Foundation Search - Bare Minerals Bare Pro

 

Bare Minerals - Bare Pro Performance Wear Foundation (SPF 20) £29.00 for 30ml

 

 



I had pretty much decided that both Estee Lauder Double Wear or Clinique's Even Better Foundation were the two that were in the front-running for foundation of choice (but then I went and bought Nars!) and I'd stopped actually seeking out foundation samples to try.

However, I noticed that Debenhams were offering samples of the Bare Minerals Bare Pro foundation to try and the offer was too tempting!  

 

 

 

The Bare Minerals counter didn't actually do a shade match on my skin, but took one look at me and picked out the shade 'Natural'.

 

My skin is combination/oily - sometimes prone to a couple of dry patches.

 

This foundation is suitable for all skin types. It's a creamy liquid, full-coverage foundation and the full size comes with a pump dispenser. The finished look is described as a 'natural matte'. It is apparently heat, humidity, water and sweat-resistant.

 

What Bare Minerals say about this foundation

 

We're redefining performance wear with this new liquid mineral foundation that cares while it covers, improving the appearance of skin texture over time* while blurring pores and imperfections. The 24-hour breathable full coverage is powered by Mineral Lock™ Long-Wear Technology that blends mineral pigments with lipids naturally found in skin to lock in transfer-resistant, colour-true coverage in 30 carefully calibrated shades.

 

I was interested to see that the foundation contains some pretty powerful natural ingredients - Bamboo stem extract (to give a naturally matte, soft focus finish) and Papaya enzyme (for skin re-texturing).

 

Application

 

For each application, I used primer (different ones each time).

Although it is a liquid, I felt that this dries quite quickly, so it is best to apply to one area at a time and blend quickly. I used my Iconic London paddle foundation brush.

I was a bit surprised that this foundation is called full coverage as I noticed little to no apparent coverage on application.

 

My skin was not in great shape on my first application as it was recovering from a full facial waxing and threading and was very lumpy and blotchy. So with that in mind, I decided to try the foundation a few more times when my skin started to heal.

 

Further applications didn't yield any difference in coverage. Also, if I looked closely, I could see that the foundation was collecting in my pores and in my laugh lines.

 

Thoughts

 

I'm pretty confused by this foundation as the coverage is pretty much non-existent.

However, in saying that, it clearly does something for the appearance of my skin but I can't tell exactly what!

 

I became oilier a few hours after wear and noticed that the foundation was collecting (in wet form - little blobs of product would appear, almost like I hadn't rubbed the foundation in) around the areas where my glasses touch my face - bridge of the nose, top of my cheeks but also on my forehead and above my eyebrows. I definitely felt the need to use a powder to touch-up throughout the day.

 

However, towards the end of the day, somehow my skin would look better. It's almost as if it's a slow-release foundation that reacts with your skin, making it settle down after several hours.

 

I'm all for foundation crossed with skin care, but I feel I have better foundations and BB/CC creams that provide more coverage whilst making my skin look and feel more natural.

 

So this won't be added to my foundation short-list.