Product Reviews Rated 4.37 out of 5 stars
5929 Reviews
Most Helpful Positive Review A few tips to make this work The first time I used this, it was a disaster. Sooooo shiny, with a grayish undercast… I thought I'd made a mistake. But I really wanted it to work - I had been using the Serum, and that wan't working for me. My complexion always looked dull, and it was too time consuming to blend it without streaking. I also didn't want to go back to the powder foundation. My skin is on the oily side, and with the powder, my skin always ended up even oilier by mid-day.
So I persisted with the Complexion Rescue, and now I absolutely love it. My skin has a nice, illuminated appearance, without looking too oily. The level of hydration is perfect for my skin.
I can tell from some of the negative reviews that they are making some of the same mistakes that I initially did, so here are a few tips I found that make it work beautifully.
1. Don't use too much. I can't emphasize this enough. A pea sized amount is all you should use. Think of a pea, and then make that size happen on the brush (Tip 1-a; use the brush). I dot that all over my face and blend until the brush feels pretty dry against my face.
2. After blending, let it soak in for a few minutes. If you try to put Mineral Veil, or Warmth on right away, it gets cakey and messy. Walk away and do something else for a few minutes.
3. Coverage is light to medium. If you have dark circles or red spots, dab on a concealer over trouble areas.
4. I use Warmth and a spot of blush but depending on skin tone, you may not need these. Coverage is pretty sheer, so if you are lucky enough to have some nice, natural color, this product won't hide it.
5. Don't skip the Mineral Veil unless you like super-shiny skin. The mineral-based sunscreen gives a white-ish shine which the mineral veil takes away. But - this is my favorite part - your skin still appears nicely dewey and lit from within after the dusting of mineral veil.
Most Helpful Critical Review Beware: Size is now MUCH smaller The tube size has been changed significantly, but the price has not. This now costs about $14/ounce MORE than it did previously. This makes the product much too expensive for what it is. I hate how they kept the outside box the same and didn't change the external packaging at all. Seems very sneaky. I've loved the product for several years, but now the hugely increased cost per ounce means I might as well buy a better quality foundation for the price. Sigh. Hate when good things change.
Reviewed by 5929 customers Would be perfect but... 3
Peety from CT
It goes on smooth, very little texture, staying power, and so hydrating.
Except it oxidizes like crazy. How is it possible for the lightest option (which is pink undertone) and it to turn orange?
Apply Before BareMinerals Loose Powder 4
Nicorete from So.Cal
I use a small amount before I apply the loose powder foundation. I've used this alone, and it has nice coverage, and buildable. It was hard to color match at first, but I finally found the right shade. I apply a small amount with my fingers then go in with blending. It feels lightweight and has a gel feel.
Second skin for me 5
AnaLynne from Norwood, MA
I usually use Bare Minerals original loose powder foundation-and I love it- but I wanted something liquid and sheer and a single step application. A very friendly and knowledgeable Ulta associate recommended this, and even showed me it's what she was wearing and her skin looked awesome. Despite my mask she was able to recommend me "bamboo." When it came out of the tube it didn't look like it would match me at all- but after smoothing it out, it's beautiful and light and seamless. It recommends using the translucent powder over for a matte look which I have done and is pretty, but during the day I use it over my daily moisturizer. The packaging says to put it over clean skin but it works well over my neutrogena products! The longest I have worn it is 3 days in a row, and I can already see an improvement in my skins tone and evenness. I will finish the week wearing this to see how much it can help. Love it!
Great for acne prone, dry skin 5
Jenny from Southern California
I've been using for a couple weeks now and I love it! It's very hydrating and really helps even out my textured acne prone skin. It leaves a very natural finish to my dry skin, and even goes well over mineral sunscreen. The coverage is light to medium which is great for daily use. I have not noticed any new breakouts as a result of this product. I did wish BareMinerals offered a wider color selection, however I would still recommend this product!
It's a definite YES! 5
M1nman from Tennessee
I started using this product a couple of weeks ago and it has been a game changer. I'm 54-years-old and noticed my makeup application looking extremely blotchy and just sitting on my pores this over the past couple of months. Even at 54, I tend to have pretty oily skin during the warmer months, and more combination skin in the colder months. This year was different. I am an avid skincare user and have been since my teens, but I obviously needed more of something this year. I added more intense moisturizers/masks to my regime and only saw a minimal difference until I decided to try this product. I do use a lightweight serum before application, but with the moisturizers that are in the product, that's all I need. It applies smoothly and has a gorgeous glow. If you aren't looking for a glow, just use a little mineral veil over top. My skin looks plump and dewy all day long, without looking like an oil slick. I don't know how this wears in the summer months, so I'll just have to wait and see.
Jury is still out on this one.. 4
s195 from Indianapolis, IN
The color is off! Bare minerals and Ulta both matched me to the Cashew color but it's definitely more orange than my skin. I'm typically in the light-neutral/light-cool range of colors and this just isn't a perfect match, but it's close enough. I'm not sure how to feel about the product itself. Definitely light to minimal coverage, and it's not the smoothest finish. But it does feel nice and lightweight on the skin. Although I haven't used it much since I wear a mask all day and have tried to minimize makeup/maske breakouts lately.
Would be my holy grail if it didn't oxidize on me 3
Maryann the makeup fanatic from New Jeresey
This product in buttercream is such a perfect shade match for me. Too bad it doesn't stay that shade. I have to mix this with another foundation to keep it from oxidizing me. I'm still getting really good use out of it as a foundation mixer. If I have a foundation that I love but doesn't last long, I'll mix this guy in. If I have to go full glam for an event but my foundation is a tad heavy, I mix this guy in. This doesn't exaggerate lines or pores so it's great mixer. I just really wish it could stand on it's own but looking like an oompa lumpa is not something I want to do. I heard the colourpop pretty fresh is similar so I will try that one next and see if it oxidizes on me.
Exactly what I'd hoped for 4
Roisin from Massachusetts
I've been using the it cosmetics cc cream for years and I decided to try this and I'm glad I did! It definitely doesn't offer as much coverage so sometimes I use another concealer on days I'm looking for more but it doesn't feel heavy whatsoever and the finish is really nice as well. I've used my fingers and a brush and both blend out very nicely. I don't notice the oxidation like others but I also have fair skin. If you've had your eye on it for awhile it's worth it.
Love it! 5
AmandaNow from Scranton
I have fair skin and it gets red and splotchy sometimes. So I wanted something that gave me a little bit of color but cover up the redness. This works really well and doesn't feel heavy
Minimal to no coverage, but beautiful finish 4
Ericabunni from Colorado
I use this as part of my everyday makeup when I don't want to put on a full face. I have acne-prone skin and will have several breakouts and scarring on any given day. This offers no real coverage for my problem areas, like literally none, however the finish of this cream is so beautiful I still think it's worth using. I cover my acne spots and scars with some concealer, and this cream leaves the rest of my skin looking naturally glowy and hydrated. If you don't have acne, I think this would be perfect on it's on for an everyday natural look. But if you do have imperfections you're looking to cover, be prepared that this won't do the trick on it's own. The added sun protection is a huuuge plus, though. Especially if you do have acne prone skin.
Favorite Tinted Moisturizer! 5
Anna O. from Austin, TX
No matter how many tinted moisturizers or BB/CC creams I try, I always come back to this one. I wish that BareMinerals would expand the shade range on this to include lighter and darker skin tones. I wear shade 1.5 Birch and although I can get away with it, it's a hair too dark for my skin. If you have oily skin, this product may be too dewy for you (proceed with caution if so). But as someone with normal-to-dry skin, this is one of the few products that doesn't cling to my dry patches. I recommend applying this with a dual-fiber brush or your hands. Love it!
I wear this everyday! 5
Mary from Alabama
MY FAVORITE!
Perfect Coverage 5
Vidhi from Severville, TN
I've had this gel cream in my cart for a long time, so I finally decided to purchase it. I can't believe I waited for long to purchase this because this right here, let me tell you, it's no ordinary tinted bb or cc cream. It's almost a full coverage foundation without feeling of a heavy foundation. It's exactly what I'm looking for and it has a SPF 30 which is a bonus. A little goes a long way with this and I will definitely repurchase it. This also came with a free makeup bag and more Bareminerals goodies which I've fallen in love with all of them, especially the Mineral Viel powder to set the gel cream. Oh. My. God. It's amazing! Highly recommend if you've been meaning to try this out!
love! 5
nik from ut
I love this product! It is super lightweight and light coverage. although I wouldn't say it is super long-wearing.
Holy grail 5
Baremineralslover from Michigan
I don't like heavy makeup, and this has been my go-to everyday for years. I have super dry skin and it's one of the only products I can tolerate, especially in super cold winters. I have oily skin in the summer and super dry skin in the winter, and use it for both seasons. Would recommend!!)
