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Overview
On online makeup review boards, one of the most common observations about bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation is that it produces a metallic sheen on the face. While some find the opalescent glow flattering, others have compared the effect to the appearance of the Tin Man character from "The Wizard of Oz." If you have just switched to a mineral foundation and your face seems shinier than usual as the day goes by, it might not be because your skin is generating extra sebum. Instead, it may be because your foundation contains a particular ingredient that gives your complexion an unnaturally shiny finish.
Do Bare Minerals Still Have a TIN Man Appearance?
Identification
BareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation carries the Skin Cancer Foundation's seal of recommendation and has received awards from such beauty magazines as "Allure," "Glamour," "Elle" and "Teen Vogue." With its formula of 100 percent pure minerals taken from the earth and crushed into a powder-like substance, bareMinerals' foundation presents wearers with a healthier beauty alternative. While conventional makeup contains potentially unhealthy ingredients like talc, fragrance and synthetic preservatives, the bareMinerals brand claims that its makeup is pure enough to sleep in. The products in the line are also identified under the label "i.d. bareMinerals."
Effects
The "Tin Man" look is a noticeably iridescent finish created by the presence of bismuth oxychloride (see Resources). Bismuth oxychloride is commonly used to provide a smooth product application and a sheen that refracts light away from imperfections. With the absence of fillers in mineral foundations, bismuth oxychloride may be present at concentrations than in traditional foundations.
Prevention/Solution
If using bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation gives you the Tin Man look, you don't have to stop using mineral makeup altogether. Not all mineral foundations contain bismuth oxychloride. One example is Everyday Minerals--while bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation has five ingredients, Everyday Minerals foundations only have four, as they have the exact ingredients as bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation minus the bismuth oxychloride.
Considerations
Bare Escentuals, the company responsible for bareMinerals, offers bismuth-free items as well, like bareVitamins Prime Time Foundation Primer and Buxom Babes Mineral Lip Polish.
The line of bareMinerals products also extends beyond foundations. Those who have sworn off of bareMinerals may appreciate the brand's other products that are not specifically meant to enhance the complexion, such as eye shadows, lip liners, lipsticks and lip glosses.
Warning
Bismuth oxychloride is also responsible for the skin redness, irritation and acne that some makeup wearers have encountered upon trying mineral foundations. BareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation is not the only mineral foundation that contains bismuth oxychloride, nor is bismuth oxychloride limited to foundations. Bare Escentuals' RareMinerals Blemish Therapy for instance, also contains bismuth oxychloride (see Resources).
