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Am I Allergic to Bare Minerals? Here's How to Tell.

Published 07.24.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (24)

Amy,

I have been reading your blogs on and off for a lot of years now. Sometimes I get a little too addicted to the Internet and have to make myself stop for a while. But I always come back. :)

Anyway, I have a question. It's sort of time sensitive since it involves whether or not I am having a makeup reaction and should stop using it before my face falls off (but I know you receive zillions of e-mails and might not be able to respond right away--just thought it wouldn't hurt to try asking you). I just recently purchased the Bare Minerals starter kit because I wanted something very light and natural. Confession: I am mostly a makeup virgin. Ok, I have worn it before. I have some makeup that I break out for special occasions. But no one ever really taught me how to use it well, and I never felt like I needed it. Now, I still don't think I NEED it, but I have had makeup done on me (by salons, at Mary Kay parties, and so on), and I've seen how a nice, simple "routine" can make me look just a little fresher and feel just a little nicer. So I finally went to the Sephora store and got some goodies. But I digress. My point is that I'm new to being "serious" about all this stuff, and I want it to work. I know you recommend trying different things, but truthfully I don't really have the money or the inclination to experiment with a ton of different things. I just want to find something that works, you know?

So I got the Bare Minerals. The salesperson put it on me the day I bought it, and I liked it just fine. No problems. Then I started reading your site and saw that some people had had reactions to it. I didn't think much of it, but it was in the back of my mind, I guess. Yesterday I used the makeup, and toward the end of the day I noticed my left cheek was starting to look "brighter" than the right and my forehead was just a teeny bit weird-looking, sort of flushed but not really. About an hour later I washed my face and, sans makeup, noticed that both of my cheeks were very pink (my left more so than my right). Now, sometimes my cheeks do pink up a little, but I think this was different. They weren't really itchy or irritated, but I remembered the "negative reviews" and started to worry. This morning my face looks "normal," and I'm wondering whether I should keep trying the makeup. Was it just a fluke? Or am I setting myself up for a horribly irritated face if I keep going? I don't want to assume things based on one experience, especially because maybe it was influenced by the negative info I had read earlier, but I don't want to do bad things to my face, either. I couldn't find info about the reactions people have had (am I just a bad Googler?) to see if this sounds like a reaction.

Also, I had to drive an hour to find a Sephora store, so returning/exchanging will be a pain. And then what do I buy? Because I can't keep driving that far for makeup experiments. Please advise! Thank you.

(Oh, p.s. Skin care. Do you really need to do ALL the steps recommended--cleansing and toning and so on? I used to just cleanse and moisturize, but now they're trying to sell me all this other stuff. I am so incompetent with this stuff that I am feeling lost, not wanting to get "taken" for lots of dollars but wanting to get things that will really be good/necessary.)

-Gretchen

bareminerals.jpgThe important thing to remember about Bare Minerals -- or any of the loose-powder "mineral" makeup clones on the market now -- is that many of the "minerals" are actually finely finely ground metals and metal derivatives. Bismuth, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, stuff like that. Which is why, personally, I continue to be baffled as to how aggressively these kinds of makeups get marketed to people with sensitive skin. Sensitive skin types need to stick with foundations clearly labeled as hypo-allergenic, like Almay or Clinique. Mineral foundations are NOT hypo-allergenic, and I think the high number of reactions you hear about it simply because the stuff is being promoted and marketed to the wrong audience. (And don't even get me started on the "BareVitamins" moisturizer that comes bundled in the starter kits, which is mostly salicylic and glycolic acids, and I think that little fact should be made MUCH CLEARER for dry- or sensitive-skin users.)

