Review: Loreal Bare Naturale Powdered Mineral Foundation

I’ve never used mineral makeup before, and as Priceline is just a few doors away from my flat, I was pretty excited to try this one out.

Loreal Mineral Foundation

Description:
– Powdered minerals provide the coverage of a foundation but the soft, light feel of a powder.
– Perfect skin without the heavy, mask-like feel of many traditional foundation products, and allow skin to breathe.
– Safe for even the most sensitive skins and provides natural sun protection.
– Light to medium coverage.
– Contains Aloe and Vitamin B5 to soothe, condition and protect sensitive skin.
– Contains no unnecessary fillers, no unnecessary preservatives, and is oil-free and fragrance-free.

Ingredients:
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (3.0%), Zinc Oxide (5.0%). Inactive Ingredients: Talc, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Copernicia Cerifera (Camauba) Wax, Cetyl Dimethicone, Trimethyl Siloxysilicate, Triisocetyl Citrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Panthenol, May Contain:, Bismuth Oxychloride, Iron Oxides

Even though it contains mineral makeup ingredients, but from the ingredients, you can see that this is not a pure mineral makeup.

I have rather mixed feelings about this one. It’s not bad, but not all that good either. Anyways, here’s my take on the mineral foundation:

PACKAGING
Contrary to a lot of comments about how bulky the foundation is, I’m actually quite pleased that it has a brush incorporated into the packaging. I think it would be quite swell to bring this around when traveling because it sure beats having to carry an extra kabuki brush and making sure it (the brush) doesn’t get smushed in my cosmetic bag. I’m also glad that it’s very easy and non-messy to apply (you know how mineral foundations can sometimes be a pain in the bum to apply; your dressing table gets more powder than you do!).

Loreal Mineral Foundation 2

The bristles are pretty coarse though. Still, it didn’t bother me that much; I’ll just use my own brush when at home, and bring the whole package (hehe!) with me when traveling. I gave the brush a bit of a wash and conditioned it, so it’s not that harsh on the skin :p

Loreal Mineral Foundation 3

FOUNDATION
This is the part where I have mixed feelings about. The powder went on really well and makes my skin look flawless (without the cakey, foundation-y look). It stayed on pretty long too (I wore it to a barbeque for a whole afternoon, and it didn’t run). The minerals also provide a sunscreen with a SPF of 19. Any product with sunscreen is good in my books.

I would be absolutely delighted with this product if not for the fact that after an hour or so, I looked very SHINY. I had to use quite a lot of facial blotters when I used the mineral foundation just to eliminate the shine when I was outdoors.

A reader alerted me on one of the ingredients used in Loreal’s mineral foundation, bismuth oxychloride, which is known to produce shine, and also clog pores. So far, I have no problems with clogged pores with this mineral foundation (but then again, I don’t use it every day) but I just can’t stand the shine. I have an oily T-zone, and by the end of the day, the “T” just blinds me if I don’t blot. Okay, I’m exaggerating there, but you know what I mean.

You can read more about bismuth oxychloride here. Bear in mind that the very-popular Bare Escentuals mineral foundation also contains bismuth oxychloride.


Loreal Instructions
How to apply the mineral foundation (click to enlarge)

As the foundation contains bismuth oxychloride, I’m reluctant to use this on a daily basis, but I wouldn’t mind using it once in a while, or bringing it with me when I’m traveling. I’d just have to remember to bring a lot of oil blotters with me :p

Loreal Bare Naturale Powdered Mineral Foundation is available in eight colours – Soft Ivory, Light Ivory, Nude Beige (I bought this one), Creamy Natural, Natural Beige, Buff Beige, Sun Beige and Classic Tan. You can get it at Priceline (and other pharmacies) for AUD33.95.

What I like about it: Gave me a flawless look without using a lot of foundation; handy packaging when traveling.

What I did not like about it: Shine, shine, SHINE! *shudder*

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13 comments… add one
  1. Cassandra L

    do u think this product will suit women with dry skin?

    also, i have not tried mm. how long does it take for complete application?

    thanks 🙂

  2. Tine

    Hi Cassandra,

    Am afraid it would not work on dry skin. The mineral foundation tends to accentuate the lines on dry skin, making skin look flaky. To my experience on the dry spots on my face, that is.

    As for complete application, well, it depends on how much coverage you need. I did not need such heavy coverage as I only wore it during the day, so it took me less than 5 minutes to get it on 🙂 That’s the one thing I like about this foundation; it took less time for me to apply the foundation compared to its liquid counterpart.

  3. pb

    Oooh shiny is not good 🙁

    Cassandra: The trick to applying mineral makeup is to moisturise moisturise moisturise. Else as Tine says it has a tendency to slide into lines.

  4. geekchic

    i’m still too lazy to use foundations. i realize i only start to wish i have foundation to use during TTOTM. so, i think i’ll splurge on a good one and use for a week each month. otherwise, i think the extra 2 mins of sleep is good 🙂

    i wish i can be diligent about it. i love the flawless look my skin gets with foundation 🙁

  5. suziemclean

    It’s funny you should blog about this today, the morning after I first saw the product at Ikano Power Station’s Guardian 🙂

    I had seen the print advert in many of the American magazines I bought recently, so I was excited when I saw the ad in a local (Msian) magazine recently and even more elated to see it in stores.

    But when I saw the price tag (RM60+)and compared it with the size of the actual product, I thought to myself, “You know what? I think I’d better stick to my Everyday Minerals” which I tried late last year and fell in love with.

    For about $27, I can get a decent starter kit containing 2 shades of foundations, 2 shades of blushers, a lip colour, a finishing powder and concealer PLUS shipping charges.

    Best of all, these items do not have bismuth whatchamacallit. I have acne-prone skin so it’s best that I don’t get this new product from L’oreal anywhere near my face *lol*

    Granted, I’d have to wait a few weeks for my package to arrive but I know it’ll be worth the wait.

  6. Tine

    Paris: Thanks for the tip. Yeah, that’s it, load on the moisturiser and you’re pretty much ready to go 🙂

    Geekchic: Yeah I know what you mean. Before Japan, I never thought of even using foundation! Submitting to culture pressure, I now can’t go out on social calls without it. And to save me that two minutes extra of sleep, I need something simpler than liquid foundation. And so far, this is good 🙂

    Suziemclean: Hehe, that’s exactly why I bought the Loreal mineral foundation – from too many ads in the American magazines! :p Oh, it’s now sold in Malaysia then? It wasn’t before. At RM60+, it’s still cheaper than here. Makeup in Australia’s expensive 🙁

    Ooooh I just also purchased mineral foundation from Everyday Minerals. Looking forward to the package 🙂

  7. Shryh

    I am a hardcore mineral foundation user and even use it as undereye concealer! My skin is highly acnegeic, so even when I don’t have zits, I have a crazy blackhead problem. So, regular foundations (the cream to powder compacts, liquid) are out of the question for me.

    There are a couple of ways to combat shine issues when using mineral foundation. Bare Escentuals and Laura Mercier both have mineral primers that go on the face before the actual foundation, which does help cut down shine. Alternatively, one can use a mattifier over the product, or dust the t-zone with blotting powder. This is a more short term solution, however.

    Mineral foundation isn’t generally recommended for those with dry-skin especially if there is a flaking. But there are liquid mineral foundation options these days. 🙂

  8. sesame

    Some MMU gives you more shine than others. It depends on their formulation. Using a mineral veil can help to combat that problem.

    Btw, your new template is looking good.

  9. prettybeautiful

    do u have a habit of using primer? the citrus in the primer helps to combat shine and oily face

  10. Tine

    Shryh: Ahh my mistake for not using a primer then. I have one by Laura Mercier, but for some reason was saving that for … gosh, I have no idea what! Thanks for the tip, I’m definitely going to try it out and use primer before putting on the mineral foundation.

    Sesame: Yes I do agree. It’s the ingredients that make the difference, I think.

    Thanks for the compliments on the template 🙂

    Prettybeautiful: Thanks for the tip 🙂 Like my reply to Shryh, my bad for not putting on a primer first 😛

  11. Anonymous

    I couldn't agree more with everything you've said about this Loreal Foundation!!!!!

    It seems great for the first hour until the pearlescent shimmer comes through & u look like ur 5 years old! (It's too pearly, not like a natural glow). It's very silver. I am going to switch to Everyday Minerals which don't have Bismuth & i'm going for the semi-matt formula.

    The only problem is that it is an online purchase (no stores around yet) but that's ok. So is sheer cover & that's booming yet it has Bismuth. I think Everyday Minerals looks much better & everyone who tries it says there is no pearl (except for in the glow formula).

    Gina!

  12. toni

    i’ve been using bare naturale by loreal for about one year. i haven’t been feeling well since about april this year. all my labs were normal so i decided to get an analysis. everything was great except that i have elevated bismuth, twice the amount of the high end of normal. i do not take stomach meds so i went to see what organic bismuth is in, so i found out that it is in make-up. that is what makes the powder shine. i will never wear make-up with this ingredient EVER again.

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