Bare Escentuals I.D. Bare Minerals Foundation

I purchased this because my once perfect skin is now uneven in tone. The TV ad says it is "all natural" and that it matches most skin tones, etc. It really is a beautiful package and infomercial. HOWEVER...this product broke me out horribly. I have sensitive skin but NEVER had a foundation break me out the way this one did. I have even used much heavier products but NOTHING damaged my skin like this one. It took weeks for this to clear up. The worst part is that I found out the reason I broke out is because one of the so-called "natural" ingredients is actually BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE! If you don't know what this product is, just know it is in no way recommended for continued contact with skin. That's right a "chemical" not to mention a dangerous one is in this make-up.

I also found that the colors are not very good at matching darker skin tones. I even tried multiple colors and combinations; they all made me look powdery no matter how little I put on. One good thing is that Customer Service was great about trying to help me find the right shade and also taking this product back. The Rep. was not surprised when I told her I had an allergic reaction. Apparently this is very common even among women who at one time wore this brand for years.

I have tried everything for my combination skin and let me tell you: Bare Minerals is the BEST!

What I love about mineral make-up in general, is that it is light and doesn't leave residue on your face when you wash it. Having acne proned skin, Bare Minerals covers effectively and makes me look glam with minimal effort.

One tip I learned: If you are like me and have oily skin in the summer and dry in the winter, try alternating seasonally between liquid foundation and mineral foundation. When you have dry skin, as I do in the winter, the mineral make-up has nothing to adhear to and it tends to slip off your face giving you the dreaded washed-out look. It is during those times I switch to a good liguid foundation like Studio Works (Ulta's house brand).

Although it seems pricey, Bare Minerals go a long way. You don't need to do much, just swirl, tap and buff it on. It gives you a natural glow and your skin feels healthier, like it can breathe!

I recommend purchasing a starter or specialty kit rather than individual make-up pots because you save more in the longrun. I also want to warn:

I have tried several "mineral make-ups" and in my opinion nothing works as well as Bare Minerals. Don't waste your money trying to find a cheaper brand...or you'll end up wasting more than if you just bought Bare Minerals in the first place!

This makeup is wonderful. I won't ever use anything else! It is very true that a little bit goes a long way. If you use too much, it does look cakey, so you definitely need to wipe off the excess. I highly recommend watching the tutorials on the Sephora and QVC websites to help if you are new to BE. This stuff lasts for a very long time too, so it is worth the investment!

I absolutely LOVE this product. I bought the Get Started Kit (Light) at Sephora, which includes:
- 2 BareMinerals SPF 15 Foundations (Fairly Light & Light)
- Mineral Veil
- BareMinerals Warmth All-Over Face Color
- Flawless Application Face Brush
- Full Coverage Kabuki Brush
- Max Coverage Concealer Brush
- BareVitamins Skin Rev-Er Upper
- How-To DVD

First off, this is an AMAZING value at $60 considering the brushes alone are worth more than that. Even though the BareMinerals are a smaller, trial size, it is a fantastic way to try out a new product. And since such a small amount is needed, they'll last forever! The coverage is wonderful. I apply the foundation with the kabuki brush for a fuller coverage and it doesn't look cakey at all and then I use the concealer brush to cover up my undereye circles. I was amazed to discover that even the Warmth All-Over Face Color was not too dark for my very pale skin but instead added a healthy glow. The Mineral Veil makes it look as if I have no lines and really shrinks my pores.

I don't know how I lived without this product.

i love this coz it makes my skin look great even if i have bad skin. i always get compliments when i have it on.

I love Bare Escentuals Makeup and the kits are totally worth every penny. I find when you buy it stand alone it's a bit pricey. My husband hates makeup and he loves BE because it never makes me look cakey and he can't feel it. I even wore it for my wedding and it gave me plenty of coverage. However if you're pale skin, beware of the warmth you get in the light/fairly light kit. It makes me look absolutely ridiculous, even applied in small quanities.

This stuff works really well and gives really nice even coverage. I've actually gotten compliments on my skin since I started wearing it and it hasn't made me break out the way other powders have in the past. My only critiques are that it is messy with the loose powder getting everywhere and sometimes it enhances my oilyness if I don't put a bit of mattifier underneath though I do have very oily skin.

This product has changed the way I think about makeup. I love it!!!

