What’s the Best Drugstore Mineral Makeup?

DISCUSSION:

134 comments so far...

• 1 mouse // Aug 9, 2007 at 6:17 pm

  Wow! What an immensely helpful guide to drugstore mineral make-up!! I just ran out of my Glo Minerals make-up (can’t remember the manufacturer, but I usually buy it from a local spa), which I totally love, but costs about $40. I haven’t had the time or cash to pick up some more, so I have been
  eagerly waiting for your final report regarding the best drugstore brand mineral make-up! I will definitely go check out your suggestions! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this for all of us mineral make-up moxies!! :)

• 2 Jazmin, MakeupMoxie.com // Aug 9, 2007 at 6:23 pm

  Hi mouse! It’s always nice to see you around here!

  I’m so glad you found this guide helpful. Be sure to let us know what you buy (Milani or Isadora, perhaps?) and if you like it!

  I’ve been wanting to try GloMinerals…my sister always raves about it!

• 3 Anonymous // Aug 10, 2007 at 3:48 pm

  So helpful! I am rushing to the store to get your top pick! :)
  I usually use Physicians Formula’s mineral powder foundation, but I am oily and it tends to look oily too after a few hours of wear. I like the medium coverage although I would love a full coverage. And the color I chose tends to make me look a bit orange and darker than my natural skintone. The thing is I am asian but not completely pale. I am more like a golden light tan. I am not really tan, but I have yellow undertones. Do you have any suggestions as to what color to choose for the Milani powder foundation? It would be greatly appreciated!

• 4 Jazmin, MakeupMoxie.com // Aug 10, 2007 at 4:58 pm

  Hi! I’m so glad you found the guide helpful!

  It sounds like we have a very similar skin tone (though I’m pretty “fake-baked” right now ;)

  The only way to make sure that you’re buying the right shade of foundation is to actually try it out on your face and check the results outdoors in natural light to make sure that it matches your own skin color perfectly.

  Milani is available at CVS and Walgreens, both of which usually have a generous return policy on cosmetics (ask before you buy, just to make sure).

  Having said that and based on what you told me about your skin color, it sounds like the “Honey Beige” or “True Beige” shades of the Milani loose foundation might be a good place to start ;)

  Good luck! Please let me know how you like it!

  P.S. - If you have problems finding one perfect shade, you can also try mixing two of them together ;)

• 5 Melissa // Aug 10, 2007 at 8:42 pm

  I have been wanting to try bare minerals, but was hesitant to spend the money. One of my friend told me that she saw a mineral makeup at walgreens on sale for $9.99 (IsaDora) I just used it and I love it! I did not know that there were so many choices for mineral makeup, and was wondering if I made the best choice.I am very happy with my purchase. If you consider the sale price, it may have been rated best value!

• 6 Jazmin, MakeupMoxie.com // Aug 10, 2007 at 9:32 pm

  Awesome! You definitely made the best choice. I’m so glad you found a product you love…and for such a great price!

  For $10, IsaDora would definitely take the top spot for quality AND value.

  Way to go, Melissa! Thanks for sharing the great find!

• 7 mama // Aug 14, 2007 at 2:17 am

  I’m sure that bareMinerals would be a really nice product if it’s darker shades didn’t look grey. . . the darkest shade was still too light for my skin and it looked more grey than brown. but I guess I have to try the milani and see if they have shades darker than “deep” or “tan”, and see how their product will treat me. but this was an extremely helpful guide. . . my mother has been makin me wear mary kay for years, but i am sooooooo over it. I need makeup when I need makeup, not when some ugly old overly made up woman has time to come to my house & give me a “make up makeover”. lol but again, thanks for the info.

• 8 Jazmin // Aug 14, 2007 at 4:16 pm

  Hey Mama! You’re welcome! lol, you’re hilarious…but just to be fair, there’s lots of lovely Mary Kay reps out there! Sorry you couldn’t find one who was a better match for you.

  Please let us know how the Milani Minerals work out for you. If you’re still having problems with the shades, I’ve heard that Youngblood Loose Mineral Foundation is a good choice for women of color, so you might want to check that one out too!

• 9 mouse // Aug 15, 2007 at 7:21 pm

  Hi fellow moxies! So I went to Walgreens to look for Milani or Isadora. Couldn’t find Isadora mineral make-up at my local Walgreens so I went for the Milani instead. And guess what I found!!! Milani mineral make-up in a COMPACT!! Just like my beloved GloMinerals!! The shade, “Honey Beige”, was even very similar to GloMinerals! I’ve been wearing the make-up and I must say that for 7.99, this stuff is great! I like medium coverage and was a little concerned about the possible chalkiness that can result from cheaper mineral make-up. But Milani is awesome–great coverage, yet glowy, natural, and no-make-up-looking. I love it!! …GloMiner-what? :) Thanks again, Jazmin for the guidance!!!

• 10 Jazmin // Aug 16, 2007 at 5:10 pm

  lol, you’re welcome, Mouse! So glad you like it! I may just have to pick up one of those compacts for myself ;)

• 11 Jennifer // Aug 16, 2007 at 5:23 pm

  Great post! I’ve used the bare minerals before and hated how it felt on my face. It was weird and stuffy which was disappointing. However, I now use the Loreal and love it! I was really glad they came out with something that felt like I was wearing nothing (at least to me.) Once again, I’m glad I stumbled upon your postings.

• 12 Jazmin // Aug 17, 2007 at 4:20 pm

  Hi Jennifer! Glad you found something that you like and that works for you.

  Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

• 13 Anonymous // Aug 22, 2007 at 2:54 am

  Thanks for doing this research! I’ve been wanting to try mineral make-up for sometime now. I’m african american so I’m going to try the Milani brand since it has more shades to choose from. I’m not sure what a sifter is for, but looks like I’m going to need one of those too after reading the reviews. Thanks again!

• 14 Jazmin // Aug 22, 2007 at 6:31 pm

  Hi! You’re very welcome…and thanks for reading Makeup Moxie!

  I really hope you find a shade that works for you. Please let me know how it goes!

  Oh, and a “sifter” container is just a little plastic jar that has a sifter fitted on the inside of it…the sifter has little holes in it, so that you can shake out the powder foundation (like the top of a baby powder bottle).

  The reason I recommend one is because the traditional (and most effective) way to use mineral foundation is to shake a little of it into the cover of its container and then use a brush to sweep up the makeup so that you can apply it to your face.

  It’s impossible to do this with the Milani makeup since the brush that comes attached to the inside cover gets in the way.

  You don’t *really* need a sifter jar; you could actually just tap these minerals onto a plate or other clean surface (like the inside of an old compact)…however, it’s just easier and more portable to get a new jar :)

• 15 Caroleena // Aug 22, 2007 at 9:26 pm

  I started using Bare Minerals almost a month ago. I love the coverage, but I’ve started breaking out and getting red, rough scaly patches on my face, particularly around my mouth and eyes. Have you heard of people having allergic reactions, either to the makeup or possibly even the brushes?

• 16 Julie // Aug 23, 2007 at 8:39 pm

  Wow! You really did your homework. I’m impressed. I like the different ways that you tested the makeup and that you didn’t show any favoritism at the beginning of your study. Kudos!

• 17 Jazmin // Aug 23, 2007 at 10:17 pm

  Caroleena: I’m so sorry to hear that you had a bad reaction to the makeup. I obviously am in no position to give any sort of medical advice, so the best thing to do is to go see your doctor or dermatologist. There are some findings that Bismuth Oxychloride, a common ingredient in many mineral foundations, may cause irritation. However, there are a number of things that could have caused your reaction and only a doctor will be able to determine the cause — and provide a solution.

  Best of luck. Please let me know what happens. I hope your skin is back in tip-top shape in no time :)

  Julie: Thanks for reading…and for the sweet comment!