I've never classified my skin as sensitive when it comes to cosmetics -- I'm classic combination, prone to an oily t-zone, blackheads and dry patches on my cheeks. I don't get many bona-fide zits anymore, but my complexion is FAR from even-toned, so I really do need a decent amount of help from my foundation in order to look even and fresh-faced. And while I've been happy with my liquid foundation (Sue Devitt's oil-free seaweed foundations -- which are 70% water, extremely gentle and light, never made me break out AND did a decent job of hiding my splotches without ever looking cakey), I admit that I finally just HAD to see what the fuss was all about with Bare Minerals and purchased the starter kits.

While my face has never been particularly sensitive, I DO have skin allergies -- although never from cosmetics! Think cheap jewelry. Nickel. Iron. Steel. And (this is weird) cold weather -- I have cold urticaria, which means I get hives and other reddish irritations from the wind or sudden cool-downs on the surface of my skin (so I also get hives when my own sweat hits my skin).

So really, it was probably dumb for someone like me to even try Bare Minerals, especially after getting SO MANY STORIES from readers who experienced less-than-awesome reactions to it. But the mineral makeup is very much love it or hate it. For people with ivory, pinkish or freckled complexions, switching from liquid to loose, multi-faceted foundation can be life-changing. I imagine it would be fabulous for young, 20-something skin that just wants a touch of tint without a lot of coating. Plus, its crazy popularity means I naturally get tons of questions about it, and I figured I needed to try it out first-hand.

So I did. Like you, the first day or two were fine, reaction-wise. Although I honestly didn't love the makeup -- I couldn't seem to apply it without spilling a fine coating of powder all over my bathroom counter, and I felt like I needed to use a LOT more than the video demos suggested. It felt kind of heavy on my face and settled into my fine lines and was really, really shiny by mid-day. If I applied less I could avoid the settling and the shine, but then I wasn't really getting the kind of coverage I wanted -- it was just like I'd used a pressed powder compact instead of real foundation, and that's a makeup move I haven't been able to get away with since high school. I also disliked what a MESS it always seemed to make, but that's mostly my fault, because I'm more of a "sweep everything haphazardly in a drawer" girl and I forget to GENTLY set the makeup upright somewhere, thus I always have fourteen tons of excess on top of the sifter that poofs all over the place when I open it.

After a couple days I felt like I'd achieved more of a middle ground with the application (using a foundation primer first helped with the shine/slipping into wrinkles thing quite a bit), but...by this point I could no longer ignore the fact that my skin was ANGRY. I started noticing red patches on my cheeks and forehead, and my face had this vague itchy feeling a lot of the time. When I removed the makeup at night, I would get hives.

And then the really disturbing thing happened -- the skin on my fingers started to crack and peel off in chunks. This is my cheap-jewelry allergy, which I first noticed in high school. Kind of like a form of contact dermatitis, with a weird eczema-like twist. I once got the specific kind of allergy/eczema diagnosed from a dermatologist, but I can't really remember it anymore. Not that it matters -- there isn't much to do about it except avoid triggers, wash and moisturize my hands religiously, and apply topical cortisone cream when it gets really vicious.

And this reaction was indeed vicious. My fingers swelled, cracked, flaked and bled. I stopped using Bare Minerals and within three or four days my hands cleared up. A little more timid experimentation revealed that the Mineral Veil powder was the primary source of the reaction and responsible for the itchy feeling and hives on my face. I could use the other powders occasionally just fine, but if I wore it for several days in a row I'd pay for it with cracked finger skin for sure. (Weirdly, I could use the eye makeup without any problems -- although I really only use it as eyeliner now, so we're talking very small quantities.)

The redness and itchy feeling are probably the most common reactions I've heard from readers -- some seem to get better after awhile, while others' reactions get worse with regular use like mine did. It does sound like you had a mild reaction to the makeup, but no, I wouldn't chuck the whole kit out based on one flare-up, which could realistically been caused by something else and was just a coincidence. Try using the makeup without the Mineral Veil (a "finishing powder," which seemed to be just your average translucent loose powder to me, nothing special), or try applying a little less. And WASH THE BRUSHES.

