Product Review: Bare Minerals Makeup Getting Started Kit

You've probably seen the Bare Minerals infomercials and magazine ads. They promise great things with their makeup. But does the makeup actually work as well as they say? I purchased the Bare Minerals Getting Started Kit to find out.

Product Overview

Bare Minerals makeup is chemical-free, made from earth minerals and natural pigments. The Getting Started Kit comes with two powder foundations, a powder bronzer called "Warmth," a shimmery highlighting powder called "Clear Radiance," and an all-over finishing powder called "Mineral Veil." The Bare Minerals Getting Started Kit also comes with three brushes: a kabuki brush for full coverage, an all-over face brush for light to medium coverage, and a concealer brush for smaller trouble areas. Bare Minerals also provides a compact which can be filled with loose powder for touchups on the go, as well as a "Skin Rev-er Upper" which prepares skin for your makeup. The kit also includes a 60-minute instructional video to teach you how to use your Bare Minerals makeup. All told, the starter kit retails for around $75.

Sensitive Skin

My skin is extremely sensitive, to the point that even the most gentle cleansers and makeup products usually cause severe breakouts. Even so, Bare Minerals makeup is gentle enough that I haven't seen one blemish from using these products. If anything, my skin actually looks a little healthier since I began using this makeup.

I was a little miffed to discover that the Skin Rev-er Upper contains chemicals and salicylic acid. I feel that its inclusion in the Getting Started Kit is a bit misleading - women purchase this kit under the impression that its contents are all-natural, but this product is not. However, this product does seem to be gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin - I have used it before each application of the Bare Minerals makeup, and twice I used it and did not follow up with makeup. The product has not caused any excessive dryness or redness, and I believe it has played a role in helping to clear up my skin.

Coverage

Bare Minerals is excellent for creating a more even skin tone. I have freckles, redness, a few pimples, and some scarring on my face, and this makeup covers them all beautifully. I use the kabuki brush for maximum coverage, but those who may not have as many blemishes could use the all-over brush for lighter coverage.

Staying power

Bare Minerals advertises that its makeup is long-lasting. I found that the makeup does wear well, but it is easy to rub off. Bare Minerals makeup will rub onto clothing, but unlike liquid foundations, you will not be left with a bare-looking splotch on your face where the makeup has rubbed off.

I also found that Bare Minerals does occasionally settle into creases, causing a cakey effect. This does not happen as much when the makeup has been applied with the medium-coverage brush. If the kabuki brush is used to apply the makeup, be warned that the Bare Minerals makeup will be more likely to settle into fine lines and creases. However, when excess product is buffed off the skin as directed, this problem can be kept to a minimum, and can easily be corrected with a quick swipe of a tissue. In any case, Bare Minerals makeup tends to stay put and look better than the liquid foundations I have tried in the past.

Overall impression

Overall, I am extremely pleased with the Bare Minerals products. The price tag may be a bit intimidating at around $75, but this product is well worth it, and there is enough product in the kit to last for months.