Alternative to Bare Minerals Foundation?

January 19, 2021 6:35 PM

I feel silly for using a question on this, but can you recommend an alternative to Bare Minerals/Bare Escentuals foundation? I'm looking for something less prone to caking or flaking anytime my skin isn't perfect.

Basically what it says on the tin. I've used the brand since high school because my mom (who didn't inherently know much about makeup) first bought it for me, and the "fairly light" formulation did a fine job tamping down on shininess and smoothing out red patches, etc. But 15 years later I realize that if my skin is too dry, or if I moisturize too soon before putting it on, or something else isn't perfect it can turn out looking flakey and cakey on my skin. What should I check out instead?

Some maybe-relevant details:

- If I'm wearing makeup, I typically start with SPF-containing moisturizer, followed by foundation and mascara. The whole thing takes ten minutes and eight of those is waiting for the moisturizer to sink in. The correct answer might be finding a primer to add to the routine and if that's really the best route I'll try it, but I'd prefer not to add any more steps.

- My skin is generally fine, which is why I don't think this should be hard. I use foundation to even out my skintone (especially some minor reddish blotches around my nose) and get that slightly more "professional" look. I haven't had a bad experience with skin products causing breakouts or other problems in the past, but would certainly like to avoid it (I think that's supposed to be part of the bare minerals appeal?).

- I feel like the right answer should be a tinted moisturizer but the one I tried, Laura Mercier, ended up looking more painted on and blotchy than the bare minerals powder, especially if I perspire even a little - it also didn't do much to make my skin look more even. Happy to hear about others that might be different.

All advice welcome!

posted by exutima to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (16 answers total)

I use a CC cream and I really like that it’s easy to put on and that it makes my skin feel good. It Cosmetics is what I use but there are many to choose from. This one has a trial size available which would be great to start with since the full size tubes last forever.
posted by MadMadam at 6:51 PM on January 19, 2021

How did you apply the tinted moisturizer? A lot of people smooth it on with their fingers and that can lead to the painted blotchy issue, but if you follow that up with some stippling and buffing with a foundation brush it can sit on the skin much nicer. I rarely wear makeup and have normal to dry skin and bare minerals foundation is what I typically use but have found it does go a bit cakey-flakey, too. Tinted moisturizer works well for me in terms of texture and coverage but I haven’t found a shade match. If you have found a shade match I might suggest trying more steps or changing your application process (more/different tools) because that is the hardest thing to get right in a low-makeup look.
posted by Mizu at 6:52 PM on January 19, 2021

Have you tried the Bare Minerals tinted moisturizer (Complexion Rescue)? Their powders dry me out and flake, while the liquid makes my skin look dead, but Complexion Rescue has worked so far. Fewer people ask me if I'm tired.
posted by betweenthebars at 7:25 PM on January 19, 2021

I used to use BE back in the day, then found a better shade-match with Meow Cosmetics. I've since moved on to Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream because I found that as I got older, my skin didn't love powder foundations quite as much.
posted by Tailkinker to-Ennien at 7:38 PM on January 19, 2021

Well, Jane Iredale was one of the original mineral foundations and is still, in my estimation, one of the best. This formulation is far better at not laying on top of the skin and setting in cakey pools.
posted by oflinkey at 7:56 PM on January 19, 2021

Agreed that a BB or CC cream might do the trick. Seconding the recommendation for Jane Iredale, except it’s her Glow Time Mineral BB Cream with SPF that I like the best. Good coverage, evens out my skin tone, and gives my skin a nice level of luminosity/bounce. Depending on your skin you might not need moisturizer prior, especially in the summer.
posted by stellaluna at 9:17 PM on January 19, 2021

I use Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue, which is a type of BB cream, and it works well either with fingers or a brush/sponge -- you can find your shade match on the website if you're already using an existing Bare Minerals foundation, so it'll be a lot easier. Having well moisturized and exfoliated skin also helps as well, I like using a knock-off silicone facial cleanser that vibrates.
posted by yueliang at 9:46 PM on January 19, 2021

Try MAC Face and Body foundation—rub between your hands till it’s tacky, then apply to your face. It has a very natural and transfer-proof finish.
posted by music for skeletons at 10:09 PM on January 19, 2021

In between the excellent CC/ BB recommendations and full coverage foundation, I recommend Bye Bye Foundation, a full coverage moisturizer with SPF 50.

