bareMinerals Review

About bareMinerals

bareMinerals is an award-winning, clean, mineral-based makeup and skincare brand. Using natural, skin-loving ingredients and cruelty-free practices, this company creates non-toxic formulas to solve common skin concerns like acne and aging.

With 19 award-winning products, bareMinerals has frequently graced ‘Best Of’ lists in publications like Allure, Glamour, and Beauty Bible. And, with over 1.2 million followers on Facebook and 1.1 million on Instagram, it’s safe to say the brand is no stranger to praise and attention.

New to the whole non-toxic game and don’t know where to start? This bareMinerals review may be able to help.

In the following sections, we’ll provide information about the brand, its products, ingredients, customer feedback, promotions, and more, to help you in your journey to clean beauty.

Overview of bareMinerals

The history of makeup is surprisingly dirty—like, what were companies thinking? It’s understandable that certain compounds create color and are easier to work with, but bareMinerals is proof that it didn’t have to be that way.

The brand came on the scene in 1995, a time when “non-toxic” wasn’t as much of a household word as it is today. Developed by Leslie Blodgett, the brand got its start on QVC before opening shops across the US.

Blodgett claims that bareMinerals’ success is thanks to the way the brand connected with women. Holding seminars and teaching women how to create the perfect complexion really helped them to establish a reliable customer base.

The brand’s signature product, the Original Loose Powder Foundation, has been the same since the day it was launched, using only five mineral ingredients to deliver flawless coverage and skin-boosting effects. Today, one is sold every 18 seconds.

Based in NYC, the brand is available in thousands of retailers across the US and Canada. And, its collection offers hundreds of products.

Before we get into its clean product lineup, this bareMinerals review will give you a quick rundown of its pros and cons.

Pros

• Wide range of makeup and skincare products
• 30 inclusive shades of foundation
• Cruelty-free and the majority of products are vegan
• Clean ingredients and free from sulfates, parabens, talc, and other harmful chemicals
• bareMinerals free samples with order
• Easily accessible in thousands of retailers
• Multiple ways to save
• Option to return products even if they’ve been opened

Cons

• Not completely vegan
• Does not ship outside of the US and Canada

bareMinerals has quite the spectrum of products. Known for its color-matching clean foundation, its collection extends out into natural-looking blushes, conditioning lip glosses, and even botanical-boosted skincare.

In the next section of this bareMinerals review, we’ll be focusing on a range of its best-selling makeup and skincare for the face, cheeks, and lips.

bareMinerals Foundation Review

Foundation. How we love you, but oh, how you can do us so wrong. The key to finding the right foundation comes by way of color options, coverage, and formula.

This bareMinerals review will now feature the brand’s bestsellers, all of which shine by way of inclusive shades, skin-loving formulas, and a variety of coverage options. Let’s start with a light one, the Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer.

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer Review

Not every day requires full coverage. Sometimes, moisture is the focus and a touch of color is all that’s needed. The bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer is a 3-in-1, pumping up skin’s moisture levels by 215% in one week (wow), thanks to the inclusion of Hyaluronic acid.

Now, you may be thinking, that sounds mighty slick—but it’s water-based, not oil, so what you’re getting is non-greasy moisture that refreshes and doesn’t weigh the skin down.

Available in 20 shades, you can build your coverage by using less or more in one go for days where you find a little more pigment is needed.  What we love about this brand is that if you’re a newcomer, you can match your old shade with one of theirs—making buying online so much easier.

Equipped with SPF 30, get a 1.18fl oz tube of the Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream for $33.

Need more coverage? Try the bareMinerals barePro foundation.

bareMinerals Blemish Rescue Skin Clearing Loose Powder Foundation Review

For years, makeup has been acne’s worst nightmare. Sure, it covers it up, but it can also clog your pores—meaning more breakouts and irritation are sure to come.

The bareMinerals Skin Clearing Loose Powder does things a little differently. It uses 0.5% salicylic acid, zinc, sulfur, and kaolin clay to help combat breakouts, along with nourishing oat protein to soothe.

Allowing for buildable coverage, this bareMinerals foundation comes in 15 shades that create a matte finish that demolishes shine.

