Best & Worst of BareMinerals Pureness and Poreless Skincare
In general, bareMinerals is mostly known for making pretty good mineral makeup, but I’ve always been curious to check out their skincare line as well. Last year I finally got my hands on a few select products from Pureness and Poreless collections, and I’ve been testing them for the past several months. My final thoughts are all over the place: some of these products became my go-to, and one didn’t agree with my skin at all.
P.S.: I am having issues with my camera not focusing properly lately. If the photos seem a bit out of focus, that’s why. I think I’ll use my phone for the time being while I figure out what to do about this because investing $1k in a new DSLR is not in the budget right now.
PURENESS COLLECTION:
bareMinerals Pureness Collection was designed for sensitive skin to provide soothing comfort and reduce redness and irritation. These products are as gentle as can be and have very short and basic ingredient lists to minimize the risk of negative reactions. I forgot which famous dermatologist said this, but basically she advises her clients to always treat their skin like it’s sensitive because gentle approach wins in the long run. Her advice made me curious to try a different way of doing my skincare, so I stopped maxing out on strong actives every single day and I feel like my skin has been a lot healthier since, but I digress.
bareMinerals Pureness Collection consists of two products at this time: a cleanser and a moisturizer.
bareMinerals Pureness Gel Cleanser ($22) has a thick milky jelly consistency and no discernible scent, which will delight those of you who prefer fragrance-free skincare. I am very careful with my cleansers and always try them on my hands first. Pureness Gel Cleanser didn’t lather much, but still left the skin feeling soft and clean, and that’s exactly how I like my facial cleansers to perform. However, like any new cleanser in my routine, before I put it on my face it had to pass the litmus strip pH test. When mixed with my tap water, the strip showed somewhere between pH5.8-6.0, which is the upper range of my personal preference. Anything more alkaline makes my skin feel dry and tight and seriously messes with the skin barrier resulting in irritations, breakouts, and redness. All that from using the wrong cleanser once! In short, I think Pureness Gel Cleanser is great. I’ve been using it a lot lately and my sin seems to be happy with it.
The formula features coconut milk, coconut water, and prickly pear extract, which are all great hydrating and moisturizing skin care ingredients. However, I think their benefits are wasted here because they only stay on the skin for maybe 15-30 seconds tops.
You will LOVE it if:
- You want to buy a healthy basic cleanser for your whole family. It works for all skin types – even sensitive!
- You prefer basic, no-frills products with minimal ingredients.
- You avoid fragrance in skincare.
- You avoid parabens and colorants in skincare.
- You strictly avoid gluten in your beauty products.
- You support CF brands.
- You prefer vegan skincare.
SKIP it if:
- You work with highly sticky substances, like motor oil, and need a stronger alkaline cleanser.
- You want your beauty products to have a pleasant fragrance.
- You need a medicated cleanser.
- You are on a budget. There is absolutely no good reason to buy a $22 cleanser unless you want to support the brand or you have very specific skin needs that it addresses.
- You are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Stearic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Opuntia Vulgaris Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Juice, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate.
bareMinerals Pureness Soothing Light Moisturizer ($35) – This lightweight moisturizer has a lovely creamy texture and absorbs just enough to avoid the shiny finish while still leaving behind a barely-there layer for continuous nourishment. The formula is very minimal and contains a carefully curated mix of humectants, moisturizers, antioxidants, and hydrating ingredients to soften and protect, and reduce irritation. I like that it comes in an opaque, airless pump container that protects the integrity of active ingredients from oxidation and bacteria.
You will LOVE it if:
- You want to buy a simple daily moisturizer for your family. It works for all skin types, except oily.
- You prefer basic, no-frills products with minimal ingredients.
- You avoid fragrance in skincare.
- You avoid parabens and colorants in skincare.
- You strictly avoid gluten in your beauty products.
- You support CF brands.
- You prefer vegan skincare.
- You avoid products in jar packaging.
SKIP it if:
- You have oily skin. It contains coconut oil that can be comedogenic.
- You need a moisturizer with added SPF.
- You want your beauty products to have a pleasant fragrance.
- You are looking for strong anti-aging actives in your moisturizer.
- You are on a budget. There are some decent drugstore alternatives you can try instead to achieve similar results.
- You are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Opuntia Vulgaris Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Juice, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum.
