The original powder foundation is for the dry to normal skin, while the matte powder foundation is for the oily. But there are a few considerations other than these, which we’re gonna find out in this Bare Minerals Original vs. Matte review. So, let’s get started!

is bareminerals good for your skin?
These are two of the top selling foundations, many people love bare minerals because of their active ingredients. The foundations are fairly light on skin and their products are recognized by board certified dermatologist.
The brand says this is a non-chemical mineral sunscreen for all skin types, which leads me to believe that this is a natural product that will be gentle on my skin. I noticed the product is very ok on my sensitive skin without irritating.
This is also free of talcs, parabens, fragrances, and preservatives. I must say that these were one of the reasons I was so interested in testing these powder foundations. This is a clean 100% vegan formula, cruelty-free that makes us all feel a bit happier and at peace of mind!
bare minerals Original foundation reviews
The ORIGINAL LOOSE POWDER FOUNDATION costs $32.00 Dollars to this date and as you might already notice, it comes with broad spectrum spf 20.
I personally think the sunscreen factor is way too low, but let’s still give it a sheer, because at least it has some sun protection, which is always nice to have, right?
Finish and Application
The brand says it is a BUILDABLE FULL COVERAGE, meaning that you can decide if you want full coverage or not, depending on the mood of the day.
If you want a smooth natural finish, it can be very lightweight but if you want or need something more well finished, you can have full coverage just by adding layers of the product
They claim that it will give you a LUMINOUS FINISH, it probably means glowing skin. In my case, I do not a lot like its full coverage, so I applied just a little bit of the product and skin looked fine.
On the website, they claim that skin feels “feather-light, and won’t settle into pores or fine lines”. I can agree with that.
Bare Minerals Original Foundation Pros
- It is lightweight and looks natural
- It is easy to apply
- It does cover imperfections
- Great for normal to dry skin
- At least has some sunscreen protection (15SPF)
- Will not clog pores and great for acne prone skin
- 100% Natural and Cruelty-Free
- Evens skin tone
- medium coverage to full coverage
- Contains spf
Bare Minerals Original Foundation Cons
- Not So good on oily skin
- I think that this type of foundation is not so practical to apply
- Does not last too long, you need to retouch every now and again
Bare Minerals Matte Foundation Review

Bare minerals say this is a super lightweight powder foundation, which I totally agree and must say, is what attracted me to this foundation at first.
It says that it can be a full coverage foundation (if you build the layers), with a silky matte finish. I can agree with most parts of it except for the full coverage thing.
Let’s talk about the coverage 🙂
The first thing I would like to say is that For someone without acne scars, and clear skin, it will work normally if you have acne on the serious side, this will not really work for you.
For any kind of skin type, it will not substitute concealer. Be under the eyes and be for covering acne scars, this foundation is not full coverage and depending on your skin condition, you might need to build a few layers of the product until you are happy with the finish.
I like the matte finish. It is definitely effective on the oil control thing. So, I guess this product is worth just for that even if you apply the concealer or a bb cream before, it will be a good ally on the oil control part.
bareminerals original Duration: Does it last long?
When you apply the foundation, it will look very matte and the finish is alright. However, if you have some kind of scars and spots, you might need more layers that will make you feel a little heavy.
After a while (around two hours) or depending on if you are in a humid or dry place, you will need to re-touch the foundation several times to maintain the matte effect.
bareminerals original Pros and Cons
Bareminerals original Pros
- I think the matte finish is beautiful and the finish was natural on my skin type
- Great powder foundation as long as you have fairly clear skin
- Once you apply it, it keeps the coverage
- Won’t clog pores and it’s ideal for acne prone skin, oily skin and combination skin
- Easily buildable
- Shine Control
Bareminerals original Cons
- Need to be re-touched several times to maintain the matte effect
- Better when applied after concealer or another type of foundation like bb or cc cream
- Can feel heavy after applying 2 or 3 layers
Original vs matte bare minerals comparison
The bare mineral foundation original is for those with normal skin, while the matte bare mineral foundation is for oily skin.
But Some people who need full coverage might think that the matte version has more coverage than the original, which is not true. In fact, I thought the original had slightly more coverage than the matte.
Another reason is for those in tropical weather, might need the matte version, even if they have normal skin.
The difference number one I notice apart from the matte being made for the oily skin with the intention of oil control is that the original version has better coverage.
Having in mind that the matte effect on the matte version takes only on average a couple of hours, after that you need to keep on retouching, it is actually more efficient if you buy the original version and spice it up with a loose powder (see my review on the CC Mac loose powder).
- Matte version with less coverage or medium finish makeup
- The matte version needs to be re-touched more often compared to the normal, to maintain the matte effect
- Despite that, once you apply it, Both keep the coverage
What to choose?
After all, they both are still good products compared to other similar ones out there. I will stick tho with the original version, even though I have oily skin, in case I decided to repurchase those products.
Have you ever tried it yourself? What was your favorite foundation? Follow us on Instagram and share your thoughts with us.
You might also like reading
- Mac Face And Body Foundation Review
- Mac CC Powder Review
- Mac BB Cream Review