Bare Minerals

I came in looking for a more «natural» look and Elaine did a fantastic job showing me how in a lesson. She listened to my likes and dislikes but also kindly gave her advice too. I got the look I wanted and now feel confident to do it on my own. The lesson was free, but it is with the expectation you will buy something, which I did. Their competition down the street charges for their lessons and will cake on the makeup to up sell products. Bare Minerals products are healthier for your skin and more affordable. Highly recommended.

I guess the review is more for the manager than the store. The store is in a nice area, although parking is never fun to find. The products are great, the floor staff were sweet and helpful. I had an experience with a manager, I should have gotten her name, an older Caucasian women, that made me never want to shop there again. I bought about $ 200 worth of makeup then inquired about getting my makeup done, paying them for that of course, I made the mistake of mentioning it would be for my wedding, big mistake. The manager’s attitude changed, she became almost hostile and said the store frowned upon doing that and the brides tend to be very difficult and «subhuman». I get brides can be difficult but her wording and attitude could have been nicer to a paying customer. I left the store with my feelings hurt and went somewhere else to get my makeup done for my wedding. Which I guess was mission accomplished for the rude manager, but I also will never shop there again. Win, win.

Another stellar review for Elaine. She is such a doll. Gorgeous lady with a very comprehensive understanding of all the products, and very good at picking out the perfect colors for your skin.
Saw my friend the other day and she was radiant. Told me she had just gone to this store to get all new make up, cause hers was stale. Elaine had helped her too, and I was pleased to come in (to get new mascara and under eye cover up) and have Elaine be there to help me as well. :)
The other employees seemed very nice, Elaine was just the one helping me, and was excellent.

Elaine! YOU ROCK– I loved the simple bright look you pulled together for me today! I’ve been using Bare Minerals for 5 years– and Elaine has always guided me to get great colors for my complexion-​tone. She is fun and witty and a great asset to the boutique!

I had a really great service experience with Meli. Right from the moment I stepped in the store she was very attentive and really listened to what my concerns were. Her product knowledge was great too. She was able to customize a solution for my very problematic skin. She applied all the products on my skin and explained the benefits of each. She clearly enjoys working with clients, which made the experience really enjoyable for me. I ended up having to return some items that I was allergic to. Meli’s service was amazing then too! I was feeling some remorse regarding my return, like it was going to be a huge problem. However Meli made me feel really comfortable and assured me that her interest was in me having great skin and a great experience. I wish I could give Meli 6 stars for providing such excellent, customized service.

Had a great experience here today thanks to Bernadette! I was in need of mascara, but left with a few other essentials which I’m glad for since I like to have back-​ups. Friendly service and great products.

I love bareMinerals especially the store on fourth st, after years of wearing the product I went back in for a make under and Deb the manager took very good care of me. She was very knowledge about the products and she perfectly matched my dark skin in the matte golden deep. Thanks fourth street team, you rock!

I started using bare minerals again in the fall of 2013 because the MAC foundation I was wearing kept making me break out. Noticed my supply was running low so went to Ulta to purchase more foundation and concealer however I was second guessing myself on the colors I choose. With no one available to help me at Ulta, I found that there was a Bare Minerals in Berkeley and headed there the next day.
Was greeted by Bernadette and helped me nail down the color of my concealer and foundation. She did a great job on my face and did the job quick because I was strapped for time. I ended up buying a soft brush and mineral veil finish powder and snagged a bday gift since my bday was in January. I also signed up for their FAB membership since I do plan on wearing bare minerals for a very long time. Looking forward to my future visits at the 4^th street location.

My friend had a make-​over here. She looked so beautiful and her face felt so clean that I had to come in and check out their products. I love their serum. It feels smooth and moisturizing. Unfortunately, their creams are too heavily scented for me.
Next time I will check out their lipstick, which my friend says is very creamy & lovely!

The customer service here really leaves a lot to be desired. I came in with a friend, and I had been matched somewhat poorly at another store, so I thought another try with someone else might be nice. I had worked earlier that day, and I purposefully came in with no makeup, and I guess the girl didn’t see me as much worth her time. She tried only one shade, wiped it on, and made me feel so uncomfortable wasting her chair time that I just stood up and left. She said it matched well, but like most Caucasian «makeup artists,» she was not matching well the undertone. I give up on Bare Minerals, and I definitely would not recommend ethnic girls to go to this store.

Best customer service I’ve ever had at a makeup counter! Elaine was so helpful and really took the time to find the best match for my skin tone and type. She has such an eye for the right colors and placement of makeup and wouldn’t take anything less than a perfect match. I usually buy cosmetics through Sephora to earn points, but I’ll definitely be back here for all my Bare Minerals needs!

Let me start off by saying that Bare Minerals loose powder is my favorite foundation! I have a problem with large pores and aging skin & hate those mask-​like foundations! This stuff is light, has a sunscreen that never expires and does not settle into pores or lines. The people that work here are both nice and not pushy. The remodeled space is lovely! Highly recommended!

