Mineral Powder

The first time I used a mineral powder, I wasn't impressed. It was one by Amazing Cosmetics, and it was a pressed powder. It didn't do anything for my skin. And then 4 years ago I saw a friend of mine whose skin looked amazing...she just started using bareMinerals. So, off I went to get the starter kit. The only thing in that kit I didn't like was the Primer...it was horrible for my skin. About a year and half ago, my skin wasn't looking the way it used to, so I after some research, I decided to get mineral powder by Laura Mercier (Rich Vanilla). I found it to be lighter than bareMinerals, and after I started using that my skin (I think) started to look better. This summer I went back to bareMinerals because the Laura Mercier powder wasn't giving me the coverage I wanted in Toronto's humidity. Maybe I'm overanalyzing my skin, but lately even that hadn't been looking so good. So last week I bought MAC's Loose Mineralize Foundation (Medium- I'm around a NC30). In the store I thought it looked much better than bareMinerals, and felt like I didn't have anything on. Not sure if I'm just not putting enough on or I should finally retire my bareMinerals brush (just bought a Sephora mineral powder brush but haven't used it), but I'm not getting the coverage I want. However, I did use a primer at the store when I was trying it on, so that could be the case. Loved the primer by the way! It was the MAC Prep+Prime Face Protect SPF 50...amazing stuff!!Today I decided to see how they really compare. So, I put the MAC on one side of my face and the bareMinerals on the other. bareMinerals does provide more coverage, but can also look a bit cakey. MAC feels lighter but doesn't provide as much coverage. I really do like the MAC one and will use it for days when my skin if looking good. When it comes to actual jar, MAC is the worst of the bunch...much messier. The best is the Laura Mercier one..it has a twister that can cover the holes out of which you take the powder out.

MAC Mineralize Foundation

I would recommend bareMinerals to anyone who is looking for more coverage, and MAC to anyone who isn't worried about coverage and wants a very natural looking finish. Laura Mercier is also one that has worked very well for me, and does provide more coverage than MAC. I would love to know what worked for others...!