Bare Escentuals I.D. Bare Minerals Foundation

I bought this product after a friend recommended it. She had been having some issues with her skin and using bare minerals cleared up all her problems. Sadly, there isn't a Sephora in BC so it wasn't until I went on holiday that I got to test Bare Minerals for myself. It's been amazing. I won't go back to using anything else. The first time I used it, I put on too much and I looked like I had it caked on. But after a few more attempts, I've perfected it. Now, I can put on my foundation and concealer without a mirror. It's just that easy. My skin has had fewer breakouts.

The mineral veil is amazing. It gives this incredible matte finish. Even after a light workout, I'm not shiny. Wonderful.

I've also purchased their Buxom lip gloss which is a plumping lip glass. It's great. While I don't think it plumps up my lips, the texture and scent are wonderful.

I will NEVER use another kind of make up. I used to have eczema on my face. That is until I started using Bare Minerals...within a few weeks it cleared up and it has now been 4 years since I starting using bare minerals and I have not had a single breakout of eczema on my face!! I know a lady who put the mineral veil on her daughters legs and within 4 days her daughters eczema was gone. I don't know how it does it but I love this product!!!

I've been using bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation for three years. It is the only foundation that doesn't make my skin break out and it provides SPF coverage. I can apply this and the bareMinerals Mineral Veil on my entire face in under three minutes. Instead of looking cakey or overly made-up, my skin looks more even-toned, refreshed and healthy. So if you're into the natural look, this is a great product but you can also go glam for nighttime. With the brushes and the other products, Bare Escentuals can add up in cost. But if you clean your brushes on a regular basis, the product goes a long way.

Why oh why didn't I buy this stuff years ago when I saw it on TV? I've had a love/hate relationship with foundations since I first attempted to cover up breakouts at age 12. Nothing worked and if it did work - it looked so obvious that I was covering something up. I'd given up on actually doing anything but toning down the little shine I had and had only really worn pressed powder as a base for years.

And then I got a little mad money and headed to Sephora...well I had to visit both Calgary locations before I could find my colour (apparently there are alot of Calgarians needing the light kit).

It was love at first buff. I love how it covers everything without being noticable. I don't have as many breakouts as I have had in the past, but this covers what I do have and looks so natural. What's more - I had a bad skin infection on my face this summer that left me with alot of pigmentation scars...and this stuff covers them too. I am so happy with the entire kit!

I am now a bare minerals convert and look forward to many happy years with my new favourite makeup!

The amazing part about "bareMinerals" is that when you have it on, it doesn't feel like you do...yet it gives you a healthier looking sort of glow. And you don't have to worry about falling asleep in it since it's so pure. I got the starter kit and it was well worth it.

I love BE foundation. You can apply it wet, dry, and in layers. You can easily combine colors for a perfect match. The end result is a natural healthy complexion without cakey makeup.

The first time I tried it, I probably made the mistake of using WAY too much. You really do need that Kabuki brush by the way. No joke.. but I bought the Bourjois kabuki brush rather than the BE one. A bronzer brush works too. :) It has the same dense bristles.

Anyway, the first time I tried it, I dipped too much into the brush and when I first brushed it on, it looked WAY too shiny, WAY too caked on and awful. I almost cried, remembering how much I paid for it.

Then I read on how to actually put it on, and all you need is to LIGHTLY tap your brush into it, then use the underside of the lid to do a swirling motion, tap out the excess powder, then do a light buff all over your face, THEN go back to the spots you think need more attention. This way, the powder gets evenly applied to your entire face, and then you do the spot checks.

Caution: this will NOT cover ALL of your blemishes, your dark spots or problem spots. It will minimize them, try and give them a nice sheen of a cover, but it will NOT completely cover it, and make you look poreless. You don't want this poreless look anyway, because then it looks really contrived, fake, and not like its your own skin, but a mask.... Eww. :) What you want, is your own skin, with all of its imperfections MINIMIZED (not completely covered)...

Also, if you use too much, you'll look like an orange alien. Just sayin'.

I also do the Mineral Veil over this BE powder, and on its own, it doesn't last all day and keep the shine away (I'd have to wear a primer like the one from Smashbox for that, but I'm too lazy / cheap) but it works to kind of soft focus your face, and make it less shiny, less pore-like.

Highly recommended, but make sure you pick the right skintone for yourself...

I Love this product and can't imagine going back to anything else.

I switched to Bare Minerals about a year ago and love it. It's so quick and easy to use. Light, but still providing enough coverage to look polished. My only gripe now is that it's not available in Vancouver yet!!!

I have been using Bare Minerals for over three years, and I will NEVER go back to pressed makeup. My skin is so much clearer and prettier with these minerals. They are preservative and talc free; perfect for sensitive skin. I have large pores, and with this line of products, I look like I have a flawless, airbrushed complexion!