BareMinerals / Bare Escentuals Beauty
reviews and complaints

I have used Bare Essentials powdered makeup and clear primer for years and loved it! That being said I recently was given some samples of their new liquid makeup line when making purchases and had a severe allergic reaction. It tingled when first applied, this is normal for me so I left it after a few hours I had to remove it and 3 days later my face, eyes and splotches on my neck are still angry, red, swollen and itchy even with Rx eye drops(Pataday), cortisone cream, applying Aquaphor (recommended by my dermatologist) as needed for dry flakiness taking, OTC Benadryl, Loratidine, then limiting my diet to simple salads and baked chicken with rices, green veggies and broths and no stimulants that may irritate skin (Caffeine, Chocolate, etc) . I hope this is a one time fluke and I will be able to continue use of the products from the past once it resolves but will definitely be cautious in the future. Sure missing my morning Espresso...

I am starting to wonder too if my newly diagnosed condition of Blepharitis has occurred because of using Bare Minerals foundation, warmth and veil. I am going to stop using today to see if my red bloodshot eyes and red irritated water lines clear up! Hoping for the best! Anyone else have positive results from stopping this makeup use?

I used to use this product and was actually very pleased with the results. I quit using the product when I got pregnant with my son because I felt it made my skin too oily. Then after I had my son, I started using it again and noticed dry, itchy patches and small bumps that you cannot see but feel all over my face. I have urged my sister to quit using the product because she has noticed the same things happening with her skin as well. In general, I do think this is a great makeup, however, I don't think I will ever use it again due to the reaction I had with it after my pregnancy.

I only get an itchy face when i get hot from the original BE foundation - I contacted them in the US and they said that some people had reported a reaction to the original foundation and that I should apply a primer then mineral veil then foundation - still itched a little - so they recommended the Matte version applied over primer (Smashbox one) then mineral veil then BE matte foundation then mineral veil - voila no itching hope this helps.

I am not happy with the full flawless face brush. the bristles are all over my clothes and in my eyes. it shed in little hairs. I went to Ulta in Paramus, New Jersey, and they were not helpful at all. Please advise. I have cleaned the brush with well cared for, it seems even worse.

i am not happy with my full flawless face brush. i went to ulta to complain and they could not tell

me anthing. the bristles shed all over me and they get in my eyes. what is wrong? i cannot use this product with this brush. ulta is in paramus new jersey. marianne nastasi@yahoo.com

Hello - my gripe with this company is not the product, sorry, but their lousy shipping policy - this may seem trite to some, but living in Hawaii like I do, shipping is a big issue - most large companies accommodate places like Hawaii with Priority Mail shipping, but not this company - here is the e mail I sent to 4 different addresses listed on the BE website and have yet to have a response :

First let me say that I have my own online business and if I treated my customers the way I've been treated by Bare Escentuals with regards to my shipping problem, I would have been out of business a long time ago
I live in Hilo, Hawaii - I placed a phone order with Bill in your customer service on June 17 - at that time, I was told that shipping would take 1 to 2 weeks to reach me in Hawaii - I was fine with that - here I am, almost a month later, and the last tracking information I have on my package is that it was in San Franscisco as of June 24 - I even call that Bulk Mail Center and was told that it most likely went by boat on June 29 or 30 to Hawaii - that takes about a week to be received at Honolulu and be scanned in there - that would have put it in Honolulu around July 8 - it is now July 18 and nothing new is noted about this package - yet, I was told today that I have to wait until tomorrow to complain yet again and have it reshipped because tomorrow is 21 working days since it was shipped and your policy is to give the package that long to be received - THEN I was told that if you re ship to the same address and it isn't received you won't do anything about it - so, if I understand correctly, I would be out the $63 simply because I live in Hawaii and you're can't be bothered to find a better way to ship to customers in Hawaii - SAY WHAT ? - ARE YOU KIDDING ?
I've never run into such a ridiculous shipping policy in my life - most large companies have shipping options for areas like Hawaii, and ship orders coming out here by Priority Mail so that things like this don't happen - in other words, they actually care that customers in Hawaii get their products in a timely manner and are happy with their buying experience - Bare Escentuals could take a lesson - now, unless I somehow miraculously get this package by tomorrow morning, I have to call back and have the reship sent to my business in Nevada, then I'll have to pay even more shipping to get it from Nevada to me here in Hawaii - would you like to be told that if this was YOUR order ? I really think not
I was living on the Mainland the last time I ordered these products, and came back to Bare Escentuals after 4 years of trying other brands, etc - I came back bacause I truly felt the Bare Escentuals products were superior to the other products I had tried, and I still do - but I also judge a company by how they treat their customers and this company has failed miserably - I am so disappointed in this company - you should be disappointed in yourselves - Order # [protected]

