Bare Escentuals

Whenever I’m in the mood to beautify myself *and* I also happen to be in Bellevue there is one place on my must-​visit list: Bare Escentuals. Tucked into a small space on the main level of Bellevue Square, BE is a little slice of fun if you’re looking to pamper yourself. Their consultants will give you a complimentary makeover starting with skin care and ending with looking FABULOUS! There’s no obligation to buy anything, of course, but it’s hard to resist indulging just a little bit in their beautiful line of products.
Speaking of their products, I’ve had a lifetime of bad luck with skin care and makeup; even the most expensive lines have caused me to break out. So I was skeptical when I first tried BE and their Bare Minerals line. But I’m glad I did. My super-​sensitive skin has no reaction to it, a major plus. I especially love their gentle cleansing products, and of course their makeup (which comes in about a zillion different colors). Recently I even took my mom there to pamper herself for Mother’s Day. She loved it too!

I went there to get my birthday freebie, and one of the look with heavy makeup gave me looks. They couldn’t find my profile, but it’s obvious that I have it since I got the email to redeem the freebie in store. I’ve never seen anyone who hates their job more than that girl. It’s a totally different experience from Sephora.

This is one of the best Bare Escentuals stores I’ve been to! I Initially stopped in to maybe try a little of their foundation, with low expectations – and Amanda was so kind and helpful, she gave me a full makeover with their makeup, and talked to and listened to me about my skin issues. She gave me her honest recommendations rather than just upselling, and I was really impressed with how the makeup looked on my skin. Needless to say, I fell pretty hard for the foundation, and I’m afraid I won’t be going back to any other kind of makeup! It helped that Amanda was so helpful and guided me through the process of finding what would work – sometimes it is so difficult to navigate the makeup aisles, so having someone to help navigate without being too pushy or sales-​oriented was great. She even called later to follow up and see how things were going. I appreciated that a lot! Great store and great staff, besides just a good product.

replenished my favorite concealer from this place, I can stay here for a while.

I think it would save me a little bit of energy if I just had my direct deposit sent to Bare Escentuals’ account, directly.
I have never been a makeup kind of girl — not even the basic foundation or cover up kind of girl. But as I’ve aged, I’ve realized it’s not as gracefully as I would hope. I’ve got issues with rosacea that seem to be made even more noticeable by my pink hair — so I finally bit the bullet and decided I need to spend a little more than the standard drugstore prices to get the kind of product my skin deserves.
BE is clean, the staff is generally helpful and the product is amazing. After my initial consultation I left with a list of what to use and how to use it, as well as a handful of suggestions for expanding my collection. Shannon was an incredible product ambassador and walked me through without getting too irritated by my absolute novice-​level makeup application skills.
I’ve fallen asleep with Bare Minerals product on a handful of times, and it doesn’t rub off on my pillowcase or make me break out crazy bad. Even on days I don’t wear makeup, my rosacea seems to have improved. But let’s be honest — I only have one face… and with Bare Minerals, I like my face even more than I did before.

This store is convenient if you just want to come in to check out some products, can’t expect much service in general and honesly you can buy bare minerals at so many places and on it own website!
I came in there few times during the holiday shopping seasons, only Jena was very helpful and not pushy. Others seems not very willing to help or just telling me what is on sales.(no thanks i can do that much faster on my iPad or phone)
What really upset me was i called in the store to ask if they have the small brush cleaner in store. I was told YES after i gave her the full product name from the website to make sure this is the one i want. I rushed to the mall beat the crowd for parking and hit the store. Guess what? they only have bigger size in stock and i was told they get gallone size coming in (what does it have to do with what i want??? the gallon size is for the store use to my understanding??)
I ended up walking out the store, sitting on the chair using my phone to place an order online for my small brush cleaner. What a joke!

In the hunt for a more natural product for my face, my dermotolgist suggested trying the bare mineral brand from bare escentuals. So happy that I went to this location! I received spa treatment, a product education on application and content of the products and really some of the best service that I have ever had in place like this.
I have to say that I also loved the fact that I did not walk out of the store looking like someone applied 3 inches of too thick make-​up on me like many other times that I have gone to get a new face product. Nice job. I will be back !

