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Bare Minerals 12-Piece Beauty Surprise Review – January 2018

Jessica Hapak
ByJessica HapakJan 30, 2018 | 17 comments

Every few months, Bare Minerals offers a mystery collection from their brand. This time around, they offered 12-Piece Beauty Surprise!

FYI - This box is no longer available for sale.

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Bare Minerals Mystery Box January 2018 review

About Bare Minerals 12-Piece Beauty Surprise

The Box: 12-Piece Beauty Surprise

The Cost: $45 + shipping

The Products: “Trust us on this one: our 12-piece mystery makeup bundle is NOT to be missed. It features bestsellers from our Gen Nude® and Lash Domination® families, plus more fan favorites in versatile, natural hues”

Bare Minerals 12-Piece Beauty Surprise Review

Let’s check out what came in my mystery surprise! All swatches will be at the bottom of the post:

Bare Minerals Mystery Box January 2018 Info Sheet

The box came with an invoice detailing everything that came in the box. I also got a free mini Buki brush as a GWP, but I chose not to include that in this review.

Lash Domination Volume Mascara Petite Precision Brush

Lash Domination Volume Mascara Petite Precision Brush

Lash Domination Volume Mascara Petite Precision Brush in Intense Black, Full size! - Retail Value $19

As I was applying this mascara, it was impressing me. The brush is hard, and I didn't know until I used this mascara that my usual mascara brushes are soft. That being said, it really got to the root of all of my lashes and brought them out. In my head, I was rating it as a B+, which is a high mascara ranking in my mental beauty dictionary.

Lash Domination Volume Mascara Petite Precision Brush

Then, a few minutes later, I was taking out my contacts and mascara got everywhere. For some unknown reason, this mascara takes about 5 minutes to fully dry. Nope, not happening, I cannot commit to not sneezing for a full five minutes after I apply mascara. Because of this, I am not a big fan.

Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Hemp

Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Hemp

Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Hemp

Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Hemp, Full size! - Retail Value $19

When I applied this lipstick it smelled like cookies. Oreos, if you want me to be specific. However, it never felt like it fully dried on me. When I wear a liquid lipstick I want it to stay put and not budge, but this felt more like the way a regular lipstick feels on.

Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Hemp

Also, the color Hemp is also not a good one for my skin tone. It is too brown in a not good way.

Gen Nude Buttercream Lipgloss in Snarky

Gen Nude Buttercream Lipgloss in Snarky

Gen Nude Buttercream Lipgloss in Snarky

Gen Nude Buttercream Lipgloss in Snarky, Full Size! (No longer available for purchase)

This lipgloss, on the other hand, is much more my style. It is a soft pink that looks really natural on me, which is usually what I am going for when I wear lipgloss. There is a hint of shimmer that I appreciate, too.

Round The Clock Intense Cream-Glide Eyeliner

Round The Clock Intense Cream-Glide Eyeliner in 10 AM, Full size! - Retail Value $17

This is a creamy eyeliner, about the same consistency as any good gel eyeliner pencil. It has a lot of shimmer in it that I noticed when swatching, but the shimmer wasn't a thing when I actually applied it. I liked the dark green shade because it looked almost black on my lash line, but added just a hint of color to make things more interesting.

Loose Powder Blush in I’m Amused

Loose Powder Blush in I’m Amused

Loose Powder Blush in I’m Amused

Loose Powder Blush in I’m Amused, Full size! (No longer available for purchase)

I was really excited about this because I’ve never had a product with the fun twisting to disperse product.

Loose Powder Blush in I’m Amused

Full Disclosure: I am not a blush fan. I have a lot of natural red in my skin, and growing up I was compared to lobsters and tomatoes too many times to want to willingly add pink powder to my cheeks. Plus, when I got this blush, I was so scared! Look how dark it looks in the container! However, in the name of a good MSA review, I swatched it and wore it on my cheeks and I actually kind of… liked it? I used a very small amount with the Flawless Finish brush, and it blended out very easily and gave me a natural hint of color that I always thought looked so good on others and never on me. I think I am actually going to keep this blush around and continue trying it out! I never thought I would become a blush user, so props to you bareMinerals.

