Meli recently asked a question at the Bare Escentuals VS. Drug Store brand Mineral Makeup post:

I would be happy to get your thoughts on Bare’s Get Started kit. Quality vs price? Which one of the following would the best pick?  Bare, Maybelline or Everyday Minerals? What about L’Oreal?

Sincerely, thank you for your precious answers,  Meli

Hi Meli, so great to hear from you!  There are so many mineral makeup lines and so many factors to take into consideration.  Hope this information will help you make an informed decision!

Here are a few things to consider in choosing the best mineral foundation for you:

• Skin type.  Finding the right match of formula for your skin type, oily, dry, combination…
• Skin color. Is your skin tone difficult to match, or do you tend to find a compatible shade easily?  Some complain that certain mineral makeups can look ashy or orange on their skin.
• Convenience. Do you prefer to purchase this at your local drug store or do you mind ordering on-line, or going to a department store counter?
• Price. A large range of prices when it comes to mineral makeup.

Here are my feelings on the specific mineral makeup brands you listed:

1.  L’Oreal’s mineral makeup is formulated with talc, so if you have sensitive or breakout prone skin, watch out!  Not recommended.
2.  Maybelline’s mineral makeup is best for those with normal or dry skin.  This is based upon many comments from a review at the Makeup Moxie website.  Another comment was that while they love this mineral foundation, but do not like the brush that is included.  I would suggest purchasing your own kabuki brush for optimum application.  If you have oily skin it will not work well for you, but it is a great value and you can purchase it at your local drug store.
3.  Bare Minerals is the most popular of all the mineral makeup lines, and many people love it.  I think it is best suited for those with oily skin.  For individuals with drier skin, it can accentuate fine lines and look flaky.  This line is more expensive, but their starter kits offer a better value ($30), and can be purchased online, department stores, and at Target.
4.  Everyday Minerals is a wonderful line and offers different formulas for different skin types (Original Glo, Semi-Matte, Matte, and Intensive) and at very reasonable price ($12 for a large container).  Their samples are generous and allow deciding which formulas are best for your skin.  Highly recommended for both quality and value.

My personal experience with mineral makeup is mixed.  My best results have been with the Everyday Mineral line, and that could be due to my specific skin type (combination skin and sensitive to breakouts) and I have liked their Original Glo and Semi-Matte formulas.  Ideally, I still prefer a liquid foundation or a tinted moisturizer. 

My biggest complaints with SOME mineral makeup foundations are:

• The “itch” factor, my skin feels coated and slightly irritated by the mineral makeup
• Some mineral powders can accentuate fine lines on my skin, and deposit in my laugh lines
• My skin ends up looking too matte and chalky
• The powder can emphasize flaking and dry patches on my face

But I realize that with the right formula and the right skin type, your skin can look amazing while using a mineral makeup foundation.  Here are some other MBB posts on the subject of mineral makeup:

• Mineral Makeup + Prime Time = LOVE
• Drug Store Mineral Makeup: Maybe Not So Good
• Attack of the Orange Foundation
• Follow Up: Mineral Makeup Mania

Best wishes Meli, and hope to hear what you end up using and how you feel about it.  JEN

I’m an impulse buyer. Really. You know those racks of stuff by the checkout at the store, “impulse racks”? They put those there for me. My husband loves to tease that I can’t get through a line without grabbing something, anything. Hey, I completely forgot I needed a permanent marker, an eyeglass repair kit, and antler polish until just this moment, okay?

So when I placed my last Sephora order and they recommended a foundation based on my profile information, who was I to turn them down? Into my basket it went. After all, if a random computer generated match of products isn’t right for me, what on earth is?!

I have to say, I’ve never been happier with an impulse buy.

I had previously heard of Korres, but they’ve mainly stayed under my radar because they aren’t sold in any local shops. A Greek company with roots in Homeopathic Pharmacy, they now offer more than 500 products for face, body, and hair. As a company they strive to stay true to their history , and use many natural ingredients while avoiding things like mineral oil and silicone. The yoghurt ( or yogurt, depending on which side of the pond you hail from) products contain real edible yogurt if that gives you an idea of their dedication to time tested herbal remedies.

The Ginger & Vitamins Foundation ($28) is packaged in a tube, much like toothpaste, which is incredibly durable and handy. I have no qualms about tossing this in my diaper bag on the way out the door, as it is tough and the cap stays put. While this is billed as a medium coverage I think it’s somewhere between a tinted moisturizer and a traditional medium coverage, simply because of its amazing lightweight feel. Something about this foundation covers my red blemishes wonderfully and evens my skin tone. My skin appears soft and fresh, and the formula stays well without caking or changing color through the day. So easy to blend, I simply can’t stress enough how wonderfully natural this foundation looks and feels. The decision to replace synthetic silicone with dry vegetable oils doesn’t hurt this product at all, as it still has a smooth feel with really good staying power. I haven’t experienced any skin irritation or breakouts from this product, though it does contain Glycerin (sorry Jami).

