Bare Escentuals Get Started Kit Fairly Light/Light

I've resisted buying this kit for a few years now, mainly because of the price, but also because I've seen how it accentuated the fine lines and wrinkles on other middle-aged women. However, how could I resist trying it after seeing all the dramatic before and after photos? (uh, I guess I should've paid more attention to the fact that the models were mainly teens or 20-somethings?) I'd tried a few knock off brands and attributed the mediochre results to the fact that it wasn't the real deal.

Wanting the glowing results that always appear in the photos, I decided to endulge myself last weekend and buy the $60 starter kit. I was so excited to try it out I could hardly wait, but I did wait until the next morning so I could have a completely fresh face to start with.

When I opened the box, I was happy to see 4 jars of minerals, including two slightly different foundation shades for matching complexions (which, although the shift in cosmetics is toward the darker complexions, fair complexions are extremely difficult to match and any contrast at all shows tenfold);
-.06 oz of "fair" foundation
-.06 oz of "fairly light" foundation
-.07 oz of "mineral veil" which is a transclucent finishing powder
-.07 oz of "warmth" which is a bronzer
- 1 oz of skin "rev-er upper" (moisturizer, this SHOULD be the "Skin Prep" instead as I'll explain)

and 3 very nice quality, soft and fluffy brushes;
1 larger "Full Flawless Face Brush"
1 slightly smaller "Flawless Application Face Brush"
1 "Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush" (think of like a stiffer artist's "filbert" brush, which allows more precise application, like for dark circles, blemishes, etc.)

While the DVD likely has much more direction, I didn't feel like stopping to watch a video before putting on my makeup to head out the door. I guess it's essential because instead of a detailed "how to" booklet with images, there was a 4 page pamphlet without even diagrams. The makeup application itself consists of 3 photos showing swirling the brush in the lid, tapping excess off and buffing on the skin (an image with a brush against a cheek) However, I wouldn't think that makeup application would be so precise that it requires absolute adherance to the steps to achieve the claimed, results?

So, I read through the instructions, which begin with describing what each product is used for. And here is where I discovered that the "starter kit" is missing probably the most essential product; the "face prep" (a foundation primer), which is mentioned in one of the steps. This product is supposed to smooth out the surface, filling in pores, fine lines and give the powders a base to sit on top of, blend and cover smoothly-the results I'd expected by buying the kit. I think most women would have outstanding results if the primer was included instead of their lame moisturizer (which, as I said before, I own much better and have no desire to purchase seperately, however, it seems that a lot of women don't realize that there is such a thing as a foundation primer, and could be a great key product for this company to sell aside from their own mineral makeups).

Tricky, eh? I don't know exactly what it costs, but a little scan on the internet shows that it runs around $20 a bottle. So now, for about $30 worth of product, plastic jars, brushes and a dvd, I've just paid $60 for, I'm supposed to go spend another $20 to actually achieve the real results? I probably will because without it, the results were absolutely nothing to brag about and I want to use up the product. I would wager to guess that those who brag about the product already have great skin and have no need to cover any of it-would probably fall over after applying a loose cover of Coty's transluscent face powder (to give the "glow") which is used in the professional industry and costs under $10 and available everywhere.

So, having a few decades of experience in wearing, selling and working for cosmetic companies, taking a professional makeup course in cosmetology, I already knew what to expect: foundation primers will make *any* product perform superbly-all day long (one of my favorite products is Wet 'n Wild's eyeshadow primer which used to be available for under $5. Just a tiny drop on each eylid and your eye makeup would apply easier and last ALL day long without smearing or blotching up). Nonetheless, I carefully followed the instructions to a "T" and here's the results;

I used the moisturizer (I own better brands, but figured I'd better follow along) I swirled, tapped and buffed. I used the concealer brush to try to cover my dark circles first and I had some *very* minor redness on my chin. There was basically NO coverage, the powders are very transluscent (which with a primer, would give a glowing complexion). The dark circles weren't covered, the very fine lines around my eyes looked 10X magnified (never even visible otherwise), the redness was still visible AND, to my surprise, my pores looked HUGE (I don't have oily skin). I had better results with the $4 drug store mineral powder foundation, at least that did give some coverage and comes in a cool all in one brush/refillable tube.

The only part that I feel lived up to the claims was that it feels like you aren't wearing any makeup at all. It didn't irritate my sensitive skin the way some powders can. It looked like nothing more than using any other powder foundation, at all. As I stated initially, I held off buying this because I DID visibly see how much it aged and accentuated wrinkles (this makeup has some "twinkle/pearlescence" to it, which again, is great for youthful complexions to give that clean/fresh "glow", but it's also the same reason women with any fine lines shouldn't wear "frosted" eyeshadows, the twinkle catches light stronger at certain angles so if your skin isn't perfectly smooth-which will create a nice "glow" the ridges formed by wrinkles are kind of like taking a white highlighting pencil and following the tops of the wrinkles).

With the prep, it probably is capable of producing the smooth, "glowing" results on any skin type, but like I said, a foundation primer and a transluscent finishing powder (like Coty) will give the same results to much much less expensive mineral powders or foundations as well-all day freshness, no smearing or transferring. That's not just some magical quality this product alone possesses as one might be led to believe. Seriously. Even the devoted fans of this product might be surprised at the results if they use something like the age old Coty transcluscent powder, which is the number one product used by professionals for the "glowing" complexion.