If, however, you've had allergies to cheap metal jewelry in the past, or are prone to hives or other serious allergic reactions (think respiratory epi-pen type things), stop using it. Not worth it. Contact Sephora's online customer service or Bare Minerals directly to see if you can arrange a return.

Since the Bare Minerals fiasco, I've tried a few other light foundation alternatives with some success. (The pregnancy "glow" has temporarily evened my skin tone out so I don't need quite so much coverage.)

supernatural.jpgFirst up, Philosophy's Supernatural mineral makeup. I originally planned on doing a head-to-head comparison of a bunch of different mineral makeups, but obviously nixed that idea fairly quickly. But I'd already purchased this one. Which, at first glance, is very similar to Bare Minerals. (Zinc, bismuth, iron oxides, etc.) So I was very hesitant to try it. I don't know if it's a different formulation or what, but I did not have AS strong a reaction to this stuff. I can't use it everyday (the finger thing happens), but I think the packaging prevents you from using as much as the swirl-tap-buff application of the other mineral makeups. That said, this AIN'T for girls who want full coverage. If you want to really use this as an honest-to-God foundation, you'll need to disassemble the spongey top and go in there with a foundation brush. (The spongey top also needs regular washing, which is annoying, but it gets gross and clogged if you don't.) I like the built-in SPF and the lack of mess (you can TRAVEL with it! no little sifters to remove or tape over!), and would recommend this for anyone looking for VERY light coverage, especially if you already use mineral makeup but are looking to speed up your morning application routine.

And then there's also Benefit's Some Kind-A Gorgeous, which is...well. I'm not sure what it is. It's a foundation faker. At first glance, it looks like stage greasepaint makeup, but it's actually oil-free and feels like a powder once you've put it on your face. It's only available in two shades (light and dark, take your pick), but is very sheer and natural-looking that I'd put this in the "plus" column, especially if you're the type who gets intimidated when trying to pick the right shade of makeup from dozens of slightly-different bottles. It also makes a great eyelid base.

For anyone looking for a really good really real foundation, let me repeat (for what feels like the zillionth time) that Sue Devitt's seaweed gel foundation is fantastic. It's not like other liquid foundations at all -- super light, won't clog your pores, easy to remove and the whipped gel-like texture makes application (whether you use a brush or just your fingers) a total snap. There are two variations on this foundation -- the stuff in a tall pump and the stuff in the small tub. The pump is the lighter option, while the tub offers fuller coverage. Infuriatingly, Sephora has stopped offering the brand in stores and online, but it is available many other places, from QVC.com to Amazon.

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Comments (24):

robin said:

I think part of the success bare minerals has had (ugh) is because for a lot of people they do not have a reaction until a month or so later, so you've already bought 10 products from them and then the redness shows. Everyone just buys into their claims about sensitive skin and I can't believe they get away with it.

There are a lot better (esp. for sensitive skin) products out there that are a lot cheaper :).

Posted on July 24, 2008 11:48

Julia said:

Sounds like an allergic reaction to me! I have heat related uticaria which sucks big time since I pretty much walk around all splotchy and hive-y from May-October. Hot showers and exercising make me look like a splotchy freak! I never found mineral make-up to provide enough coverage for my regular splotchiness.

Posted on July 24, 2008 11:58

Cassandra said:

I think it's terrible that the Bare Escentuals line is being marketed so aggressively to those with sensitive skin. Hell, that "handy buki" brush is stiff and scratchy enough to rip the skin off your face sometimes.

That being said, I absolutely love this line of makeup. I'm 23, and have super-breakout prone, oily-ick skin. It's also very rough and tumble, if you will, and I have no reactions to anything. After I switched to this makeup, my skin really started to clear up, and it was able to provide the same amount of coverage as a regular foundation without feeling as if I had STUFF on my FACE all DAY. And it probably also helped that the stuff is applied with a brush, so I was touching my face a lot less.

So, I think it's a great idea if you have skin like mine (and if you do, I'm sorry) but if you're at all sensitive... no go.