• 18 Anonymous // Aug 26, 2007 at 4:22 am

  So I went and bought the Milani Mineral make-up in a compact at my local walgreens and I love it! It is so light and looks very natural. The shade “natural tan” matches wonderfully with my skin tone which I would compare to Halle Berry (we look just alike too lol). However, that was the darkest shade they had so Milani may not be the best choice for my darker sistas!

  One thing that I did notice that is great for me but may be a problem for others is that it felt a bit drying at first. I have really dry lips, so I just had to make sure not to get any on them by “tucking” them in during application. My skin on the other hand tends to get oily. So, I just wear a light moisturizer underneath (Eucerin Sensitive Skin Lotion w/Q10 & SPF 15) and my skin feels and looks great!

• 19 Jazmin // Aug 27, 2007 at 3:58 am

  Hey Miss-Halle-Look-Alike! I’m so glad you found a product that makes you feel as gorgeous as you look :)

  It really looks like one of the main issues with finding a good mineral foundation — especially for the ladies with lovely dark skin — is finding a foundation that’s the *right* color.

  Thanks so much for sharing your opinion!

• 20 Anonymous // Sep 17, 2007 at 4:16 am

  If you are looking for African American shades that actually looks great on you try Ada Cosmetics. This line is made by an African American. She actually has shades for everyone but catered to African Americans because she couldn’t find a color for herself. How cool is that. I wear this everyday and I am lovin’ it!

• 21 Anne // Oct 20, 2007 at 6:16 am

  Any one know where to buy IsaDora mineral makeup foundation now that Walgreens quit selling it?? Thanks!

• 22 Heley // Oct 25, 2007 at 12:35 am

  Hi!

  I just went to Walgreens today, and i was looking for a good bargain in the makeup aisle.. and i was in need of a foundation of some sort… and i usually use revlon color stay… but it was 13$… soo…

  i saw that isadora was on sale… a verrry good sale, i might say… it was more than 50% off.. i ended up purchasing the mineral makeup.. its hte first time iv ever bought it.

  I still havent used it yet, but i will let you know how i like it, when i do!

  i got it for like 8.49$

• 23 talon // Oct 29, 2007 at 9:54 am

  I’m a late-comer who’s just wanting to start experimenting with mineral foundations. I found this information SOOO helpful but now I’d like to know which (cheap/er) brush to use? Any suggestions?

• 24 Brittany // Nov 2, 2007 at 6:01 pm

  I’m soooo glad I found this article. I’m a beginning makeup artist - trying to live up to bare minerals reputation with a cheaper version. Thanks to this - I’ll be filling my kit with Milani or Isadora.

  :) Thanx!

• 25 Sentalia // Nov 6, 2007 at 2:45 am

  I bought Milani based on your advice and like it very very much. No more B.E. for me. Thanks.

  P.S

  Buy it at Ulta, it was about $5.50.

• 26 Jazmin // Nov 6, 2007 at 6:33 pm

  Anonymous: Thanks for sharing the tip on Ada Cosmetics. Problems finding the right shade of foundation is a chief complaint for many women — no matter what their ethnicity. That’s why I’m surprised that cosmetics companies aren’t busting their butts to make the process easier!

  Anne: No word yet from IsaDora on the future of the line. But when I find out, you makeup moxies will be the first to know!

  Heley: Hi! Definitely let everyone here know how you like the IsaDora Mineral Foundation.

  talon: I’m so glad you found this article helpful! As for brushes, I feel like they’re something worth investing in. If you buy a high-quality brush and take good care of it, it should serve you well and save you money in the long run. Off the top of my head, one way to get a decent brush for a really good value is to keep your eye out for sales at places like Ulta. I’ve snagged some good Japonesque brushes from there during a “Buy one, get one free” sale. Let me think more about this and I’ll get back to you. All you other Makeup Moxies, please feel free to chime in!

  Brittany: You go, babe! Best of luck on your journey to becoming a big pro makeup artist! Make sure to keep checking back and filling us in on your progress (and if you decide to keep Milani and IsaDora (hopefully not discontinued forever :) in your kit!

  Sentalia: So, so happy to have helped you find a mineral makeup that you like! And, ooh, thanks for the shopping tip ;)

• 27 Shilpiro // Nov 21, 2007 at 10:07 pm

  Along with the others, I thought this article was great, it was EXACTLY what I was looking for! My roommate recently bought bare escentuals mineral make up and I tried it and thought it was great, but I too am hesitant to shell out so much money. I also need to invest in brushes, thanks for that tip. Any other brush tips would be great.

• 28 Arisa // Nov 24, 2007 at 11:24 pm

  This was really helpful! I’ve been wanting to try mineral foundation for a while now but I wasn’t quite sure which would be the best for me to try. I’m still not sure which brand I should use since I have both oily and dry skin. I would be really grateful with any suggestions!

  Thanks!

• 29 Rhonda // Dec 7, 2007 at 8:16 am

  I have been using Sheer Cover and love the product. The problem is it takes way too long to recieve the items after ordering them. Even in a rush shipment. I am looking for a product I can purchase over the counter that is comparable to Sheer Cover. This site is very helpful. Thank you.

• 30 Lizzy // Dec 8, 2007 at 1:29 pm

  I bought Milani Minerals Loose Makeup over a month ago and I’m still using the same container! It just seems to last so much longer than your traditional foundation. The first time I used it it had a very “caked-on” look, the second time I used it I used a lot less than I had previously used. The results were very nice, I didn’t have that caked-on look and my skin didn’t look as dry. I do agree with you though.. This does have the most ridiculous brush and is in the dumbest container! However, it does cover nice for it’s price.

• 31 Meghan // Dec 27, 2007 at 9:49 pm

  Love this review! I recently bought Milani, in loose powder. I had been using a liquid foundation. I love that it seems to wear all day, only problem is it does not cover my blemishes very well. Also, my inexperience in powders means I probably have not been getting the best experience out of it. I do love how light it is, I never realized how greasy and heavy my liquid foundation was before I tried Milani minerals.

• 32 dee // Dec 29, 2007 at 9:04 pm

  thank you so much for investing your time to provide this info. i have never tried mineral makeup and have been hesitant to spend the money. but i’m getting more courageous to do so. i have lots of acne scars and have read mixed reviews of how well mineral makeup performed. other sites mention the merits of a base perfector and really good brushes. so, i’ll just drop by my local walgreens and dive in!

• 33 Jazmin // Jan 2, 2008 at 4:49 pm

  Makeup Moxies, thanks so much for all your sweet comments and smart questions! I’m so glad I could be of help in your hunt for the right mineral makeup!

  Shilpiro: I’m glad this was helpful for you! I’ve been getting a lot of questions about bargain brushes, so I’ll definitely try to do an article about it soon.

  But as for some other tips for buying the right brush for mineral makeup…you’re looking for a dense brush that can stand up to all the buffing that you’re going to be doing when applying mineral makeup (this is one of the big reasons why it’s worth investing in a higher quality (though more expensive) brush rather than putting up with cheapie brushes that are going to shed and fall apart on you (and end up costing more in the long run, since you’ll have to replace them more often).

  If you want sheer to medium coverage, go for something like the Bare Escentuals “Flawless Application” Face Brush. If you want fuller coverage, a kabuki brush is a must. One of my favorites is this Tarte kabuki brush. It’s lasted me for years.

  More tips to come, but I hope that helps somewhat!

  Arisa: Thank you for the comment. Glad I could be of help! Though it doesn’t really belong in this drugstore/value category, the mineral makeup that stands out in my mind as being good for combo skin is Mineral Fusion simply because it has such a silky formula that you can use as a concealer around your eyes…but at the same time has a semi-matte finish that’s flattering for oily skin.

  Rhonda: I haven’t tried Sheer Cover (but I need to!), so I’m afraid I’m not much help to you right now in recommending a comparable product. I promise to get back to you on that one once I try Sheer Cover.