I would expect more than an SPF 10 in this day and age. By now companies should know to use a broad spectrum sunscreen of at LEAST 15 or just skip it altogether and let us apply our own underneath. Claiming SPF coverage when very little is actually offered is one of my pet peeves, since it can make many women feel as though they’re doing the “safe” thing, while actually leaving them poorly protected. When in doubt, make sure you have a moisturizer with good SPF or a lightweight sunscreen in your arsenal just in case. Depending on your skin type you may want to set this foundation with powder or carry your tube for touch-ups through the day.

This spontaneous buy has turned out to be a real find. It bumped my previous favorite face color, a tinted moisturizer, and has shown itself to be a great all-purpose foundation. Quick to apply and easy to blend, with great coverage to boot!

Laura Mercier’s Flawless Face Kit looks like a fabulous makeup kit and at a pretty decent price.  Allie from My Wardrobe Today mentioned that she purchased this kit for herself, and I couldn’t help but drool when I read all that is included in it. (more…)

One of these 14 crowd pleasers from Revlon, Prescriptives, MAC and more could give your skin a flawless finish — sans airbrush experts

We’ve heard complaints about foundation ranging from too heavy and drying to too light and oily, not to mention “too few shades” and “too expensive.” So we made a list of the foundations that garnered praise from TotalBeauty.com members. Check out which brands and formulas got the most consumer stamps of approval and consider whether you should switch to something new.

Best foundations

Prompted by a Bionic Beauty post last week called, “What makeup are you wearing today?”  I was also inspired by DecoDiva’s great going out post and pics last week on her blogsite.  I wanted to ask MBB readers a similar question.  When you go out for the evening, how do you “kick it up a notch?”

Evening makeup deserves a more intense lip color, a richly pigmented black mascara, and some fabulous glow.   On a recent evening out with my hubby, I went with a bolder berry look, inspired by two of Urban Decay’s new lip products, their 24/7 Lip Pencil and Lipstick. 

• Hair:  Jessicurl’s Aloeba Daily Conditioner, Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion, and Confident Coils Styling Solution, set with hair clips, scrunched with a microfiber towel and allowed to air dry.
• Skin prep:  SK1N Probiotics Daily Moisturizing Cream
• Anastasia’s All About Brows Kit:  Defines and tames my brows
• Prescriptives Flawless Skin Foundation in Rose, applied with a foundation brush and fingers
• Laura Mercier Eyeliner in Bleu Marine, appliled with flat eyeliner brush
• Profaces mineral eyeshadow in a rosy gold glimmer
• Sugar’s Bronzer/Blush Duo, blush on apples of cheeks and bronzer around face and jawline
• Alison Raffaele’s True Concealer
• Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-on Lip Pencil in Wicked, creamy and lasts, truly lives up to its glide on name.
• Urban Decay’s Lipstick in Hotpants, luxuriously creamy and beautiful medium pink shade.
• Napoleon Perdis, Long Black Mascara, one coat
• Light dusting of Aromaleigh’s Illuminator Finishing Powder, a translucent, sheer loose mineral cosmetic powder, that contains reflective minerals to give your skin a radiant appearance.  Apply on brow bones, above cheeks and lightly around forehead, chin, and decollete.
• Finish by lightly tapping around face with soft clean towel to set in makeup (tip from Alyson Hoag, makeup artist at Authentic Beauty).

For the next month Tarte is offering a FREE sunburst face beaded bronzing lotion ($28 value) when you spend $50 at tartecosmetics .com.

VALID:  June 20, 2008 – July 20, 2008
CODE:  BRONZE

Forego the sun and get a healthy, natural tan with this antioxidant-rich, moisturizer-meets-bronzer! Notice in the picture the little bronzing beads that are in this lotion, how cool is that?!  I just read a less than enthusiastic review of this product on TotalBeauty.com, the reviewer said the bronzer beads don’t rub in and distribute the color evenly on the skin.  If this is true, BUMMER!

Let me also remind you of my two favorite Tarte Cosmetics: Smooth Operator Foundation with SPF 20, and Tarte’s fabulous Cheek Stains.

Last summer I became a fan of Tarte’s makeup after trying their Smooth Operator Foundation and falling in love with it. I listed it as my, “Without this product, I’d have to start drinking at noon …” on Megsmakeup.com:

I have been searching for a foundation like this my entire life and I have tried several. My main objectives: natural looking coverage without the cakiness/deposits some foundations can have, applies smoothly without too much work, & won’t cause breakouts. My most crucial question: Can it live up to the lighted “magnification” mirror test? It is true, I am a bit obsessed with my skin, but I notice so many ladies with horrible foundation, and then ask myself the question, “Am I one of THEM?” With this foundation and a superb primer, I can confidently respond, “Not me!” The SPF 20 is a bonus, love it, love it, love it!!!

Recently I read an interview from Oprah’s “O” Magazine of Tarte’s founder Maureen Kelly, “Success Story: How She Did It.” Maureen literally built this company in her kitchen, and has faced some pretty enormous personal obstacles in her life. Maureen’s story has made me extremely proud to be a Tarte Cosmetic Fan.

