homes.

Good luck, you will become obsessed and addicted. And probably never go back to using mass produced makeup.

[XanaDUer]

11. I got it!

I have to say, I am getting compliments on my complexion now. Also, it is easy to put on and I don't have to worry about blending it, etc. I am NOT a morning person, so it is easy to just brush it on as opposed to using a sponge, etc., with liquid/pan foundation.

I recommend it-and-best of all-I get it at Sephora which is a blue company! :) :) :)

[legally blonde]

12. I've been using it for about a month

and I love it! It's so easy to put on, and I love how it feels. My only complaint is that by the end of the day my nose needs more coverage (I have rosacea on my nose that I've been trying to treat for a year w/o much luck). I only need minimal coverage, so BE is great for me.

I'm glad you tried it and liked it, Xana!

[LiberalinNC]

13. I've been using it for almost a year and have fallen in love w/ it!

My skin normally has red blotchy marks, Bare Minerals has evened out my skin tone, and made my skin much softer and healthier. To be honest when the woman who gives me facials told me about it, I said how could any "powder work better than a cream foundation"...boy was I wrong. I've started using their eye shadows, and blush and really do like them a lot too.

[musette_sf]

14. I have finally gotten on the MMU (Mineral MakeUp) bandwagon

and wow, is it ever Wild West Style wide-open and confusing.

There is SO much to learn and SO many products to choose from.

I chose to not go the Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals route, because (1) I think they are overpriced; (2) I don't like their marketing; (3) I did some research on Makeup Alley and found other opinions on products thought to be better. Comments on BE included its shine factor, and ingredients that aren't so good for you.

After looking through the MMU reviews on Makeup Alley, I decided to start with Aromaleigh. They sometimes get panned on their customer service, but they also have lots of customer service raves, and they also have a very nice forum where you can get ideas and advice. They have a very wide range of color choices, and they also have two kinds of MMU - one called "Voile", and one which I really like called "Glissade", which seems to work very well on my, ahem, "mature" skin. Glissade has silicons, which I don't have a problem with, since I use a makeup primer every day and it too has silicons.

Here is a post from the Aromaleigh forum as to why one should pick Aromaleigh over BE:

"1. AL is cheaper.
2. AL does not have bismuth oxychloride which can irrate the skin for some people. It also has a habit of settling into fine lines.
3. AL is not shiny, also caused by bismuth oxychloride.
4. AL has more shade choices.
5. AL has two foundation choices: Glissade- good for sensitive skin and Voile- good for oily skin.
6. AL has a wonderful smooth feel when on the skin."

I also just placed an order with another brand, Pure Luxe, because their Eraser primer product has been well reviewed on Makeup Alley.

NOW, I have taken the advice of another poster to this thread, and joined up at the Delphi group, Mineral Makeup Mania. NOW I want to try EVERY brand they talk about! Fortunately all of these places offer inexpensive samples, and I went to eBay and purchased 25 sifter vials when I made my Aromaleigh sample purchase, so I'm ready to start trying some other brands.

A very, very interesting world in MMU-Land.

[Dora]

15. thanks so much for this post!

I've been considering mineral makeup, but the cost was a turn-off. I do believe I'm going to have a little sample binge at Aromaleigh!

[musette_sf]

16. I still love Aromaleigh

but I am not too happy with the l-o-n-g time my current order seems to be taking. I ordered last Wednesday the 15th, and the USPS tracking says the shipment was originated (but not necessarily delivered to a USPS facility - this is that pre-postage thing that eBay shippers do with USPS) on Sunday the 19th. Monday was a holiday, and now it's Thursday and I'm still waiting, when I was supposed to be getting "free" priority mail shipping since the order was over $75.

"Priority mail", when it takes you from the 15th till the 19th to even get it ready to ship, much less get it to the PO, is kind of meaningless at that point. I know they are a small business and I'll wait another two days before I start getting really ticked off. But ordering and getting my PayPal debited on Wednesday, expecting priority mail shipping, and still waiting 8 days later, holiday or no, is kind of a letdown.

That sample jar of the one color and texture that worked, out of the six samples I ordered, is getting mighty low. I'd have been happy had my shipment arrived today. I will be considerably less happy when/if I receive it tomorrow.

As I said in my original post about Aromaleigh, I had read that some of their customer service was not so hot. This must be one of the not-so-hot scenarios.

PS, on topic, I ordered a base primer from Pure Luxe called "Eraser" that is supposed to hide pores, lines, etc. I did get that today (ordered the same day as the Aromaleigh, and shipped via regular USPS). So will try and then post the results.

