Ten To Try (February) #6:bareMinerals BAREPRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation
Described as
"a natural looking full-coverage foundation that is heat, humidity, water and sweat resistant and provides SPF20 sun protection"
At the start of the month, Meg says...
When I first started this Ten To Try series (why am I talking like it was over a decade in the past, it was like last week) I knew that I wanted to try a new foundation. It can be such a tricky part of makeup to get right and to recommend as everyone is different, and I've always been one of those people who, when asked in a department store what kind of finish they prefer, answers with a resounding "ummmm?" I don't know, okay! Sometimes I like a sheer, dewy base and on oilier days I want more coverage and less glow. One thing I do know is that I always want it to look natural, so let's see how BAREPRO fares...
Packaging
It's not the best for travelling, but unless you're on the go a lot it won't be an issue - I usually do my makeup in the morning and my foundation stays safely at home on my dressing table, so the weighty glass bottle gets a thumbs up from me. Make that two thumbs up, actually, as it comes with a pump (thank you, bareMinerals!) and a well-made lid that doesn't fall off in your makeup bag either.
Texture/consistency
'Creamy' is the word that immediately springs to mind, as does 'thick'... we're talking more double cream than single here! It's the kind of foundation that holds its own when you put it on the back of your hand and won't run all over the place, and it's very matte from the get-go - there's no waiting for it to 'dry down' and lose its sheen. You can see this in the third image, as the few seconds that it took between me swatching the foundation on my hand and snapping a quick photo was all the time it needed to start drying around the edges, almost like it's 'locking' onto the skin which I'm guessing is the waterproof aspect.
Application
When I try a foundation for the first time I like to use my trusty Look Good Feel Better Multi-Tasking Brush initially as I know exactly where I stand with it, and I used one pump to begin with. The first thing I noticed was that it's not particularly easy to work with - I dot my foundation all over my face then start to buff, but I quickly learnt that it's better to work on one area before moving on as you don't get much 'play time' due to how quickly the foundation starts to set on the skin. I found that it didn't glide over any dry patches quite how I would've liked it to and I was having to work quite hard to try and make it look like my actual skin rather than product sitting on top of it, especially around my upper lip for some reason! I genuinely wanted to wash it all off and start again.
I then tried it on another occasion with a damp Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and much preferred the application. The finish was still full-coverage but looked a lot more natural and skin-like, and although I found that it looked slightly clumpy in certain areas (e.g. around my brows) that was quickly sorted out with a spoolie and the end result was matte, slightly luminous and almost flawless.
Shade/colour
I have the shade 'Champagne 03' which is a pretty good match for me, even in February with my pale winter skin, although it leaned a little too yellow and I found that it oxidised throughout the day which didn't help with the whole 'looks like makeup not skin' thing.
Results
Despite the amazing coverage, the end result I was left with after applying was overall an unsatisfactory one - I think I'm used to sheerer formulations these days and therefore found the finish a little cakey, dry-looking and in need of a good hydrating mist.
Price
£29
The bottom line
Not for me, in a nutshell! I can imagine that for some people this is the dream foundation - if you love Instagram makeup (or even just a high coverage) that doesn't budge and your skin's on the oilier side, definitely try a sample of this next time you're passing a bareMinerals counter. For me personally it's just too much effort to get it to work, I didn't find it easy to work with and was never entirely happy with the results, so I'll be passing this onto a friend and sticking to my trusty Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream - it's like BAREPRO's lighter, moisturising little sister!