Clinically proven to clear up acne in three weeks, a 0.21 oz jar of the bareMinerals Blemish Rescue Skin Clearing Loose Powder Foundation is $23 (down from $29).

Take a look at the bareMinerals before and after photos to see how much coverage this foundation will provide.

bareMinerals Concealer Review

We all have those trouble spots—redness, dark circles, uneven skin tone—and that’s where concealer comes in. To cover it is one thing, but to help correct those imperfections while you cover them is another thing entirely.

Below, you’ll read about a top-selling bareMinerals concealer that works overtime to do just that.

bareMinerals Blemish Rescue Skin-Clearing Spot Concealer Review

As we age, our skin dries out, so it’s important to put that moisture back in. And surprisingly, it’s that moisture that resolves other issues like rough texture, darkness, and fine lines.

The bareMinerals Blemish Rescue Skin-Clearing Spot Concealer gives your skin a rush of moisture, along with salicylic acid, zinc, sulfur, and kaolin clay to address dry, acne-prone skin. This concealer even has mushroom stem extract and licorice root extract to heal and soothe the skin.

Once you put it on, it stays put all day, doesn’t transfer, and won’t smudge. Wear it to the gym if you like, sweat won’t get to it either.

Providing full coverage and available in 10 shades, a 0.06 oz jar is $18 (normally $22).

bareMinerals Lip Gloss Review

Gone are the days when you had to use chapstick first for moisture, then colored gloss after for looks. The brand’s lip gloss is like a 2-in-1, hydrating lips while giving them brilliant shine and subtle color.

This bareMinerals review will take you through two of its glosses, one that’s loved for its nourishing effects and the other for its wide shade selection and buttery application.

bareMinerals Mineralist Lip Gloss-Balm Review 

Chapstick is great. It serves a purpose and it even comes in tinted colors. But, at the end of the day, it’s chapstick, and it just can’t offer the coverage, shine, and texture that lip gloss can.

The bareMinerals Mineralist Lip Gloss-Balm gives you the best of both worlds. Using cold-pressed fruit oils to soften lips while minerals do their thing to bring you bold color and a non-sticky formula.

It comes in 15 shades, perfect for adding moisture on hot, sunny days or a pop of welcome color in the cooler months.

Pick up a 0.13 oz tube of this bareMinerals lipgloss for $20.

bareMinerals Gen Nude Buttercream Lip Gloss Review 

Say the word buttercream and we’re in. The bareMinerals Gen Nude Buttercream Lip Gloss has a dreamy texture that glides on like a fantasy. Made in 60 shades and four finishes, each one has a delicious, natural vanilla scent.

After swiping this product on your lips, they’ll get a hit of moisture and added plumping benefits without being sticky.

Gen Nude Buttercream Lip Gloss‘s ultra-creamy formula glides and provides one-coat medium coverage with glistening plumping and shine.

Indulge in a 0.13 oz tube of this gloss for $15 (from $19).

bareMinerals Blush Review

Blush brings a fresh look to lifeless cheeks. Swipe some on to create rosy color for the perfect finishing touch to natural or glam makeup. Below, you’ll read about the brand’s best-selling bareMinerals blushes offered in classic and nude shades.

bareMinerals Loose Powder Blush Review 

Where bronzer would be the sassy friend, blush would be the perky one. The bareMinerals Loose Powder Blush comes in five shades to give your cheeks a natural, healthy glow that lights up a room.

This loose powder has a creamy consistency that glides over cheeks and blends seamlessly with foundation. Get a 0.03 oz jar for $23.

Need some tools for proper blending? Head to the tools section to check out the bareMinerals brush set.

bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush Review

Made in 10 nude shades, this blush boasts a natural, buildable color that offers a blurring effect to create a flawless look. Designed to mimic a natural flush, you’ll find color selections in these four categories:

1. Mauve
2. Pink
3. Peach
4. Beige

Each color family offers three levels, light, medium, and dark, to help you pick one that most closely resembles your own.

With a creamy consistency, this soft-look Gen Nude Powder Blush comes in a 0.21 oz jar and is $25.

