Battle of the Mineral Foundations!!! Bare Minerals VS. Laura Mercier minerals

Laura Mercier (gift set size) Mineral Powder, Bare Minerals Original Mineral Powder

About a year ago, my friend started going on about an amazing new foundation she had started using, and  how she thought everyone should try it. Needless to say that we ended up at the Bare Minerals counter that day to get me colour matched. I ended up buying their starter kit, which I think was about £45 for 2 shades of foundation, a concealer, mineral veil and 2 brushes. I used this continuously over the summer (I had to purchase a full size one) and found the effects on my skin to be amazing. My acne started to heal, I didn't notice as much redness on my face and it gave my skin a brilliant finish. I did however stop using this over the winter, as my skin was too dry and it seemed to show up all the horrible bits of my complexion. Fast forward to February 2012 and I was back on my minerals (the makeup kind obviously). I had noticed since I had stopped using it, that my skin was flaring up again (although this is no doubt in reality, down to a variety of factors) and decided to give it a try again. The dry skin was still there and I was having the same problem, which was when I heard about the Laura Mercier version. So off I went into the city to pick up a sample. I am officially now hooked!! This makes my skin look flawless, natural, its helping with my acne (in my opinion) and most importantly it doesn't cling to my dry patches (this amazed me)!!
So I thought to myself why not do a post comparing the two foundations. Below you will find both pros and cons of each and my personal preferences. I hope you enjoy it (sorry for the massive, silly ramble you have just read haha whopseee. You have to set the picture though haha)!

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder £31.00 for 9.5g :

Pros:

• Provides a buildable, medium coverage.
• Covers up redness and evens out skin tone beautifully.
• I personally cannot feel this on my skin.
• Provides a natural finish (so many people have commented how naturally pretty my skin looks with this- even my dad, which says a lot as he hates makeup).
• Provides SPF 15.
• Lasts for roughly 7/8 hours on my skin without having to touch up.
• I can use cream products such as blusher and concealer over the top without it going cakey or looking funny.
• This is also a treatment (so the sales lady told me) so it wont aggravate your skin. She also told me if your one of the naughty people that doesn't take your make up off before you go to bed (tut tut) this wont clog your skin as it will act as a treatment over night. I think this has a really positive effect on my skin.
• The swivel insert in top of the pot makes it easy to close off the minerals to stop it coming out. The ridge in the middle is really easy to hold and turn.

Cons: 

• If you want full coverage, you have to use quite a lot of product. 
• Its a little on the pricey side, but you do get a lot of product for your pennies.
• To my knowledge this only comes in about 6 shades in the UK. 

Bare Minerals Original Minerals £24.00 for 8g:

Pros: 

• Contains SPF 15.
• Provides a buildable, medium coverage.
• I felt my skin looked really natural (although I didn't get any comments on this, unlike the L.M). 
• Lasts for about 7/8 hours on my skin without touching up. 
• This is also sold as a sort of treatment. The minerals are supposed to improve the appearance of your skin over time (which I think it does).
• There is also a mineral, powder concealer which comes in the starter set. This covers well (although I wouldn't advise using it under your eye as it really creases). 
• This is available in about 20 shades, varying from very pale to darker coloured skin, which is brilliant. 
• This is an expensive, yet affordable mineral foundation, coming in cheaper than the L.M. However you have to bare in mind you also get 1.5g less of product with this cheaper price. 

Cons:

• Unlike the L.M one the swivel insert in the top of this is rubbish and really hard to swivel back round. I found it so hard that I don't even bother now and the minerals just float around in the top, which can be very messy!!
• I found this shows up dry patches really badly : (. 
• This can go cakey if you use a cream concealer or blusher over the top.

The travel size L.M (came in a gift pack) and the full size B.M

As you can see both of these products have pros and cons and in my eyes are good for different things. I am currently using the L.M one as I find it slightly more diverse because I can use it with cream products.  

If you were wondering which shades I use I have the shade 'Real Sand' in the L.M and Fairly Light in B.M (I am an NC15 in M.A.C). 

The only thing to keep in mind is the price point as L.M is £7.00 more expensive for an extra 1.5g. However I personally am prepared to pay this as I think the product is slightly better. 

So which one is you favourite? Do you like mineral foundations?! I would love to know your thoughts!!