Bare Escentuals: THE DEVIL'S OWN WORK

[JodieHarsh]

I must post about this. I have just spunked nearly ninety quid on some Bare Escentuals starter kit things.

I arrived at the counter in Stratford Westfield with a hideous bright red, sore, scarred, spotty, sweaty face, and some WITCH managed to take a decade off me with POWDER. Just powder! I mean - WT actual F?! A tube ride and a 20 minute walk home and it's still there. SURELY that's not right. I've used all sorts of super-max coverage matte stuff and it didn't cover ANYTHING like this well. O and I have the glowing rosy cheeks of a teen

I promise I've not been giver a tenner to post this stuff. It's just I've spent so much I feel slightly sick. Does anyone else use this stuff? it's not going to last is it. i'm an idiot. What have I done

OK, here is day 2's report:

Great improvement . I used the Fairly Light, which is indeed much lighter than Light, and suited my skintone perfectly. I used far less concealer, and it looked much better. Having said which, I did still look a bit too painted lady, and I thought my lines looked fairly obvious (though maybe I'm just kidding myself about what they look like usually).

The Warmth works well if I use just a tiny bit, and top up with some pink powder on the apples of my cheeks.

Big kudos to the staying power, though. It was such a hot day, and I don't cope well in the heat. My face stayed flawless all day, I didn't have to whip out my compact even once, and it is still looking good at the end of the day.

So yes, I am impressed. I don't think I'll be chucking out by Becca tinted moisturiser, but maybe using that when I want to look very natural, and my powders when I want coverage and staying power.

Top tips are definitely to let moisturiser settle very well first, use just a tiny bit, and buff buff buff.

Can I join in? I too have been convinced by this thread to splash some cash on some BE from feelunique and this on my first foray into S&B as well!

I'm hoping this is the answer to my prayers and will be the first stage in my post baby image overhaul. I will admit to youtubing the videos, ditto dreaming about buffing.

Jodie what the hell have you done!!

I LOVe the warmth.i'm mixing it with my foundation .

hav e I said that already in this thread? i dont rate the bisque, too drying for me.I use my normal concealer, but about 1/10th of what I used to

Agree with cyb (as per norm) that I need so much less concealer than normal - and I need industrial strength to cover my purple panda eyes.

I think they key to not looking all "painted lady" is less is more. Really just use a few crumbs of foundation and spend more time buffing. I was rushing yesterday (to get to the beach but still wanted to try it again, what a vain twat I am) and tipped out too much but still used it all. Result - no freckles showed through and it was too much (albeit flawless). So today I'm taking my time, man, and using just a teeny bit and buffing.

The online tutorial says to buff for 2 complete versions of "Happy Birthday"...so I shall :) like a fecking loony but still

GetOrf flawless skin

I totes agree about the 'less is more' thing, Pinot.

yesterday I noticed that the pores on my nose and forehead looked quite visible. I had put a fair bit on, and was slightly rushed, cos i was on my way to a party. It was the first time I hadn't followed the instructions minutely. I did realise however that if I went over the pores with the flat brush (with no powder on it) and sort of buffbuffbuffed and really worked the powder in, then it sort of sank into the pores. I think mebbe the whole pore problem comes about because it hasn't been properly worked in, but sits on top - whereas obviously with a cream, you'd push the product in so it filled the pores like putty. Does that make sense?

I am still not over how brilliant this stuff is. It has withstood long boozy nights, hot cooking in the kitchen, a heatwave, long commutes, and nairves. I know it does take time to apply, but since I have never in my whole life not had to reapply makeup at least once and often twice during the day I think it's worth it. I still can't get over the fact I don't need to travel with Touche Eclat, a powder compact, some blusher and an eyeliner

I'm waiting for my starter kit to arrive.
Tbh I'm not holding out much hope.
I use touche eclat under my eyes , the skin is dry there and finely lined .
What are you using in that bit-the concealor?
Do you put moisturiser under neath it?
And eyelids...same ?

I'd carry on being pessimistic if I were you ggirl - that way you can only be pleasantly surprised :)

I cover my whole face (inc undereyes and eyelids) with Protect and Perfect moisturiser and let it sink in (for at least 5 minutes)

Then cover whole face with primer, inc undereyes and eyelids.

Then do the whole swirltapbuff biz. I don't use a separate concealer. i find that the coverage is fine for all over - undereyes and red patches included - but use the foundation powder on a flat brush for really horrible spot scars (which incidentally are healing a helluva lot quicker than before I switched to minerals). I can't believe I have abandoned Touche Eclat, but there you go - absolutely true.

Be prepared to have to have a couple of goes to get used to it and make sure you watch the DVD! Application is the difference between joy and despair.

If you put too much on or don't buff enough it won't work.

