I've experienced the complete opposite. I think that Bare Minerals have made my face a lot clearer than it was when I used my old makeup.

Well there is no product out there that someone somewhere will nto have an allergy to or some kind of adverse effect. My experience is the make up itself would be unlikely to cause your breakouts, BUT the primer might be. I would stop using the primer and see how that works. To help with shine without the primer, use a light dusting of mineral veil before applying the foundation and what not like you normally would. See if that helps you.

Soror, when I first started using BE, I had breakouts, but was determined to keep using it. The breakouts stopped after about a week or two. You might have to do a process of elimination to see what the cause is. It's possible that it could be part of your facial care regime combined with the BE. Just like someone else just said, it seems as though the BE improved my skin some.

I got the Ruby kit when I was in Louisville earlier in the week and love it. Beautiful colors!

As for breakouts, are you cleaning your brushes? I wonder if spritzing some of the Tea Tree Water on them would work as a quick clean-up or sterilizer, similar to the BE Quick Clean cleaner? Sometimes people think it's the makeup breaking them out and it's either dirty brushes. Or, you may be sensitive to the hair used for the brushes and switching to Smashbox or Japonesque brushes might be better for you?

Yes yes!! Cleaning brushes every week is very important. Not doing so will help the growth of bacteria and thus encourage breakouts. There are several good products you can use to clean your brushes: brush cleaner (any will do but make sure the solution is dry on the brushes before applying to your face), baby shampoo, any regular liquid hand soap. My personal favorite is the Tea tree oil facial wash from The Body Shop. Tea tree oil has natural anti-bacterial properties.

AOIIalum--where do you find tea tree water?

for sensitive eyes!
 

Ooops, I'm getting my lines confused. Lush sells a spray toner called Tea Tree Water (now available in Lexington and Louisville, BTW)! I use Philosophy's Purity to wash my brushes. If it's safe for my face then it's safe for my brushes!

I'm surprised how long BE lasts. I'm used to makeup wearing off throughout the course of the day. But now when I'm using makeup remover to take off my eyeliner at night, a bunch of the foundation comes off with it. I had no idea there was so much left on my face at the end of the day!

I haven't ever tried the mineral veil or the primer. Are they really worth it? BE is expensive and the mineral veil especially seemed like a waste of money.

Mineral Veil = yes!!! It makes a big difference for me in makeup staying power as well as finishing off and hiding pores. I have the regular, tinted and feather light MVs in my collection and use all of them.

Primer = Yes, but you don't have to use BE's primer. I've used Prime Time and liked it okay, philosophy's the present and love it, and believe it or not read about using the Monistat anti-chafing gel on various BE message boards. The stuff works as well as Prime Time and is a lot cheaper. No, NOT the monistat medicine stuff, but this stuff for the skin only, http://www.monistat.com/soothing-care-powder-gel.

Eye Primer = OMG YES!!! I've used both the Prime Time for Eyes and Urban Decay Primer Potion. Love them both but the UDPP seems to work best on me. Drawback to the PT for Eyes is that it's in a clicker tube, so you can't tell how much is left. Drawback to the UDPP is that silly bottle design with the potential for a lot of waste (primer stuck in the curves of the bottle, but pulling out the top stopper, storing upside down or even cutting the bottle open when you think it's empty provides a lot more product!)

Ya know, since I've been using the primer, I really haven't used the mineral veil much at all. I love the primer. But if you decide to get the MV, look at it as an investment. BE will last you a long, long time because you really don't have to use a whole lot of it.

I've had my foundation for forever. Actually, I wonder if I should replace it, since it's been at least a year. I know you have to replace mascara on a fairly regular basis because bacteria builds up on the wand.

I don't think you need to replace it yet. It should still be good.

I thought powders never "went bad"... but liquids like mascaras, lip glosses, eye liners, etc need to be replaced every 3ish months

I would think powders can go bad like anything else. You're dipping your dirty makeup brush into the little jar, so...

You should clean your makeup brushes regularly (once per week) :)

Most websites say powder is good for about 2 yrs.

Thank you!

after some more googling, I've read that mineral makeup doesn't "go bad" because it's basically rocks... and rocks can't "go bad"... plus there is nowhere there for bacteria to hang out and grow... also there aren't any fillers or synthetic dyes....

that rule about 2 years for powder I think is for makeup-y powders with preservatives and not necessarily mineral makeup

Does everyone but me do this regularly? I only have one brush which I use for powdered foundation AND blush, and I don't clean that often at ALL.