And don't sleep in it, for the love of all that is fluffy and adorable.

Posted on July 24, 2008 12:10

Amyella said:

Hello!
I just wanted to chime in with what will hopefully be helpful to Gretchen. I was getting sick of liquid foundation and really wanted to try mineral make-ups but I had also heard mixed reviews (a lot them here!) I went ahead and tried Bare Minerals for myself and -ugh - itchy! I also have a nickel allergy and even the smallest earring made of cheap metal will have my whole ear swollen, red, bumpy and itchy.
So that was a no go, but I didn't give up. I researched and found Everyday Minerals and since they offer a free sample kit (free!) of any colors you like. I gave it a go. I have to say, I've had no problems at all. My skin is classic T-zone as well and I have a lot of broken capillaries around my nose (sexy!) but this give me pretty good coverage, even there.
I also found this online: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/128629/everyday_minerals_vs_bare_minerals.html

which compares Everyday Minerals to Bare Minerals and some of the reasons why EM might work for you even if BM doesn't.
Hope that helps!

Posted on July 24, 2008 12:20

Emily said:

Hi Amy, just a quick note...no need for the quotes around minerals up in the first paragraph, metals are minerals!

Posted on July 24, 2008 13:17

Jess said:

I am 26 and with not sensitive skin, but certainly not tough skin and I have to say I really like the Bare Minerals. I was having a hard time getting the light to medium coverage for my dark under eye circles as well as covering what I"m refusing to admit is rosacea around my nose. I've had none of the reactions but agree that it's probably not great for sensitive skin.

That said I also am one that had horrible results with the Philosophy face wash that Amy (and so many others) love and went back to my BELOVED Proactive. My boyfriend, however, is now using Philosophy products with great results and I'm excited to try the Philosophy Mineral Foundation!

Posted on July 24, 2008 13:25

Melissa said:

Bare Minerals is definitely a love it-hate it brand. I have sensitive skin (although not allergy sensitive) and Bare Minerals works great for me in terms of coverage and break outs. Like a commenter above, my complexion has actually gotten better from using BM and I always get compliments when I go out. But great reviews aside, don't mess with allergies...they will always win. :)

Posted on July 24, 2008 13:29

Critty said:

There are soooo many people that can't use mineral makeup, be it the bismuth, the fact is makes large pores look even larger, or that is slides off oily skin. Mineral makeup is ok for some, but not a cure all for everyone.

And Amy - I have autoimmune urticaria - my body just started hating on itself 4 years ago - not fun! I can control it with lots of meds, a stash of epi-pens, a limited diet and avoiding nice things like the outdoors. Oh and reading every ingredient that goes on my face, body or hair.

Critty :)

Posted on July 24, 2008 13:30

mary said:

I posted about Bare Minerals when I bought it a few months ago. I had a couple commenters saying they broke out not from the makeup itself, but from the BareVitamins.

I love BM and my skin has looked better since using it. But makeup and skin care products are never going to work the same for everyone using them.

Posted on July 24, 2008 13:40

Erin said:

I've never used bare minerals, but I have used Almay's mineral foundation, and it's not awful. Better as just a powder.

Now, if you're looking for something easy to use and no fuss, try the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer. It's like a cross between foundation and tinted moisturizer, has spf 20, and some retinol too. My skin is oily, but my face is actually less shiny than usual at the end of the day. And you just smear it on with your fingers until it looks blended. I'm kind of in love with it.

Posted on July 24, 2008 14:11

StarHopper said:

If you're not used to makeup, try the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer. It's like a cross between foundation and tinted moisturizer -- just evens you out, so you can conceal redness without getting all masky. And there's spf 20! Yay!

Posted on July 24, 2008 14:13

Miz Jawnson said:

Obviously I love Bare Minerals since I did the eye demos last year! I too have experienced itchiness, especially around my jawline. I figured out two things.

