Archived Post

bareMinerals Be Beautiful Holiday 2016 Face & Eye Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

bareMinerals Be Beautiful Ready Face & Eye Palette
bareMinerals Be Beautiful Ready Face & Eye Palette

bareMinerals Be Beautiful Ready Face & Eye Palette ($45.00 for 0.58 oz.) includes six eyeshadows, three cheek colors, and a finishing powder. It is most bizarre that there’s a finishing powder, and it is, frankly, an odd color choice–it is very, very yellowy orange with no real sheen or satiny quality to it, so it is drier, powdery, and sits poorly on the skin while adding a yellow tint. Of all the inclusions in the palette, that was the most odd, and then of course, bareMinerals is a multiple-time offender of putting out an endless slew of neutral palettes so once you have a few, the rest start having less appeal.

I wasn’t particularly impressed by the cheek colors in the palette, as they had a firmer press that made it harder to get color payoff out of them. The eyeshadows were good and consistent with the Ready formula, but they seem unbalanced in depth–there are two very light shades and then two browns that are just a shade or two different; even sticking with neutrals, the composition could be more versatile. The palette itself is housed in a plastic compact this year, which is new, and for some, I imagine they’ll consider it an upgrade from cardboard, but it did feel bulkier as a result.

Value

  • Cheek Colors: $24.00 for 0.21 oz.; palette contains 0.27 oz. or $30.86 worth of cheek color
  • Finishing Powder: $23.00 for 0.30 oz. (using pricing for the Touch Up Veil, closest available product); palette contains 0.09 oz. or $6.90 worth of finishing
  • Eyeshadows: $21.00 for 0.09 oz.; palette contains 0.30 oz. or $70.00 worth of eyeshadow
  • Total Value: $107.76

Formula Overview

Ready Eyeshadow is supposed to have 12-hour wear, “vivid, pure, provocative color” that “looks like a powder, feels like a cream” and blends seamlessly. In general, I quite enjoy this formula, and it’s one of my favorites, as it is typically soft without being too powdery or dusty and more shimmery shades have a real creaminess to them. They wear between eight and twelve hours on me (without primer), blend well, and sit nicely on the skin. The majority of the shades I’ve tested in the past have been mostly opaque to opaque, but there have been a few misses over the years (not too many, though). Ready Blush is supposed to have “buildable color” with eight-hour wear, and those things are both true: they tend to be medium in coverage, somewhat to moderately buildable, and wear around eight hours.