Part of it is I'm not sure how well my brush would stand up to frequent cleaning like that. I have a Sonia Kashuk brush from Target. (When I can afford it, I plan to go invest in a really nice brush from Sephora.) (Have you SEEN how expensive those are?!)

I find that regularly cleaning my brushes makes the powder go on smoother. I use the Sephora-brand cleaner that you spray on, then wipe the excess off with a cotton ball, then rinse and let dry. It's not a lot of abuse to the brush and makes a big difference in the application.

Interesting. When I clean my brushes, I use the same shampoo as I use on my hair. I just massage it into the bristles and then rinse.

To dry it I hang it over the edge of the sink, so the bristles aren't all flat on one side.

You should really clean out your brushes regularly... if you don't do it once per week then maybe once every other week? And that goes for any brush... not even just brushes for mineral makeup.

Besides the whole lets-try-not-to-spread-microscopic-stuff, like Fleur de Lis said, I've found makeup goes on smoother if they are clean... plus the life of a brush (no matter how cheap or expensive it is) is longer if you properly maintain them.

Oooh, I didn't know the brushes last longer. I'm super cheap and therefore all about making my stuff last as long as possible.

Does BE have anything for dark circles under the eyes?

Nope, you're not alone as far as cleaning the brushes go. I think I've also heard someone mention that Leslie Blodgett doesn't clean hers frequently either (but I'm not saying that's right, just mentioning it). Also, as far as dipping your brushes into the makeup jar, I tap some in the lid and use the lid instead so my brushes are not in the jar itself. I've had my current jar of BE foundation for 2 years this month.

Didn't realize it had been so long since anyone posted in this thread.

Who has tried Matte? How do you like it? Also, has anyone tried lip rev-er upper? Bought some but thinking about taking it back. It looks like the MAC prep and prime (or whatever it's called ) that I bought a few years back that did nothing for me.

I've tried matte. LOVE the container, but need lots of hydrating MV on top because I'm a drier skin type. Hopefully they'll put the original foundation, face colors, radiances, etc into the new container down the road.

Anyone using the Flawless Definition mascara? I was using the Buxom but got the new mascara in the Sea Yourself kit. Fantastic stuff!

I have more oily skin so I'm looking forward to trying the matte. I want to try the flawless definition mascara, and the new eye lining tutorial kit.

Has anyone tried the Oil Control Prime Time? What about the eye rever-upper?

No on the Oil Control Prime Time, not surprisingly.

Yes on the eye rever-upper. Love it, it's light and goes on great under or over makeup. I'm really eager to try the RM eye creme when it finally is available.

Ugh! I am so angry with myself!!

Yesterday at work, I checked my personal email and saw an update from Sephora. THey had a limited about of a new item "Radiance Rocks" or something like that. Looked pretty cool, and it was only $29ish. I didn't buy it b/c I figured I could order it when I got home but it was all sold out by then.

I think it's going to launch later though.

I'm almost out of foundation, so I'm def. going to try the Matte foundation. I have combination skin, but it's more on the oily side.

I haven't tried the Oil Control Prime Time, but I'm interested... I think I remember it doesn't have silicon in it.

They are making an eye cream?!?!?!? I LOVE the night time treatment!

I got that same email from Sephora about Radiance Rocks. I think it looks pretty cool too!

I just ordered Matte this past weekend. I'll let you know how it goes. I also ordered a new eyeshadow in the brown group called "Jazz". It was neither shimmer nor matte so I'm interested to see what exactly it is. AND I ordered actual blush rather than the warmth. I was in a crazy makeup mood I guess.

I use warmth as a blush a lot, but I also love the actual blushes too.

I have:

Cheerful
Naughty,Naughty
Laughter
Poppy
Desert Rose

I like Soft Focus Glee as a blush too.

I ordered mine when Leslie was on QVC a few weeks ago. Got it last week. I hear that it's really, really good. I'll let you all know.
If you can find someplace that has samples, do that first. Some women aren't that thrilled with it because they say they have to apply more; others really like it because it doesn't give them the "itchies". I haven't had a problem with it. I need to give myself more time to get used to it since I'm so used to the original formula. I don't have to go back and wipe the oil slick off my face though.

I figure since I have the matte, I won't bother with the OCPT. But have any of you added PT to your foundation instead of applying it to your face first? I like the look. Haven't tried it with matte, though.

A teensy bit off topic, and perhaps it's already been mentioned in this thread, but I wanted to give some props to Everyday Minerals. I used BE for a long time, and loved it, but the price is steepish. I found Everyday Minderals last year and they are MUCH, MUCH less expensive, especially when you buy their big custom kit. The foundation doesn't cover *quite* as well as BE, but at 1/3 - 1/5 the cost, I'm cool with that. I can layer.