If you love blush but like to switch things up, try the bareMinerals contouring powder instead.

bareMinerals Mineral Veil Review

You’ve done it. Created the exact look you were going for. Cue humidity, sweat, and the occasional face touch and—poof! Your makeup is nowhere to be seen. Finishing powder can help with that, sealing your look, and keeping it in place throughout the day and night.

This bareMinerals review will show you the brand’s signature Mineral Veil Finishing Powders that not only set, but protect, and nourish as well.

bareMinerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder Review

The last thing you want is a setting powder that makes you look like you live in the 1800s. Cakey makeup is never ideal, and yet so many powders do just that.

The bareMinerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder is super light, so while it helps keep things set, it won’t look unnatural. The powder gives skin a soft-look focus, like your favorite filter, except in real life.

It comes in four options:

1. Original: gives a matte look
2. Tinted: great for darker complexions
3. Illuminating: brightens things up
4. Hydrating: creates a natural glow

Finish your look and keep it in place with a 0.21 oz jar of Mineral Veil Finishing Powder for $27.

bareMinerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder SPF 25 Review

Sun damage causes aging skin. The more protection you can give your face, the better. The bareMinerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder SPF 25 sets makeup while covering it with a layer of heroic SPF so that you can look good now, and look great in 10 years too.

Its silky formula softly blurs imperfections to reduce the look of fine lines and large pores. Offered in an Original formula only, 0.21 oz of the bareMinerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder SPF 25 is $27.

bareMinerals Skincare Review

Before you even think about makeup, consider skincare. Though the brand’s products have some handy, built-in boosters, they don’t always take the place of a solid skincare regimen.

Ahead, you’ll find bareMinerals best-selling skincare products, including a cleanser and a serum.

bareMinerals Pure Plush Gentle Deep Cleansing Foam Review 

With great makeup usually comes a great cleanser. Certain bareMinerals products are clean enough to sleep in, but it’s a good idea to give your skin a break and start at ground zero each day, especially if you use serums and creams.

The bareMinerals Pure Plush Gentle Deep Cleansing Foam reaches down into pores to pull out every last bit of dirt, makeup, and grime, while infusing skin with healing sea salt, rosemary, and elderflower.

Soften, cleanse, and renew skin with a 4.2 oz tube of this luxurious bareMinerals face wash for $22.

bareMinerals Skinlongevity Long Life Herb Serum Review

Now that you’ve found a good face wash, what’s your next step? If you have aging skin or simply want to reinforce it for the years to come, the bareMinerals Skinlongevity Long Life Herb Serum may be a good place to start.

It’s centered around the Long Life Herb, which is apparently found on the island of Okinawa, Japan, on which the world’s oldest-living women reside. Clinically proven to strengthen skin, this means it will be able to defend itself better against pollution, free radicals, and stress. 

Along with ginger and niacinamide, this serum promises to reduce signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.

Get a 1.7 oz bottle of bareMinerals Skinlongevity for $62.

Is bareMinerals All-Natural?

bareMinerals’ whole clicker is that its products are natural. The brand boasts five ingredient mineral foundations and 100% natural lipstick, but not every ingredient found within the brand’s product lineup is completely natural, like Bismuth oxychloride.

This mineral is inorganic, and while it’s considered safe by the FDA, it’s not natural and therefore we can’t say that the brand is completely “all-natural”.

Is bareMinerals Toxic?

bareMinerals is supposed to be toxic-free, clean makeup. And while it’s leagues ahead of other brands (and always has been), it’s still not clean enough for some green beauty queens who rule out metal oxides from their makeup collections.

Metal oxides, like aluminum, may not be ideal for skin because of the way they block pores and possibly enter the bloodstream if in small enough particles.

Apart from this fact, the brand’s collection is non-toxic. Its formulations are all free of phthalates, triclocarban, microbeads, chemical sunscreen, formaldehyde, parabens, and other toxins commonly found in makeup.

Who Is bareMinerals For?

bareMinerals was one of the first clean beauty brands on the market. Its whole gimmick was its non-irritating, non-toxic foundation that closely matched your skin and actually did something for it, rather than fill it with toxic goo.

