BE Folks---is this a good deal for a newbie?

[sage]

Dear All,

I have read these threads on the bare minerals makeup and have been considering trying it. Seems like overall, most of the people that tried for the first time became loyal converts.

Here are my reasons for being interested:

1. I wear minimal foundation---currently a Revlon brand---applied sparingly.
2. I don't like the way "makeup" feels on my face---even the little bit I wear.
3. I have about 1 weeks worth of my current stuff left---so it's time to try something else or go buy another bottle of the same.
4. I was stuck in a hotel for work last week and the bare minerals infomercial was playing evertime I woke up in the middle of the night---that must be a sign right?

Here are my questions:

1. They are offering an "informercial" special starter kit for about $60. You can see the kit at www.bareminerals.com. It comes with 2 foundations, 1 mineral veil, 1 warmth, 1 extra coverage brush, 1 application brush, 1 buki brush, plus 1 baby buki, 1 makeup bag, and the VHS/DVD video. Does this seem like a good deal? I priced some stuff at an Ulta and the brushes alone seem like they would cost almost $60...

2. Do you think they will let me select the foundations I want in a starter kit? I have yellow (or golden---which sounds better) undertones---so I think I would probably want the fairly light and the medium biege.

3. Are the foundations/face colors that come in starter kits regular size or "trial size"?

Any suggestions appreciated. This sounds like one of those things that are too good to be true---makeup that doesn't feel like makeup---but there have been so many success stories on this BB that I feel I should give it a try.

Thanks in advance,
Shannon

[ChristineVA]

Shannon,
I am not a regular user of Bare Minerals but have shopped for it. Ulta also offers the "starter" kit. Last time I looked it was $45 in the Ulta store, but I think the kit may have changed a bit and I thought I heard that it went to $60.00. Ulta usually carries it and it is on the end of the aisle stacked up in boxes. You may have just missed it. The starter kits come prepackaged so you don't get to choose each one--you just buy by your skin tone (fair, medium, etc).

Also, I believe that the starter kit products are half the size of the regular stuff. But, I swear, it will last you a good 3 months.

To me, it feels like I have no makeup on my face. At first, when I started using it, I *did* put too much on and I kind of had a "mask" feeling but once I used less, it was better.

Good luck.
Christine

[lisas3575]

I found out the hard way that they have different starter kits-- I bought a kti for a friend for a gift and found out that it only had half the stuff in it that mine did. So *that's* why it was cheaper. :rolleyes:

Sage, the kits are a great way to try the product and see if you like them-- that's the full kit that I got and that's what I paid for mine. If you have a salon/BE store nearby, I'd suggest going in for a "makeover" before you do the kit though. You'll be able to make sure (on someone else's dime) that you like it, and they'll do the foundation matching so you don't have to guess.

[Beth]

I bought my starter kit from bareminerals.com. The foundations, warmth and mineral veil are 2 g or .06 oz each. The true, glee and sheer radiance are .57 g or .02 oz each. Notice that the conversions are less than exact.

I bought mine online, and it's $5 or $10 less if you do the autoship (which you can cancel), so I did that. As soon as I got my shipment, I called and extended the autoship to the maximum of 180 days. I had the reminder to cancel on my calendar ion September, so it looks like I've had mine about 6 months now. I am getting low on foundations (have about 1/4 left), but I don't wear it everyday. Often, more often than liquid makeup, but not everyday.

I bought a light kit, but I returned the light and kept the fairly light. I got the medium beige instead of the light, and I have worn both by themselves, and have mixed the two a lot. I have rosacea and just neutralizing that is one of the reasons I wear the foundation and a touch of warmth even if I don't put on any other makeup. I looked at the colors on line and it turns out that the ones I would have picked turned out to be the best ones when I tried them in a store. The beige has too much pink for me and there was something about the light that I couldn't pinpoint.

If you do have a BE, Sephora or Ulta store, going in can really be a help in chosing colors. I went to an Ulta and got to check out the products and colors, but they didn't have anyone very knowledgable about the products. Another customer who had used them turned out to be the best information resource, but I had read and heard enough that I mainly wanted to pick colors at that point. I was able to brush some on and decide which kit to order.

Adding that I just went to the website and saw a link that say "customize my kit" I didn't go all the way through that, but maybe you won't have to order and swap to get what you want to try. Check it out or call their 800 number.

[sage]

Thanks for the advice.

Beth, it sounds like we have similar skin tones---I thought the beige looked to "pinky" too. I'd probably try to get fairly light and medium beige.

Anybody tried to return anything they weren't happy with? Seems like I remember from the other threads that they had decent enough customer service...

