Emptying out... is this happening?

I'm home for summer from my first year of art school!  The last two days have been spent sleeping in until noon and thoroughly enjoying not having anything to do (for the time being, anyway).  Haha.  My boyfriend is here this week so we've been busy doing stuff, but I will definitely get back into blogging ASAP.  So excited! :)
I actually may have a few more things to add to this in the next few days.  For now, though, these are the products I've used up recently.  I don't know about you guys but for some reason I love reading these 'empties' types of posts on other blogs!

Pond's Classic cold cream- 

I've been using this all school year- since August I believe!  Can you believe I just ran out?  This has surprisingly become my favorite eye makeup remover.  There were a handful of days where I would try an oil-based liquid remover (like the Lancome one pictured above), but for the mass majority of the year this has lasted me. 

Repurchase?  Yes!  Between it's efficiency (removes makeup quickly and doesn't tug) and being cheap/long lasting, I'll definitely be using this from now on.

What I'm Using To Replace It:  A new jar that I just got yesterday! 

Lancome Bi-Facil eye makeup remover-

This came with a GWP that my mom got back over spring break, and she gave it to me.  I thought I'd give it a fair trial because I've heard decent things about it.  Personally, I found I needed a lot to get all my makeup off, and I had to tug at my eyelids at the same time.  

Repurchase?  No, it didn't work for me.

What I'm Using To Replace It:  Same as above, Pond's Classic cold cream

Nivea Express Hydration body lotion sample-

I got this with my Target Beauty bag sample pack.  I love the idea- that it's lightweight and absorbs quickly- but it didn't really moisturize for a long time.  Nice for a simple lotion but I'd rather try something else.

Repurchase?  No.

What I'm Using To Replace It:  Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion (favorite basic lotion)

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Daily Scrub-

I didn't totally clean this one out, but I found something else I like better (that my skin liked better, too!) so I haven't used it in a long time.  It was nice, but I think I'm done trying Neutrogena's skin care products (besides their oil-free moisturizer for sensitive skin- LOVE that).  They either break me out, or slightly irritate my skin.  This scrub was just a little too harsh for me.

Repurchase?  No.

What I'm Using To Replace It:  Aveeno Positively Radiant scrub (LOVE THIS.  Review in the near future!)

Mario Badescu Flower & Tonic mask sample-

I received this sample in my sample pack back in January but hadn't used it much until recently.  It's a thick, green mask that I used about once a week.  My skin feels so soft after using it, and I'm seriously considering buying it in a full size if I can't find a cheaper mask.

Repurchase?  Yes!

What I'm Using To Replace It:  Clinique Skin Calming Moisture mask (This was my sister's from years ago, I think it's discontinued but I'm not sure, I'm sorry!).

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil-

Ugh, I was so depressed when this ran out.  I didn't think my skin needed a powder, but this just makes my Bare Minerals foundation look so much smoother and glowy.  I love the radiance it gives my skin!

Repurchase?  Yes!  Unless I find a cheaper alternative.

What I'm Using To Replace It:  NYC Minerals Natural Veil (I think discontinued).

I've been doing some major spring-cleaning in terms of makeup/bath/body products lately, but that just means dumping stuff that I haven't used in awhile.  I always feel so accomplished when I actually finish something, haha.

What have you guys emptied recently?  

Bare Minerals Loose Eyeshadow in Turquoise

Thanks, Victoria!

Bare Minerals Loose Eyeshadow in Charleston

Thanks, Victoria!

Bare Minerals All-Over Face Color- Glee

The Bare Minerals 8-piece customizable starter kit I got for Christmas comes with Warmth all-over face color.  I mentioned in my post about it that I just didn't like how Warmth looked on my skin tone- I tried to make it work by only using the smallest amount, but I think it just pulls out too many of my pink undertones for my liking.
When I was in Sephora a couple weeks ago wondering about my foundation shade, I brought it up to the SA that I was interested in the other bronzers from Bare Escentuals because I disliked Warmth.  She told me that I could bring in my Warmth and just swap it out for another all-over face color.  So, that's what I decided to do today.
Apparently my Sephora (which is one of those inside a JCPenney) doesn't do that normally- I don't know if  the problem was that Warmth was a part of the kit, or because I didn't have the receipt.  They still let me do it since a SA told me I could before.  It was nice of them but I feel a little bad, lol!
But anyway, the SA that helped me today was so nice.  We walked over to the Bare Escentuals display and she showed me Glee- described by the website as giving you a "rosy flush."  She dusted it on my cheekbones and temples, had me look in the mirror, and I love it!  I'll definitely be using this more than I did Warmth.

My swatches seriously do not do this color justice! 

It's a rose/mauve-colored blush with not really any sparkle to it, which is a nice change (it seems like every blush I see is either jam-packed with shimmer).  It doesn't look completely matte either, at least to me. 

I haven't used much in the way of powder/mineral blush, so it's going to take a little getting used to.  I sure LOVE how it warms up my face, though.  Here's a picture of it on my cheeks (thank you Sephora SA for doing this for me!):

She did a very light amount, but it's perfect for me, as someone who doesn't like a lot of blush.  