Wow! I am not alone. I had scaly dry patches on my cheaks. The rep said their cosmetics are all natural. I thought it might be the weather that caused dryness. I had to return my original package. I did not like it and they said I had to keep it all or return it all.
I ordered new products. I found that I was too busy to use the loose makeup, which was all over my counters. I used the lips and eye products. I thought I was having allergies and did not realize that it was from BE. I had swollen lips! Huge! Then they became scaly and painful. This continued for two weeks after stopping the BE. I finally used Benadryl, zyrtec and cortisone cream to reduce the swelling. I had to use antibiotic ointments to heal my lips.
Later I found out that BE also causes asthma. My asthma is seasonal so I was surprised to have several attacks during the two weeks I used their powders. By the time I connected the dots, I had already stopped using the powders.
FYI: I am still waiting for my refund. They received my return two weeks ago! They even contacted me to customize my membership, completely ignoring that I had to see a doctor about the allergic reaction. They did not contact me about the refund!
This company is a joke and they need to warm people about the allergic reactions!

same thing happened to me -- red bumps all over my face after feeling really itchy and hot. i agree, one should do her research before purchasing a product. the company should warn people of this possible reaction, though.

You can find good mineral makeup on ebay. I received mine in the mail today and I only paid $21.95 for a full kit including brushes, and free shipping. Will last a few months with regular use. Mineral makeup contains no fillers, and it looks like you don't get much for your money, but you really do. Check the ingredients before you buy - the best mineral makeups will have very few ingredients, and the top three ingredients will be zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and iron oxides. Avoid fillers and rice powders, ultramarine, and talc. I am not shilling for any mineral makeup sellers or companies, but I researched mineral makeup (and everything else I buy) thoroughly before setting money down..the internet is a vast information source, check it out before you buy it.

Has anyone had a problem with them charging you before they were supposed to?

I sent the following e mail to 4 different addresses listed on the Bare Escentuals website (they are same as Bare Minerals), and have received no response - living in Hawaii, shipping is a big issue - here's what happened on my first order with them since moving here:

First let me say that I have my own online business and if I treated my customers the way I've been treated by Bare Escentuals with regards to my shipping problem, I would have been out of business a long time ago
I live in Hilo, Hawaii - I placed a phone order with Bill in your customer service on June 17 - at that time, I was told that shipping would take 1 to 2 weeks to reach me in Hawaii - I was fine with that - here I am, almost a month later, and the last tracking information I have on my package is that it was in San Franscisco as of June 24 - I even call that Bulk Mail Center and was told that it most likely went by boat on June 29 or 30 to Hawaii - that takes about a week to be received at Honolulu and be scanned in there - that would have put it in Honolulu around July 8 - it is now July 18 and nothing new is noted about this package - yet, I was told today that I have to wait until tomorrow to complain yet again and have it reshipped because tomorrow is 21 working days since it was shipped and your policy is to give the package that long to be received - THEN I was told that if you re ship to the same address and it isn't received you won't do anything about it - so, if I understand correctly, I would be out the $63 simply because I live in Hawaii and you're can't be bothered to find a better way to ship to customers in Hawaii - SAY WHAT ? - ARE YOU KIDDING ?
I've never run into such a ridiculous shipping policy in my life - most large companies have shipping options for areas like Hawaii, and ship orders coming out here by Priority Mail so that things like this don't happen - in other words, they actually care that customers in Hawaii get their products in a timely manner and are happy with their buying experience - Bare Escentuals could take a lesson - now, unless I somehow miraculously get this package by tomorrow morning, I have to call back and have the reship sent to my business in Nevada, then I'll have to pay even more shipping to get it from Nevada to me here in Hawaii - would you like to be told that if this was YOUR order ? I really think not
I was living on the Mainland the last time I ordered these products, and came back to Bare Escentuals after 4 years of trying other brands, etc - I came back bacause I truly felt the Bare Escentuals products were superior to the other products I had tried, and I still do - but I also judge a company by how they treat their customers and this company has failed miserably - I am so disappointed in this company - you should be disappointed in yourselves - Order # [protected]

Oh they are horrible! I went online to purchase their product nearly a year ago - October 2009 and I thought I was purchasing their trial package, but apparently a "club membership" is attached to their trial package. Not knowing this, I was confused when almost a year later, i received a package and inside a receipt charging my credit card of the items in the package. I was confused because I didn't make any new purchase from them, I noticed that my credit card was charged, so I checked my credit card statements and noticed that for nearly a year, every 2 months since purchasing my "trial package, I've been charge $50.18 or more for merchandise that never arrived!

I proceeded to call their customer service line, and they suck. No help at all, just condescending about the situation told. It appears that they have serious problem with their business practices as they appear to have quick responses to everything as if they have it memorize given the amount of complaints they get perhaps. :)

I informed them of the merchandise that I just received and that I was confused why I have been charged several times w/o any merchandise sent to me. She informed me that upon my trial order I was automatically signed up for a club membership and that it was my responsibility to check on them if no packages arrived to me. I told them I wasn't aware of me signing up for a club membership and not knowing so did not know if I was to receive a package regularly ergo not checking until now.

