Stealing the Spotlight: Reviewing bareMinerals Bare Beauty Makeup Kit

{Left: Stila || Right: bareMinerals}

Do you remember that I told you I was trying a new, lighter makeup for summer? Well, as promised, here is the full review of the bareMinerals Bare Beauty kit I purchased from Ulta.

I’ve been using the makeup for a couple of months now, and alternating between my Stila Stay All Day Liquid Foundation (which I love) and the bareMinerals Bareskin line when it is hot and humid out.

I found the Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation (in Bare Shell) a great lightweight option and perfect for those days when you are trying to achieve the no-makeup, made-up look.

Pros:
– The kit came with trial sizes of everything you need to get started (for a refresher of what’s in the kit, click here)
– The foundation is lightweight
– It’s not greasy or heavy and my skin reacted well to all of the products
– The makeup does a good job of staying on all day
– The shade matched my skin tone perfectly (which is rare for me)

Cons:
– The foundation provides minimal coverage. My skin has improved over the years, so this was not an issue for me. However, the kit contains a great concealer, so if you want additional coverage you can try using the concealer underneath.

– I found the Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara a little flakey. I loved the exclusive ProTwist 180 Wand, which dramatically lengthened my lashes, but the staying power left much to be desired.

– The makeup has a mild fragrance to it, and while it did not irritate my skin, I found it unpleasant as it failed to dissipate during the day.

Favorite Product(s) in the Kit:
– The Correcting Concealer Broad Spectrum SPF (in Light 1). It was velvety soft to the touch and provided excellent matte coverage. I would definitely buy the regular size of this product and continue using it. It was so good that I felt that I could just dab some on and head out the door sans foundation!

– The two brushes (one for the foundation and the other for the pressed powder) were worth the price of the whole kit themselves. The pressed powder brush (soft focus face brush) was the gentlest brush I’ve ever used, and the brush for the foundation (perfecting face brush) did an amazing job applying the liquid makeup evenly.

– The Stroke of Light Eye Brightener (in Luminous 1) was something I would not have tried on my own, but I’m glad it was included in the kit. A few dabs under each eye once my makeup was in place, and it brightened up my whole look.

Least Favorite Product in the Kit:
– I received the Bareskin Sheer Sun liquid bronzer as a free gift for trying the kit and I thought it would be perfect for giving me additional color on my face once I got a tan. But it was disappointing. It added no color and I discontinued use.

Overall, the Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation is a good choice for the summer months as it doesn’t weigh your skin down. It was a bit of an adjustment after using Stila’s Stay All Day line for so long, which is a full-coverage makeup. I was happy enough with the kit and glad I could try everything in a trial size first before committing to the larger (and more expensive) versions. The sticking point for me is the fragrance of the foundation and pressed powder, which after a whole day on my face began to be overwhelming. But I would happily try other products from the bareMinerals line after my experience with the Bareskin Foundation.