  I encourage any of our Makeup Moxies who might have some words of advice to please speak up. Can anyone recommend an easy-to-find mineral makeup that’s similar to Sheer Cover?

  Lizzy: Yes, the curse of the Milani Mineral Makeup container, lol. I really hope they consider re-designing it. How do you deal with it? Did you transfer it into another container or just deal with it as is? (I put mine in an old BareMinerals jar, lol)

  Meghan: I have the same problem when it comes to covering blemishes with mineral makeup (and all mineral makeup! Not just Milani). I found that what works well for me is to apply your liquid or cream concealer before applying your mineral makeup. Give the concealer a minute or so to fully set (it should be totally dry), and then apply your mineral makeup as usual.

  For some help on the right technique for applying mineral makeup, check out this video from BareMinerals.

  Dee: Go for it! And be sure to stop back and let us know how it goes!

  If you’d like to try a face primer, I think they work great with mineral makeup. Some of my favorites are Smashbox Photo Finish, BECCA face primer, and Tarte Clean Slate.

  Good luck!

• 34 cein // Jan 3, 2008 at 3:55 am

  i have a request…could you, if possible, tell me which is the better deal/quality between Sheer Cover and BareMinerals?

  I’ve been seeing Sheer Cover on TV and I’ve wondered if it really is comparable to BareMineral’s quality.
  It’s tempting that Sheer Cover is being offered at a really low price (like $29.95 for a set or something), but if the quality isn’t as good as Bare, then it wouldn’t e worth it. I would appreciate if you’d do my request. But it’s ok too if you won’t.
  Thanks very much!

• 35 Jazmin // Jan 3, 2008 at 8:45 am

  Hi Cein! Thanks so much for the request…you Makeup Moxies are really interested in the BareMinerals vs. Sheer Cover comparison. I’ll be sure to look into it, and report back ;)

• 36 TyTy // Jan 5, 2008 at 8:30 am

  There are soooo many mineral makeup products out nowadays, and it’s sooo hard to choose. I’m a darker skinned girl with a mix of ebony and very dark tan. My skin is very acne prone which means i have acne scarring and some breakouts! My fear is that I won’t find the right color or anything to cover the dark acne scars. Please help!!! And if it’ll last during my workout sessions…that’ll help alot.

• 37 Erin // Jan 6, 2008 at 11:20 pm

  Ulta sells Pur Minerals also (it’s roughly the same price as Bare Minerals) and I love it. It’s pressed so I don’t feel like I waste as much and I found a color that matches my skin tone exactly. The coverage is also better than Bare Minerals which definitely helps with those occasional blemishes.

• 38 Jazmin // Jan 7, 2008 at 2:55 pm

  Hi TyTy! I totally understand how frustrating it can be to try to wade through all the new mineral makeup products out there…but, at the same time, I also think it’s frustrating that out of all the mineral makeup brands available at your local drugstore, only a couple of them have shades that properly match gorgeous, deep skin tones.

  Just based on your description of your skin color, I’m guessing that your best bets for finding a drugstore mineral foundation that carries the right shades for your skin tone are Maybelline’s new mineral makeup as well as Milani Mineral Foundation.

  One of our fellow Makeup Moxie’s left a comment above recommending Ada Cosmetics for women of color. Another good option may be good old Bare Minerals, which recently added some darker shades to its collection of mineral foundations.

  As for the best makeup to wear while you’re working out…the (unfortunately unglamorous) answer is that the best makeup to wear is none at all. I know it’s inconvenient, but it’s really important to remove your makeup before you work out (you can save time by using face wipes/makeup-remover towelettes).

  Sweating is actually great for your skin because it stimulates circulation and gets rid of toxins. However, if you’re wearing makeup and sweating a lot, your pores are prone to clogging and you’ll risk some serious breakouts.

  If you absolutely can’t go bare-faced, go for curled lashes, lipgloss, and a tinted moisturizer (though it will almost surely melt on you).

  Just try to save the glam face for post-workout. I promise your skin will thank you for it.

  I really hope that helps! Please let me know when you find something that works for you or if you need any more help :)

  Erin: Hi! Thank you so much for sharing your opinion on Pur Minerals! That’s another mineral makeup brand that I’ve yet to try out. Do you have oily skin? (I’ve heard that Pur Minerals is great for oily skin types!)

• 39 Jennifer T. // Jan 7, 2008 at 3:45 pm

  My first experience with mineral makeup was Neutrogena Mineral Sheers and I didn’t like this product at all and was initially turned off by mineral make-up. I decided to try mineral makeup again in October when Whole Foods was offering the MineralFusion trial kit for $20. I really liked that I could build the level of coverage I wanted, and the feeling like I wasn’t wearing base makeup, plus it actually seemed to be clearing up my t-zone (and I often sleep in my make-up, bad, BAD I know), however I am a bit turned off by the regular price of $39. When I was done with the trial size of MineralFusion I decided to save a few bucks and try Ulta’s own brand of mineral makeup during a buy one get one free offer… I don’t like it, it feels heavy on my skin and after a few weeks I’ve started to break out in my t-zone again. It also has a slight sheen whereas I like that MineralFusion is completely matte. I’m headed to Whole Foods tonight to purchase more MineralFusion. I’m 37, have tried tons of different base make-up over the years and I’m finally a happy customer.

• 40 Rachel // Jan 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm

  I use the Loreal and I like it. I usually buy it on sale BOGO and when there is a coupon. I go by what Penelope Cruz wears because we have the same skin tone. It bothers me that it has talc in it because I’ve heard talc isn’t good for you. I guess it makes for better coverage.

• 41 Jazmin // Jan 9, 2008 at 12:34 am

  Hi Jennifer T! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with these mineral makeup brands.

  And I’m so glad that you’ve finally found a brand that works so well for you. And I agree, MineralFusion is excellent stuff…it has almost a creamy consistency that doesn’t look cakey even if you layer it on to conceal trouble spots.

  Hi Rachel, thanks so much for your comment as well! I’ve noticed that L’Oreal Bare Naturale is one of the brands that continues to get mixed opinions. If it works for you, I think that’s awesome!

  As for the talc, it’s used mostly as a filler and/or to improve the texture of a powder and I don’t think you have to worry about it being present in your cosmetics.

  While I can understand why some people might want to avoid it completely, there still isn’t any conclusive (or even strong) scientific evidence that talc causes cancer or other harm.

• 42 Wendy // Jan 9, 2008 at 9:15 pm

  I found your website by Googling “Cover Girl Mineral Make-Up” because I could not remember which drugstore brand had mineral make-up out. I just started using mineral make-up even though it’s been over a year since I attended esthetician school & learned of their benefits & superiority. Being “poor”, though, I opted for Sheer Cover. I have very good skin (thank God!) & thus didn’t think I needed ANY coverage on my face & have been a strictly lipstick/eyeshadow/brow pencil gal for years. But now I think I shall at least take your advice & use Milani (I’ve used their cream foundation). Thank you!

• 43 Jazmin // Jan 10, 2008 at 6:06 am

  Hi Wendy!

  Well, I’m so glad that you found Makeup Moxie! It’s wonderful to have you here :)

  So what did you think of the Sheer Cover? Did you like it?

  And definitely let me know what you think of the Milani, if you try it out ;)

  Thanks so much for commenting!

• 44 Emily // Jan 10, 2008 at 4:21 pm

  I contacted IsaDora and just received word back that through Feb. 28th, their contract with Walgreens prohibits them from selling anywhere else in the US. The GOOD news is that as of March 1, 2008, their products will be available online at http://www.cosmeticsmall.com. Hurray - terrific products!

• 45 Jazmin // Jan 10, 2008 at 5:19 pm

  Hi Emily! Thanks so much for sharing the great news!

