Bare Escentuals

by Jaime Richards

Over the past few months, mineral makeup authority Bare Escentuals has been adding pressed-powder formulations to its traditional lineup of loose-powder makeup. And the results have been astounding. The recently launched Bare Minerals Ready 2.0 Eye Shadow Palette ($20) contains two shades that glide on as smooth as silk. Borage oil helps to hydrate the skin, while cucumber assists in quelling puffiness. But it's the color payoff that truly impresses. The pigments are richly hued and long-wearing, and are even resistant to creasing and clumping.

While there are over 20 palettes from which to choose, The Hidden Agenda (pictured) is a standout. This combination features Stealth, an apricot chiffon, and Undercover, a glistening granite with soft plum undertones. Not your color duo of choice? We're also fans of The 15 Minutes, which features Page Six (a sandy-pink sheen) and Most Requested (a burgundy sparkle), two shades that will make any eye tone pop.

by Jaime Richards

Bare Escentuals is bringing new meaning to beauty sleep with its just-launched bareMinerals Active Cell Renewal Night Serum ($50). The lightweight formula, which works while you snooze, contains lavender to soothe, kombucha black tea to smooth, and antioxidant skin-protecting vitamins C and E. But perhaps the best part of applying the serum is just how good it feels when it hits your skin. It sinks right in to reveal a mug that's hydrated, firmed, and refreshed in the a.m. Think of it like a supercharger for your face. You'll also love that it's free from synthetic fragrances and parabens. So all you'll have to worry about is sleeping through your alarm.

by Jaime Richards

For Bare Escentuals' latest campaign, dubbed Be a Force of Beauty, executive chairman Leslie Blodgett and her team didn't look to celebrity spokesmodels to participate in the brand's ads. In fact, they didn't even look at the models to be featured in the campaign. In an approach pretty much unheard of in traditional advertising standards, the beauty company instead chose to run a blind casting call.

"We wanted to pick women based on what they stood for," Blodgett explained. "We thought, 'Are they people we want to spend time with? Do they have a voice, and do they have something to say?'" It all started with 271 women — a pool of models and actresses, (so how bad could the results really be?) — and an online questionnaire. To see more about how it all went down, just keep reading.

by Brittney Stephens

Mineral makeup obsessives, take note: Bare Escentuals is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and to commemorate the event, they're spreading the love by offering 20 percent off all purchases today through Sunday, June 19. They're also offering up their Original SPF 15 Foundation ($25) in a limited-edition, blinged-out silver pot (which would look pretty sweet on your bathroom counter — just saying). You can use your discount on the Bare Escentuals site by using code LOVE at checkout or by printing it out and bringing it to your nearest BE boutique.

by Miriam Lacey

When it comes to sexy eye makeup, the smoky eye is one of the most wanted looks around. And when a brand comes out with a product that's supposed to make it easier, well, there's bound to be interest. The latest entrant into the easy smoky eye club is Buxom Waterproof Smoky Eye Stick ($18), which promises to line, shade, and smudge to make a smoky eye super easy. I tried the trendy new gray shade, Ice Pick. So to see a picture of how it looked after a day of wear and find out how it worked, just keep reading.

by POPSUGAR Beauty

So far, in my Prime Time series, I haven't met a primer I didn't like. Today, let's look at Bare Escentuals' BareVitamins Prime Time Foundation Primer ($21).

Prime Time is your standard evens-out-the-skin kind of formula, but what makes it different from the rest is that it's free from silicone, oil, or fragrance. Designed to be worn under Bare Escentals' ever-popular mineral foundation, I used it under liquid foundation and concealer, and had no problems with texture or pilling. Find out how it worked when you read more.

by POPSUGAR Beauty

I've fallen in love . . . with a dog. Actually, with 10 of them: Pug, Poodle, Black Lab, and seven more canine names that grace the new Buxom Stay-There eye shadows ($17). Ever since taking a sneak peek at these about a month ago, I've been gushing about them like an eye shadow evangelist. Here's why:

1. The bouncy texture is unlike anything else I've tried. It's soft, spongy, and springy — not dry, not too moist.
2. The color builds evenly. Apply it with your fingers for a more sheer wash of color, or use a brush for more intensity.
3. The formula is paraben-free, if you're looking out for that sort of thing.
4. It's lightweight, which is perfect when the weather is hot and humid.
5. This stuff really does stay put. No budging, no creasing, and it's waterproof, too.

So, yeah. Kind of obsessed. Plus, I love that Bare Escentuals is donating $20,000 to Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit that matches free assistance dogs to people with disabilities. These shadows have just launched at Sephora, so if you try them, let me know if you're as smitten. I think you will be.