Erth Minerals (not to be confused with the Canadian cosmetics brand “Urth” Minerals) invites comparison with Bare Escentuals.

Erth Minerals states that its makeup is “so pure you can sleep in it”; its application instructions include a “twirl, tap, brush” technique (vs. BE’s trademarked “swirl, tap, buff” technique); and it even uses Bare Escentual’s numbering system for labeling its foundations.

So with all this copy-catting going on, is Erth Minerals comparable to bareMinerals? Kind of.

I had the opportunity to test out some Erth Minerals products. One of the brand’s main selling points is that its products don’t contain Bismuth Oxychloride, a commonly used ingredient that may cause irritation for some people.

The stand out product in the Erth Minerals line is its loose foundation, which offers decent coverage and more of a matte finish at about half the price of bareMinerals. Furthermore, my fellow makeup moxie and beauty blogger Julia Coney over at All About the Pretty reported that Erth Minerals foundation works well even for dark skin tones.

The Veil Moth Powder didn’t quite stand up to Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil. Erth Minerals’ finishing powder is noticeably less refined and is slightly inferior in its ability to absorb oil and minimize pores and other imperfections.

The eyeshadows were very, very sheer and are good if you want a really subtle look. They might also make a nice gift for a young teen or tween who’s dying to start experimenting with makeup. However, if you’re looking for a more versatile eyeshadow or anything more intense than an extremely sheer wash of color, then this eyeshadow isn’t for you.

While it’s not bareMinerals, Erth Minerals is on par with some of the best drugstore mineral makeup. Erth Minerals is available at: http://www.lushbrush.com.

More Erth Mineral Makeup Reviews:

Beauty Element of the Universe by All About the Pretty

Product Review: A Wash of Color — Erth Minerals by A Touch of Blusher

Plant your foundation in the Erth! by The Life of a Ladybug

Erth Mineral Makeup by Talking Makeup

Erth Mineral Makeup by Face Candy

Product Review: Erth Minerals Moth Veil by Cinnamon Kitten

Mineral Cosmetics - The Mineral Solutions by Mookychick