I'm a big fan of IT products in general.
posted by JennyJupiter at 4:31 AM on January 20, 2021

I just bought (and like) the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, so I'll just add don't get the Maybelline ones, because I also like them, and we have different needs in makeup. (The Bare Minerals foundation doesn't work for me, so this theory continues.)
posted by Ms Vegetable at 5:49 AM on January 20, 2021

My skin is also generally fine, and at this point I don't even use foundation unless I am doing a real, full face, which is not most days for work. Especially if your skintone is pretty even and you're just on Zoom these days, I see no point in going all-out with foundation. I use a concealer to brighten up under my eyes (Too Faced Born This Way Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer) and then I buff my skin with Hourglass's Veil Translucent Setting Powder and add a little blush.
posted by Medieval Maven at 6:37 AM on January 20, 2021

Are you using the Bare Minerals powder or liquid foundation? If you haven't tried a mineral powder foundation, you may like it - it's what I use on days I want to even out skin tone without going full hog. That said, I vastly prefer the Laura Mercier loose mineral powder foundation to the Bare Minerals one. However, if you want to stick with a liquid foundation, my favourite is Estee Lauder Double Wear Light -- it's a beautiful texture and I've not had any cakeiness (I do usually use primer).

Like all things, you'll probably have to try a few different products and techniques (as you can see from everyone's responses, no two products behave the same for everyone). For instance, I've never found a tinted moisturizer that did what I wanted it to, but others swear by them! Also: that IT Cosmetics CC cream read way more like a full coverage foundation on me!
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2021

Oh also! You can try to use a setting spray to prevent/mitigate cakeiness!
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 7:22 AM on January 20, 2021

I'm a huge HUGE fan of Glossier's Skin Tint. It's insanely sheer - to the point where a lot of makeup folks on YouTube complain about its sheerness - but that's exactly why I love it so much. It evens out skin tone, gives a dewy appearance - and that's about it. NOT for you if you want to conceal a ton of blemishes, but just enough for making your skin look like a better version of itself.
posted by thebots at 11:00 AM on January 20, 2021

Bare Minerals is fairly high coverage, so you'll have to go with a higher coverage foundation to mimic the performance you're used to. For me, that rules out most tinted moisturizers and most BB/CC creams. IT Cosmetics makes the highest coverage moisturizer that I've tried, but it performed horribly on my skin - instant caking, settled in pores, and uneven coverage no matter how the skin was prepped underneath. A friend recommended it to me and raved about it, so clearly it works well on some and not others.

My favorite higher coverage, not cakey liquid foundation is Lancome's Teint Idole. It's really great stuff and will not make that flakey and cakey thing happen. Truly a great foundation with the coverage you're used to. It's pricey, but then again, so is Bare Minerals. The closest drugstore dupe I've found to Teint Idole is Milani's Conceal + Perfect 2-In-1 Foundation.
posted by quince at 4:00 PM on January 20, 2021

I also recommend a CC cream - I use the Supergoop CC cream and apply it with one of those sponge eggs. I have also used a foundation brush in the past and that has helped the product go on really smoothly and doesnt cause flaking. If you do go the CC cream route, it might be worth switching out your moisturizer to a hyaluronic acid (the one from The Ordinary is great and very inexpensive), and then doing the CC cream which will provide both coverage/evening out your skin + SPF.

If a CC cream isnt enough coverage for you, I have heard good things about Ilia's new foundation as well.
posted by something_witty at 11:55 AM on January 21, 2021