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Mon Apr 04, 2005 3:59 am  |
Those of you who are familiar with mineral cosmetics will probably yawn, but this is all new to me!
I've watched the late-night infomercials with a mix of curiosity & skepticism. This definitely seemed like a "too good to be true" product. But what if it actually worked?
I have troubled skin and feel like I've been on a lifelong quest to find the perfect foundation. I've tried just about every liquid foundation out there - from high-end department store lines to econo-priced drugstore make-up. Nothing has ever satisfied me completely: wrong shades for my ultra-pale skin, too shiny, matte formulations that are too drying, settling into my pores, difficult to blend etc.
So while visiting the states recently, I wandered into Sephora & decided to plunk down some money on a starter kit . I also wound up buying one eye glimmer (cultured pearl), a liner (sugarplum), one lipstick (aida) & a gloss (violet).
The starter kit was priced at $60 US and came with the following:
2 foundation powders, one in fairly light (1.2) and light (2)
1 jar of mineral veil setting powder
1 jar of "warmth" an all-over bronzing powder
3 make-up brushes (a concealer brush, a facial brush & a short handled kabuki brush)
1 instructional DVD
1 bottle of MD formulations cleanser
I patiently waited until I got home from my trip before tearing into my box. I sat down and watched the DVD for application tips. Much of the footage was the same from the infomercials I had seen, but it was a good refresher.
I then opened up the containers and went to work! The foundation colours seemed a bit dark to me at first glance - especially #2. I decided to start with 1.2. I swirled a bit on the foundation lid, tapped & buffed on my face as the demo instructed. I followed with a light dusting of the mineral veil using the kabuki brush. Both the foundation & powder felt completely weightless, yet evened out my skintone noticeably. I found the brushes very useful in applying the minerals & would recommend investing in some if you decide to buy BE.
I tried the "warmth" as a blush, and though it went on very sheerly, it simply had the wrong undertones for my cool skin. This would be a nice product for women with warm tawny complexions who enjoy bronzer.
I have been using these products for over a week now and have to say that BE has exceeded my expectations. Not only does it provide a natural looking finish, but the health of my skin has improved dramatically. I have had far fewer breakouts, flakies, red discolorations etc. My face looks much clearer without any make-up on.
After experimenting a bit, I have refined my application technique somewhat. When you are used to traditional cosmetics, minerals are a bit of a switch - less is more! I was definitely putting too much on at first, not realizing that it takes a few minutes for the minerals to do their thing. Now I think I've got the foundation thing down.
Here's what I think about the other items I purchased:
BE Lipstick - this wasn't highly rated on the Makeup Alley website, but I really like it. It has rich pigmentation, and is very emollient. It contains shea butter which is keeping my lips nice and moist. Because I don't have blush, I've also been dabbing a bit on my cheeks as well.
BE Lipgloss - Very pretty, nice texture - smooth without being too gummy or sticky.
BE eye glimmers & liners - fun to play with. Sheer application, but intense pigments. lining the eyes works best with a wet brush. I'm eager to try more colours.
The only problems I've had so far:
Oily breakthrough: I still get this partway through the day, but this happens with pretty much any make-up I use. What's nice is that I don't get a slick "masklike" sensation on my face. Also there is no colour transfer at all. It's simply my skin! It certainly hasn't excaberated any oiliness. A quick blot takes care of any shininess. Minerals are also nice because you can re-apply overtop of your make-up without having it look cakey, or strange.
Fading: the pigments are beautiful, but I find the intensity starts to fade after a couple of hours. I will have to experiment with the mineral veil a bit for a more lasting finish.
To me these are minor problems, and the improved condition of my skin is well worth dealing with these minor drawbacks. For those who are curious about this brand, here's a list of Pros & Cons.
Pros
Easy application (with a bit of practice)
Skin can "breathe"
Natural looking finish - no discoloration or demarkation lines if applied properly
Natural feeling finish! none of the slick grimy sensations liquid makeup imparts
Products are not prone to contamination the same way regular cosmetics are
Products are used in much smaller quantities and therefore last FOREVER.
Versatility - you can safely put any of these products anywhere you like on your face - eyeshadows can be blushes, blushes & glimmers can be mixed with glosses etc.
Good value - I really think you get a LOT of product for what you pay. BE has some terrific kits which are reasonably priced and come with all sorts of useful extras like brushes.
Cons
Foundation contains bismuth & the mineral veil contains cornstarch. These ingredients can be irritating for some women.
Not very portable - Loose powders are not easy to pack or throw in your purse!
Messy - if you start using this, be prepared to have tiny streaks of powder everywhere. This stuff is so finely milled, there's just no avoiding it.
For me, the pros are far outweighing the cons right now. I may experiment with other mineral brands in the future such as Jane Iredale, but for now BE suits both my skin & my budget! If any of you have tried BE I would love to hear your comments - what you liked, what you didn't like, appliction tips etc. 
Oh, and by the way, though I don't recommend this, I have fallen asleep with my mineral make-up on, and just like the BE ads claim, my skin was fine!  |
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