Bare Minerals: The Totally and Completely Unpaid Review

I am far from a cosmetics expert.  Basically, I used whatever I can find on the shelves at Target.  I never bought into the expensive make-up, because the cheap stuff gave me what I needed or so I thought.  Slowly, I had branched out to some department store products.  Ablush here, a lipstick there and, generally,   I was happy with my purchases. The products  lasted a long time, which could be because I don’t use much.  The stuff that I used the most of, I figured I should spend the less on.  Doesn’t really make sense, but live and learn. 

My daily routine is very simple:  Clean and Clear face lotion with SPF 15, liquid cover-up, a powdered foundation, mascara and some blush.  It was quick and easy, which is all I ask.  However, I have oily skin and it would show a couple of hours after application.  In the summer it is worst, especially if using a liquid foundation.  That stuff basically just slides off my face once the temperature and humidity reach the upper digits.  I had seen Bare Minerals infomercial many times and shrugged it off like most of those paid advertisements.  But in my frustration to look fresher longer, and curiosity regarding the new Sephora store that just opened in our mall,  I decided I would just go look at the product.  Well, we know what happens when certain people just “look” around.

I entered with a cookie covered Sam and a mission to look great without much effort.  I wanderedaround the Bare Minerals section for a few minutes and then grabbed a salesgirl to explain my situation.  I basically wanted something that was easy and would stay looking like when it was first applied all day.  She had my answer and the way to my credit card.  She assessed my color and showed me the greatness of Bare Minerals.  So I was in, but I didn’t know how far in I was until I was at the check-out.  If I was going to get the foundation powder then I needed the mineral veil to keep everything fresh and the oil at bay, which then meant I needed the proper tools to apply all this stuff properly.  My answer was the started kit.  It came with 2 foundation colors, a mineral veil, 3 brushes and a bronzer.  I am always leery of kits, because I tend to not use all of the products and it seems like a waste, but if I was going to get foundation, mineral veil and 1 brush I was going to spend way more than $60, anyway, so might as well get more for less.  I was sold and paid, with some doubt, for my starter kit.

The kit, also, comes with an instructional DVD and a quick reference guide.  Since I didn’t have time to watch the video and figured the salesgirl told me everything I needed to know, I put the kit on my bathroom counter and waited til morning. ( The little tidbit of “cooking” the powder in the lid was a bit disconcerting, but I wasn’t ask to main line it so all was good.)  This morning I set out, cautiously, on a mission to make this stuff work.  The salesgirl told me that I could use the fairly light foundation as cover-up, which was a plus since she diagnosed me as a fair.  Everything was easy to apply and after a little reading of the quick guide I knew a little bit more of what to apply when and how.  Since my skin is very oily I used the mineral veil first, then I tried the fairly fair foundation as cover-up and discovered that I need something a little more for the bags under my eyes.  However, it is 12:35 pm and not a shine to be found.  I am interested to see how this works when the temperature and humidity rises.  Needless to say I am happy and if this stuff last close to a year, like the salesgirl promised, then I will be more than happy.

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