Definitely a staple!! 5
Jessica from WI
I have pretty oily skin but in the winter months I lean towards oily/combo. This is a fantastic, versatile product. I prefer to go through my skin care steps, then my primer, and finish off with this on top. I prefer to apply it with a dampened beauty blender. Then I apply a little concealer and then my Bare Pro powder. The finished product is phenomenal. Keep in mind this is very light weight so the coverage is very very light. I have used this on is own just to even things out a little bit - but I prefer to use it as a base for my Bare Pro powder.
So Many Compliments! 5
Brittanyg from Michigan
I've been a Bareminerals customer for years but just started using this gel cream 6 months ago or so and I am constantly told how perfect my skin looks! Even the dental hygienist said she couldn't tell where my natural skin began, and she was all up in my face. I'm 34 and have light to medium skin with a yellow/neutral undertone and I use Bamboo 5.5. I do set with a powder or use the perfecting veil finishing powder if I think I look too "glowy" but that's it!
Barely tinted, oxidizes like previous reviews 2
ewoodson3746 from IL
I wanted to love this. I was looking for something lighter than my full coverage foundation for weekend wear. This changed color on me, despite feeling like I got absolutely no tint or coverage at all. To me, it felt like I had nothing more than primer on. Bringing this back.
Great for under your mask! 4
Kar5222 from Ohio
I have to wear a surgical mask eight hours a day/5 days a week and I was looking for something to even out my skin tone but not be a full face of make up. This product is wonderful. I wear the 03 bamboo end it is a good shade. I did learn the first time I wore this product to not use a primer because it just pills. Just a light Layer of moisturizer underneath and you are good to go. Honestly if you were a younger person (I'm 53)you probably could get away with just wearing this without any moisturizer unless you were super dry. Will definitely buy this again.
I love this 5
A from US
I've been using this for a few years now. I read some other reviews that complained about the smell, but I don't find it to be very strong, and it goes away pretty quickly. I do use a moisturizer and sunscreen under it. Moisturizer because I do have very dry skin, and sunscreen because I can't imagine applying enough of this to provide adequate protection from the sun. You're supposed to apply about a half of a teaspoon of sunscreen to your face and neck. I definitely don't need to use that much Complexion Rescue on my face, and don't use any on my neck. I do love that the sunscreen is mineral instead of chemical though. It's definitely nice to have an extra layer of sun protection. The texture is nice and smooth. Not too thick, but if isn't runny like liquid. I use Bare Minerals primer under this and let it dry for a few minutes. Then I put this on with my fingers or occasionally use a damp sponge. The coverage depends on how much you use and how much you apply. I don't apply very much, so the coverage for me is light. I have acne prone skin and it doesn't ever break me out. I'm really pale and fair and Opal works well for me. It doesn't oxidize, but I do use a little setting powder on top. I usually use Mineral Veil, but sometimes use others. It lasts all day and the color stays the same. I highly recommend giving this a try, especially if you want a natural looking tinted moisturizer.
Makes me look amazing!! 5
Rachael from South Carolina
I used to have bad acne and during the time I was trying so hard to clear it up, I couldn't wear any foundation because it was clogging my pores. I finally was able to clear my acne but I didn't want to suffer through another breakout. I went to one of the ulta employees and asked what will be good for my skin and she recommended me this! I'm so glad I bought this, my skin looks amazing with it on and I have never broke out from it.
Must apply with sponge 3
RobinM from CA
I have dry skin & this settles immediately into my pores unless I apply it with a damp foundation sponge. It doesn't really moisturize my skin at all, but does even out my skin tone a bit. I use Vanilla 02 & am 42 with very minimal wrinkles.
Great for acne prone skin! 5
Jessie from Chicago
This is the first SPF product that has worked for me. I'm in my mid 30's and I still deal with breakouts if Im using products that clog my pores. I also care about anti-aging for the wrinkles and sun spots.
This product is Non-comedogenic! Which is usually the first claim I look for when selecting a face product! It has a very light coverage. Overall, I absolutely love it. Especially, with wearing the masks it's a nice feeling to have a little something on to feel good about myself and at the same time protecting my face and neck from sun damage. Very little transfer on the masks as well!!
Oxidizes badly 3
Amanda from Maryland
Bought this based on reviews and was disappointed in how badly it oxidizes on my skin
Love it! 5
Donna J from League City, TX
I have been using this for about a month now and LOVING it. My normally oily skin had been getting drier each year after menopause (currently 58), and this has given me glowing skin. This product has been perfect for our Texas winters -- no greasy skin, just glowing skin. I apply a moisturizer first, then brush on this product and a little concealer -- and voila! We will see how it handles our Texas summers -- but for now I have a new best friend.