I finally bought this stuff myself. It wasn't available in Canada until recently. This stuff really does work well and doesn't make you break out. The ingredients are all natural and there are only 4 of them so you're not getting a list of chemicals for your face ;) It really evens out my complexion and helps with the shine a little. The best part is that it is made with actual minerals so you can feel good about wearing it. I definitely recommend it.

Over the past year or so, I had been hearing quite a bit about Bare Escentuals and how wonderful their bareMinerals line of products were. I personally didn't fully understand the whole mineral aspect so never tried the products. It was when I saw that i.d. bareMinerals Foundation and i.d. Mineral Veil both won Best of Sephora 2006 that I began to take notice!

My skin had been acting up and was sore with breakouts - I was skeptical to try a new foundation on my skin for fear it would get worse. The product claimed to not clog pores or irritate the skin due to the fact it is made from pure, crushed minerals and is free of preservatives, talc, oil, fragrance and other harmful chemicals. Well why not give it a go!
At first I didn't really understand how to apply the product but I watched a really helpful video on Sephora and went to work. With just a very small amount of the bareMinerals I was able to cover my entire face. It felt very silky, infact it felt like I had not applied anything to my skin! Now that I am getting older I find that my skin looks a little flat, I liked that it gave me a natural luminosity.

Bare Escentuals say "Women with skin conditions, such as sun spots, acne, and rosacea, as well as those with dry, oily, and sensitive complexions, claim i.d. bareMinerals has improved the overall health and appearance of their skin. But these wonder-powders do more than just make you look pretty, they also contain natural sunscreens that protect your skin from the sun. So much so that i.d. bareMinerals Foundation is actually recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation".

I can honestly say that after about a week of using bareMinerals everyday, my skin is in far better condition now that when I started to use the bareMinerals. My jaw area which was the main concern has cleared up completely! I have had so many complements on my skin that I am shocked! No one ever comments on my skin! My mother said I looked like I was glowing!

The feather-light minerals contain a total of five ingredients, three of which have complexion-perfecting benefits.

Titanium Dioxide: A natural, full, broad-spectrum sun protector (providing both UVA and UVB protection), its powdery form in i.d.bareMinerals products allows for no absorbency, which means it acts as a physical barrier between your skin and the sun.

Zinc Oxide: Also a natural, full, broad-spectrum sun protector, it too acts as a physical barrier between your skin and the sun. Additionally, zinc oxide's healing property helps to calm and soothe skin irritations, such as acne and rosacea.

Mica: Your silky, dewy, luminous complexion comes courtesy of this miracle mineral. It's what gives i.d. bareMinerals its slippery, creamy texture for easy, flawless application.

For flawless coverage, apply i.d bareMinerals Foundation following the three simple steps below:
1. SWIRL a small amount of bareMinerals in the lid with the Flawless Application Face Brush into the lid until all the bareMinerals are tucked into the bristles.

2. TAP away excess. There should be no visible bareMinerals on the outside of the brush.

3. BUFF the bareMinerals into the skin in a circular motion, starting on the outside of your face near your cheekbone, swirling as you go. Buff around your face and then approach your forehead, cheeks, and nose. Buff, buff, buff until you are satisfied with the coverage.
*Remember less is more when applying i.d. bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation.

Other products I am using in combination with the i.d. bareMinerals Foundation are:

Mineral Veil
For the ultimate, translucent "finishing touch" to your makeup, Mineral Veil melts into your skin, infusing it with softness and light, giving the look you see with a soft focus camera lens. Completely sheer and works for all skin tones, Mineral Veil gently absorbs oil and minimizes the appearance of lines and pores. Buff on Mineral Veil over bareMinerals Foundation to lend extra staying power.

i.d. bareMinerals Multi-Tasking Minerals in Bisque
Besides working as a beautiful, soft eyeshadow base, Multi-Tasking Bisque also performs as a miracle concealer for your face, covering dark circles and skin imperfections. Apply directly onto brown and red spots, blemishes, broken capillaries, scars and other areas of skin imperfections. Use Bisque for lighter complexions and Summer Bisque for deeper, golden complexions. Plus, enjoy the added SPF 20 in Summer Bisque for year round sun protection that won't sting your eyes like traditional creams and lotions.

i.d. bareMinerals Blush in Thistle
Discover fabulous, good-for-you cheek color. These creamy, pure bareMinerals blushes give you a beautiful, healthy tone that looks natural, because it is. Create a soft, radiant glow that's ideal for all skin types, including sensitive and problem-prone skin.

All these items are available from Sephora.
www.bareescentuals.com