These go for $18 individually and contain 0.05oz of product, in case you're interested!

Have you guys tried this all-over face color, or any others from Bare Escentuals?  They seem to have quite a few!

Comparison: Bare Minerals vs. Maybelline Mineral Power foundations

So, prior to using Bare Minerals I was using Maybelline's Mineral Power powder foundation (I've talked about it briefly here and here).  I really love that foundation- using it made me realize that I like mineral powder foundations so much more than liquids or creams.  It is SO easy to apply and I love the lighter feel of it.  Now, I do wish I could say I've tried more drugstore powder foundations, but I haven't.  I knew I liked Maybelline's so I kept returning to it.
Anyway, the transition to Bare Minerals was much-needed in my mind.  I wanted to try something new!  And after using this foundation for a few days, I decided I should compare it to my old favorite Maybelline Mineral Power.  Thus, I give you this post.  :)

Left: Maybelline Mineral Power foundation, Right: Bare Minerals foundation

Packaging: I'm no department store makeup "snob" whatsoever, so plastic packaging never bothered me.  I don't need it to feel luxurious if it works well.  The Maybelline container is definitely plastic and rather lightweight, but the sifter works well- I've never had a problem with too much product coming out.  Usually I lightly shake it (cap screwed on) a few times per application; it's enough for my entire face.  Switching to Bare Minerals, though, and I definitely see the difference in packaging.  The container is heavier/feels sturdier, and overall looks more expensive.  Still not a huge deal to me.  The cool part is in the sifter- there's a cover that "locks" into place over the holes so when you throw it in your bag or travel, foundation doesn't leak out of the compartment.  I really like this!

Price/quantity: The Maybelline foundation is about $8, while Bare Minerals normal-sized foundation is $25 on its own (this is for the original finish- the matte goes for $28).  They are the same size, 0.28oz, which lasts quite awhile.

Finish/coverage: I get more of a matte, medium coverage with the Maybelline foundation.  Despite it being quite matte, it does give my skin a nice "glow" that I really like (typically I wouldn't go for something matte).  It covers up my redness and acne spots that I don't really need concealer unless I have a bad pimple I want to hide.  I love this.  If I can eliminate one step of my face makeup routine, then I'm all for it!
The Bare Minerals original formula gives me a lighter, more glowy finish.  Definitely not matte, which I actually like.  I find that I probably do need some kind of concealer using this.  This week I've been lazy and just been dabbing the Bare Minerals concealer brush into the foundation and using this to cover my acne spots.  It works quite well, but it doesn't last throughout the day.  I'd definitely reach for my Maybelline Double Face Perfector concealer for something more long-wearing.

Colors: In the Maybelline Mineral Power foundation, I wear the shade "Light 2- Classic Ivory".  This is almost perfect for me no matter what season it is/how my skin tone changes.  I have "Fairly Medium" in the Bare Minerals original foundation.  It's perfect for me now since I'm lighter in the winter, so I'm curious to see if it still works in the spring once I go outside again.  I worry it'll be too light, but we'll see- I'm sure it will probably be fine.

I hope you can tell from this picture the difference in shades/finishes.  They are really, really close when comparing them in the jars.  When I swatch them, I notice that the Bare Minerals is a touch lighter and has more of a luminous finish than the Maybelline.  It also looks to have more pink undertones and feels lighter.

Wear quality: I get similar wear-time for both of these, and only start noticing them wearing away in the late afternoon/early evening.  I notice it on my chin/above my lips, where my acne scars are, which leads me to believe that I really just need a better concealer.  My cheeks/forehead area/rest of my face, where I have some redness and random spots, stay covered and even just fine.  Now, my sister says on her oilier skin, Bare Minerals starts to wear away during the afternoon and that's her only complaint.  I haven't experienced this yet.

Overall: These really aren't dupes for each other, because they have different finishes and coverages.  The similarities end at the colors and sizes.  But I think the Maybelline Mineral Power foundation is still a good alternative to other high-end mineral powder foundations if you're on a budget.  I'm really happy to have Bare Minerals, though- I think it's better suited for my skin-type and gives me more of a glow that I like.

Have you tried either of these?  Agree/disagree with what I've said?  I'd love to know! :)

Bare Minerals- My initial thoughts (Prepare for a long one!)

Hey everyone!
First off, I'm sorry this is so late.  I meant to have it up the day or two after Christmas, but a couple things ended up getting in the way: 1) I realized I wanted to do a little comparison between the Bare Minerals and my Maybelline Mineral Power powder foundation, and 2) we went out of town for a few days.  I'm home now, though, so I wanted to share this with you ASAP!

My sister got me the Bare Minerals 8-piece customizable starter kit for Christmas, which gives you:
-the choice of one full-sized foundation (0.28oz, either matte or original finish) in your shade
-a smaller sized Mineral Veil (0.07oz)
-Warmth all-over color (0.05oz)
-Full Flawless Face brush
-Flawless Application Face brush
-Maximum Coverage Concealer brush
-mini-sized Prime Time foundation primer (0.5oz),
It also comes with a DVD that explains everything about the makeup, which I haven't watched yet.