Mineral Veil Finishing Powder in Original

Mineral Veil Finishing Powder in Original

Mineral Veil Finishing Powder in Original, Full size! Retail Value $23

In my mind, this was the original setting powder before baking your face became a thing. I remember being 13 and using my moms mineral veil, so I was excited to get to try this full sized version.

Mineral Veil Finishing Powder in Original

This product has been around for so long because it works, Y’all. I loved the way it seamlessly blended into my makeup, finishing up my look. I also really appreciate that it has SPF 25 in it because I am not the best about using sunscreen in the mornings, even though I know how important it is.

Flawless Finish Brush

Flawless Finish Brush

Flawless Finish Brush, Full size! Retail Value $25 (found here for $18)

I used this brush to apply both the blush and the mineral veil, and I am really happy with how soft this brush is while still blending the products well. I’m happy to add this to my makeup brush arsenal.

Perfecting Face Foundation Brush,

Perfecting Face Foundation Brush,

Perfecting Face Foundation Brush, Full size! - Retail Value $28

I have used this brush before thanks to the September 2017 Boxycharm, and at the time I didn't really like it for my liquid foundation. I switched to a different foundation recently, so I decided to try this brush again— and I am glad I did! I couldn't get a good photo, but there is a little crater in the middle of the brush that holds the foundation, with the edges of the brush being taller to keep the foundation in. I dotted the foundation all across my face and then started buffing it in with small circles around my entire face. I am pretty happy with how it worked and will continue using this brush in my morning makeup routine.

Bareskin Sheer Sun Liquid Bronzer

Bareskin Sheer Sun Liquid Bronzer

Bareskin Sheer Sun Liquid Bronzer

Bareskin Sheer Sun Liquid Bronzer, Full size! - Retail Value $28

I wanted to like this product. I really, truly did. That being said, I didn’t. This is a liquid bronzer serum that is designed to give a sun-kissed glow to a variety of skin tones.

Bareskin Sheer Sun Liquid Bronzer

However, the product is very watery, and this product would benefit if it was a dropper application rather than just a spout at the top. It was easy to blend with a beauty blender, but honestly, the application process was so unpleasant that I will not be reaching for this again.

All Over Face Color in Warmth

All Over Face Color in Warmth

All Over Face Color in Warmth, small (Buy the full-sized version here for $21)

Powder bronzer, on the other hand, is more up my alley. This blended well and wasn't too dark on my pale skin, and I actually used it as an eyeshadow and it worked well that way, too.

Eye Color in Bare Skin

Eye Color in Bare Skin

Eye Color in Bare Skin

Eye Color in Bare Skin, small (Not available for purchase)

I thought this would just be a standard pale nude eyeshadow based on the name and how it looked in the packaging, but once I applied it I was pleased to see the pearlescent finish that made this eyeshadow a little more unique. It is obviously an old birthday gift from bareMinerals, but I like the product so I am not fussed about the packaging.

Makeup Bag in Rose Gold

Makeup Bag in Rose Gold (Not available for purchase)

This is a good sized makeup bag in a pretty rose gold finish.

Makeup Bag in Rose Gold zipper

Nothing out of this world, but it looks to be of good quality and Lord knows I can use all the makeup bags I can get considering how much makeup I have.

Makeup Bag in Rose Gold with makeup inside

Nice and roomy!

Here are the swatches! The top row, from left to right, is the bare skin eye color, the serum bronzer, and the lipstick in hemp. The bottom row, from left to right, is the all over face color, the blush, the lipgloss, and the eyeliner.

Here is the look I did using most of the things in this box. Other than my liquid foundation, everything was from this box. I felt it was a really natural look on me, which I appreciated. I even enjoy the way the blush looks!