Today, the brand has a broader product lineup, including a greater makeup range and skincare items, which means that those looking to improve wrinkles, acne, dark circles, and uneven skin tone may benefit from choosing bareMinerals.

Along with addressing skincare concerns, bareMinerals makeup is clean. It’s free from a lengthy list of toxic compounds which makes it an ideal choice for anyone looking to clean up their beauty regimen.

Although the brand isn’t completely vegan, the majority of its products are, and it is 100% cruelty-free. So, while vegans may not get to use every item the brand has to offer, they can pick and choose which ones align with their values.

Comparison: bareMinerals vs. PUR Cosmetics

As more studies about how chemicals and toxic compounds affect our health, clean beauty brands continue to rise. In this section of our bareMinerals review, we’ll be comparing our featured brand with PUR cosmetics, another clean makeup and skincare brand.

Just like bareMinerals, our competitor has a similar product lineup. The two brands are on par in terms of qualities—like being cruelty-free and free from parabens, sulfates, talc, and a handful of other nasty ingredients, but PUR is also vegan, whereas our featured brand isn’t completely vegan.

To help flush out some differences, we decided to zoom in on one of each of the brand’s similar products, the PUR Cosmetics 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Powder Foundation and the bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15.

PUR Cosmetics

• SPF 15
• Skincare ingredients like retinol and vitamin E
• 26 shades
• 0.28 oz
• $30

bareMinerals

• SPF 15
• Only 5 ingredients
• Promotes clearer skin over time
• 30 shades
• 0.28 oz
• $32

These two powders do different things, but it’s nice when makeup has a greater range of shades so that you have a better chance of getting one that actually matches your skin properly. It’s cool that PUR Cosmetics Powder Foundation has skincare ingredients as well, but it looks like both of these powders can improve skin conditions over time, just different ones (wrinkles vs acne).

Is one brand drastically better than the other? No. They’re pretty well matched in terms of clean ingredients, practices, and prices. The one you choose has more to do with what you’re looking for in a product.

If you need the entire brand you buy from to be vegan, then your answer is simple. bareMinerals does have some vegan items, but not all. If you like fewer ingredients and feel comfortable with the results shown through clinical trials, then our featured brand may be the better choice.

If you would like to learn more about PUR Cosmetics, you can check them out in our full PUR Cosmetics Review.

bareMinerals Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

If you’re reading this bareMinerals review, then there’s a chance you’ve tried your fair share of makeup. But even if you’re new to the glamour game, choosing between beauty brands can be totally overwhelming.

Think of this section like a group of your closest friends. They give you the inside scoop on a few products along with their honest feedback—good and bad.

Below, we’ll provide a variety of customer comments sourced from the brand’s website, Sephora, and the Better Business Bureau so that you can see what the quality and effectiveness of the brand’s products are really like.

We rounded up a few of bareMinerals’ bestsellers and their ratings and compiled them into a neat little list below to give you a general vibe about how customer enjoy their products:

• Skin Longevity Long Life Herb Serum: 4.4/5 stars from 7,660 ratings
• Pure Plush Deep Cleansing Foam: 3.8/5 stars from 363 ratings
• Mineral Veil Finishing Powder: Original 4.1/5 stars from 410 ratings
• GEN Nude Powder Blush: 4/5 stars from 78 ratings
• Mineralist Eyeshadow Palettes: 4.5/5 stars from 247 ratings

Though we’re a fan of the bareMinerals eyeshadow palettes, we were blown away by the number of reviews for the Skin Longevity Long Life Herb Serum (and curious about how the herb works), so we decided to take a closer look.

It was a common opinion among shoppers that the serum is lightweight and isn’t sticky. One bareMinerals review read, “I have been using this serum for almost a year. In that time my skin has never looked more youthful and glowing. I’ve been searching for a powerful yet gentle serum that works.” Others say that it totally refreshes and hydrates skin as well.

Moving on to Sephora, we checked out ratings for the bareMinerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15. The powder received a 4.2/5 star score and 19.3k ratings.

What did customers like most? It looks like those with sensitive skin enjoy how skin-calming it is as well as the coverage it provides. Take this 5-star bareMinerals review:

“I have very fair skin, freckles, rosacea, dark undereye circles and I struggle to find a foundation that stays, full coverage, and doesn’t leave my skin orange.” That’s a lot to ask for and really cool that she found that in bareMinerals foundation.