I suggested her just getting me the full-sized foundation and Mineral Veil, but she surprised me with this.  She really loves the concealer brush and wanted me to be able to try it, too.
For this review I'm just going to go over each individual product and tell you what I think about them so far.

The brushes:

Top to bottom: Full Flawless face brush (what you use to 'buff' in the foundation), Flawless Application face brush (for Mineral Veil/other powders), Maximum Coverage concealer brush

I'm not sure if when you buy the brushes individually the handles are longer, but these brushes are all travel-sized.  The Full Flawless face brush (I'll just call it the foundation brush) is about the length of my entire hand laid flat.  The powder brush is the smallest in length, with the concealer brush being skinnier and just a little longer.  

Now, I had heard these brushes were on the scratchier side from brush comparison posts I'd read.  For other powder foundation/powder product applications I use my EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer brush, which is one of the softest things I've ever felt.  Comparing the two brands, these are definitely scratchier, however they aren't overly so and I do like the way they work.  My EcoTools brush IS great for buffing in powder foundation, but it's a pain to travel with and for other powders, it buffs them in too much.  It's perfect for when I need  a light application of bronzer, but not when I want high pigmentation.  

I really like how the Bare Minerals powder brush applies things like highlighters.  I just got the MAC Too Chic beauty powder (post coming soon!), and it actually shows up well as compared to when I use my EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer brush, which buffs it in too much.

The concealer brush is a new favorite!  My sister was right.  Now, I've never really used a brush for concealer, but my sister told me she uses a lighter shade of Bare Minerals as a spot concealer and loves this brush for it.  I've been using mine in the same way and this brush works really well.  

The Products

Left: travel-sized Prime Time, Right: Fairly Medium foundation (Original SPF 15 finish)

Left: Original Mineral Veil (0.07oz), Right: Warmth all-over color (0.05oz)

The foundation: I tried the Fairly Medium shade along my jawline while at Sephora, and I thought it would be a perfect match.  However, I've used it a few times and I'm going to go back today and see if I can do a darker shade.  It's not terribly light, but I know as soon as spring comes I'll get darker and I'll need to rely on bronzer.  

As far as the formula goes, I love it.  Keep in mind my skin is normal-dry and sensitive, and for foundation I look for something light-medium coverage, mainly to cover up mild redness and acne spots.  This evens out my skin tone perfectly and gives my skin a nice "glow", especially after using the Mineral Veil.  It doesn't cover up my acne spots enough, which is why I use the concealer brush to dab it over them.  The one downside is that this doesn't last all day- you'd need a fuller coverage concealer if you care more about the staying power. 

Prime Time: The only primer-type of product I've tried is the Monistat Anti-Chafing gel.  I've never really felt the need for a primer, though, so I didn't use it very much.  I've been using Prime Time since I got this set, and so far I like it.  I'm kind of basing this off of what my sister has told me her problems are with Bare Minerals- that it doesn't last all day on her oilier skin.  I think using Prime Time would really benefit her over me.  I have no problems with the foundation wearing all day on me since I've been using this.  However, it doesn't make my skin feel oily/greasy which I like.

Original Mineral Veil: I've heard so many raves about this product, so I was so interested in trying this! It's translucent, but it does give your skin a little extra "something", and nicely finishes the foundation.  The only thing I worry about is it leaving the smallest white cast- I usually wear some kind of bronzer highlighter on top of it so I haven't noticed it yet, but I also haven't really taken pictures or anything since using it.

Warmth All-Over Face Color: Dislike.  It's definitely too dark for my skin tone (I'm sorry I forgot to swatch this, I can do that if anyone would like!).  It's hard to buff in and makes my cheeks look reddish, which is one of the primary reasons I wear face makeup at all.  This is probably because it's too dark for me, but anyway, it will probably go in the trash or to my friend who's darker.  

Overall: I really like Bare Minerals and I'm so happy my sister got it for me to try.  It's perfect for someone like me, who wants something lightweight and easy.  This set is really nice because it allows you to try out all their top-selling products- unfortunately for me, the Warmth color will go unused, but I think anyone darker will find it works better (I'm around a MAC NC25 for reference).  Otherwise, I love the foundation, Prime Time, and Mineral Veil, as well as the brushes (even though they aren't as soft as my EcoTools).  They work really well and are SO convenient to travel with!

Whew!  I was going to include a comparison to my Maybelline Mineral Power powder foundation too, but seeing how long this is I'll save it for another post.  

Hope this is helpful for any of you considering Bare Minerals! 

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals All-Over Face Color in Faux Tan

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Blush in Golden Gate

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals All-Over Face Color in Glee

i.d. Bare Minerals Glimpse Eyeshadow in Disco

i.d. Bare Minerals Glimpse Eyeshadow in Night Owl

i.d. Bare Minerals Liner Shadow in Fashionista