  It’s unfortunate that Walgreen’s stopped carrying the line…but that wonderful that IsaDora fans can still get their fix online ;)

• 46 Tashina // Jan 14, 2008 at 2:15 pm

  I’m glad to see that the Neutrogena got a low ranking! I had a friend recommend it to me, bought it, and was horribly disappointed. It now sits in my travel make up bag in my purse for quick touch ups when I need a little bit of a bronzer.

• 47 Jazmin // Jan 14, 2008 at 6:23 pm

  Hi Tashina! Thanks for leaving a comment!

  What was it about this product that turned you off the most? (I know, this product can give a girl a lot to be unhappy about, lol)

  But if you keep it on “back-up”, I guess it can’t be all bad ; )

• 48 angela // Jan 17, 2008 at 4:13 pm

  Your posted info is so informative-I had a terrible reaction around the time I changr to mineral make up both Bare and Pur from. Maybe that ingredient is what ended up costing me at the derm-w\o Doctoring I need more info on just that. Im still looking for the purest ingredients-how pure is pur or even new mabybelline. love-u-all.

• 49 carrie // Jan 20, 2008 at 9:26 pm

  After reading your review on drug strore mineral makeup, I think that buying the best the first time around would be wise for me rather than spending money on trying out drug store brands. Thanks for the tip. I was wondering about the quality of Bare Essentials mineral makeup and it sounds like its well worth the money.

• 50 Jazmin // Jan 21, 2008 at 9:17 am

  Hi Angela…ohhh, love u too, sweetie!

  I’m so sorry to hear that you had a reaction to your new mineral makeup.

  There are several common ingredients in mineral makeup that could potentially be causing your irritation and your dermatologist is the only one who can really help pinpoint what ingredients may be causing your skin problems.

  Having said that, bismuth oxychloride has been known to cause irritation for some people and mineral makeup products that contain little or none of this ingredient might be considered more “pure.”

  Pur Minerals contains this ingredient and Maybelline Mineral Makeup contains a small amount.

  For a mineral makeup that does not contain this ingredient, you might want to try Amazing Cosmetics Velvet Mineral Foundation or the new Revlon Mineral Makeup.

  Hope that helps!

• 51 Jazmin // Jan 21, 2008 at 9:26 am

  Hi Carrie!

  Thanks so much for the comment!

  Bare Escentuals bareMinerals makeup is a favorite of many (including me : ) And I still haven’t found anything that’s significantly less expensive, but works just as well. I definitely recommend it.

  If you try it, please try to stop back and let us know how it goes. I’d love to hear what you think of it!

• 52 Amy // Jan 21, 2008 at 7:23 pm

  I used to LOVE bareminerals but I had problems with itching and I couldn’t get a color to match. I haven’t tried any drugstore mineral foundations, but I adore everyday minerals (on http://www.everydayminerals.com). If you purchase the kits, the price drops to about $6 each after shipping. Great formulas and tons of options (I like the semi-matte). bareMinerals’ Mineral Veil is still unbeatable, though - that stuff is great.

• 53 Jazmin // Jan 22, 2008 at 12:23 pm

  Hi Amy!

  I agree…Mineral Veil remains of my all-time faves!

  And thanks for the tip on Every Day Minerals! I’ve never tried it, but it looks interesting ; )

• 54 Chris // Jan 23, 2008 at 8:21 pm

  As a mineral amke-up formulater, I may be able to shed light on the dark skin tones. Our company currently offers 25 foundation shades. When formulating these colors, unfortunately, I couldn’t get any african americans to take the time to match there skin tone. While our company has 5-6 dark shades, they hardly match any skin tones. Most women of color who have tried them, described them as “chalky”. My next goal is to redevelop these colors completely. I think the “chalky” look comes from the titanium dioxide, which is necesary for coverage on light skin, but not so much on dark. If any of you darker skinned ladies could let me know what brand and shade matches your skin tone and wouldn’t mind trying a couple of shades I would be more than happy to give you free product for your time and trouble. It is nearly imposssible to match a skin tone without seeing it. I would sure appreciate the help.

• 55 Jazmin // Jan 24, 2008 at 10:19 am

  Hi Chris,

  Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a comment!

  I think that’s really wonderful that you’re making an effort to create mineral foundations that provide a better color match for women with deeper skin tones!

  Would you mind leaving an email address or phone number, so that any of the lovely, darker-skinned Makeup Moxies who might be interested in your offer can contact you?

  If you’d like, you can also email the details to me at jazmin@makeupmoxie.com and I can write up a separate post about it.

  Thanks again for such a great offer!

• 56 Chris // Jan 24, 2008 at 9:09 pm

  Jazmin;
  Thank You for your welcoming comment. I worked a little on the new color formulations today. I had 2 women with darker skin tones that were nice enough to come in and sit with me for 3 hours while I got there skin tones matched perfectly. I will have 6 new shades for darker skin tones to replace the “chalky” ones that we did have. I discovered last night that March 1st is women of color day. So my goal is to have them tested and ready to market by then. Our email address is naturalcorner@hotmail.com and our website is http://www.naturalcorner.net . If any one is interested in helping me test the darker shades I would be more than happy to send them some samples to test. In fact, I would really appreciate the help. And just to let you all know, there really is a difference in Mineral Make-up. Just because it says mineral does not make it all natural or even healthy for that matter. Many companies use bismuth oxychloride or boron nitride for a filling or carrier agent. Both of these man made minerals can cause skin irritation. Some of the brand name companies just took there chemical make-up and added minerals. We have a chart on our website that you can use to compare prices and ingredients. I formulated our mineral make-up to use all natural minerals as well as a couple of herbs to help with break outs and other blemishes. My goal was a make-up that looked great, was truly all natural, reasonabley priced and was actually healthy for your skin. I have had numerous people switch from some of the larger name brands because they liked ours bettter. O.K. I could go on and on, but the website gives you all the rest of the info. Just remember ladies, 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our blood stream. Check those ingredients.
  Thanks Again for you help!!!

• 57 Chris // Jan 24, 2008 at 9:30 pm

  For that matter, anyone who would like samples of our mineral make-up I would be more than happy to send some for you all to review. I know that you will like it better than the others that you have tried. Just drop me an email at naturalcorner@hotmail.com and le tme know your address and what shade and brand that you have been using or which one of ours that you would like to try. Thanks again!

• 58 Bernadet // Feb 3, 2008 at 12:29 pm

  Thank you for all your valuable information…this sure saves us a lot of money!
  I was wondering if you’ve ever tried Avon’s Smooth mineral make-up? On its site, many people seem to praise it but I would love to know what you think!

• 59 Bernadet // Feb 5, 2008 at 7:14 am

  Just wanted to mention…I went to Wal-Greens today to buy the IsaDora Mineral make-up and they told me that they’re discontinuing the IsaDora line. :-(

• 60 Wisgirl // Feb 5, 2008 at 12:13 pm

  I just tried Maybelene’s Translucent Mineral Loose Powder. Does anyone know if they make the Translucent in Pressed?

  I too, have tried Neutrogena, Jane and Physician’sThey all turned orange or pink, on my sallow tone. Maybelene, after it set and I blushed my cheekbones, looks good.

• 61 Angela // Feb 15, 2008 at 2:01 pm

  Hi,
  I just recently went to Walmart and looked at the Loreal line and yes they have a dark shade but I did not buy it. I also thought about trying the AVON brand mineral makeup. One of my coworkers wears Raw Minerals and she looks very painted. I used to used Revlon Color Stay. I am just looking for something nice and sheer and definately does not dirty my clothing. Help!

• 62 Jazmin // Feb 17, 2008 at 8:45 am

  Chris, thanks again for your generous offer. I think that it’s wonderful that you’re working to develop mineral makeup in shades for women of color!

