December 11, 2009

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation Review

The Muse sobs herself silly daily when she thinks about how Bourjois seems to be slowly yanking itself out of the US. Anyone notice when you visit their site they don’t even have a US portal anymore? Oh my god talk about ruin my day!

At the moment the only place I know you can pick up the line is at Ulta, outside of that it’s kinda difficult to locate. Lucky enough I have a few good friends in England who kindly snag me my Bourjois Paris.

Today I’m reviewing Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation. I got alot of e-mail about this one as many people were quite curious about it.

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation 8

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation 9

Take the jump for the review!

Honestly, with my skin at the moment I really do not need to indulge in a matte foundation. I expected the worst and came out the best for it much to my delight.

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation 1

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation 2

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation 3

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation 4

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation is a softly whipped mousse mineral foundation. Upon opening the jar I was kinda grinned from ear to ear as it quite looks like whipped cream or something delicious to eat. The foundation comes housed in a jar and is paired with a short cropped kabuki brush (you get the brush as well, it’s sold as a set). The foundation itself is creamy but dense enough to offer full coverage or sheer depending on how much you use. Although the foundation formula is simply wonderful I must say my love affair started with the brush itself which makes application a breeze.

To start application you simply dip the brush into the foundation pot. A little goes a very long way mind you so be sparse, you can always build up coverage as you go. Now with your brush fully loaded you’ll begin buffing the foundation onto your skin! Done! The overall effect is an airbrushed, matte powder finish.

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation 5

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation 6

Bourjois Paris Mineral Matte Foundation 7

Although it starts a cream it will quickly turn into a matte powder upon contact with your skin. I was worried about it creating a mask-like look on my face or just generally caking up and being messy but the brush is the key to creating good, even coverage that’s natural and soft. Coverage is very breathable, wears long, and isn’t itchy.

I’m unsure how anyone with larger pores would feel about this. I want to say it would be a great foundation for large pores but I’m not entirely sure if a smoother surface would be best to work with where as you aren’t clogging up pores with a heavy foundation. Strangely enough it is indeed a heavy formula but still manages to feel airy and light on my face.

Overall, I absolutely adore it. The formula itself is wonderful and paired up with the interesting short haired, rounded brush makes it equally perfect to buff onto skin. This one was a joy to work with and I can see myself re-purchasing in the future. Although my skin remains dry at the moment, I look forward to trying it in the Summer to see if it keeps my skin matte.

Anyone try yet?

Do share!

On a side note if you’re wanting to try it out I suggest checking on ASOS to see if they update the catalog with it as ASOS does ship to the US or I’ve seen it on E-bay UK, most sellers ship worldwide.

For further details check out www.bourjois.co.uk

Disclosure: The following item was purchased by me for review purposes (and because I like flinging my money at makeup products of any kind) on Musings of a Muse. For further information please see my FTC Guidelines or my Disclosure/Disclaimer posts.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  • Connie

    Intersting… I’m always looking for new foundations to try. I dont know whether to be happy (that I cant find this here) or annoyed (that i cant find this here). lol

    have you tried their new smoky eye trios? the colors on their site look stunning!

    • the Muse

      oh connie check ebay uk 😀 plenty around and not too badly priced!

      I HAVE I have 😀 review coming up shortly 🙂

      • Connie

        I just checked again but I’m not seeing any? Am I searching wrong?

        *jealous* i can’t wait to see it!

        • the Muse

          I looked COnnie not yet dearest but I’d check after the holidays they update stock 😀

  • pinkcrow

    I’m so glad you review Bourjois products- they are some of my favorites. I’m def. going to try this foundation.

    • the Muse

      yay pinkcrow I’m so glad you enjoy the bourjois reviews, I’m a big fan too! :-D!

  • mary007

    Hi! I’m drooling over this foundation…I want to try soooo bad!! I wish it was easier to buy 🙁 Wish you would have posted some pics of you wearing it! Thanks!

    • the Muse

      hi mary! It’s not too bad dear. Head to Ebay UK lots of sellers are on selling it for not too bad a price and shipping :)!!!!!! I have a review going live later that will show me wearing it :)! hugs!

  • Fifi

    Hi there

    Just wondering do you prefer this or the lancome oscillating mineral foundation? and why?

    thanks for your time

    best

    fifi

    • the Muse

      hey fifi

      it’s too VERY different products so you can’t really compare the two in my humblest as one is a powder with subtle coverage and one is a cream with heavier coverage. Very different products hun!

  • Iris

    Hey Izzy,
    You just sparked another lemming for me! I think these just arrived in Singapore, I’ll have to check them out and it’s on 20% discount this week at some stores in Singapore 🙂 Thanks for the wonderfully detailed review (wish I had your perfect skin)!