PORELESS COLLECTION:
bareMinerals Poreless Collection was designed for oily and combination skin types to help balance oil production and reduce the look of enlarged pores while keeping the skin clean and hydrated. bareMinerals recommends using all three products as a 3-step system to achieve maximum results. The collection highlights the skin-smoothing benefits of prebiotics, superfruits, and chia seed extract, some of which may be sensitizing, so you might want to patch test these first.
bareMinerals Poreless Collection currently consists of three products: a cleanser, a toner, and a moisturizer.
bareMinerals Poreless Clay Cleanser ($22) has a thick, creamy consistency with a distinct clay scent – I actually like that it smells natural. It doesn’t lather at all and turns into cleansing milk on contact with water. The texture is slightly powdery and mildly exfoliating, just as you would expect of a watered-down clay. I patch tested it on my hands first, and unfortunately, for me, it was a no-go right away. The cleanser left my skin feeling very tight and uncomfortably dry, and the litmus strip confirmed my suspicion – this formula is way too alkaline for my liking. The strip registers at around pH9.0 which is way out of my comfort zone. I personally do not use cleansers this harsh nor do I recommend them to others.
You will LOVE it if:
- You work with highly sticky substances, like motor oil, and need a harsh cleanser to remove the residue.
- You avoid fragrance in skincare.
- You avoid parabens and colorants in skincare.
- You avoid gluten in your beauty products.
- You support CF brands.
- You prefer vegan skincare.
- You avoid products in jar packaging.
SKIP it if:
- You have dry or sensitive skin. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it for any skin type.
- You need a medicated cleanser.
- You prefer low-pH cleansers.
- You want your beauty products to have a pleasant fragrance.
- You are on a budget. You can find a good cleanser without paying $22.
- You are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Peg-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, Butylene Glycol, Peg-32, Peg-6, Myristic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Ppg-15-Buteth-20, Coconut Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Kaolin, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Bht, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Leaf Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Succinoglycan, Calcite, Illite, Silica, Montmorillonite, Disodium Edta, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
bareMinerals Poreless Exfoliating Essence ($24) is a pH-adjusting acidic toner. I understand why bareMinerals insist on using it as part of a 3-step system because at least this essence helps rebalance the skin after using such a harsh cleanser. This technique is widely used by the members of the Skincare Addiction community on Reddit, but I would rather use a gentle cleanser in the first place so I don’t have to fix my skin barrier with another $20+ product afterward. This toner feels slightly tingly and leaves the skin soft with a slightly powdery finish. It also makes the pores feel tighter, which is pretty much what bareMinerals promised it would do. I like it and I think it could be useful for anyone struggling with enlarged pores.
The formula contains a botanical blend with naturally occurring acids that gently resurface and purify the skin, so don’t forget to use sunscreen!
You will LOVE it if:
- You have normal, combination, or oily skin types.
- You are looking for a toner that would reduce the look of enlarged pores.
- You avoid fragrance in skincare.
- You avoid parabens and colorants in skincare.
- You avoid gluten in your beauty products.
- You support CF brands.
- You prefer vegan skincare.
SKIP it if:
- You have dry or sensitive skin.
- You want your beauty products to have a pleasant fragrance.
- You prefer to use a moisturizing toner instead.
- You are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Coconut Acid, Polyurethane-35, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Leaf Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Xylitol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Edta, Sodium Citrate, Methylpropanediol, Phenylpropanol, Phenoxyethanol.
bareMinerals Poreless Oil-Free Face Moisturizer ($35) – Final product in this review is my personal favorite! This oil-free moisturizer comes in a nice airtight opaque container that protects the product from air, sun, and bacteria, which keeps it fresh longer. The formula features sugarcane and sugar maple extracts that act as prebiotics to support a healthy microbiome; bilberry, noni fruit, orange, and lemon extracts that provide resurfacing and antioxidant benefits; and chia seed extract to help minimize the look of enlarged pores and reduce oily sheen. The texture feels more like a runny lotion, which spreads on the skin easily and quickly absorbs, leaving a velvety finish on top. It would make a great lightweight summertime moisturizer for indoor use – you still need to use sunscreen on top if you plan on going outside, regardless of the season.
You will LOVE it if:
- You have normal, combination, or oily skin type.
- You are looking for products targeted to address enlarged pores.
- You avoid fragrance in skincare.
- You avoid parabens and colorants in skincare.
- You strictly avoid gluten in your beauty products.
- You support CF brands.
- You prefer vegan skincare.
- You avoid products in jar packaging.
SKIP it if:
- You have dry or sensitive skin.
- You avoid citrus extracts in skincare.
- You need a moisturizer with added SPF.
- You want your beauty products to have a pleasant fragrance.
- You are looking for strong anti-aging actives in your moisturizer.
- You are on a budget. There are some decent drugstore alternatives you can try instead to achieve similar results.
- You are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Triethylhexanoin, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Dipeptide-15, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Trehalose, Tocopherol, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Morinda Citrifolia Leaf Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Gluconolactone, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Betaine, Sodium Metabisulfite, Isostearic Acid, Coconut Acid, Peg-5 Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Behenic Acid, Silica, Disodium Edta, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol.
What do you think of these products? have you tried bareMinerals skincare before? Which line would you like to try the most: Poreless or Pureness?