  If anyone takes Chris up on her offer, please direct your questions, comments and feedbacks to her ; )

  Hi Bernadet! You’re welcome! I haven’t tried the Avon makeup yet, but if I do, I’ll be sure to post a review of it ; )

  And it’s unfortunate about Walgreens dropping IsaDora. I’ll be removing it from these rankings. The good news for IsaDora lovers is that the makeup is supposed to be available from cosmeticmall.com starting March 1st.

  Wisgirl: Thanks for the question! I know that the regular foundations come in a pressed formula, but I’m not sure if the translucent powder does. I’ll have to check into that for you!

  Angela: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly mineral foundation that’s sheer and not as messy as a loose powder, you might like the Milani pressed mineral foundation or even the Jane pressed mineral powder (which is more sheer than Milani’s).

  Hope that helps!

• 63 Live Vintageously // Feb 18, 2008 at 8:53 am

  Jazmin,

  Thank you for passing on the news about IsaDora! I was worried I would have to order it from Sweden!

  I was so sad about IsaDora being discontinued because I hadn’t even had a chance to try it. I went yesterday to check out their line at Walgreens and it’s all empty and gone. Boo-hoo! I can’t wait for March 1st!

• 64 Jazmin // Feb 18, 2008 at 5:25 pm

  Hi Live Vintageously (cool name ;),

  You’re welcome! I really should do a full post about IsaDora because a lot of you makeup moxies have been looking for it ; )

  It really does suck. The only products I had tried from IsaDora were the mineral makeup (loved it) and the mineral eyeshadow (also very nice).

  I hope Cosmetic Mall will have some good promotions on shipping or BOGO…my inner bargain queen will have issues with paying S & H for IsaDora products, lol

• 65 Sophiajam // Feb 21, 2008 at 12:14 am

  I have spent hours searching for a place to buy the Isadora makeup line! Wow, I am so glad that I have found your site. A lot of good information on the mineral makeup too, thank you so much for all of this amazing information. I loved the Isadora Mineral makeup. I can’t wait until March 1st! I think that you should do a full post for all of us that are jonesing for our Isadora products! Thanks again.

• 66 Jazmin // Feb 21, 2008 at 7:13 am

  HI Sophiajam! You’re so welcome! I love that you’re finding this site helpful : )

  And thank you for reminding me to do a separate post on Isadora mineral makeup. It’s a fab idea!

• 67 Chris // Mar 1, 2008 at 11:05 pm

  Jazmin-
  I just wanted to let you know that your forum is obviously very popular. Since my post I have had 6 or 7 people email for samples. I even had one that liked it so well she decided to start selling it on her own. Thanks for a great forum. I hope everyone has been happy with the samples.

• 68 Live Vintageously // Mar 2, 2008 at 12:17 pm

  Jazmin,

  I’ve been checking in at cosmeticmall.com since March 1st, and they still have not posted the Isadora line. I’m hoping Isa will be up by Monday. If not, what are we going to do?!

  I’d be willing to pay some s/h if I could just get my hands on their cake mascara. There’s some rave reviews for it over on Makeupalley, and much as I want to try Longcils cake mascara, I still haven’t caved in for the $30 price tag — plus s/h!!!

• 69 Jazmin // Mar 3, 2008 at 12:39 pm

  Hi Chris,

  Great to hear from you! I’m glad that you’ve been able to get some help for testing out your mineral makeup. I had no doubt that our fellow makeup moxies here would be able to provide you with some excellent feedback ; )

• 70 Lynds23 // Mar 4, 2008 at 7:32 am

  I may be late on this little tidbit but some ladies of color I know use glominerals cocoa shades…I saw earlier in this chain that it is ranked on the high end of prices, but the colors are very deep and very rich in color, have never seemed chalky to me! Hope that helps!

• 71 Ashley // Mar 4, 2008 at 7:57 am

  Ok, I have been searching for a place to buy my Isadora eyebrow pencil for months and I was excited to hear that cosmeticsmall.com would start selling it on March 1st….The only problem is they’re NOT selling it yet. I’ve bought every brand of pencil known to man and none of them match my natural hair color. Isadora is the only one that matches. I’ve been using the leftover nubs of my old pencils and those are almost gone too….Help! Any more news on when the website will start selling Isadora? Thanks!

• 72 Jazmin // Mar 4, 2008 at 11:06 am

  Hi Lynds23 — Thanks for the comment! It’s always great to know which brands work well for women of color…and, when compared to other prestige mineral makeup brands the price of Glominerals isn’t unusual at all.

  When compared to “drugstore” mineral makeup brands, however, it is much more expensive, which I think was the point that was being made above ; )

  Hi Ashley & Live Vintageously, I haven’t gotten any more news recently on IsaDora, but I promise that you makeup moxies will be the first to know when I do ; )

• 73 MA // Mar 5, 2008 at 5:28 pm

  Hi, I’m wondering if you took note if there were any parabens in these products? (methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben etc.) I have to shake my head when they advertise that the makeup is “purely natural mineral” makeup and turns out a lot of these mineral makeups have all sorts of other ingredients in them.
  I am asking because I am severely allergic to parabens. Some people say that the paraben controversy is “people making a big deal out of nothing.” Personally, it is doing something to me so I happen to believe it all.

• 74 Jazmin // Mar 5, 2008 at 6:07 pm

  Hi MA,

  I understand that it must be frustrating for you to find paraben-free products. Out of the products listed above, the Milani Loose mineral powder and the L’Oreal Bare Naturale are both paraben-free…which is not to say, of course, that they don’t contain other unnatural ingredients (particularly the L’Oreal foundation).

  And I think you’re absolutely right, just because a cosmetic company says that its product is “all natural” certainly doesn’t mean that it is. On the other hand, just because a product is actually all-natural doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be non-irritating.

  Anyway, hope that helps! Thanks for the comment!

• 75 Live Vintageously // Mar 9, 2008 at 6:32 am

  Just a quick note to tell you that I have made a discovery.

  My local Walgreens has discontinued Milani makeup. But joy of joys! K-Mart is carrying it! I don’t know if it’s true nationwide, but if your local Walgreens is discontinuing Milani too, check out K-Mart. (My KM is also selling a limited selection of E.L.F. Woohoo!)

• 76 laura // Mar 9, 2008 at 10:48 am

  how does mary kay’s mineral makeup compare with all the rest? i just found out they have their own line of it now and was curious to know if you’ve tested to see how it stacks up to all the rest. i’m still trying to decide which makeup to try, i’ve never done minerals before.

• 77 Jazmin // Mar 9, 2008 at 5:16 pm

  Live Vintageously: Thanks for the tip! Boo on Walgreens, yay on K-Mart, lol!

  I’ve been buying Milani from CVS…I hope they don’t stop carrying it!

  Laura: I haven’t tried the Mary Kay mineral makeup, yet, but Mary Kay and Avon are both near the top of my list ; )

• 78 Jazmin // Mar 9, 2008 at 5:16 pm

  My list of “next mineral makeup brands to try”, that is ; )

• 79 Marion // Mar 11, 2008 at 10:37 am

  Jazmin…can you suggest a makeup that leaves a luminous sheen. I’m 64 would you suggest mineral makeup for my age. If not, any suggestions would be greatly appreciate.

  I have a nice complexion…:-)

  Thanks for you help!

• 80 Lucky Lady // Mar 11, 2008 at 9:41 pm

  Hi there ladies, I was using MAC foundation for a couple of years.. And always switching my acne skin care regimen thinking nothing was working, one day when I could not afford MAC anymore I decided to use L Oreal mineral make-up and like magic my acne went away! however I still have a few acne scars I have not had one breakout since switching to L Oreal…. I Love it!!!

• 81 Jazmin // Mar 13, 2008 at 7:28 am

  Hi Marion,

  Thanks so much for the questions! I think that 64-year-olds can definitely wear mineral makeup. My mom is exactly your age and she looks gorgeous in her Bare Minerals, which does leave a subtle, natural-looking sheen.