Hmmm, it hasn't gone well today :( Stupidly decided to go over face 3 times rather than the 2 I have been doing. Result? Tres powdery.

I did buff very well in between each layer but I guess the 3rd was just one too many. I was hoping to get away with less concealer that way but will go back to just 2 coats.

Feel a bit despondent about my skin today really - it's just such a mess and even though BE is the best make up I've used so far (when not layered on too many times!) I'm thinking nothing will ever really make my shit skin look anything like 'normal' :( Not in any way an attempt to derail thread but, has anyone ever had any kind of treatment for acne scars? Laser/peels etc?

I think you need to go to a counter first to get the right shade/try it out. Then QVC or somewhere like that sells it cheap.

I tried the L'Oréal version once though, and it was vile and made me itch.

I ordered a starter kit from lookfantastic yesterday - only 12.75 with a 15% off voucher code (AFF270515 until 5th October). I was also ridiculously quite excited to see that they offer free international delivery.

ggirl I am lined under my eyes and it wont get rid of those. But it makes all the rest of your skin look so nice your eyes look better

I hate to think how much £££ I've spent over the years on compact foundations, liquids, other types of mineral powders and every concealer known to man. Now I just use my BE and my MAybelline 24 hr concealer, and a dot at that.

To paraphrase Clueless I look like a Monet - from far away lovely but up close I am a big old mess.

From about 4 feet from the mirror I look flawlessly skinned.

Look close in the mirror I look like a parchment skinned crone, it has emphasised lines I didn't even know I had

I am using barely a crumb of foundation, as soon as it goes in it seems to 'settle' and the veil stuff makes it worse. I have given up on the concealer because it is very dry indeed and doesn't actually cover the shadows at all.

It seems to work by leaching all the moisture from my skin - I have worn it on two of the hottest days of the year, so I am all sweaty, but my (usually dry) skin feels abnormally dry. If it feels like this in the heat I can't imagine the drying effect it will have on my skin in the midst of January.

Perhaps it is best for people with oily/combination skin. I personally don't like the feel, or the finish (ultra matt which is not particluarly flattering).

It's a shame as the staying power is brilliant - I went to bed with it on last night and still looked made up this morning!

But - not in love with it. I will stick to By Terry (which I have run out of, and need to buy next week, so that will be a heinous amount of money spent on foundation this month!)

Shame it doesn't suit you GetOrf - my By Terry Guru, but fear not you can send it all to meeeeeeeee

Damn you all, I've just been to an Orange Lady and been Done!
Now I know that I'm medium (she put medium beige on, which is a tiny bit darker than I'll need in a month's time in the winter, but would have been fine a month ago) where is best for starter kits then? Do I really need the huge big one with the mahoosive brush, or will the smaller brushes in the TryBelieveLove set be OK? I was a bit scared by the big brush, because I usually put foundation on last (I know, I know) due to fallout from black eyeshadow used as eyeliner. Would the smaller one be a big more controllable?
I like it though :)

Not wanting to piss on your parade, but I'm on day three of wearing it, and I think it's breaking me out. Not the wrong time of month or anything, skin was clear, and now today I have a few under the surface bumpy spots forming. Shame, 'cos I quite liked it, and wanted to give it a proper go.

If anyone would like to buy my hardly used fair starter kit, please pm me!

Get Orf I woudlnt have got ultra matt and I ahve oily/comb skin

Could you try taking it back?

I haven't got the matt version - I asked which version I shopuld get, and the orange lady said that the matt version is only suitably for those with very oily skin, and as mine tended to be dry I should have the original version.

I look like a disco ball under certain lights anyway so assume that is what she sold me!

I think it must be prefered by those who have oily skin and hanker after the matt looking skin effect. My skin is very matt and dry naturally and what I yearn for is the dewy, moist look.

Never mind, I will give it a go for the next week or so and see if it improves, I don't hold out much hope though.

Shame

mine's knocked YEARS off me

Mine has added years on.

I look like a dried up river bed.

Um, can anyone talk to me about brushes?

That's a shame, GetOrf. I also have dry, aging skin, and I don't think this is particularly flattering around the eyes, tbh, but I don't find it drying. And I'm normally a serum + rich moisturiser + primer + tinted moisturiser lady, so am used to a VERY dewy approach.

To cheer you up, can I suggest you take a look at Liz Earle's new tinted moisturiser? I tried a sample and thought it lovely - very, very moisturising, good coverage.

No expert here, FromGirders, but as far as I understand it, the big kabuki brush gives you fuller coverage than the smaller brush. I tend to use the big brush as that's what I want. It's really soft and feels gorgeous as you buff, so I would recommend it, anyway. If you've got nice skin (which I haven't) then you probably don't need it; I'm sure someone who's been using the stuff longer than I will put me right if I'm wrong.