I'm sure you've heard this here before. I just saw three threads on this first page alone, but I feel the need to vent.

I found this message board while doing an Internet search for "Sheer Cover VS Bare Essentials" a couple of months ago. I saw some feedback here and went on to try both. I found the Bare Essentials made my face look shiny/caked on a bit...or else I didn't have enough on to cover. Plus the Bare Essentials customer service was very poor. They did not answer any emails (I tried 3 different email addresses) ...and I was emailing to ask about payment :confused: When I tried to call them I'd be on hold for 20 minutes and couldn't hold any longer...I liked Sheer Cover at first, but after an 8 hour work day I always see it in the lines on my face...and it never looks good after a few hours...

My skin is combination. Depending on the weather it can be dry or oily. It's really quite frustrating. I'm also fair and have red patches.

I'd love to try MAC, but there's not a store in my area. Plus I'm scared of make-up counters...Do you have to go without any make-up on? The gals always intimidate me too.

As far as store/drug store brands I've tried a lot...I'm almost 30 and have been trying foundations since I was about 16 :rolleyes:

Any advice, support, encouragment is greatly appreciated. Thanks ;)

Are you looking for light, med, or full coverage? And regarding Mac, you can buy on-line from them as long as you knwo what color you'd need and they have make up artists on their site which can help you in finding the correct color. I hate make up counters too and have never gotten anything done at one because I do not go out w/ makeup and would never sit there out in the open and allow someone to re-do my face.

Are you looking for light, med, or full coverage? And regarding Mac, you can buy on-line from them as long as you knwo what color you'd need and they have make up artists on their site which can help you in finding the correct color. I hate make up counters too and have never gotten anything done at one because I do not go out w/ makeup and would never sit there out in the open and allow someone to re-do my face.

Hi veggigoddess,

Thanks for the response. I need something between medium and full. I know about the MAC site, but was afraid to spend some $ without knowing my exact color. I think I'll check it out again though.

It's good to know someone shares my dislike for make-up counters.

Another thing I didn't like about Sheer Cover and Bare Minerals was the "club" deal. You're locked in paying every month or when you decide. I just want to order what I feel the need.

Well I like to use all day wear type full coverage foundations and currently use Ultima II Wonderwear. It's oil free and lasts pretty much all day even in hot weather and to me does not feel cakey or mask like. I too am fair and usually wear the lightest shade in a foundation line though I like to mix w/ the second or third warmest tone to look less pale. Revlon's Colorstay in the full coverage version isn't bad either. I have not used Mac's foundation though I love their glosses and eye shadows, but they are just too expensive for someone like me who wear foundation everyday. Almay makes has an all day lasting foundation as well whuch I have also used.

I use MAC and I love it. I do understand about being intimidated by the MAC counter, luckily,a few years back I meet and became fast friends with the manager of the local MAC counter unrelated to makeup issues. She asked me what kind of makeup I used one day when I was complaining about it, and at the time it was prescriptives. It def took some doing to get me to the MAC counter, just the thought scared the hell out of me! So I went and and she found me some foundation, I have acne and scars so I needed heavy coverage, so the studio fix powder foundation was good for me. I then went back for some eye shadow, and so on. I got to know the girls that worked for her and felt more comfortable everytime I went to the counter. A few months ago when she was putting false eye lashes and some great blue eyeshadow on me for a night out on the town, she joked how far I had come, and she just couldn't believe she was putting false eye lashes on me. I used to cry, sweat, pace, I was a nervous wreck when they tried anything on me. I think it seems scary because all of the girls/guys that work for MAC look like super models and are all very rock n roll, edgy,and hip, but truly that is all MAC driven, just the way they market their makeup and all the people that work there are really nice people and for the most part don't ever look like that unless they are selling MAC makeup. Its all just a costume of sorts for work. Believe me, if they weren't all very nice and helpfull, they would never last. So take a chance, and tell them you are nervous, I promise they will understand and treat you with kid gloves!

Mary Kay Full coverage liquid foundation is the absolute best I've tried.

I've got combination skin, and I use the full coverage and I managed to match my skin tone perfectly. It looks very sheer because of the colour match and it doesn't cake on my face or dry it out/make it look oily.

It's about 20 bucks (canadian), might be cheaper in the US. Give it a try!

PS: try a bit of moisturiser under the foundation (let the moisturiser dry fully first) and that might help the caking problem. Avoid powders and cream foundations if you find you have a caking problem :)

good luck!

Hey soulspin, try Aromaleigh. It's another mineral makeup line, but it's only available online. You can order samples of the colors so you can get an exact match. The samples are only $2 and you get a good amount in each.
I was using Chanel double perfection compact before I started looking into mineral makeup. I love Chanel, but I've been into a whole natural skincare kick lately. I've tried alot of mineral makeup lines and found they either separate on my face, get cakey, look shiny, or feel too tight. Aromaleigh has been the best so far and there are a couple different formulas to choose from. You might want to try samples of all the formulas to see what works best on you.

Hi veggigoddess,

Thanks for the response. I need something between medium and full. I know about the MAC site, but was afraid to spend some $ without knowing my exact color. I think I'll check it out again though.

It's good to know someone shares my dislike for make-up counters.

Another thing I didn't like about Sheer Cover and Bare Minerals was the "club" deal. You're locked in paying every month or when you decide. I just want to order what I feel the need.
Someone here recomended Mary Kay full coverage foundation and loved it, but just thought I should provide my review of it as I too have tried it. It wore very poorly through out the day and took forever to dry! I remember waiting over a half hour for it to dry and it was still just as wet as when I first applied and sitting in front of the fan did not do a thing. Because of that reason alone I didn't use it again. I ended up having to apply my loose powder anyhow even though the foundation was still totally wet which make the powder puff gross and I had to toss it afterwards even though I had used it over 50 times over other foundations just fine beause they were normal and dried like they were supposed to. After just 1 hour of wearing this I looked up close in a mirror and the foundation had already started wearing away at my nose and eye areas. So that's my review. My skin type is normal so I'd assume since you stated your skin type is combo that this woudl work horribly for you if it worked this poorly for me.

I hate make-up counters too...the girls that work at them intimidate me because their make-up is totally flawless and I always feel like mine looks like crap. I've also tried the Mary-Kay full coverage foundation and found it was too thick and heavy for me. I like the Clinique Stay True Oil-Free make-up, but I think I'm going to try MAC - I've heard good things about it.

Ok, you guys are awesome! I want to try everything. I'll be back to read all of these posts more in depth when I have a little more time. Wow, thanks!

i too hate the club deal, but i ordered sheer cover anyways, and after it came, called and told them i no longer wanted to be a part of the club, and not to bill be again, and they were more than happy to assist me. i love sheer cover, and it works great for me. i seem to think as the day goes on, it looks better and better. also, i can get the items seperately on ebay, and pay alot less.

I hate makeup counters also. Only because I'm such an easy sell! I went once just to get foundation and told her I didn't want to spend over $30. Well, she gave me the works in colors that I don't normally wear and I bought it all! $200 later... I didn't even really like the colors! She did me in warm colors and I am blonde, blue eyes and have a pink undertone. She said 'Oh, let's do something different!' Boy am I guallable.

I just received my Model's Prefer kit. Love it, love it. It covers well, she has everything you need to cover dark circles (which I have bad, and never have found anything that works good) redness, etc. She has a video that tells you how to apply all the products. You get alot of product with the kit. OVC also sells her products. One happy person with Model's Prefer!! :bouncing: