Overview
Unlike many anti-wrinkle products reviewed on this site, Bare Escentuals is actually a line of makeup. Bare Escentuals claims to use only the finest ingredients in all of their makeup products, meaning that your skin will benefit. This certainly struck us as a good sell; after all, who thinks that your average drugstore concealer is really doing your skin any favors? Bare Escentuals products focus on foundations and concealers, but the company also offers eye makeup and a line of lipstick. The official website also offers a line of brushes and applicators to be used with the product.
Bare Escentuals was founded in 1979, and is based out of San Francisco. The company made headlines when their passionate founder Leslie Blodgett went around America recruiting real women to be the company’s spokes-models. Today, the company has boutiques in many states throughout the country, and they seem to be expanding daily. Bare Escentuals products are also carried by major national retailers including the makeup boutique Sephora, Macy’s, Nordstrom’s and QVC. The cornerstone of Bare Escentuals is their proprietary bareMinerals formulations, and the company claims that their products “contain no preservatives, fillers or binders.” Also, Bare Escentuals seems to claim that their makeup products do not contain any chemical ingredients whatsoever. “It’s a makeup so pure you can sleep in it!” decalre the ads.
Product Details
The Bare Escentuals line of makeup is pretty wide ranging, so product details ultimately depend on what you’re looking for. Makeup lines offered by Bare Escentuals include “prep” products like moisturizer and a tanning cream, concealer, lip products and eye products. Bare Escentuals also offers product “collections” that include “Getting Started”, “Get Started Eyes”, “Weather Anything”, “Lip Kit” and “Complexion Enhancers.”
Bare Escentuals prices strike us as pretty reasonable. For example, the product kits seem to average around $49. Individual products vary but are still relatively affordable: Lipstick sells for $15 while the Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush goes for $20.
The Good
- Products are all-natural and contain no chemical ingredients to irritate the skin.
- A wide range of products means that Bare Escentuals probably has something suitable for every complexion.
- Official product website offers full range or products for sale and also provides an 800 number.
The Bad
- Strictly speaking, Bare Escentuals is not an anti-aging product.
- Obviously, effects will depend on your makeup proficiency, and makeup will need to be applied every day to achieve results.
- No free sample offered.
- Product does not come with a money back guarantee.
- Did not find ingredients lists for any products.
The Bottom Line
After taking a close look, we’d have to say that Bare Escentuals looks like a really solid makeup line. Although we couldn’t find any full ingredient lists, the company claims to use only natural ingredients, which already puts them well above your $5 drugstore foundation. However, in terms of anti-aging Bare Escentuals just don’t compete. Most people reading our website are looking to prevent or reverse the aging process, and all Bare Escentuals has to offer is a cover-up. It’s really like comparing the proverbial apples and oranges. You probably have both a makeup regimen and a skin care regimen, and one doesn’t really replace the other.