Are those knock-off mineral makeup brands really as good as Leslie's?

Question

I haven't tried any of them yet because I would feel like I'm cheating.
Are they really any good?

Answer 1

girl, they're BETTER! many have been around for years and years, just like Bare Minerals (which began in the 70s). they only became mainstream and really well-known when Leslie became the CEO and had the bright idea of putting them on QVC, and in Sephora, etc...

there are a TON of mineral makeup lines out there that have fantastic coverage and cost 1/2 the price of BM, or even less! i'm currently experimenting with these brands, and i'm an uber-picky consumer with problem, sensitive skin and a ton of redness to cover.

also, Bare Minerals contains bismuth oxychloride, an unnecessary ingredient which irritates a lot of people's skin. their line broke me out and made me quite shiny (both complaints i've heard from others). furthermore, their color selection was horrible. even their lightest shade was too dark for me.

again, there are SO many great brands out there, they simply don't have the exposure and limelight that BM has. just make sure you get one without the bismuth oxychloride. you should look for minimal ingredients, for less irritation potential. and if you can find one with kaolin clay, that's even better.

anyway, one to start with is www.aubreynicole.com (the one i'm going to wear today).

in short, Bare Escentuals makes some excellent brushes, of which i have several, but they could learn a thing or two from some of the lesser known mineral brands.

good luck!



EDIT, SEVERAL HOURS LATER: regarding answerer #3 below, i would *not* recommend everyday minerals. it doesn't last very long (fades AND rubs off easily), and gets shiny quickly -- and almost all the other girls i talk to who have tried it, agree with all these observations.

just a little note too, today was my day #2 for the Aubrey Nicole, and i couldn't be happier! i actually felt like my makeup *didn't* cake or look unnatural today... and i think i blotted only once? maybe twice? i'm really impressed with this brand. also something to note, Aubrey Nicole does have the kaolin clay i mentioned earlier (everyday minerals does not.)

and if you're interested, i applied Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel underneath, to prep the skin.... then the foundation with a Bare Escentuals full coverage kabuki, and the concealer with a Bare Escentuals Max Coverage Concealer Brush.

anyway, just wanted to say how happy i am today, b/c i hadn't realized before how fabulous this stuff is. i think i've finally found one i'm gonna stick with. i'm also doubly happy b/c their customer service is top-notch. (another company i tried, Joppa Minerals, had AWESOME makeup, but the worst customer service i've ever dealt with; some girls didn't even get their makeup, after paying, and had to file complaints with Paypal.)
hahaa.... i keep looking in the mirror in disbelief.. lol. i need to shut up before i start sounding like a commercial. :D

ok, i can't believe how long this post is now. anyway, best of luck to you. another thing to keep in mind, brush quality is a big deal in mineral makeup application (i don't really like AN's brushes, so if you do try their makeup, i'd buy my brushes elsewhere.) =)

Answer 2

I used to think Bare Minerals was the best one, but then I realized, it's their brushes!

Now I use the Bare Minerals brushes with any other brand. There are a few store brands that don't cover acne very well (physician's formula) but overall they are all the same.

Answer 3

Everyday minerals works great, go to there website and you can get free samples, just pay shipping and handling (like $3), way cheaper than bare escentuals (which I use to wear).