I did go to an Ulta to look at the powders---I didn't think they would have people that specialized in BE products there so I didn't try to get a makeover from them---I remember JJsooner saying she was scared after they made her over---but ended up trying the product in spite of it and likes it.

Thanks again,
Shannon

[Beth]

I did go to an Ulta to look at the powders---I didn't think they would have people that specialized in BE products there so I didn't try to get a makeover from them---I remember JJsooner saying she was scared after they made her over---but ended up trying the product in spite of it and likes it.

LOL If the Ulta employee helping me and the other lady at the BE counter had made me over I'd have been ready for Halloween! :D I think she had pink or purple hair, a nose stud, and the most ---ummm--unique makeup application I've ever seen. She was actually a hair stylist without a client at the moment. She handed me her card. I'm not that brave. :p

[krhm]

Shannon, I'm a recent BE convert, so maybe my "experience" will help you. I bought the same starter kit at Sephora for $60. It had all the same makeup/brushes you're describing, but the BE kit you can now order has the baby buki brush and the makeup bag rather than the face cleanser. The makeup sizes are smaller, but I think that's actually okay; as you pointed out, you would pay just about as much for the brushes, and with the smaller sizes, you can get a better feel for the colors you need. I'm not even halfway through my kit, and it's been about 7 weeks.

At first, I hated the BE and didn't think it would work for me. There is a definite learning curve for applying the stuff. Too much and your pores are huge, your face is shiny, or it gets cakey; too little and you don't get enough coverage. I did finally go to a BE store that was about 45 miles away, and the guy was a real jerk, so it didn't help me one bit. The DVD helped some, but I really couldn't tell what they were doing on it!

Anyway, after lots of attempts, I finally got the application down and I'm really happy with the makeup. I'm ready to start trying some of the eyeshadows and the brow kit next!

I recently purchased the BE kit from the website for my mom; I found that it was the best deal. Good luck, and remember to just be patient and play around with it if you need to!

Kari

[jmarie]

I have rosacea and just neutralizing that is one of the reasons I wear the foundation and a touch of warmth

I went into Ulta and she did give me this hint as I have a bit of rosacea. She wet the end of the small applicator brush and dipped it in the Bisque and kind of painted it on. It stays on much better than when I just brush it on dry. and then I do the other powders and am more pleased with it doing it this way.

Joyce

[jjsooner73]

I did go to an Ulta to look at the powders---I didn't think they would have people that specialized in BE products there so I didn't try to get a makeover from them---I remember JJsooner saying she was scared after they made her over---but ended up trying the product in spite of it and likes it.

Thanks again,
Shannon

You remembered correctly! I'm wondering how much I'll like it as the weather cools and my skin gets drier.

I found out that one of the paras I work with, a 60+ former beauty queen uses BE as well. It's pretty universal as to who can wear it I think!

[sage]

Hey Jennifer---

I was thinking about that too---what'll happen when it gets drier?

In the summer---I can definitely get away without all-over moisturizing on my face (I do put something on my eyes). But in the winter---I do use a light moisturizer, which helps with the flakies. How can I have flakies AND oil slicks on the same face? Wouldn't it be nice if the whole thing adjusted to compensate for itself?

I don't remember in reading any of the other threads that people were noticing any extra diffuculty with the BE in the winter so I'm hoping I can get it figured out, too.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I'm going to give it a try. Worst thing that happens is I end up returning it and go back to my old stuff---but I think it's time for me to try something new.

-Shannon

[mbrogier]

I am 28, and I have super dry skin that is also sensitive. (I have hormonal issues that don't help) BE does not bother my skin. It doesn't moisturize, but you can put on your regular moisturizer underneath. (I use Aveda Tourmaline cream) I would have bought the starter kit because it is a great deal, but I have super fair skin, and the foundations and warmths were too dark for me. I went to the BE Boutique because I live in Chicago (and the girls here made me :D ), and I was really impressed with the products. I don't wear many cosmetics because I don't like the feel and don't want to take the time to apply something that doesn't look that great to me.

My mom saw my new cosmetics and had me take her to the boutique. She is now wearing BE. She keeps commenting that she loves the fact that she can't tell that she is wearing anything. Her skin looks great. Give the BE a try, if you don't like it, you can return it. The trick is to do the swirl, tap and buff. You don't want to see a lot of the powder in the bristles of your brush.

If you can go to a boutique, do it. It is worth it. Make an appointment for a consultation. The woman that the girls her told me to see travels with Leslie, so she's really good. If you just saw her in the store, you might wonder because she has blond and red spikey hair. :D

[Beth]

I started wearing it in the spring before it got warm or humid (we were having an unusually cool spring). I usually wear a light moisturizer and sunscreen anyway. I didn't have any problems with it -- I was more concerned about how it would hold up in the heat. ;)