Beauty Tips for Ministers

Bare Escentuals: A Rant

November 18, 2007 on 3:52 pm | In Make-Up And Skin Care, Product & Catalog Reviews | 8 Comments

You know what? I am just going to reverse my opinion of last year when I said I liked Bare Escentuals and recommended it to you. Consider this a retraction: I HATE Bare Escentuals.

I have been trying to work with Bare Escentuals for a year now and I just can’t do it. No matter how much I exfoliate and moisturize before applying it, and no matter how little of the product I use, it just looks like a powdery mask. My eyes recede into my head like a chubby, suburban version of Skeletor and I have to apply two additional brightening products just to resemble a living human again — all that before applying blush! And the color, which I went back to Sephora to have corrected after the first gal gave me THE WRONG SHADE, is now TOO PALE.

Make-up should NOT look like it’s resting on the top of my skin. No matter how artfully and minimally I apply BE, that’s all it ever looks like.

Also, this product is a MESS. Tap, swirl, buff — buff, tap, swirl — whatever it is, the powder gets EVERYWHERE and it’s a huge MESS, and it gets on my SKIRTS and my PANTS. I HATE THAT. So there I am tapping, swirling and buffing and powder is flying everywhere, including into the cat’s asthmatic lungs, and who NEEDS that?

This product also ITCHES. They say it’s all natural but excuse me, it’s made of minerals and I am NOT A ROCK, okay, so this isn’t exactly “natural” for my skin. My skin is made of SKIN and tapping, swirling and buffing crushed up ROCKS into it is not natural! I question your truth in advertising, Bare Escentuals! Plus, how much do I hate picking off the little pieces of the blush brush that inevitably get left on my face after all that buffing and blending? I HATE IT, okay? I just hate it.

After applying a face full of Bare Escentuals, I find that I can’t even wear lipstick because if I do, I wind up looking like a drag queen. And that is just SO WRONG.

So darlings, thank you for listening because I really had to get that off of my chest. I hate to throw away my Bare Escentuals but I fear I must, for it just makes me very frustrated.

Now for the next question: what to use instead? I’ve tried dozens of different foundations over the past years and haven’t found anything to really love except for a Trish McEvoy product (Even Skin Foundation) I got as a very special deal but which usually costs some insane amount of money. [I just checked. It's $55!!! And even though it lasted me at least six months, holy cow!! - PB] It’s sheer with great coverage and I can’t seem to replicate the effect with any other product. I await your tips with thanks and an itchy face.

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1. That’s funny because I was about to buy it.

   I used Alba Organics lip gloss for a while, which I loved at first until summer hit and it turned into liquid goo on my lips and then in the bottom of my purse. Sometimes the natural products have a ways to go in customer satisfaction.

   Comment by Ms. Theologian — November 18, 2007 #

2. I wear Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer when I wear foundation. It looks natural, goes on smoothly and takes powder well. If you like a heavier base it may not be enough for you, though. Clinique has some good foundations in lots of different, uh, genres for different skin types.

   Are you sure you really need foundation, though? I took it for granted that one simply did, and then one day it occurred to me that it’s not necessarily mandatory. A little under-eye concealer and powder does me fine most days. [I need it for red splotchies. Not all over the face on most days, which is why I really like my Mac foundation stick! You'll have to show me the Neutrogena product. - PB]

   Comment by Miss Conduct — November 18, 2007 #

3. I love my Mary Kay lady. She is so good about listening to what I like & don’t like and then suggesting either just the right thing, or if I am in a rant and cannot explain, we try different products snd if I don’t like them she replaces them with something else. There is nothing like the personal touch.

   Comment by Candace McFarland — November 18, 2007 #

4. My suspicion from your descriptions is that you might be using too much, PB. [Naw, we already discussed that a few months ago when I asked for advice. I WAS, but I'm not now. - PB]

   Personally, I haven’t had any trouble at all with Bare Escentuals. I use it in combination with Mary Kay Timewise cleanser and moisturizer for combination skin, and it covers what it needs to cover and doesn’t cake or streak or feel sticky. The Bisque is my favorite concealer of all time, and I love the Mineral Veil, too (no midday shinies!). The newer formulations of MK foundations take too long to apply and just don’t do it for me.

   This is why there are so many different things on the market — not everyone’s skin cooperates with all of them, no matter what they say on the bottle.

   Have you seen the book, “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me” — it’s fabulous at breaking down ingredients lists so that you can figure out what to look for and spend less money. The newest edition is due out right after Christmas (bad timing!).

   Comment by Jess — November 18, 2007 #

5. I like the Avon version of it.

   Comment by Jeannie — November 19, 2007 #

6. Don’t throw it away! Call the company and tell them you aren’t happy with their product, and they might offer to take it back and refund your money.

   I splurged about $70 on their stuff with an on-line order last year after you gave it a rave (what was I thinking–I should have found someplace to experiment with it first). My reaction was like yours — I felt like I had put papier mache (that should be in italics) on my face.

   So I called to get myself off the monthly re-supply list, and when I said I didn’t like the product, the woman offered to take it back and give me a full credit. (I think I paid the postage.) It’s certainly worth a phone call.

   Good luck. I’m sticking with Clinique’s Almost Makeup, which smooths things out without making me look like a hag. [Excullunt ideas, and I am so sorry for leading you astray with my initial assessment of BE! I'm so glad you got your money back! I will call them and see what I can manage... I have the base, the "warmth" and the mineral veil; the latter which I think I'll keep. I'm wearing a sheer Neutrogena make-up today that I think I like. I forgot that I had it (and it has 20 SPF!) -- PB]

   Comment by Judy — November 19, 2007 #

7. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with Bare Escentuals – perhaps confirmation that beauty and fashion are not one-size-fits-all for any product or item.

   I love Bare Escentuals, they have great sales folks at their store here in Berkeley with excellent color recomendations. The powder is so easy for me to use (and I do not find it messy like liquids). As well it’s awesome for travel – no one cares how much powder I’m trying to get through the security check.

   I find their make up easy to use on my highly sensitive skin and get many compliments – even from folks who don’t usually like make up. I also experience the products as easy to vary – light coverage one day, more when I need it. It is also the only product that allows my skin to “glow” without “shiny-ness” – no small feat as most other shine-prevention powder products leave me flat/matte.

   May you find a product that works for you and your skin as well as Bare Escentuals does for mine.

   Comment by Miss JoJo St. Purl — November 19, 2007 #

8. I’ve never worn foundation before, and Bare Escentuals (or some form of mineral – haven’t tried others) is the only one I’d wear. I like being able to put just a little bit on.

   Comment by hafidha sofia — November 20, 2007 #

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