    • the Muse

      I read your review Iris looks like it’s a winner for you!!!! YAYAYAYAYAY! awww far from perfect it’s quite dull at the moment sadly 😀

      Love you so much! Miss ya!

  • electronicfly

    T.T I’ll have to go to a neighbouring country to get that and try, and that’s if they have it. 🙁 I love their lipgloss! Sadly they discontinued my fav colour/line, and my bottle’s finishing. T.T

    • the Muse

      electronicfly we never get updates here, drives me bats! so I have to get a friend to grab me the newest products or current favs even 🙁 awwwwww did you check ebay!?

      • electronicfly

        I don’t dare to get them, as I think it’s been discontinued for quite a few years already. 🙁 Their online customer service kinda sucks, I’ve emailed them a few times before to confirm but I’ve never gotten a reply

        • the Muse

          aw that stinks eletronicfly 🙁 sigh that really stinks! I can’t stand bad CS!

  • Gemma

    Hi Muse
    Thanks for reviewing this i love this type of foundation. I usually buy high end foundations lancome is one of my favs. But this looks fab? I don’t usually use a brush to apply foundation, is the brush any good in this set?

    • the Muse

      hi gemma

      def love the brush and I think it’s what makes the foundation so fabulous 😀 It’s a nice one for buffing the product onto skin 😀 I normally buy high end as well since I believe you can’t cheap it up when it comes to concealer and foundation but this is fantastic, really enjoying it 😀 worthy of a try imho!

  • Nia

    Hmm, as this works for dry skin, I might give it a try. Although I never wear liquid foundation, but it would be nice to have one for special occasions 😉

    • the Muse

      nia not a liquid user? powder? Share 😀 as I’m dry too but can’t get away with powder on my dry skin 🙁

      • Nia

        Yes, I know what you mean. At the moment I am using MACs MSFN and I like it. Most days it wears easy.
        But the next thing on my list to try is Diorkins Nude Power Foundation. The reviews say it is like putting water on your face 😀

        • the Muse

          I like the MSFN too Nia but I need cream for all day wear, powder wears off to fast aside from the new Lancome I’m loving….oooooo sounds nice, perhaps Dior is in my future 😀

  • Masa

    Interesting. I’m from Europe and here, the brush does not come in a set, but is sold separetley. Have you tried it without the brush? Do you think it would still perform well?

    • the Muse

      oh that stinks masa. England they sold it as a set. Nope haven’t tried without the brush, I think part of it’s appeal was how well the brush buffed it into the skin! You can prob use a skunk brush or a baby kabuki but I like the short bristles and how dense it is making it ideal for buffing 😀

  • Helena

    Hi!
    I just purchased this foundation (I’m in the UK so could just pick it up in Boots) and wanted to see what others thought of it!
    As someone with oily, temperamental skin, I have to be a bit careful, as I want coverage but not so much that it looks caked on and eventually causes more problems!
    I have to say though, I am finding this excellent so far, how incredible is the little brush?! It feels almost like a sponge.
    I normally use Bourjois’ 10 hour sleep effect, but I think I may have been converted!
    Great blog 🙂 x

    • the Muse

      hey helena!

      the brush is awesome isn’t it? I think it’s really what makes the foundation so fabulous, totally buffs onto skin like a dream! I’m a big 10 hour fan as well 😀 great little foundation that is!!!!!!!!!!

      Thanks for sharing your review with us 😀

      aw thanks!
      Hope we talk again soon hun!

    • the Muse

      it’s quite soft Ronnie but also dense which is why I like it! Hope this helps!

  • jojoba(My Make Up Reviews)

    i haven’t touched this brand for ages and to think that i was called the bourjois queen! i gave it up because we don’t have this brand here and i had to out source it… 🙁

    now i see this interesting product and i suddenly have the urge to look for it again. sounds really nice.

    • the Muse

      ha really jojoba? that big a fan eh? 😀 it’s REALLY nice. Same problem here btw have to outsource alot to get the items I want as we don’t really get updated items from the line in the US either 🙁

  • Elaina

    Hello Muse Darling!!

    So, now you have me searching e-bay UK like a crazy person… thanks a lot!! Lol I’ve tried googling the product, and Boots online store isn’t listing it, and I can’t for the life of me figure out where it is on e-bay. Could you please spill the beans on how I search for (and find) this sucker?? I want it BAD!!! 🙂 Thanks love!

    • the Muse

      hey elaina!

      Just searched for you dearest and didn’t see any sob. but no worries keep your eyes peeled on http://shop.ebay.co.uk and if you find it take the item number and purchase from Ebay US just be sure they ship worldwide. Reason I say search Ebay UK is b/c sometimes the US search doesn’t pick up UK listings 😀

      Secondly try ASOS http://www.asos.com/ they update the site with Bourjois constantly and ship to the US as well! secondly, if you are on Makeup Alley see if you can find a friendly brit to buy for you and offer a swap or paypal in exchange be sure to check their feedback and such prior to swapping of course.

