What do I do now?

I have "burnt" skin again. Not sure why. Haven't used BE cosmetics in over a week. Here are some possible explanations:

1. Used BE brushes to put on new makeup, but only after a THOROUGH washing. Could I be allergic to the material in the brushes?
2. Used new mineral makeup (without bismuth oxychloride). Could I be allergic to minerals? Probably not. Especially when I've had success with other mineral makeup (i.e., Arbonne)
3. Baked in a 105-degree sauna during Bikram yoga class. Could I actually be "burnt"?
4. Could it be a combination of all of the above?

To be honest, at this point I don't really care *what's* causing the sensitivity. I'm happy to give up everything. I just want my nice, smooth, burn-free skin back.

Oh and slight secant: BE customer service finally got back to me (a week later) and responded that they *loved* to receive new product suggestions from customers and that they'd *absolutely* share my bismuth-free product request with their makeup teams. Form letter much?

So much for BE...

It appears (although it's not confirmed at this point) that I am allergic to an ingredient in the Bare Escentuals Bare Mineral makeup. I have developed a rash on my forehead and by my ears and have an uncomfortable itching/burning sensation all over my face.

I've done some research and it appears that one of the fillers in mineral makeup is an ingredient called bismuth oxychloride; it's what gives mineral makeup that shine or dewey look. Unfortunately it's not entirely uncommon to develop an allergy to it.

To learn more about this ingredient whose kissing cousin is arsenic (!), take a look at The Mineral Makeup's blog post about bismuth oxychloride. And if you hear of a good mineral powder sans BO (ha!), let me know.

In the meantime, I have to take all of my new BE purchases back to Sephora and more importantly, get rid of this rash before I can even TOUCH new makeup.

Thanks, Bare Escentuals!