Presence is a pale beige with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation paired with a soft, creamy texture that was a smidgen dusty. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me. Too Faced Meow (LE, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar). Too Faced Let It Snow (LE, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar). Viseart Petit Pro #1 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). Too Faced Cream Colored Ponies (LE, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar). bareMinerals Chance (PiP, ) is more muted (95% similar). KKW Beauty Decade (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). Urban Decay Thirteen (PiP, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar). Makeup Atelier Red Ochre #1 (P, ) is more muted (95% similar). Viseart Grande Pro (Vol. 1) #1 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). IT Cosmetics Peaceful (P, ) is brighter (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Whenever (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Glow (PiP, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar). Inglot #353 (P, $6.00) is warmer (95% similar). Tarte Compassionate (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). Sephora Powder (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar). Too Faced Snow Angel (LE, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar). Tarte Charmer (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Blanc Type (DC, $17.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Desert Lightning (LE, $17.00) is darker (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Graceful is a soft, light-medium taupe-brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. The pigmentation was mostly opaque, while the powder was soft, smooth, and blendable on the skin. This shade seemed to wear well for nine hours on me before it started to fade. Tarte Mud Mask (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). Chanel Clair-Obscur #2 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar). Buxom Trendsetter (LE, $12.00) is cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Naked 2 (PiP, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar). KVD Beauty Lazarus (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar). ColourPop Open Book (LE, $4.50) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Anastasia Stone (P, $12.00) is warmer (85% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Fossil (P, $8.00) is warmer (85% similar). Sephora Coffee (LE, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Zoeva Ever (PiP, ) is darker (80% similar). KVD Beauty Sarah (LE, ) is cooler (80% similar). LORAC Sugar Cookie (LE, $19.00) is lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Exhale is a dark taupe with subtle, brown undertones and a grayer overtone paired with a matte finish. It had opaque color payoff with a lightly dusty texture that remained blendable and did not look dry or powdery applied to the skin. This shade wore for just over nine hours on me. Smashbox Haze (PiP, ) is cooler, lower quality (95% similar). Makeup Atelier Natural Chestnut #5 (P, ) is lighter, cooler (95% similar). LORAC Graphite (Mountain Sunset) (LE, $19.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar). Guerlain Les Cendres #1 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). LORAC Cool Gray (PiP, $19.00) is darker (95% similar). Guerlain Les Cendres #1 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Revelry (LE, $17.00) is warmer (95% similar). bareMinerals Head Over Heels (LE, ) is darker (95% similar). Urban Decay Suspend (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). Urban Decay DTF (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Urban Decay Password (PiP, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Persona Maverick (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Buxom Jetsetter (P, $12.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). NARS Quai des Brumes (Right) (DC, $25.00) is darker (90% similar). Anastasia Horizon (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Stila Fog (LE, $18.00) is cooler (90% similar). Too Faced Be You (LE, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar). Chanel Notorious (LE, $45.00) is warmer (90% similar). Too Faced Pecan Praline (PiP, $16.00) is lighter (85% similar). MAC Soot #2 (DC, $17.00) is darker (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Promise is a pale pinky-beige with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color coverage that applied easily as the texture was soft, blendable, and not too dusty or too firm in the pan. I was able to wear this shade for nine hours. Tarte Popcorn Strand (LE, )(100% similar). Tarte Palace of Versaille (LE, ) is brighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever M532 Sugar Coated Candy (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). theBalm Matt Smith (LE, $16.00) is more muted (95% similar). Stila Pale Pink (LE, $18.00) is cooler (95% similar). Urban Decay Walk of Shame (PiP, $19.00) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Fancy Dress (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Tarte Cheers (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). Tarte Wink (LE, ) is darker (95% similar). MAC Lithe Spirit (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar). NARS Shade I (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Too Faced Meringue (LE, $16.00) is lighter (95% similar). Smashbox Naked (LE, ) is darker (95% similar). MAC Pale, Please (LE, $17.00) is more muted (95% similar). LORAC Cream (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Stila Light Pink (LE, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar). Laura Mercier Morning Dew (PiP, $23.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Huda Beauty Bare (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar). Anastasia Nude (PiP, $12.00) is darker (90% similar). Natasha Denona Malia (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Beautiful is a muted, medium pink with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation with a dustier, thinner texture, which resulted in the product sheering out on the lid and not applying as evenly as the other shades. It wore for seven hours before fading on me. LORAC Tan (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Missing My Baby (LE, $17.00) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Frisco (LE, $17.00) is lighter (95% similar). Chanel Rose de Mai (P, $29.50) is warmer (95% similar). KVD Beauty Plum (Base) (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar). Makeup Atelier Wood Pink #3 (P, ) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop Come Thru (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition #8 (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). Sydney Grace Laughter (P, $5.25) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). IT Cosmetics Desire (P, ) is brighter (90% similar). MAC For Your Pleasure (LE, $17.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Hourglass Monochrome #3 (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Dreamboat (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar). MAC Pink Sands (LE, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Backtalk (LE, $19.00) is brighter (85% similar). Viseart Cupidon (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Stila Rose (LE, $18.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar). Huda Beauty Secret (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (85% similar). LORAC Flamingo (LE, $19.00) is lighter (80% similar). Sydney Grace Treasure All (DC, $5.25) is darker, warmer (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Confident is a dark burgundy with subtle, warm reddish undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff, though not fully opaque, while the consistency had a firmer feel to it, though it was more buildable on the lid in practice. I noticed that this one had a tendency to stick unevenly to bare skin, so it would benefit from a primer. It wore well for ten hours on me. Too Faced Charming (LE, $16.00) is warmer (95% similar). Anastasia Beauty Mark (P, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar). theBalm Friendly (P, $16.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar). Sleek MakeUP Stallion (LE, $9.99) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Hell in Heels (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Sephora Canvas (Smokey Jewels) (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Makeup Geek Cocktail (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Natasha Denona Voodoo (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). bareMinerals Ensemble (LE, ) is darker (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Golden Gate Matte is a subdued, medium rose pink with warmer undertones and a satin finish. The consistency was firm, which made it difficult to really get color out of the pan, and when it did, it seemed to be chalkier and powdery. It lasted for eight hours, which is all the product promises, but the texture and way it looked on the skin left something to be desired. ColourPop I Need Space (DC, $10.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Tarte Prim (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Becca Wisteria (LE, $32.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (90% similar). bareMinerals Golden Gate (LE, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar). Chanel Rose Bronze (02) (P, $45.00) is warmer (90% similar). Natasha Denona My Dream (Cream Blush) (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar). bareMinerals The Limelight (LE, $22.00) is brighter (90% similar). Laura Geller Boysenberry (P, $28.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar). Sydney Grace Peaches and Cream (P, $9.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). KVD Beauty Piaf (Shade) (DC, ) is brighter (90% similar). theBalm Balm Beach (P, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar). Chanel Innocence (160) (P, $45.00) is brighter (90% similar). Tarte Exposed (P, $29.00) is cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Overexposed (-, ) is brighter (85% similar). KIKO 102 Natural Pink (P, $12.00) is warmer (85% similar). ColourPop To the 10 (P, $10.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar). ColourPop Why, Hello (DC, $10.00) is lighter (85% similar). Estee Lauder Lover's Blush (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Tarte Risque (P, $29.00) is warmer (85% similar). Melt Cosmetics Honey Thief (P, $22.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Inner Beauty is a soft, peachy brown with warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It’s supposed to be all-over color for face (which seem to be what the brand uses for highlighters), but there’s no real sheen to it this when it is on the skin–possibly because it’s so firm that hardly any product comes off to begin with. It also had a chalkiness to it that just didn’t sit well on skin–it looked like it was just on top but not seamlessly blended. It wore for seven hours on me. By Terry Savannah Love #4 (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar). Jouer Hold Me (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Catrice I Am Nuts About You (P, $5.99) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Tarte Trustworthy (LE, $29.00) is darker (90% similar). Jouer Love Me (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). Dior Peach Splendor (LE, $44.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Rose Champagne (P, $2.99) is more shimmery (90% similar). bareMinerals The Summer Fling (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). NARS 413 BLKR (Highlighter) (P, $30.00) is cooler (90% similar). Ciate Summer Love (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Frisky Business (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). bareMinerals The Spring Fling (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). NARS Sex Appeal (PiP, $30.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Jolly (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, brighter (85% similar). Zoeva Shy Beauty (P, $11.80) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar). Tarte Dainty (LE, $29.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar). Benefit Sugarbomb (2020) (P, $17.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Tarte Moment (LE, $29.00) is darker (80% similar). Makeup Geek Bliss (P, $10.00) is darker (85% similar). ColourPop Tick (LE, $10.00) is warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Faux Tan Matte is a muted, medium brown with warm, yellowish undertones and a satin finish. It had medium, buildable coverage with a fairly soft texture that ran a little dusty. It applied well and blended easily along the edges while lasting for seven hours on me. Estee Lauder Java Sun (LE, $65.00) is more muted (95% similar). Urban Decay Sun-Kissed (P, $28.00) is brighter (95% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Tan-tastic (P, $49.00) is darker (95% similar). Zoeva Impossible to Move (LE, ) is brighter (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Tantric (P, $49.00) is warmer (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty Tantalize (106) (P, $49.00) is darker (90% similar). NARS Seaside (LE, $40.00) is brighter (90% similar). MAC Golden Rinse (LE, $35.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Laura Mercier Bronze (03) (P, $40.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Afterglow (Bronzer) (LE, ) is brighter, warmer (90% similar). Laura Mercier Bronze (02) (P, $40.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Tarte Park Ave. Princess #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Nooner (Bronzer) (PiP, ) is brighter, warmer (90% similar). Urban Decay Going Native (Bronzer) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Laura Mercier Bronze (01) (P, $40.00) is lighter (90% similar). Tarte Provocative (LE, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar). Too Faced Gingerbread (LE, ) is warmer (90% similar). NARS Falaises (LE, $40.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Haus Labs Medium Level 8 (P, $38.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar). Dolce and Gabbana Desert (P, $51.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Be Beautiful Finishing Powder is a light-medium yellow with warm, yellowy orange undertones and a matte finish. The texture was powdery and clumpy–where the powder would come off in chunks, but they would blend out if you worked at it. This was such a strange inclusion to begin with, and the quality is just terrible–it does nothing but make skin look worse: dry, powdery, and noticeably yellower. It seemed to wear fine; it seemed to even prolong the wear of my base products by an hour or so.