Other products score well on Sephora’s site too. Here are some of the most-rated options:

• Gen Nude Blonzer Blush + Bronzer: 4.6/5 stars from 208 ratings
• Mineral Veil Talc Free Setting Powder: 4.5/5 stars from 5,945 ratings
• Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick: 4.5/5 stars from 1,837 ratings

Feeling pretty stoked about our findings with bareMinerals makeup and skincare, we decided to look into its customer service on the Better Business Bureau. We found an A+ rating and just 9 complaints made over the last 3 years.

The complaints were made in these areas:

• Delivery Issues (3)
• Problem with Product or Service (6)

There was no common thread among the complaints that raised any red flags, and we appreciate that the brand responded to customer issues in a timely manner, resolving all that popped up.

From what we found, bareMinerals appears to be a solid brand. Its products are effective and non-irritating and very few complaints require customers to resort to the BBB—meaning the majority is resolved through the brand’s regular customer service department.

Is bareMinerals Worth It?

We certainly think so. bareMinerals has mid-level-priced products but they shine in terms of quality and effectiveness—showing us they’re worth the money. And, the brand makes clean skincare that’s much safer than typical makeup on the market.

We hope that the company continues to improve its formulas, but we certainly appreciate how many ingredients and toxic chemicals that the brand already leaves out. Throw in the many promotions, free shipping, and general accessibility of its items, and you have yourself a winning brand.

bareMinerals Promotions & Discounts 

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Throughout this bareMinerals review, we found quite a few. Take a look:

• Get a free full-size eye cream with purchases over $75
• Sign up for Auto Delivery and enjoy free shipping with every order
• Refer a friend get $10 off
• Join the mailing list to get 15% off your next order

Where to Buy bareMinerals

The company’s products are sold all over the world, and of course, you can always find them at bareMinerals.com. But, also at shops like Sephora, MakeupAlley, Amazon, and Ulta Beauty.

FAQ

Who owns bareMinerals?

Created by Leslie Blodgett, bareMinerals is now owned by the Shiseido group.

Where is bareMinerals made?

Its makeup, including the bareMinerals palettes, is made all over the world, some in the USA, Canada, Switzerland, and even Germany. Its tools, like brushes, are made in China.

Is bareMinerals vegan and cruelty-free?

The bareMinerals makeup and skincare collection uses some animal-derived ingredients in its formulas, like beeswax, and even carmine (beetles), so, unfortunately, they’re not a completely vegan brand.

But, they are totally cruelty-free and do not test their products or ingredients on animals (hooray!).

What is bareMinerals’ Shipping Policy?

At this time, bareMinerals only ships to the US, US territories, and Canada. Shipping estimates are listed below:

• Standard 3-10 business days $6 or free if order total is over $50
• 2-Day 2-3 business days $11
• Overnight 1-2 business days $22
• Canada 2-7 business days $26 or free on orders over $50

Once your order ships, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a track line link that you can use to follow your order’s progress.

What is bareMinerals’ Return Policy?

You can return your bareMinerals order within 30 days of purchase if you need to. See below for some general guidelines around returns.

1. Gift cards are non-refundable
2. A prepaid return label is included with your order, be sure to attach this to the outside of your return package
3. If making a return by mail, not the reason for your return on the front side of the packing slip
4. When bareMinerals have received your order, it will take another 10 days to process
5. You can only make a return by mail if you bought your bareMinerals products from the brand’s website
6. If you bought from the website, you can return in-store, just be sure to have your original order confirmation email handy

How to Contact bareMinerals

We hope all of your questions were answered in this bareMinerals review, but if you need any more information, don’t hesitate to reach out to the brand by using the methods below:

• Phone: (888) 795-4747
• Email: [email protected]

bareMinerals customer service hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 11:00 pm ET.

---

Didn’t see everything you are looking for in this review? Here are a few other cosmetic options to consider when building your makeup routine:

BeautyStat Cosmetics

Buxom Cosmetics

theBalm Cosmetics

NYX Cosmetics

Hero Cosmetics