Many cosmetic deals come my way via email, and several get dumped directly into the trash can. This one you might want to consider. Yes, I am dangling the carrot (or in this case the cosmetics) in front of you!

Tarte Cosmetics wants to help you start the summer right with a great deal.  Spend $40 at http://www.tartecosmetics.com and receive a FREE picture perfect eyelash curler!  Just add a picture perfect eyelash curler to your basket before check out and enter the code:  May08   Code Valid:  May 20 – June 1, 2008  

Need some Tarte shopping advice?  May I suggest any of the Tarte Cheek Stains, “Lights, Camera, Lashes!” Mascara, or my favorite tinted moisturizer, “Smooth Operator Foundation!”

Summer is around the bend, and summer brings the heat, humidity, and the blazing sunshine. Unfortunately for oily-skinned gals, the summer heat helps create another type of shine, the skin shine that causes our makeup to slip and slide off within a few hours.

Alison Raffaele Cosmetics has come up with a fantastic set of products to offset the slippery effects of the summer skin oil slick.

Introducing Alison Raffaele’s “Shine Buster” set:

Face Forward Primer Acne Response ($44)

Alison’s Face Forward Primer is one of my favorite rave about products and was reviewed on St Patrick’s Day as a great way to go green. A little bit goes a long way. This primer not only makes my skin feel like velvet; it helps my foundation glide on beautifully, and it provides an spf 15.

• Foundation primer + acne treatment + SPF 15
• Contains proprietary, time-released (12+ hours)
• 100% paraben, talc, oil, gluten and fragrance free
• Natural mineral-based sunscreen SPF 15 provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection
• Dermatologist Tested and Approved

Alison Raffaele Blotting Tissues ($9)

Unbleached and powder-free, these super-absorbent paper tissues remove excess oil and perspiration from the skin without disturbing makeup.

Transparent Finish To Go ($42)

• New cornstarch-based formula is talc and paraben free for your healthiest skin ever
• Although powder appears white in jar, Transparent Finish is completely clear on ALL skintones, from fairest to deepest
• Suitable for ALL skin types – will not build up or oxidize on oily skins and will not collect in the fine lines of more mature skins
• Ultra lightweight formula feels clean and comfortable on the skin
• Perfect for setting all liquid and cream cosmetics
• Will not change the color of other cosmetics
• Banishes shine and provides a natural matte finish
• May be reapplied as necessary
• 100% paraben, talc, oil, gluten and fragrance free, Dermatologist Tested and Approved

If you are or are not familiar with the Prescriptives cosmetic line.  Now is your chance to get 25% off your entire purchase using their Friends and Family Code:  FFSP8 at checkout.  This code is valid until 3.21.08 and is available online only.

Megsmakeup.com just announced this code and several gals will be suggesting their favorite Prescriptive items.  I for one purchased their Flawless Face Foundation and foundation brush earlier this year.   I highly recommend this foundation for those with sensitive skin, or skin that is difficult to match, and want natural coverage.  I have also heard very good things, but have yet to try, their Vibrant C skincare lotion. 

One thing that is very unique about the Prescriptives line is their unique way of determining your skin’s undertone.  Until I had had this done, I never knew how cool/blue my actual skin undertone was.  Once your skin tone is determined, they can recommend foundations and shades in color groups specifically formulated to look best with your complexion.  Genius!

As Indiana Farmer Wife said at Meg’s, Prescriptives are like “Garanimals for Grrls.”  Cosmetics that make you look your best, but don’t stand out and scream, “I have makeup on!”  That is a big plus for me as well! 

While visiting the Laura Mercier counter, I was able to sample their new mineral makeup powder.  I have tried several different mineral makeup foundations and have been usually unsatisfied with their performance.  These issues include:   mineral powders don’t blend in well, colors that aren’t true to my skin tone, and the mineral powders seem to make my skin appear too matte and accentuate my fine lines.   After using Laura Mercier’s mineral powder spf 15 foundation, I was pleasantly surprised.  This formula blends into your skin beautifully and acheives a very natural, soft glow finish.  To combat my mineral makeup foundation issues, Laura Mercier created a mineral formula that contains:

The exclusive combination of Pure Pearl Powder, minerals and amino acids promote healthy skin and help fight the aging process. Mineral Powder SPF 15 gives you the flexibility to build coverage or add just a touch of luminosity.

Benefits:

• Composed completely of natural elements
• Water-resistant
• Oil-free
• SPF 15  

If you are looking for a fabulous mineral makeup foundation, I would suggest a visit to your local Nordstrom’s or Sephora for a demonstration of their product.  This Laura Mercier mineral foundation is expensive ($35), but really is a beautiful formulation and should last a long time.  As always, for best results, I recommend applying mineral makeup foundations sparingly with a high quality kabuki brush.   And while you are at the Laura Mericer counter, sample their liquid or mineral foundation primer and eye liners.  Simply classic, sophisticated makeup.  I big heart Laura Mercier!