Looking for Answers about bareMinerals bareMinerals Foundation?

I've had the same issues, & the most beneficial way I've found to correct this is to start with a fresh, clean face, be sure you have applied a layer of Prime Time primer to smooth out your face, then apply a layer of MINERAL VEIL before your foundation. The MV makes all the difference in the world around your nose, where it tends to be oily & show pores. Really buff the MV into your skin, & afterwards your foundation will glide on smoothly. And apply more MV once your foundation is on. I know this sounds like it would make you look 'cakey' or even MORE powdery, but I promise, this is the way to go. Just try it, you'll be amazed. My make-up doesn't look smudgy around my nose any more. And be sure you buff & blend very well so you can't tell you're wearing make-up. M'kay, hope this helps.

It sounds like your using to much. The key to "natural looking" is light coats & build up to the coverage you want. Also you MUST buff the product in the cap to warm it up & you MUST buff well into your skin. Try putting less in the cap & after your swirl, swirl, swirl make sure your tapping very well & buff, buff, buff on your face. Not hard just take more time to do it. Its better to do this several times to build up coverage than put to much on at once.

Clean your brushes well & let them dry thoroughly. And I wouldn't wet the brush at all for makeup application! It can make the product cakey & to heavy & dry on your skin weird.

Also make sure your face is clean, exfoliated & moisturized before application & it REALLY helps to use a primer. I would suggest waiting at least 10-15 minutes after you wash & moisturize & prime before applying your foundation. I personally do all this as soon as i get up then go about the rest of my morning routine then come back to apply my make up later.
It may take you a few extra minutes in the morning but the results will be well worth it.

Good luck

be sure you have moisturized if you use it, then use the foundation primer. A little goes a long way. Then do a light coverage and buff. Make sure the minerals are tucked up in the bristles, not visible. If you put it on too heavy to start with, it will look powdery. That happens to me when I get in too big a hurry and try to put on too much at once. Even so, it doesn't take long to apply, so do a light layer, buff, and then go back again if needed, and buff!

First of all, I'd like to comment on your pic; I think you are beautiful! Very pretty girl, I tell you. With this brand of make-up, they have everything you need to be stunning. These are my personal suggestions:
*Find out your undertones (highly agree with that, Google was a big help to me!)!!! Then decide which color family you belong to ranging from Fair to Light to Medium. You look like you could be anywhere in these categories, but if you DON'T want pinkish looking make-up, stay away from the cool tones (i.e. Fair, Fairly Medium, Medium. These are all for cool, pink undertones. If you don't like that, stay away from these!!) & go for a more neutral (i.e. Fairly Light or Medium Beige).
*Choose which formulation you want. The Original Foundation is great & adds a nice 'glow' to the skin. Or if you don't want to be shiny looking in the least, choose the Matte Foundation (my preference).
*Ideally, it would be best to visit a Bare Escentuals Boutique & ask a consultant to help you, but really go with your gut. I've found alot of times Beauty Consultants can be very over-bearing & eager, which makes me take less time thinking for myself about what I want exactly. So welcome their help, but in the end, make your own decision about what you feel most suits you, what makes you feel comfortable, & what YOU think looks best. The products are there for you to try, so hop to it & don't be shy! If you don't live near a boutique, try visiting Sephora (they sell Bare Escentuals products & are helpful with these types of questions) or ANY beauty counter at the mall can help you find your undertones & shade. If all else fails, again I stress to go with Fairly Light or Medium Beige (I am very pale with cool to neutral undertones, all year long I can wear Fairly Light, but in the summertime, I can totally rock the Medium Beige without it being too dark for me).
*The most valuable, important products for a flawless face are -PrimeTime Primer -Foundation -Mineral Veil -at least one facial brush (when a friend turned me onto the brand, I bought a get started kit. I find this is the best way to begin to use bareMinerals & they usually have everything you need!) & quite possibly some -Bisque (I don't have any myself, but if you're trying to cover up acne scars, it's the way to go. My friend swears by it!!)
*Always start with a fresh, clean face (using a toner, moisturizer, etc. if necessary).
*Apply a pea-sized amount of Primer to really even out your skin texture.
*Dust a bit of Mineral Veil all over, really concentrating on the areas prone to oiliness, large pores & the like (such as your nose, chin, & forehead). Really grind the MV into your skin. It's HARD to use too much.
*Using your concealer brush, use your foundation or your concealing Bisque, and sweep, buff, & blend over any visible scarring or uneven skin tone.
*Using a larger brush (either from BE or any brand of Buki Brush works nicely), use the Swirl, Tap, Buff technique to apply your foundation.
*This would be the time to lightly apply blush, Warmth, or an All Over Face color to your cheeks, swipe some in the form of a "3" from the forehead over your eyebrows, cheeks, & chin. However, first, I would wait until you have your other make-up techniques down pact before you experiment with contour & highlighting. Just a suggestion.
*Lastly, swirl on some more Mineral Veil. It really helps minimize pores, scars, blemishes, & any other imperfections.
I really hope this helps, I wish you the best of luck, & as I said before, you're already gorgeous, just get your face on right & the confidence should flow right out of you.

Hi, Georgie,

Based on your description, I'd tend toward the Original as it will give your skin a natural hint of 'dewiness' - not a shimmer, but a bit of a glow. :)

The matte formula is helpful for people with oily skin and while it doesn't seem to make people look powdery (that I've seen), I suspect you'd more enjoy the look of Original. It's always hard to say for sure without seeing your skin in person. If possible, it's always good to pop into a boutique or other seller so you can try on both formulas and check you shade, too. (I realise this isn't always possible, though.)

I've really enjoyed my Original formula and find it gives my skin an added bit of life to it.

Hope that helps!

The Full Kabuki has the heaviest coverage of all the larger brushes. You would use this is you really wanted to layer it on.
A step down would be the Handy Buki.
Next would be the Full Flawless
then Flawless is the lightest application of the 4 ....I believe, at least in my experience.

The concealer brush is also a heavy application brush used for under eyes or birthmarks. Whatever you wanna hide.

You can use all brushes with all products but some brushes are deigned to work better with some powders.

Like the Bisque powers, the concealer brush works best with those. Not that you couldn't use the bigger brushes but you wouldn't want to. The coverage may be weird.

It really just depends what kind of coverage you want.

Start with the concealer brush & use either your regular foundation or the Bisque & conceal all the dark circles or freckles or sun damage....whatever.

Use one of the following: Full Kabuki, Handy Buki, Full Flawless or Flawless to apply your foundation. Once you decide which brush you like best then you can play around with amounts of product & layers of application. Don't be in a big hurry the first few times. Take your time and start out with a small amount of product & build up the coverage until your happy. You'll get the gist of how much you need & for what kind of application after a couple times & then it will be fast & easy.

I but a new kit once a year because its cheaper than buying new brushes AND makeup. The kits are a great value & you get a lot for free.

I always use the other brush that comes in the kit, the one I don't like better for my foundation, for applying any blushes or warmth. I personally don't like to mix colored product on my foundation brushes no matter what the video shows.

Keep ALL your brushes clean & dry for best use. I mean you wouldn't use a dirty wet towel on your clean face right? Your brushes need to be clean of product build up & facial oils to work right.