Pros: No animal testing or harsh fragrance Doesn't irritate skin Reduces redness somewhat
Cons: Difficult to apply over large area Doesn't conceal well Completely ineffective at fighting acne
The Bottom Line: I didn't find RareMinerals Blemish Therapy a very useful tool in fighting either occasional blemishes or bad flare-ups. Basically, this was ineffective for me and I've stopped using it.
jenniferkateab's Full Review: Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy 0.07 ...
First of all, I am a confirmed Bare Minerals fan and I feel their powder foundation improved my acne. I also noticed that cutting out liquid foundation and sticking with BareMinerals cleared up my skin for an extended time period. Over the decades, I purchased numerous acne prevention and treatment products ~ mostly cleansers, masks, topical gels and medicated blemish coverups. When I saw Bare Minerals was selling an acne treatment called RareMinerals Blemish Therapy, I figured it might conquer my periodic flare-ups that usually come mid-cycle.
RareMinerals Blemish Therapy is different than most acne treatments because it's a powder you apply directly to pimples with a small brush (included). Active ingredients in this fine, ivory-colored powder are 3% sulfur and "rare, virgin soil". The powder has an interesting texture. Although it's very fine, it feels somewhat rough, although not quite abrasive. The sulfur smell is mild, and not off-putting, which leads me to believe that the amount included may not be strong enough to provide the intended effect.
Bare Escentuals website promises glowing results with RareMinerals Blemish Therapy:
It's a rare product that addresses acne so completely. Our unique powder treatment clears and heals blemishes, reduces redness and prevents future breakouts. On top of that, it helps to absorb oil, minimize pores, and diffuse imperfections as they heal. The breakthrough came when we combined the skin-healing properties of our patent-pending 100% pure RareMinerals Active Soil ComplexTM with the acne-fighting benefits of natural sulfur.
So, does RareMinerals Blemish Therapy live up to its promises?
Description and use: I bought my .07 ounce ivory container at Ulta about 6 months ago, during a week when I had a flare-up. At $28 dollars, this is quite a pricey pimple product! Yet, with my positive outlook on mineral makeup, I figured this product would live up to its promise of healing and concealing. I used the small concealer brush provided to completely cover a pimple and the surrounding area. Then, I applied my makeup and hoped for the best. I also brushed it over trouble spots at night-time, after washing my face.
How effective is it? The best effect I've noticed is reduced visibility of redness near a blemish; but after using this product for several weeks, I didn't notice it having much effect on healing my breakout area. The product also promises to absorb oil, and I would say that yes, it absorbs oil, but it also leaves the area feeling somewhat dried out. and cakey.
Unfortunately, in my experience, RareMinerals Blemish Therapy doesn't live up to its promise of natural healing through sulfur. Now I do believe sulfur is an effective pimple fighter, I just don't believe the concentration of sulfur in Rare Minerals is high enough to be effective, and that a powder product isn't the right medium to allow sulfur to be absorbed into the skin. Obviously, if comparing the skin's ability to absorb liquid, for example: aloe vera gel, versus powder, like this acne powder, the liquid would likely penetrate the skin more effectively. That's my biggest complaint with this product ~ it doesn't get absorbed by problem areas, and doesn't heal existing blemishes or prevent new ones from forming.
My other observations are that, because it's a rough powder, it's not easy or enjoyable to spread over a large area of the face, for example if you had a severe breakout. Also, I don't find it effective as a concealer either ~ I find using my concealer brush with Bare Minerals makeup much more effective and long lasting.
Final thoughts? Skip this product. It didn't live up to its promises, is very expensive, and I've discontinued using it in favor of other products I have found much more effective for acne and rosacea.
************************ Related reading about acne and skin products I've found more effective:
Discover why millions of women are going "bare" with the award-winning foundation that started the mineral makeup revolution. Blemish TherapyMore at beauty.com
Bare EscentualsRare Minerals Blemish Therapy(.07 oz/2 g)Benefits Helps treat acne and prevents future breakout, and reduces redness and swelling Absor...More at Pretty Skin 4 Less
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
This Bare Escentuals breakthrough product is clinically proven to quickly and effectively clear and heal blemishes. RareMinerals Skin Blemish Therapy ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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