So back at the end of November (November 24th to be exact) I posted a picture of my new makeup kit:
The Bare Escentuals Starter Kit from Sephora. (With the whole blog disclamer crap that everyone has to post now, NO I did not receive this kit for free. I had a gift card from Christmas. Yes the Christmas BEFORE. As in Christmas 2008. I’m really weird and have trouble parting with gift cards. Like I have to find THE PERFECT PURCHASE for them.)
*End gift card tangent*
So I bought the kit November 24th, but didn’t end up cracking it open to try it until almost a week later.
It was love at first circle, circle, circle, tap, tap, tap. (C’mon. Don’t tell me you’ve never been sucked into that infomercial.) The coverage was amazing. My skin was glowing!
I started using the kit regularly. As in, everyday. Coincidentally, the week I started using the kit was also the week I went on my first date with my now boyfriend. (Tangent 2: It’s still weird to say “boyfriend” since I haven’t had one in years. Anyway.)
Over the past 3 months I started breaking out. A lot. And let me just say, not to brag or anything, but between my mom and dad, they passed some some insane super skin. I never break out. I never did. Not even in awkward teenage, the time for terrible skin years. Sure I get an annoying zit now and then, but who doesn’t? That being said, these break outs were different. They were all over my face, and they weren’t going away.
I tried to figure out what the hell was going on, and my first trail of thought was “OMG. This started happening when I started dating E.” Was it him? His dog? His laundry detergent? His water? (He lives in a different part of Boston than I do – hey I was getting desperate here.)
I kept my face clean and washed it with my regular aloe sensitive skin line from the Body Shop (it has never done me wrong!). No change. I took to cleaning my make up brushes twice a week. No change. I washed a few of his shirts at my place in my laundry detergent. I brought my own pillow in a pillowcase also washed in my detergent from home on nights I stayed at his place. No change. I made sure to wash my hands after every time I pet his dog. No change. I showered at home or at the gym (my regular shower spots). No change.
WHAT. THE. HECK. Right?
So about a week ago it finally hit me “Um maybe it’s not E. Maybe it’s the stuff I smear all over my face everyday.”
DUH, right? But WHY WOULD IT BE? The stuff is ALL MINERALS. Supposedly PERFECT for sensitive skin.
It’s in their marketing for christ’s sake:
“It’s makeup so pure you can sleep in it.”
So I googled. And. Oh. HAI:
Yeah. So I started doing some research. I found girl after girl after girl who had NEVER had a problem with acne until they started using this makeup. The culprit? The bismuth oxychloride in the product. It was wreaking havoc on my face. Also? The brushes. Too harsh for my face.
I stopped using the make up this weekend. And it’s only Thursday and my face has totally cleared up for the first time since December.
Coincidence? I think not.
The verdict?
I tossed the whole kit.*
So in conclusion — if you’re thinking about throwing down the big bucks for Bare Minerals makeup? Go to a Sephora or other retailer of the stuff and grab some free samples and try it for a few days before you buy. See how your skin reacts (it only took about a week for it to full on destroy my face). I know plenty of people who love this stuff. I’m just not one of them.
(*Oddly enough my sister got me the Get Started Eye Kit for my birthday this year, and I haven’t had ONE problem with that. So the eye makeup gets to stay. The rest? TRASH.)
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s so weird – I also like you tend to have good skin and I also can’t use BE!! I got a little kit of sample sizes about two years ago, used it every day and on the 4th or 5th day I broke the F out. I thought maybe it was because they were free samples maybe they were lower quality than the real deal. Who knew!
This stuff totally breaks me out too. At first it was just a little, but then it became all the time. I still have a couple of their kabuki brushes and I recently noticed that when I used those, even when they are clean and used with MAC or whatever other powder, I break out. The brushes can be really rough. Not a fan.
That totally sucks. I had good luck with it but 1) did NOT have good skin to start with 2) didn’t use it all that long because I have makeup ADD.
Did you toss toss it? If not, take it back to Sephora. They’re amazing about returns/exchanges and have helped me out in the past when other stores probably would have told me tough luck.
It did the same exact thing to me. I’ve never had big breakouts before and I immediately broke out after using Bare Minerals. So much for being pure enough to sleep in.
interesting, i switched to the mineral version of the mac foundation i have used for years last fall and have been struggling with my skin ever since (i find it greasier than ever and have zits in weird places like right in the middle of my cheek).
i hadn’t thought that it could possibly be the stuff that i am smearing all over my face EVERY DAY either and yet it seems so simple!
it’ll be back to my stand-by and i will reassess the face situation!
I’m so glad you posted this. That make-up makes me break out horribly too! I honestly don’t know how anyone can use it… lately I’ve been really happy with just using a moisturizer that has a touch of foundation in it. Honestly though I wont be happy with my face until I can get a little natural summer glow but that would actually involve the sun coming out ;)
hmm. now that is weird. i have been using it since nov 2007 and was always happy with it. i mean, i don’t have perfect skin to begin with and i love the coverage and all. i do still break out but i don’t think any more than before. or is it more? now you got me thinking. i think i’m gonna go without it for a while just to check it out. for the heck of it.
now, any other suggestion? preferrably s/th i can get in germany, too. ?
You aren’t the first I’ve heard having this problem with the makeup. Same issues, too. Massive breakouts on normal skin. I never used anything for the face in this line, only the eyeshadows and, like you, I’ve done fine with them.
six weeks later and i have to say: thank you. for making me question the source of my breakouts and whether this stuff is really worth the money (for me!). turns out, my skin is no worse (probably even a bit better) without it and i’m much happier with my (cheaper and easier to get) german natural brand i switched to :)
GOOD!!!! I’m the same way — I bought super cheap drugstore makeup and have had NO problems whatsoever since!
Bare minerals is terrible!! I break out every once in a while, but about two weeks after using this makeup my skin was horrid! Like I have pimples all over my cheeks.. and I guess the damn commercials for that makeup brainwashed me into thinking it was great.. so i continued using it.. for nearly three months. I was switching cleansers, toners, creams.. nothing was working.. I went and bought cover fx.. and after I swear two days i’m beginning to notice a difference.. oh the brushes are like little needles way to harsh!! Our poor little skin cells :(