  One of the potential problems, however, for women in your age group is that mineral makeup can be drying. That’s why it’s important to be sure to prime your skin with an excellent moisturizer that’s appropriate for your skin type (my mom loves Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion).

  I hope that helps!

  Lucky Lady: Thanks for your comment about L’Oreal mineral makeup. I’m glad it’s working for you ; )

• 82 Marion // Mar 13, 2008 at 12:39 pm

  Thank you so much for getting back to me, Jazmin. Glad to hear we’re (65+) able to wear bare minerals. …:-) Thanks for the tip about your Mom’s moisturizer, I love Clinque!!!!!

  Have a great day!

• 83 Jazmin // Mar 13, 2008 at 4:37 pm

  You’re so welcome, Marion! Have fun makeup shopping…I know that whatever you choose, you’ll look gorgeous ; )

  But there’s something I meant to ask you earlier. You mentioned your nice complexion in your first comment. Do you have any favorite beauty secrets when it comes to caring for your skin? If you’re willing to share them, I (and I’m sure our fellow makeup moxies here) would love to hear them ; )

  And I hope you have a wonderful day, too!

• 84 JB // Mar 16, 2008 at 6:14 pm

  Just found this site (LOVE IT!!!)

  I just had to throw in my 2 cents…I was using bare minerals because I’m allergic to most preservatives in make up, but found it made my pores look HUGE. At the suggestion of a woman at whole foods I mixed it with my moisturizer or face sunscreen to make a tinted moisturizer and that helped.

  About a year ago I found a really good site that talks about the harmful chemicals in most of our beauty products (cosmeticsdatabase.com) and I got turned onto After Glow cosmetics. I have pretty oily skin by the end of the day and it seems to hold up well and it doesn’t make my pores look huge like Bare Minerals. I’ve tried their blush, eyeshadow and lipstick in addition to the foundation and so far I like it all except the lipstick (like every other brand) dries out my lips really bad.

  Great site! I will definitely be here all the time!

  Thanks,
  JB

• 85 Jazmin // Mar 17, 2008 at 5:47 am

  Hi JB, glad you love the site! And thanks for sharing your thoughts.

  I really haven’t had that problem with Bare Minerals. I think that it does a great job of minimizing the appearance of pores (especially when used with the Mineral Veil)…but it’s always great to hear other’s opinions ; )

• 86 RedFaced&Desperate // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:41 am

  Hi -

  I have alot of redness on my face that I can’t seem to cover no matter what I use. I’ve been thinking about trying Bare Escentuals, but am hesitant to spend so much money. At the same time, I’m not sure I want to use a drugstore brand if the product is so much less inferior that it doesn’t give me a true sense of the “real stuff”.

  Do you think the coverage of mineral makeup will actually help or is it just another makeup that will look OK, not great, when I put it on, but by the time I walk out the door is already fading?

  What are your suggestions?

• 87 Jazmin // Apr 4, 2008 at 2:49 pm

  Hi there,

  There are a couple things you can do to help control the redness of your skin.

  1. Try to treat it. If you haven’t already, bring the issue up with your doctor or dermatologist and see what they have to say. Your condition could be caused by a number of different things…some of which might require treatment that’s only available by prescription.

  For an over-the-counter remedy, you could try a moisturizer that helps neutralize red skin like Boots No. 7 Calm Skin Redness Relief Gel or Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer.

  2. You can try to neutralize the redness with a green-tinted primer like Boots No7 Colour Calming Make-Up Base or Smashbox Color Correct Primer…the added benefit is that these primers will further help your makeup stay in place.

  3. You can try a foundation with fuller coverage.

  If you’ve already tried full coverage cream or liquid foundations and they don’t help cover the redness, it’s unlikely that mineral makeup will do a better job.

  Almost all mineral makeup (particularly the drugstore mineral makeup) tops out at medium coverage. Out of the brands that I’ve tried, the one that offers the most coverage is Jane Iredale (which, unfortunately, is even more expensive than Bare Escentuals).

  Out of the drugstore brands, L’Oreal Bare Naturale offers the most coverage.

  I hope that helps…and that one (or more) of these solutions works for you!

• 88 chrysanthemum // Apr 5, 2008 at 1:09 pm

  Hi lil’ miss moxie,

  I am in awe of your mineral makeup rundown. I have been using Bare Escentuals for quite a while but want a compact-powder product bc I’m lazy. I was going to possibly try the Jane compact, so will report back. Based on your reviews I feel very knowledgeable so I really just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for all the thoughtful work and effort you put in, I really got a lot out of it.

  have a beautiful day,
  chrysanthemum

• 89 jb // Apr 5, 2008 at 3:47 pm

  hey jazmin. this was really helpful! i bought the milani minerals because of your suggestion, and i like it. however, if you don’t use a good primer, it will get streaky by midday. and i wish there were more shade choices for other skin tones, the lightest one was able to match mine. anyway thanks again.

• 90 jb // Apr 5, 2008 at 3:50 pm

  haha didn’t realize there was another jb on here! i’ll just be jb2 . LOL

• 91 Jazmin // Apr 7, 2008 at 5:41 pm

  Well hello, lil’ miss chyrsanthemum! You’re so welcome! And thank you for such a sweet comment ; )

  After using BM for a long time, I definitely understand the appeal of going back to quick and easy (and neat!) compacts.

  I’d love to hear what you think of the Jane Compact…but just so there won’t be too much disappointment, it really doesn’t stand up to Bare Minerals. If you’re looking for a compact mineral foundation that’s more similar to BE, you may want to try Jane Iredale, MineralFusion, or GloMinerals. For a drugstore version, I’d recommend the Milani or Maybelline compact mineral foundations over the one made by Jane.

  But whatever you decide, please be sure to let us know how it goes!

  Hi jb (or jb2, LOL)…you’re welcome. I’m so glad that you found the reviews helpful.

  And, yes, Milani mineral makeup can tend to wear off…but I guess for $8, we can’t complain too much, right? ; )

  Thanks for your comment!

• 92 Medic216 // Apr 11, 2008 at 4:15 pm

  Hi everyone. This is my first entry. I am one of the ones who contacted Chris and received samples. (thank you very much Chris!) Her samples have been working wonderfully, and I plan to find a local distributer. This is my first contact with minerals, having become curious after all the bare minerals and sheer cover infomercials. My question is, what have you all found to be the best moisterizer? I am 45 with combo skin. Thanks.

• 93 Liz // Apr 15, 2008 at 6:54 am

  Can you check out and rate the mineral makeup
  at Sally’s beauty.

  Thanks

• 94 Liz // Apr 15, 2008 at 7:08 am

  Anyone try the minerals from Sally Beauty yet?

  I am currently using the Milani which I love, probably because I haven’t used BE except for blush and eye makeup.

  Thanks

• 95 Jazmin // Apr 15, 2008 at 5:33 pm

  Hi Medic216, I’m glad you were able to discover a new mineral makeup brand that you like ; )

  As for moisturizers, my high-end pick is Rilastil Intensive Hydrotenseur. It works great for almost all skin types since it provides excellent hydration, but doesn’t feel greasy.

  Other great choices that will help ward off the signs of aging and are also appropriate for combo skin are Clinique’s Continuous Rescue Antioxidant Moisturizer for combination skin and, if you’re shopping at your drugstore, Olay Total Effects Moisturizing Vitamin Complex.

  Hope that helps!

• 96 Jazmin // Apr 15, 2008 at 5:34 pm

  Hi Liz, I haven’t tried the Sally Hansen mineral makeup, yet. But I’ll be sure to test it as soon as I can get ahold of it ; )

• 97 Liz // Apr 16, 2008 at 7:52 am

  Hi Jazmin:

  It is actually at Sally Beauty Supply. Sorry for the confusion.