First, I really needed to moisturize and start applying the make-up when my moisturizer was still damp. The drier my skin is, the itchier the make-up was. Of course, my itchiness goes away in 5-10 minutes, so it doesn't bother me that much.

Second, I too have problems with the Mineral Veil! They should reformulate it. I can't use it in the winter really (see, dry = itchy). However! I've had great success with the FeatherLight Mineral Veil. That works much better for me.

I'd offer to be the Test Subject for a mineral make-up Price Tag Cage Match, but sadly I can't afford to invest in other make-up when I've got a carton of Bare Minerals at home.

Posted on July 24, 2008 14:18

Stephanie said:

I second StarHopper's recommendation for the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer. I've been using it for quite sometime and I think it's great. For those sort of cosmetics, I go the Neutrogena line all the way (3-in-1 concealer for eyes, Healthy Skin Loose Powder, SkinClearing oil-free concealor). It gives great light coverage (I have pretty good skin and freckles I don't want to hide, just looking to even things out a bit), and is more reasonably-priced for the just trying things out stage. Plus, you can always find deals on it in drugstores.

Posted on July 24, 2008 17:30

Izzy said:

I think I'm allergic to Bare Minerals as it makes me want to claw my face off because of the ungodly itching. Oh and I have that contact dermatitis/eczema/cheap jewelry thing going on, too.

Posted on July 24, 2008 18:27

Nicole said:

Oh wow. Okay. That explains things. I have dry-normal skin (not to be confused with normal-dry skin), the occasional flare-up of eczema/dermatitis (allergic to cortisone too - that's fun), a bit red sometimes when my seasonal allergies flare up, etc. etc. But generally good skin.

I picked up a starter kit of Bare Minerals when we were in Chicago (along with some Stila eyeshadow - love the stuff and Sephora there is the only reason I'm considering going to Chicago over New Years with partner. Oh and Filene's basement too). And quite honestly I love the stuff - the concealer is great, the bronzer/blush is great and the eye makeup is fantastic. Yet there is this vague, itchy feeling on my face. I now suspect its the mineral veil because I put that on and that itchy feeling starts immediately.

I have noticed no other side effects mind you. No redness or anything, despite leaving it on all day.

But I'm going to skip the mineral veil now (I'm just about out anyways) and see what happens. And now I will go wash my brushes.

Posted on July 24, 2008 23:25

Stephanie said:

If you get to exchange your Bare Minerals at Sephora, maybe try Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer. It's got SPF, is very lightweight, and I've found that it gives you just enough coverage to even out your skin wihtout looking too "made up." I've got pretty even, but very sensitive skin. I used Clinique religiously for years, then had my face "done: at the Laura Mercier counter during a shopping party and loved it. Not all the Sephora stores carry LM, but it's available online.

Posted on July 25, 2008 10:11

JennyM said:

I was going to suggest the same thing as Stephanie. I am in love with the Laura Mercier tinted-moisturizer with SPF, especially as it comes in a oil-free version. I use it as "foundation" and I've found that a little bit goes a looooong way, and the coverage is great (for me, anyway, ymmv). Anyway, it's light and very natural looking and, again, the fact that it's oil-free is great because I have fairly oily skin that gets gross pretty easily, so I stay way from anything heavy. The price may give you pause, but one tube really does last an insanely long time, like months, so I figure it all comes out in the wash, you know?

Posted on July 25, 2008 13:28

Suzy Q said:

I haven't tried Bare Minerals but I did try the Maybelline version of it (way cheaper). It sucks. It seems to actually MAKE wrinkles on my face, even with primer!

I have to say, though, I've seen the BM up close on a friend, and she looked great.

Posted on July 25, 2008 17:03

Eeek said:

I like the Laura Mercier mineral foundation and it also comes with a powder primer, if you need it.