This review is for the SERVICE at this location, not the product.
Anyone who has used Bare Escentuals makeup knows you can get it anywhere, namely SEPHORA and NORDSTROM and you will get much better service.
The girls here are rude. They hate their jobs. And it shows.
How hard is it to smile when you answer a question? Yes, working in the mall sucks, but let’s face it: you get paid to help people with make up.
My girl and I went here to find some nice eyeshadows for her. They had a few clients in the chairs getting consultations, but there is an awesome thing we in the service industry like to call «MULTI-​TASKING.»
These girls should try it sometime. Or the company should maybe train them on the process of it.
The store is small so it’s not like they can’t see you or get to you to ask how you’re doing. We were literally five feet away from three different sales girls but here’s how it broke down:
Girl 1: She was the only one who actually tried to ask what we needed and seemed genuinely sorry that there wasn’t anyone to give us undivided attention. However, we didn’t WANT undivided attention. We just wanted someone to answer a few questions.
Girl 2: Was a total bitch. Apparently we were impeding on her lunch break and acted as though pulling a new thing of the eyeshadow color we wanted to purchase from the drawer was a BFD. She was outright rude to us, gave an impatient sigh and RELUCTANTLY found the color for us, then loudly told her co-​worker that it was her lunch break.
Girls 3 & 4 didn’t even bat an eyelash in our direction.
If you need to purchase Bare Escentuals make up and would like a little assistance and no attitude, I suggest Sephora (which is REALLY nearby) or Nordstrom, where the customer service is UNSURPASSED.
i will never go to this store again.

I’m not going to do a product review of the Starter Kit that I just purchased because 1) I just bought it, can’t really say much about it, and 2) I think my product review ought to be on some other site than Unilocal (ie MakeUpAlley) but we’ll see :)
My rating is based on the amazing customer service I received from the staff tonight. I went in on a whim (lured by the «Free Sample of Matte foundation» sign), just wanting a color-​match and the free sample. Tiffany was the only staff member working (it was near closing on a Thursday night, totally understandable) and was busy with another customer and asked if I could wait 15 mins (no prob). She was incredibly cheery and from listening in on her consultation with another customer, she was very attentive and did not rush through the customer’s make-​up. 5 minutes later, another employee, Shannon, had popped out from the back room and asked if I needed a color match, etc.
Shannon gave me a full blown 45 minute make-​up application & detailed consultation, she didn’t push me to buy anything and wanted me to look my best. I honestly felt bad that she put so much effort into putting the make-​up on me since I’d be going to bed soon, but she was so earnest in using all the products (I just wanted a color match!). I almost wanted to tip her for the terrific service.
This experience was very different from the snooty employees I’ve dealt with at Sephora and MAC, where they just throw some products at you and ask you for your credit card. Here, BE employees want you to really experience the make-​up before investing some big bucks.
I left their store looking & feeling like a runway model with the free matte sample (they actually ran out of samples but Shannon made me a trial size one. Kudos!)…and their Starter Kit in hand. Their return policy is 30 days+receipt, so I’ll give BE a run before the policy expires.
My advice to you BE-​interested Unilocalers: go in on a weekday evening!
Minus one star only because the make-​up is pretty expensive, but hopefully it’ll last a year+ and will clear up my break outs.

Just a follow up… my wedding makeup was perfect! The entire staff at the Bellevue BE boutique went above and beyond to take care of my, my MOH, my mom and MIL on the big day and throughout the process. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend these ladies, their fabulous work and this wonderful product!

I would have given 5 stars if the customer service was decent. Most of the girls at this location are wonderful. They know what they are doing, know how to sell, and really have good product knowledge. However it is the few people who think they are better than everyone that really ruin the experience. There are some workers who have no sense of how to interact with other human beings. It is sad.
On the plus side, the make up is awesome! Some don’t think they get enough covereage, but that just means they are not using the product well enough. I used to think the same thing and then I experienced different products and ways to use them and now I really am a believer!
Yay BE!

This is a review of the type of service that my friend received.
She went in at 9pm and asked if they could do a consulation to see what type she should purchase. My friend heard very positive reviews of the products and just wanted to know which type to buy. The two girls working told her that they didn’t have enough time to do the whole process and told her to come back on another day. She left, looked around Bellevue Square to see if there was something else she wanted to purchase but decided she really wanted Bare Escentuals and went back and said that she doesn’t need the whole shi-​bang, just needed to know what shade to get.
The taller girl was extremely bitchy (and I rarely say this, but it’s true!) and walked to the back of the store while the nicer girl agreed to help my friend do the makeup. The only thing is, the shade was not very flattering on my friend-​it was too dark and she ultimately ended up leaving empty-​handed, soured by the negative customer service experience.
I used to work in various retail stores in Bellevue Square for MANY years and never treated customers rudely if they came in close to closing time. I was very disappointed to witness such poor quality customer service, especially it being Bellevue Square. Just because the product quality almost sells itself does not give you the right to treat customers like crap!