  PS Also sorry I did not thank you. It is because of you that I tried the Milani and love it. BIG THANKS

  I saw your comment on the Boots moisturizer. From my experience any Boots product works great! Wish they would come out with minerals!

• 98 Jazmin // Apr 16, 2008 at 9:21 am

  Hi! No problem! So is it actual “Sally Beauty Supply” brand mineral makeup? Sorry for my confusion too, lol.

  And you’re so welcome! I LOVE it when I can help a fellow makeup moxie find a new product that she loves ; )

  Ooooh, and Boots Minerals…what a great idea!

• 99 Liz // Apr 17, 2008 at 3:10 am

  Hi J

  Yes it is actually Sally Beauty Supply but I do not know if it is their brand. The girl at the register indicates that they believe it is the closest to BE. You would know better than me LOL
  Thanks again for all the help!!!

• 100 Jazmin // Apr 18, 2008 at 8:08 am

  You’re welcome, Liz! LOL, you’re absolutely right. I should be more on top of these things! I’ll be sure to do some snooping around my local Sally Beauty Supply ; )

• 101 Teresa // Apr 19, 2008 at 9:41 pm

  I have combination skin w/ occasional hormonal beakouts, 1/2 asian, so I have olive yellowish tone…
  PUR- my first, good, but the color goes on lighter than the shade in pot.

  Bare Minerals- too much glitter/shimmer for me. From a distance, it looks nice, up close, it is very distracting, even w/ mineral viel.

  Revlon Colorstay Mineral makeup- very chalky, and turned cakey & color turned orangy as the day went on and my skin got oily, touch up made the look worse, even w/ a good blotting.

  Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear liquid foundation- If you like full coverage, this product I loved, even though liquid form. It’s thick, but stays on ALL day. To go lighter, I’ll mix in a bit of moisturizer. a little goes a long way. Formula feels powdery after application. I use this for that special week of the month when hormones strike.

  Urban Decay Mineral- matte finish, goes on beautiful, just like the shade names…heavenly. But I do have to touch at least twice through the work day, even still, it gives a beautiful ever so slightly luminous yet matte finish.

  Sheer Cover- I keep coming back to this. I love it. The shipping can take about 7 days, but I have learned to plan ahead, great value at kit prices. A guy friend of mine comments, I don’t like the makeup look, but yours looks so good. I get great coverage to even skin tone, but my beloved speckle of freckles still glow through.
  BONUS ladies…this stuff looks beautiful in pics, we know how that can go, the awful mask caught on film.

  Good luck in your search!

• 102 Jazmin // Apr 21, 2008 at 11:37 am

  Hey Teresa…thanks for the run-down (and low-down)!

  : )

• 103 Liza // Apr 23, 2008 at 11:15 am

  What would work for my 17 year old daughter for coverage? Of course, she has oily, fair skin, large pores on her nose, and is prone to breakouts, especially at certain times. I think she tries to cover too much and that contributes to breakouts.

• 104 Medic216 // Apr 24, 2008 at 3:05 pm

  Jazmin, thank you so much for the info. It’s nice to have a few choices, expecially with summer sun coming.

• 105 Shea // Apr 25, 2008 at 8:33 am

  Thanks so much for this. i was just looking into buying so make up. This was very helpful.
  Thanks

• 106 Laura // Apr 28, 2008 at 1:20 pm

  I’m looking for a mineral make up foundation that has no Bismuth in it, is good for oily skin (won’t make me shiny), and has no added, unnatural sunblock in it, because I’m prone to breakouts. And it would be great if it wasn’t too expensive. Any suggestions?

• 107 Sheila // Apr 29, 2008 at 12:28 pm

  When I switched from a liquid to a mineral makeup, I first tried Loreal Bare Natural, but I was getting a lot of little pimples. I tend to have acne-prone skin still (in my early 30s!), but I wasn’t sure if the makeup was actually bothering my skin or if it was because I was in my first trimester. On the strength of this recommendation I tried the Milani and honestly I was really disappointed. They didn’t have very many shades - nothing that looked fair enough for me. So I tried the lightest one and sure enough it was way too pink. Also it didn’t provide any coverage. None. So all my little pimples and redness were not covered at all. I just looked like someone with bad skin AND the wrong color make-up. I switched back to my old liquid makeup and waited out the acne, and now second trimester I have switched back to the Loreal Bare Naturale, which I have found provides much better coverage and I can find an appropriate shade. And it doesn’t seem to have been the source of the acne.

• 108 WILLIA683 // Apr 30, 2008 at 6:01 am

  Hello,

  I’m not sure if i’ve missed this comment, however what is the difference between bare minerals, raw minerals and sheer cover? I just purchased sheer cover a week ago. I haven’t used it yet. I am african american. I have dark skin. I;m new into the make up world. But looking for a natural look. HELP!!!

• 109 Raffaella Ducoli // May 15, 2008 at 11:51 pm

  Because of my tendency for breakouts, I only wear mineral make-up. Bare Minerals is definitely my favorite. I’ve tried the other ones but don’t like them as much.
  For only skin Milani Mineral Make up don’t work. The coverage is sheer and if you are oily, it does not stay on your face for a long time.

• 110 Jessica // May 16, 2008 at 5:12 am

  I can’t tell you how excited I was when I finally found a Walgreens that carries Milani make-up! I have never liked liquid foundations, or any makeup for that matter. They always look so unnatural. I always would end up looking like a clown. But this Milani Minerals is fantastic! It looks so natural and smooths out my flaws. Best of all it has withstood the Arizona heat and my workout. I can’t even tell it’s there.

  I’ve read how others don’t like their packaging. I guess I’m weird because I like the little “can” it comes in and the way the brush swivels in and out . The bronzer/blush is really nice as is the lipgloss. I can’t say enough good things about
  this product.
  I love it I love it I love it!!!!

• 111 Sue // May 21, 2008 at 9:51 pm

  I’m so glad I found my way to this list. I’ve been using Physician’s Formula but was wondering if there’s a better alternative that comes closer to the Bare Escentuals line. I like PF, and am impressed that I’m still using the same jar after almost a year and a half. However, when I first started using it I didn’t read the directions and foolishly buffed it into my skin instead of lightly brushing it on. The result was a face that looked like it was made of crepe paper. I’m only 37 and don’t even have crow’s feet, so you can imagine my horror at the sight. Even with a brush I still sometimes look a little crepey, but it’s a lot better than before.

  Otherwise I have enjoyed using it. The coverage is good enough, although I still use concealer under it to cover blemishes and dark circles. My face isn’t nearly as oily as it used to be. I just want to try a new brand to see if I can get a better finish.

  I tried Bare Escentuals once, and fell in love with the “warmth.” It made my face look amazing. Is there a drugstore equivalent of that? I’m on a very limited budget and can’t afford the real thing. I have bronzers but this was a different effect.

• 112 best mineral makeup // Jun 4, 2008 at 8:51 am

  I bet that was a rather enjoyable project, but sure time consuming. Keep up the good work.

• 113 Cindy // Jul 6, 2008 at 7:39 pm

  I just tried Jane’s new Be Pure Skin Perfecting liquid mineral foundation and it was awful. Irritated my eyes and the color was way too dark - even though I have tan skin. Waste of money!

• 114 JO // Jul 7, 2008 at 7:08 pm

  Of the drugstore brands mentioned the only that have worked well for me were Revlon and Loreal. Like many things makeup related what works for one may not work for another but some of the drugstore brands were so awful compared to these two.