      And lastly, when all else fails, wait for Ulta to get it 🙁

      Hope this helps!?

  • MG

    i totally want this! btw – do you what your coloring is in MAC? i’m trying to figure out what color to get and i can’t tell

  • Jin

    Hi Muse!!!
    I haven’t been visiting lately so I’m going to go through all your posts now and start having some serious lemmings XD Like this one! I noticed Bourjois in the drugstores here in Singapore and didn’t really pay too much attention to the brand. I’m not too keen on such heavier coverage as I am afraid it will clog pores – ah but you made it sound so good XD

    • the Muse

      hey jin!

      Happiest Holidays! 😀 I totally understand about clogging pores heavier foundations are def known for it. I know my mate Iris from RD is loving it so far and she has larger pores 😀 so it might be worth a try!

  • Mayumi

    I really want to try this! looks quite interesting (: how much foundation do you actually get though? because i think when it isn’t on offer it can get a bit pricey and i’m used to revlons colorstay which lasts ages, so yeah (: great review btw!
    xo

  • Linette

    Hi, based on the great review I recently purchased this foundation and unfortunately it really irritated my skin. I’m boiling it down to the fact that it is the most strongly fragranced foundation I’ve ever came across. It doesn’t even smell pleasant – it smells like melted plastic to me, like a rancid old perfume. The smell lingers too and also gave me a headache after I put the foundation on my face. It ended up exacerbating my eczema and I broke out with itchy, red and painful patches on my skin – which no product has ever done before. (I’ve use MAC’s Studio fix fluid with no problems.)

    Do try swatch a sample on the back of your hand and smell it before purchasing it. Other than my bad experience, it was lovely to blend(I blended it with the specific brush that compliments the foundation.) but I wasn’t too happy with the coverage. I just wouldn’t recommend it for sensitive skin like mine.

    Hope that helps :).

  • Linette

    Btw, I purchased the foundation in Sable Fondu 83, and I’m a MAC NC 35, RMK 103. It seems to be a good colour match(Which I was excited about!), but maybe a tad too light? I think 84 might be a little muddy for NC35’s though….

    Hope that helps.

  • Nia

    So I was at the Bourjois display today to check out the new stuff and also looked at this foundation. Sadly the lightest shade they had was too dark for me….
    So me no try out this one.

  • Gabrielle Galle

    I just loooooove this foundation. And don’t get me started on the brush… Such a smooth and soft touch on the skin. It’s my new favorite thing!

    • Gabrielle Galle

      So … I cannot buy it in Brazil anymore. Word has it that is has been discontinued.

      Can you guys still buy it in the States?

  • Mayumi

    i have this and i love it (: even though i do need to exfoliate and moisturise well beforehand,it also makes me skin feel really soft and like the description says, it lets your skin breath which i think is true, i just had a question 🙂
    how do you wash your brush?? i know it sounds silly but i’m scared incase i ruin it.
    xox

    • the Muse

      hi mayumi! it’s fab isn’t it? Most agree proper prepping is required so it doesn’t sit above the skin and make one look scary 😀 but once blended out it looks incredibly

      Right now little scared myself so I just wipe it across a MAC wipe and that pretty much takes care of it 😀

      Hope this helps!

  • Tango

    Oooh, I remember seeing ads for this in UK magazines when I was on my way out of the country, and I was so disappointed that I left before it was on shelves! I love Bourjois foundations, they always feel so nice and light and look so glowy. <3

  • Sharlynn

    Hello there! I’ve read many of your posts but have never left a comment before! I’m so sorry to be reading that they are pulling out of the states…because they’ve only just recently in the last few years came to singapore.

    How much did you pay for the foundation? I bought the little brush to use first but didn’t get the foundation yet…it’s a bit pricey here…over 25 USD…(like pretty much everything at our pharmacies that are american brands! although made in thailand and china!)

    do let me know…sorry if you’ve answered it already, I haven’t got the time to read all the comments! thanks!

    • the Muse

      Hi Sharlynn! How are you? Thanks for commenting. mmm i don’t really remember to be honest….maybe $20? or so? The brush and foundation actually come together in the UK ones.

  • Shirl

    I believe they are at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada. Perhaps a Canadian ebayer offer it. I have seen them but never paid attention.

  • Alli

    Love these thank you for the recommendation! I bought three b/c I didn’t know which shade I was . 81 and 82 were too light and 83 was the best if the three so now I have three brushes- totally worth it!! Thanks again!!