Disclaimer: I don’t use Bare Escentuals foundation. I wore it for a loooong time before deciding my skin prefers other formulations.
However, BE definitely excels in other areas if you find the foundations don’t do it for you — I particularly love the brow kit (comes with brow powder color, gel and brush), the blushes (Golden Gate, how do I love thee?!) and all-​over face colors, and the eye colors — the Glimmers and Glimpses are insanely gorgeous!
Everyone who works at this store is really nice, and they gently upsell, but are not pushy. If you haven’t tried BE before, you should — and don’t be disappointed if the foundation isn’t your thing, as they have tons of other stuff to try! Just go. :-)

I can’t even remember makeup before I got my starter kit. I must have looked like a crazy person– like the crazy people I still see slathering on the liquid– crazy.
Go and buy! The sales people are really nice and are often very busy on the weekend! They try!
There is a reason there are so many brands trying to duplicate their success!

This place is great. It’s a little small and can be quite busy on weekends but the product is worth it.
The price is a little high but what it will do for your skin, in my experience, is worth it. I was slightly annoyed because they don’t sell my skin tone in a starter package so I had to buy it separately, but all in all, it’s worth it.
The ladies who work here that I’ve encountered are super willing to help and not judgmental at all regarding skin problems, age, or anything else that you might be nervous with when getting a makeup consultation.
I went on a busy Saturday and had to wait nearly 3 hours for an open appointment for a consultation, but I presume had I thought ahead I would have called that morning or the day before to set it up. The girl was nice and spent time explaining what she was doing and even asked if I wanted stuff done — like my eyebrows filled in. She even suggested different techniques to applying things like mascara that made it look better.
If you’re looking for new makeup to try, I’d definitely recommend at least going in for a consult!

SO i meant to get this for ages before i did. when i got some money after helping some friends move, i thought «now or never» and bought the starter kit. OH MY GOODNESS! I started wearing it, but it is so different, i was afraid it looked too much. so i call my roommate and ask «hey, have i looked like my make up was too dark, i’m still learning. you’ve seen me around the house, so should i wear less make-​up?» her response? «what make-​up? i thought your skin was just really good!»
I am SOLD SOLD SOLD.
i am buying the basic brow kit son i think. oh, and the math on it is a REAL DEAL. i divided the price with tax on the starter kit from the store and it works out to be 8 dollars a piece!

Funny… I didn’t even know there was a store here. I always get mine at Sephora or on the web. I will concur that this stuff is amazing. I think if I’d had it in high school my skin would look even better now, and I would have gotten into Stanford.
Okay, maybe not that last part.

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! These products are so amazing! It feels as if you’re wearing nothing, and it has built in SPF 15. Soooo great. Definitely good for girls like myself who really don’t like to wear make-​up, but don’t really like to leave the house without it. Looks very natural, and I bet you’ll get complements on how clear your skin looks.
Not only is the product amazing, but the sales associates at the Bellevue Square location are so wonderfully helpful as wel! I went in and scheduled a session on a saturday. They were very busy, yet accomodating. And they know their stuff! Go ahead, try it!

I would much prefer to wear nothing on my skin — but given that this doesn’t seem to really be a choice — I’m thrilled with the Bare Escentuals line of products.
The products are really easy to apply — usually taking me well under five minutes every morning. Best of all, they make me look like myself, only a little bit better. You really do leave your house looking all peachy-​creamy.
The prices are reasonable (even though it isn’t cheap) and the products last a long time!
Most of all, the staff here are really kind. They help you choose what will work best for you and don’t try to sell you the whole store. I really appreciate their expertise and helpful nature!

Love you skin and want to look gorgeous? Use Bare Escentuals line of cosmetics. Everything is made with pure minerals and it doesn’t even feel like you’re wearing any makeup at all. Additionally, you’ll look like you are born with that flawless skin! Since I started using their products two years ago, I’ve gotten so many compliments from my friends about how healthy and glowy I look. They have a full line of products ranging from moisturizers, foundation, eye liners, shadows, lip colors, to body glitter, and more. Friendly consultants are there to help you find what you need.
Bonus: They have a frequent shopper card and when you have spent $ 120, you get $ 10 off on your purchase. Also an extra 15% off during the month of your birthday.