• 115 denise // Jul 17, 2008 at 12:58 am

  I have to say THANK YOU ! I was having quite a hard time looking up reviews on mineral make-up and hearing so many diffrent things about the same products. But in the end I’ve decided to just go for it and buy bareminerals (: If it’ll leave my skin beautiful I don’t mind spending the extra money. But I will try some drug store brands on the side ;) THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH IT IS APPRECIATED :D

• 116 Monica // Aug 19, 2008 at 11:49 pm

  i was wondering if you knew anything good/bad about avon’s “mark.” Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation. oh, and what concealers do you recommend that are good quality @ a good price?

  i noticed you didn’t talk about any covergirl foundations in your very helpful guide. so i just wanted to mention that my “covergirl trublend: pressed minerals foundation” in creamy natural works really well. i have semi-oily skin and it covers well, stays on for a long time, and holds up when i sweat. after a rough concert or dancing at the club, my skin/face still looks pretty darn good! i also haven’t noticed any breakouts due to the make-up. it works the best (better coverage) if you have on a good moisturizer underneath (i use garnier nutriste skin renew).

  btw, the CG trublend is only about $8 at walgreens.

• 117 Beth // Sep 17, 2008 at 12:34 pm

  Hello all! I just discovered this site doing a search for Isadora Mineral makeup. I too was very disappointed to find that Walgreens had discontinued the line; as an ethnic woman it was hard to find blushes that are in a good color range much less mineral ones, and the Isadora very berry was great - I gave mine to my sister and now am without! I found it on both cosmeticmall.com AND amazon.com. As an “in-between” color, I have a common problem - not enough color range for dark skin tones - (Tan shades are a little too light but Dark shades a little too dark) I always have to buy two shades and mix (frustrating and expensive) . I also found I was allergic to Bare Escentuals which makes me itch profusely. I love Raw Natural Beauty foundation powder which includes Silk powder as an ingredient (and feels wonderfully like it), but is WAY too expensive at $30/jar. I’ve contacted Chris to ask for samples of her line.

• 118 esperanzalives // Oct 11, 2008 at 4:49 pm

  Hey, I was searching mineral make-ups online, and stumbled upon this. It looks pretty cool. I’m still undecided about the bare escentuals. I usually use Nicole Miller and Estee Lauder make-up. The one time I had a makeup counter lady put Bare Escentuals on me, I looked orange and unnatural. I went home and wiped half of it off using toilet tissue, and then I looked pretty good. I get Nicole Miller makeup at a discount through Melaleuca, and that stuff looks really natural on me. I am fair skinned with good complexion but a bit of a pink tinge. Searching online, another option I found is Faerie Organic. I haven’t tried the product, just found the site doing internet searches. I would love to know if anyone else has tried it. I’d also love to know more about brushes. I agree in investing in a brush, but there can be huge price differences among higher end companies. Thanks~!

• 119 Amy // Oct 22, 2008 at 3:48 pm

  I’m definitely going to have to get the Milani compact. I’m not much for bare minerals, at first I felt really good about it, but the more I use it the more I get sick of how long it takes to put it on properly and the color of it is just not right. It makes me feel kinda fake. I honestly like the Loreal version more, it is less hard to apply (Really good brush for doing so. It’s like a mini-kabuki at the top) but I also feel really pale when I wear that. I have fair skin but I think people try to give me too light a shade and since bare minerals has very little variation on color choice, I’m hoping Milani will have more possibilities. I saw that in CVS when I was looking for eye shadow for my friend and it seemed very cool. I’ll check back soon. =) And should come back and let y’all know how I fared with it!

  (Btw: Love this blog… I feel an addiction coming on.)

• 120 Amy // Oct 23, 2008 at 5:22 pm

  (Oh, got the compact, just turned out to be too dark a color, guess I’ll have to go back to CVS to switch it! Coverage was great though and the light reflection was wonderful. Hopefully I’ll find one that matches. :).)

• 121 Sun Valley Sally // Nov 28, 2008 at 12:25 pm

  Found your blog, GREAT! Now I think I know why I had such bad skin reaction to the Bare Minerals - red, scaly patches, frantic itching, even small blisters…and the salon retailer in Eugene Oregon who did the demo and sold me the start kit won’t let me return it even tho start kit is unopened and still shrink-wrapped sealed! How can the Bare Minerals people say they have no chemicals in their product when clearly they do?! Anyway now I have lots of well-reviewed products to look at and read the ingredients list for, this has given me a good informational start. Thank you for this very informative blog, keep up the great work!

• 122 Angela // Dec 11, 2008 at 10:39 pm

  Recently found your site when scouring for mineral makeup reviews. I just purchased several different kinds to compare (and boy did that cost a pretty penny). I’m a person with combination skin. It tends to have tons of little lines because of dryness, but builds up oil on the surface very quickly. So, it’s like a nice dry desert with rain on the surface. Here’s my take on some of the drugstore brands:

  Maybelline Mineral Powder: Excellent product. You can apply just a small amount as a nice base or apply it a little heavier for more coating, but it doesn’t cake like most others. It wears very well over the course of the day. I still get oily, but the makeup seems to stay put. The container, as you stated in another review, is one of the best on the market. A perfect little sifter where you can turn it upside down to shake powder into the top, then turn it over, tap the top, and the lid removes with no stuff on top to fall out. The only problem for me was finding a shade. While they have shades marked Light, Medium, Dark?, the shades don’t consistently move the spectrum from light to dark. For instance, the lightest Medium is darker than the darker Lights. And, the colors shift quickly. #2 was way too light, #4 was so dark it was unbelievable. I finally managed to get ahold of a #3 and it was perfect. But, at over $10 a pop, it would have helped to have color cards on the display that were actually accurate, which theirs weren’t. Overall, now that I’ve found a color I like, I’m going to stick with it. I also like their mineral concealer.

  Revlon ColorStay Mineral Foundation: Another pretty decent foundation that has more volume than the Maybelline, but I found I needed to apply more of it to obtain the same level of coverage as the Maybelline. Still, it makes a nice backup if the Maybelline isn’t available. The shades available are excellent, as they have nice brown-base shades and red-base shades for those who have different skin undertones. So, I found the perfect color. Unlike Maybelline, their color cards are excellent, and I found the right shade on the first try. The bad side of this, the container, which is like the Milani container. You have to twist the top every time you want to use the brush. And, like you said, you have to have the top on to tap the powder into the bowl, but the brush sits right on top of the sifter and prevents the powder from coming out. It’s an absolute disaster in terms of product packaging.

  Loreal Bare Naturale gentle mineral makeup: Terrible. Absolutely terrible. It cakes horribly, accenting every tiny line on my face. I took it off immediately, because I couldn’t even imagine how horrible it would look once it absorbed some of the oil that appears on my face over the course of the day. In terms of packaging, the sifter bowl was fine, but the brush was a little bulky and hard to handle, as it was built into a big round base/cap. Avoid at all costs unless you want to hide imperfections at the cost of looking like you have 5 layers of makeup on your face.

  Physicians Formula Mineral Wear: Unlike the Loreal, this one seemed to brush on nice and light at the cost of not really providing any coverage. In fact, and I’m not sure why, this powder actually seemed to accent every single line and pore (no kidding!!). So, not only did it not hide imperfections, it seemed to highlight ones that I didn’t even think existed. The container had a sifter with a huge domed lid that held the brush separate. Inbetween the lid and sifter there was a rubber lid that kept the powder in the bottom, but then also prevented you from getting any powder out!! There was just no way of getting any powder out without making a giant mess. This one was tossed right away.

  I haven’t seen the Milani, but will give it a try when I do. For now, I’m sticking to Maybelline, with Revlon ColorStay a very close second. If it weren’t for the crappy brush, it would tie with Maybelline.

• 123 Angela // Dec 11, 2008 at 10:44 pm

  Oh, I should mention, there was one brand, I can’t remember which, that I avoided because it had glycerin, which causes me to break out. So many products out there have glycerin, so it limits my makeup choices. Fortunately, most of the mineral ones don’t contain it. Yeah!!

• 124 jill // Jan 19, 2009 at 11:59 am

  cover girls new micro minerals is the best over ALL other mineral foundations esp for those of you with larger pores. I’ve tried them all…this ONE IS THE BEST. SUprised but very happy

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