[musette_sf]

18. followup on Pure Luxe Eraser

have tried it twice, so far my take is "eh". This got rave reviews on Makeup Alley, and I was hoping for a HG (Holy Grail) product. I am liking Mac Prep and Prime as a base primer much better. I will keep trying to get the right combination of moisturizer and Eraser to find out why everyone else loves this. But I honestly think I would do better with BeneFit's Dr. Feelgood, a similar-looking product that gets regularly bashed on Makeup Alley. I have a Dr. F in abeyance that I haven't used for awhile, but will try it under the MMU and see if this works.

This MMU thing is a damn cult, I tell you!!!! :-)

PS, did receive the Aromaleigh shipment at long last. The powder blushes/rouges rock the house, and their fiber optic blush brush is perfect!

[MuseRider]

17. I just got some and I really like it.

I am not crazy about the powdery look but it is so much nicer than anything I have ever used. My poor face took a real hit with peri menopausal acne and I HAD to cover it up when I went out. It just got worse and worse the more makeup I put on it. So now I have a blotchy face. This seems to even it out a lot. It feels so light and I love that.

Does anyone know how it is when you sweat? I work outside so the SPF will be nice but I also play outdoor concerts in the extreme heat of Kansas. I also sweat way more than anyone I know on my face and head. It is embarrassing but would be worse if this makeup caked up on my face. Any experience?

[musette_sf]

19. while visiting Mineral Makeup Mania on Delphi

I found some info on Everyday Minerals. They have a semi-matte MMU that looks like it might meet your rockin' needs :-).

http://www.everydayminerals.com/matte.html

The company is in Austin so you know that they know from sweat (don't you mean "glow" ;-)?) and extreme heat.

I just ordered samples in both of their formulas. See? It IS a cult. Once you are sucked in you have to try everything that looks cool!

[MuseRider]

20. Thanks I will check that out.

I only wish I meant glow. I am talking a serious problem. Everyone else starts to glow and I am soaked and dripping. I don't know why but I am not inclined to ever visit the Doctor so I will try this.

[KitchenWitch]

21. I just got an order from QVC

I had been using Bare Minerals, but I ordered the fair foundation, and I have found that the fairly light from my original kit (light and fairly light) was too dark for my skintone.

I am so happy with the foundation, and I ordered one of the qvc specials that had a lipstick, a glimpse, a liner shadow, a blush, and an allover face color (bare radiance). I am very happy with all of it.

[mzteris]

22. I just got some samples

from one of the groups mentioned in here - now -

WHAT DO I DO WITH this stuff?

I mean, how do I put it on, etc. . . I don't want to buy one of those $30 brushes 'cause I don't if I'm going to like the stuff.

[KitchenWitch]

23. Do you have any brushes from some old blush?

[MuseRider]

24. This link that someone

above posted has some answers about application. I thought it was pretty good, it answered some of my questions.

http://www.everydayminerals.com/matte.html

[Jessica]

25. If anyone has a problem with their minerals settling ...

into pores & fine lines, I highly recommend using an under-makeup primer. They say BareMinerals are supposed to "diffuse" lines & pores, but I found the opposite happened for me. Some primers can be quite pricey, but I got a great tip on a beauty message board -- this might sound a little weird, but try using Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel. Just put a small amount on your fingertip & rub all over face, then let dry for a couple minutes before applying your minerals. A lady on the message board compared the ingredients to her high-end primer & they were almost identical. I was skeptical, but I picked up a box at Rite Aid & now I've fallen in love with my BareMinerals all over again.

:)

[LiberalinNC]

26. Hadn't heard that about Monistat, but it's really no different from

using Preparation H for eye puffiness! ;)

[prole_for_peace]

28. Laura Geller "Spackle" is a good primer

and it isn't too expensive. especially for the small amount that you use each time.

[musette_sf]

29. another vote for Monistat Chafing Relief

I believe the expensive primer for which it is a doppleganger, is SmashBox. It works GREAT under minersl.

[KitchenWitch]

37. I just got the chafing relief stuff

I have to say, I love the minerals even more now. Funny thing, sometimes I would get a little bit of itch with the minerals, but now that I use the primer, the itch is gone!

:woohoo:

[lildreamer316]

27. Starter Kit at Sephora w/DVD; brushes & primer=$60.

http://www.sephora.com

[pecwae]

38. Looks like I'm the only one who doesn't like it.

I tried several brands and never got used to the shine. I'm 53 and I felt like the glow was drawing attention to my lines and sags. I really did give it a chance, but have gone back to Lazslo matte foundation.