AND.... you can order free samples (plus $3 shipping) to figure out what shade of foundation you are. The foundation colors are less forgiving than the BE colors, so you have to find a really close match, but they make up for it by having lots and lots o' choices. It just might take you a while to find the right shades. The sample pack is 3 foundations, a blush/bronzer and a cover-up. Each sample will, no joke, last you a week.

OK, I'm done sounding like a Mary Kay sales rep.

www.everydayminerals.com

ETA: 'mkay, I figured it out. They no longer do kits, but when you order 5+ full size items, you get 25% off, and when you order 12+ full sized items, you get 45% off.

I didnt know you could apply it to your foundation. Do you just mix it up in the lid?

I am wondering about the bareVitamins for the face. In a couple of weeks i should be out of my daytime moisturizer (that I use for spring, summer, fall) and will be looking for a new very light moisturizer but also has some anti-aging properties like the barevitamins is supposed to have. I am also wondering if you can apply prime time over top of that as well.

That's exactly what I did. The usual amount of foundation that you would do, and just a drop of PT. Swirl, tap and buff! To me, I looked more "made up" so to speak. The last time I really did it, I was at an outdoor HS graduation at the end of May. The heavens opened up. But my face was still gorgeous. Cleaned out my car that afternoon in the hell-like temperatures. Makeup was still on. Sweated like crazy. Came back in the house and was hot, sticky and gritty; I was still so cute, I didn't want to wash my face, but I did. I don't normally apply it like that, but I did that day. I think it may make the matte TOO matte if applied like that. I'll have to try it and see.

LAblonde, I've heard about EDM, but haven't been enticed to try it. As a woman of color, I don't feel like trying 20 different colors to try to match. I've also heard your complaint that EDM doesn't go on as well as BE. My foundation has lasted forever (probably because I don't use it every day) so for as long as I've had it, the $25 was a small price to pay. I have, however, thought about trying Meow cosmetics.

So yesterday I went out and bought the new Flawless Definition Mascara, and Oil Control Prime Time (with a sample of the Matte foundation and deluxe sample of BE lip gloss) from Sephora and the Suprise Kit from the BE store.

I LOVE THIS STUFF!!! I kick myself in the butt for not breaking down and trying the oil control prime time and matte foundation sooner. I used them both this morning and here it is at 7:15pm and I have only had to touch up with mineral veil one time and even then, just lightly on the forehead. I worked out in it today and my face still ooks fresh like it did before I left. If you have oily skin I would highly recommend these.

Flawless Definition when applied actually looks like the pictures of the models wearing it and i got no clumps on the brush or the lashes.

The suprise kit is outstanding for me because I love the soft and natural colors that are in it and give my face just a touch of pink, which on me makes me look younger :) I think you can only get it though through be.com or the store.

I'm hoping the new holiday buxom lips set and the eyeliner tutorial set will be my next purchases.

I ordered the Customizable Face Case that included the Matte foundation, a mineral veil & a bisque. (ALL of that was only $55! And they are all full sizes!)

I used the Matte today, and so far I like it.

I also like the click-close feature to keep the foundation from going everywhere if you throw it in your bag. I wish they put it on ALL of at least their larger sized containers!

The only thing I can't figure out is how to lift the lid up... I got some foundation outside the click-part and I'd like to be able to lift the lid so I can dump it back in. I'm sure there has to be SOME way to open it since a lot of people mix colors to make the perfect shade right? Idk.. I'll keep trying :)

ThetaPrincess -- I want the holiday Buxom glosses too!

I've been using the Bare Minerals for years now, and really love it. It is a bit pricey, but lasts so long, and is better for my skin, so it's totally worth it.

However, both the Sephora and the Bare Escentuals stores are in another part of town, so it's not very convenient to get there. The past few years, I have acutally gotten in the habit of buying it in Vegas. There's a HUGE Sephora store on the Strip between Harrah's and the Venetian.

Today I was at Carmen Carmen getting my hair cut, and was talking to the girl cutting my hair about the Ulta near the salon. I explained that I needed to buy some more Bare Minerals, and was wondering if Ulta carried it or something similar. She took me over to the salon's makeup counter where they carry Aveda products. I'm going to try it to see how it goes.

I have been to that Sephora on the Vegas strip and I must agree it is rather fantastic! There are several Sephora stores along the strip in the different resort casinos. All of the Sephora stores I went to in NYC around the Times Square/Madison Ave./5th Ave. areas were great too! One of them had an Anatasia Brow Salon in it too which was really cool.