Verdict: Bare Minerals is a brand that I know of, but don't really have a lot of products by them. I was excited by the wide range of products in this box, and most of them are ones that I will use! I calculated a value of $159 for the seven full-size products available for purchase. The box cost $45 + $6.95 shipping, which comes to a total of $51.95. Since there are 12 items in this kit, that means you're paying about $4.33 per item. Considering nine of the twelve products are full-sized, I think that is an incredible deal. Plus, this box showed me not all blushes are scary! That is a big deal in my makeup world.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, this box is sold out.

Value Breakdown: This box cost me $45 + $6.95 shipping, which means that each of the 12 items in the box has an average cost of $4.33.

Check out all of our BareMinerals Mystery reviews the Beauty Subscription Box Directory for more makeup boxes.

What do you think of the BareMinerals 12-Piece Beauty Surprise?

Jessica Hapak
Jessica Hapak
I am a staunch believer that pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza and when I’m not working as a family law attorney I enjoy hiking the Louisiana trails (alligator sightings are a favorite!) or relaxing with Duchess, my cat. I’m a sucker for anything labeled a mystery box and I’ve never met a bath bomb I didn’t like.

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17 comments

sheridan

I am really glad I bought this. The only thing I wasn’t able to use was the lipstick in hemp. It makes me look like a corpse. Everything else works for me though! Best surprise package I ever bought! Just a couple notes: The mascara worked better for me after I applied a primer, and the Bare Skin eyeshadow makes a great highlighter too.

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Dawn S

For those of us with rosy cheeks, try using the blushers you get as eye shadows! You will be surprised at how the colors pink, peach, even orange look on the eyes. Plus I find them usually to have pretty sheer coverage for a nice monochromatic look if you do wear blush.

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Natalie

Hi, Jessica! I have to try that lip gloss now! Did you find it to be sticky? Also, you look gorgeous in your picture with your natural look. <3

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Jessica Hapak

Hi Natalie! It is a tad tacky, but not uncomfortably so.

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Haley Faye

That’s one of my favorite foundations! It released while I was working at Sephora. I’m surprised they included it because it kind of sucks to apply unless you use your hands or the brush they designed to sell with it that has tightly packed bristles so that the liquid doesn’t get sucked up into the brush and just gets buffed into your skin. The brush is called the perfecting face brush Also, it has to sit for a few minutes before really working it’s magic, since it’s a serum foundation. I thought the initial application looked unimpressive too, when I first tried it, but it dries to such a great finish. Hope some of that helps!

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Jessica Hapak

Thanks Haley! I’ll give it another shot.

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Constance Hires

Darn it, now I’m sad I missed it!

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torres_alexia

Me too 😢

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Jess

I have the same rosy red cheeks! lol I actually have rosacea. I switched to a yellow-based liquid foundation and it’s made all the difference. A girl at Sephora color matched me and taught me that my redness is an overtone and that I actually have a yellow undertone. It was seriously a life changing moment for me!!! LOL

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Frances

What a great box! I will definitely consider getting one the next time they offer the mystery box. The eye shadow shade that I received for my 2017 birthday gift was called “Water Lily”. It’s a pale lavender color.

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Sara

Just had to say I LOVE your nails! Love the ombre!

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Jessica Hapak

Thanks Sara!

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Linda

I got all of the same things except my blush was in the color fruit cocktail.

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Jessica Hapak

Awesome! I think they put together a really awesome mystery box!

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Amber

The eyeshadow was the birthday gift from 2017. I love it, it’s such a flattering color

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Virginia

I have used Bare Minerals for many years and think the Mineral Veil is the best there is. I now wish I had purchased the box but usually mystery boxes are filled with eyeshadow, liners, etc. which I do not use. Will have to reconsider when they have another mystery box. Their powder is all natural and never gets too “old” to use.

Good review. Thanks.

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Jessica Hapak

Good to know, thank you for sharing!

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