My friend and I came in here to get our make-​up done for a night out. We were planning on buying a couple things of course if we liked them. We both ended up with the lip care products that they used on us. I got a lip liner and lip gloss and she got a lip stick and something else. Neither of us were really a fan of the make-​up at all. Her lipstick and gloss were running almost right away. Then later we both got irritated skin from the make-​up. Not a place I will be going back to.

Great customer service. If this store doesn’t have the products or services you’re looking for, they’ll refer you to a place that does.

Reason for visit: birthday prizes!
Visit date: April 10, 2014
First time? Nope!
I’ve been a Bare Minerals fan since circa 2004. I particularly love the 4^th Street store because it’s welcoming and in such a cute neighborhood. The staff is super helpful and friendly. They truly love make-​up so having them try make-​up on you is way too much fun. On this particular visit, I came in for my free birthday treat as part of their FAB (friends and benefits) membership and perhaps to snag some new eye colors.
Don’t be shy, ask the ladies for a makeover! I picked out some colors and I asked if they could try the colors on me. They were helpful in pairing my colors with softer hues, and they even filled in my brows (for the first time ever — I love!). I ended up leaving with three new eye colors plus a bonus sample of a fourth color, my very first brow pencil, and a sparkly pink make up bag (free with purchase).
I even got a follow-​up call from one of the girls to see how I was loving my new products. Too sweet! I feel like I have my very own personal make up artists.

It’s alright. My wife stopped in to test out some new makeup. Staff was not super pushy in trying to sell you everything in the store.
The makeup itself, didn’t seem to work as well as the usual stuff my wife has on. So we didn’t buy anything.

I went to buy an eyebrow kit my cousin mentioned. Apparently, they don’t have it anymore. Instead, they have the Frame & Define: Brow Styler. This worked well for me because it was fairly easy to use. I also ended up buying a lipstick, a couple of high shine eye colors, and a brush conditioning shampoo. I was happy with my shopping experience and plan to shop there again when my supplies run out.

Elaine is a hoot! She was great in every way. I expressed my concerns and she knew exactly what she was doing. She addressed my needs-​helped me find a new shade of foundation, as over the years my complexion has changed due to avoiding the sun and wearing more protection on a daily basis. (with aging signs comes wisdom).
Elaine was fun, had an adorable personality and accent (Staten Island?), but most importantly got me what I needed AND wanted.
A+, cant wait to go back after I use up the rest of my current clinique products and see her again. Might go for a make under!
Thanks Elaine!

I went in to basically change out all of my current make-​up to Bare Minerals because I’ve been hearing and reading such great reviews for such a long time.
Rachel was my make-​up artist and consultant and she was, without a doubt, absolutely amazing. I told her I had come in to sample basically everything from foundation, to eye shadows, blushes and lip glosses, and she was more than happy, if not excited, to help me out. She asked me what kind of skin problems I had, what type of skin I had, and did her absolute best to match me with products that would help all of them. As well as giving me such excellent advise about how to protect my skin, even though I have a much darker complexion.
I also have a very hard skin tone to match and have always ended up with a shade either too light or too dark, even when I go in to make-​up boutiques and ask for an artist’s help! Rachel got it spot on and I can’t express how much of a relief it is for me to know I don’t have to do some crazy dance of concealers and bronzers to get the right tone. She also knew exactly what kinds of colors for blushes, lip glosses and eyeshadows to recommend for my complexion, I was so impressed!
I also would like to point out that not once did I feel ashamed or embarrassed about the condition of my skin. Every time I’ve gone into a make-​up store I’ve felt like the consultants are just pointing out every flaw in my face, recommending some product that will help me with my «problem». Not once did Rachel ever make me feel that way, and she was even encouraging, saying that it looked like my skin was in the phases of clearing up and not to fret so much about it because it would be clear and radiant before I knew it. It was so nice of her to say, and something I really needed to hear.
I have to say, BM is SO much better and looks so much more natural than my old Priori make-​up. The coverage is just so complete and light!
I left with a small bag full of new goodies, maybe 5 out of the dozens of products she showed me, to replace the Priori stuff, and with a full done up face (it’s a shame I’m not going out somewhere nice to dinner tonight!) And not only that, I left with a full knowledge of how to use everything I bought because Rachel was so comprehensive with the application process and had me watch in a mirror while she applied everything. Did I mention she was also comprehensive with the ingredients in the make-​up? Well she was, and again, also super impressive.
So if you have a hard skin tone to match, or have had problems with acne or scarring in the past, or trouble working with your tan to dark complexion, or if you just want someone fun, lively and kind to talk to while you test your make-​up, ask for Rachel at Berkeley’s Bare Minerals store. She’s just absolutely amazing!

Today was their Grand Re-​Opening with a new showroom. The chandeliers and the open space is a really a nice make-​over to the shop. I came here right on the dot at 6pm, thinking it was going to close at 7pm (which is what the website said), but I was not turned away. I knew what I wanted and the lady was happy to help. Of course, then I got sold on one of their kits, but everything I need and use.
Got a nice little gift too for the re-​opening! Can’t beat that. I’ll be back when my foundation runs out. Oh yah, I’m hooked on their mascara too now!