The Trouble with Bare Escentuals

I have only started to dabble in the world of mineral makeup in the last year or so, which is kind of late to the game, especially for a beauty junke. My first foray into mineral makeup was to by the Bare Escentuals starter kit, with the two shades of mineral foundation, the Mineral Veil, and Warmth.
Like everyone who is lured by the promise of mineral makeup, I was intrigued by the idea of makeup that was easy to apply, that looked natural and glowing instead of made-up, that was good for my skin and offered sun protection. And even though I wear a foundation regularly, I don't particularly enjoy applying it (who does?). I loved the idea of quickly dusting on some powder and walking out the door with the same coverage I was used to. But I quickly discovered some pitfalls:
1. It is hard to find the right shade. I found Medium Tan to be a bit too orange, and Tan is too dark.
2. For a makeup that you are supposed to apply in several very sheer layers, to build up coverage, it is nearly impossible to get a very small amount of color onto the kabuki brush. The way the powder dispenses into the cap, a lot comes out at once, and a lot gets onto the brush. When too much is applied at once, the result is dark and obvious makeup that doesn't blend easily or well. It kind of sets immediately and is hard to work with. This is my biggest complaint wtih mineral makeup. In theory, it should look more natural, but in practice this is hard to achieve.
3. It is messy. I've tried applying it on the go, in the car, etc. and it has always created a mess. It's not very portable.
4. It's hard to get a uniform look on the face, and harder still to cover and conceal specific areas. Maybe it is going to take a bit more practice, but I was hoping this would simplify my life, not complicate it!

So there. That's my take on Bare Escentuals, so far. For those of you looking to try mineral makeup, it's important to know both sides of the story. It can have some benefits, but it is not without its pitfalls!