Posted on July 27, 2008 22:01

Mel said:

I haven't had trouble with Bare Minerals, but I thought I'd comment on the PS question since I also have somewhat sensitive skin.
I've tried a few different regimens that include cleansing, toning, and moisturizing and I've found that my skin really reacts poorly to the toning. It gets very red and irritated. I'm not sure if that's an issue common to all people with sensitive skin or if it's just something I struggle with.
I'm just using a Dove cleanser and moisturizer now and my face has no problems.

Posted on July 29, 2008 23:40

Danielle said:

You are so totally right with the one product does not work for everyone. Philosophy - I wanted to love it but couldn't. I don't know if it contributed or not but I ended up with huge cystic breakout for months that ended me up at the dr. talking about Accutane. And Sephora. It is good and bad. There are times I don't like what they recommend. Once they pushed me onto a product line (Ole Henriksen made my face BURN, all day) just because the rep was there. Getting to my point...I use BE mineral powder. I have tried a few primers (Dr. Brandt, Smashbox, BE) and they don't work for me. I really like mineral powder but the shine gets to be too much. Sephora girl told me the BE rep just told them if you get the burn apply MORE mineral veil. That just seems wrong! What I did end up finding which I really love is MAC Blot powder. Applied with a light touch it really does create a matte finish without a heavy layer. I also tried the Make Up Forever HD finishing powder and was not impressed.

Posted on August 4, 2008 11:13

Care said:

I actually stumbled across this while looking for an appropriate face wash to use with my new Bare Minerals. It doesn't feel as light as my Neutragina Healthy skin liquid foundation and I actually feel like I've had more break-outs since I started using BM less than a week ago. Since I heard only wonderful things about BM, I assumed it was the combination of my facewash and the makeup. I have the sensitive skin (alergic to nickle and other cheap metals) issues mentioned above, but haven't had a "reaction" so to speak. It just feels a little itchy, actually slightly oily and totally gives my 20 something skin wrinkles I certainly don't remember having before. My good skin just doesn't seem "good" anymore... What a bummer that I bought it and tossed the box... guess that's the price of experimentation -dang it!!

Posted on August 11, 2008 19:58

stephanie said:

Hi,I am African American, and finding makeup to match my dark skin can be so frustrating. I once tried BM, and I looked like an ashy fool. Years later,I was walking around Sephora and was seduced into trying BA once more, because they had expanded the color choices for women of color.
My face was made up with foundation in dark, and with mineral veil. I loved it!! I purchased the product and went about my way. After 2 to 3 weeks, I started to experience ithching on my face. As I have asthma and allergies, I thought it was the animal hair brushes, and tossed them. Later, I developed acne like bumps on one cheek, and my forehead to which I am still trying to get rid of 3 weeks after stopping use.
I am angry, because I told the sephora vendor that I had asthma and allergies, and had to be careful with what I put on my face. She went out of her way to tell me BA was the purest, kindest make up I could wear. Hell, she said I could even sleep in it. This was untrue!
It is funny,I have never had an allergic reaction to my over the counter cover girl, iman, or cornstarch make up. Since sephora is pushing a product such as BA, they should be honest and forthcoming when someone tells them that they have allergies and asthma, since from what I have now learned, my allergic reaction has not been that uncommon with people with or without allergies

Posted on August 13, 2008 02:26

Tammy said:

I tried Bare Minerals and had a very bad allergic reaction. My skin was very itchy and when I washed the makeup off, I noticed red patches on my face. I woke up the next morning with a swollen face and my eyes were almost swollen shut. My face looked liked I had a bad sunburn and it was so itchy and dry. I was miserable. This lasted for almost a week. I have sensitive skin but never had a reaction like this to any other makeup. They should not advertise this mineral makeup as so good for your skin that you can sleep in it. The ingredients are not good for you. I'll stick with my maybelline that I've been using forever and never had a problem.

Posted on September 30, 2008 20:13

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Amalah is a pseudonym of Amy Corbett Storch. A Washington D.C.-based freelance writer. The Smackdown is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You can follow Amy's daily mothering adventures at www.amalah.com. Also, it's pronounced AIM-ah-lah.

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