BareMinerals’ New Foundation Has Blown My Mind

Truth time: I have always been a foundation girl. Not because I've necessarily had "bad" skin (although I have and continue to struggle with acne here and there). I first purchased foundation at the age of 5, when I spent my tooth-fairy money on a CoverGirl Simply Powder Foundation and a Lipslicks lip gloss. (Yes, my mother questioned my sanity. "Really, Tara? You want powder foundation?" Yes, I do, Mother. Don't get in between me and my compacts.)

To me, the idea of a product that you can apply all over your face to achieve the appearance of smooth, even, pore-less skin is just the best kind of voodoo. The negative connotations of foundation being "spackle" or "cover-up" that would "hide the real me" never crossed my mind. I just thought a compact was glamorous and feminine, and Cindy Crawford looked really glamorous in her Revlon ColorStay ads in that white, collared shirt. So, I wasn't afraid to try any and all foundations that I came across in my beauty pilgrimages to CVS and Sephora. I was always searching for the perfect amount of coverage that was neither too opaque nor too translucent, not too matte or too dewy. And, while the perfect foundation did seem to be a bit of a makeup unicorn for years, I certainly enjoyed the hunt. So, I found myself surprised when I became a beauty editor and discovered that so few women admitted to using foundation.

Well, if you're one of those ladies who have been wary to wear foundation — whether it's the shades, formula, or finish turning you off — I've found your perfect gateway cosmetic. BareMinerals' new foundation is so good, it shocked me. Made with mineral pigments that are suspended in super-light jojoba, this product is incredibly airy, yet provides impressive coverage. The formula boasts 20 different shades and a 100% shade-match guarantee. Plus, you can customize the finish however you'd like — the brand advises using two drops for sheer coverage, four drops for medium, and six drops for full. I'll admit that I simply shake the stuff all over my face and blend with a skunk brush to my heart's content. All in all, this product is delightfully foolproof and impossible to overdo — it completely vanishes into your skin and leaves a perfect, velvety skin-looking finish behind. It is, in a word, perfect.

As if that weren't enough, this overachieving miracle worker is also infused with lilac plant stem cells, vitamin C, and non-chemical SPF 20, with the goal of brightening skin and preventing future damage. I haven't been using it long enough to speak to these properties, but I will say this: My skin is much happier now than it was when I was using my last foundation specimen. And, of course, I am happy because, for the first time, I truly feel like I've found The One. No offense, Cindy.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals bareSkin Brightening Serum Foundation, $29, available in May at Bare Escentuals.