Complaint Rating:

Company information:
Bare Escentuals / ID Direct
9000 General Drive
Plymouth, Michigan
United States
Phone: 888-795-4747
www.bareminerals.com

First off, I would like to say that I have never had an allergic reaction to anything in my life. Nor have I ever had problems with contact-type rashes (poison ivy/oak.., any make up ingredients, etc). So when I saw a Bare Minerals / Bare Escentuals ad on TV offering a free trial, I went online to check it out. Going through the checkout options, you are bombarded with other offers you can get for a discount. So I went ahead and added 2 other packages to my free trial. I was so excited to get it in and use it. When I put the makeup on, it looked great (at first), however, after a few minutes, I began itching-majorly all over my forehead, then the top of my cheeks. I called the phone number in my packet and was told by a rep that is was my face adjusting to the minerals and that it would quit and wouldn't happen all the time (that is was just a one-time thing for a few minutes). So I took her word, but ended up washing the makeup off my face. Woke up the next morning and tried putting it on again-ITCHING. So I washed again. Then I put on some regular foundation first and tried the makeup-ITCHING. Finally, I looked online as to why mineral makeup causes itching. BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE. However, this was not mentioned on their website, nor mentioned by their representative. And also, opposite of what their rep told me-it doesn't go away or quit. You don't just develop a tolerance/immunity to it. I washed the makeup off like 3 times, however, still had slight itching. Later that night, after still itching, I looked in the mirror because my head felt flushed, and I had a rash-small, red bumps. I called the company. Yeah, I can send the makeup back and get a refund, minus the money I had to spend in shipping.

Okay, I just called them back and the rep I spoke with had never heard of the bismuth causing a reaction. She spoke with her supervisor who informed her that they could refund the shipping that I had already paid so that I could use it to send the items back. However, she couldn't pull up the account because they are switching systems, so she had to transfer me to another dept with whom she had already spoken. When the other rep (Karen) came on the line, she told me it was company policy to not refund any shipping, either way even though the other rep had said she would and that she would have to check with her supervisor. She put me on hold and came back and told me that her supervisor couldn't approve any kind of refund but that she told her to put notes in my account regarding to why I cannot use the product and they may be able to get it done later. I then told her about the previous rep speaking with her supervisor and how it had already been approved. She put me on hold again, and then came back and told me that her supervisor said she could refund $15 of the $35 so that I could send it back but that was all they could do. What I think is crappy about the whole situation is that they advertise how it is hypo-allergenic and free of this and that, but they do not mention anywhere that some users do have reactions due to the bismuth oxychloride, even users who have never had any kind of reaction to anything in their life have had reactions. Then you pay $200 for something and then they expect you to have to send it back to them and be out shipping both ways. If they had mentioned that people without past history's have had reactions, I probably wouldn't have wasted my time and money on it. Instead, I would have probably went on ebay and bought a small amount and tried it first. Oh well. Let's get to packing everything up.