bareMinerals Be Beautiful Holiday 2016 READY Face & Eye Palette

bareMinerals Presence READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Presence READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Graceful READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Graceful READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Exhale READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Exhale READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Promise READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Promise READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Beautiful READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Beautiful READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Beautiful READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Confident READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Confident READY Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Golden Gate Matte READY Blush

bareMinerals Golden Gate Matte READY Blush

bareMinerals Golden Gate Matte READY Blush

bareMinerals Inner Beauty READY Allover Face Color

bareMinerals Inner Beauty READY Allover Face Color

bareMinerals Inner Beauty READY Allover Face Color

bareMinerals Faux Tan Matte READY Allover Face Color

bareMinerals Faux Tan Matte READY Allover Face Color

bareMinerals Faux Tan Matte READY Allover Face Color

bareMinerals Be Beautiful Finishing Powder Finishing Powder

bareMinerals Be Beautiful Finishing Powder Finishing Powder

bareMinerals Be Beautiful Finishing Powder Finishing Powder

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation
On eyes:
  • bareMinerals Bubbles Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Bling Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Boardroom Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Come True Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Granted Eyeshadow
  • bareMinerals Daydream Eyeshadow
  • Sephora Good Mood Contour Eye Pencil
On lips:
  • Tom Ford Public Display Contour Lip Duo

21 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Katherine T. Avatar

Yikes, that swatch for the finishing powder looks hella scary, dry and yellow/orange. And why put a finishing color that will only match maybe 1 person out of 20 in a palette? It makes no sense. And all of the BM palettes are looking the same, whether they are spring, summer, or “holiday” palettes. Very disappointed, but not surprised.

Kat.D Avatar

I think this is the first time that a BM palette has gotten bad ratings. I hope they do not begin to stop the ball and start sucking. I love their formula (both loose and pressed) and am so disappointed in this palette.

Helene Avatar

I guess adding the finishing powder was a good idea on paper, wish someone had thought that bit extra adding almost anything but. I am so glad you review this, not that I am a Bare Mineral fan, though I like the few items I have from them, I wasn’t going to get this, but it is interesting to read and see the swatches even on stuff you’re not really interested to buy for yourself. Sorry for rambling on without really saying anything at all.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!