I was quite appalled their respond after this, as they told me how funny it was that the initial order arrived and this one but the rest didn't as if applying something more than the truth that I don't know why their subsequent packages never arrived. And without even extending an effort to investigate, they basically told me they can't do anything about the old transactions that didn't arrive. They can refund me the one that recently arrived, but the remaining ones which I actually don't have anything to show for, they are keeping the money. This is where I have a problem. I have a problem with paying for something I don't have a merchandise for.

I have a problem with paying for shipping and handling for something that was never shipped to me and downright mishandled.
I have a problem with Bare Minerals!

I asked if they could at least look into this before they concluded that it is my fault and keep my money, because I will NOT pay for something that I never got.
Perhaps looking into shipping company they used, if they have some sort of tracking system. Instead they just said their policy only allows them to credit this month and that i had to wait to talk to a manager in order for them to actually make the credit.

A day later, a manager called me, then told me nothing that the first agent already said. She actually said it was my fault that the merchandise didn't arrive, because I didn't look and ask to find out where my packages are and now is too late to do any sort of refunds.
I kept on telling them that I never received any merchandise and for them to take my money is unacceptable. I will not pay for nothing!
She basically told me too bad so sad, you didn't look into your credit card statement enough for these months, your money is ours.

I actually liked bare minerals but now, I will not go back to them. They are a scam artist and there are so many other mineral companies out there, that i would rather spend my money somewhere where they practice good business ethics.

UNBELIEVABLE, DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY -- SCAMMERS!

Anyone else encountered the same situation? Would love to hear if this is truly a one-off or there are others that experienced the same thing.

You can find good mineral makeup on ebay. I received mine in the mail today and I only paid $21.95 for a full kit including brushes, and free shipping. Will last a few months with regular use. Mineral makeup contains no fillers, and it looks like you don't get much for your money, but you really do. Check the ingredients before you buy - the best mineral makeups will have very few ingredients, and the top three ingredients will be zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and iron oxides. Avoid fillers and rice powders, ultramarine, and talc. I am not shilling for any mineral makeup sellers or companies, but I researched mineral makeup (and everything else I buy) thoroughly before setting money down..the internet is a vast information source, check it out before you buy it.

I recommed using Exotic Minerals by So Seductive Cosmetics
there mineral makeup is Bismuth Free and caters to women with sensitive skin! There formula also contains
Vitamins A, E & C. I love this product! Vist there website at www.soseductivecosmetics.com or www.exoticminerals.net

Shorty after I moved two years ago (and had all of mail forwarded through the post office), I contacted Bare Minerals because I had not received my latest shipment. I was told over the phone that they had no idea why I had not received my shipment, so I canceled my membership, which only shipped once every six months anyway. The membership was charged on a credit card I no longer use and have been paying off. I no longer use the credit card, don't carry the card in my wallet, and just make the payments every month. Come to find out, Bare Minerals has been charging me once every six months for the last 2 years and they have not sent me any products whatsoever! They claim that they have sent four packages of makeup and I have received zero! They offered to refund the latest charge but refuse to refund any of the others, and yet they have no tracking code that I can use to trace down the lost packages they supposedly sent.
They said there is nothing else they can do even though they never sent me any kind of confirmation email notifying me that they were charging my account like most companies do. Lesson learned: look carefully at your credit card statements (even those you do not charge on), and do not subscribe to Bare Minerals because they do not take responsibility for lost packages or notify you when they charge your card!

Their customer service sucks. They cannot do anything when you call them. They don't honor their promises and really don't care about keeping customers. I am done with this company. This is definitely BUYER BEWARE.

CANCEL MY SUBSCRITION ORDER #1504834
AS OF TODAY 2/17/09

I ordered my started kit from bare minerals Sept 17th on their website and also paid $24.95 to supposedly have it "shipped 2 day air". I received an e-mail Sept 19th saying it had been shipped out. Well it's Sept 25th and STILL have not received it. Why did I pay $24.95 if I'm still waiting? I called a the customer service hotline and the lady told me it take 3 to 5 business to receive it, if i ordered it last friday why isn't here. Friday being one, Monday-two, Tuesday-three, Wednesday-four, Thursday- five. She was NO help what so ever and told me that if I didn't receive it tomorrow then I could do something about it. I am so disgusted and disappointed that I will definetely be sending it back WITHOUT trying it and NEVER ordering from this company again. They obviously do not care about their customers. Oh and when I asked if she could maybe use the tracking number to find it, she said that I could go to the website and do that myself. What a rip off!

ok so i was at a friends house and she put bare minerals on me i started to break out but it was mild...we went to the mall and i hadnt noticed it at all but when we got back to her house i broke out in huge horrible rashed my skin was on FIRE! i tried all kinds of remedies but nothing worked! my skin now is still inflamed it burns like HELL! dont buy this product if u have sensative skin