Not all alcohols are drying in fact. Go check out most bottles of conditioner for your hair, & more often than not there is 1 to 2 types of alcohol enlisted as ingredients. Conditioner doesn't (or shouldn't) strip your hair of moisture, quite the opposite, it's supposed to infuse moisture into the hair shaft. Same with lotions. Also, mixing certain things like alcohol with other compounds can create an entirely different substance all together (think of it as chemistry here). I've found the Pretty Amazing Lip Colors to be quite nice, like a super-pigmented pillow of moisture engulfing my lips in a sea of slickness, & they don't dry them out. Everyone is different, so maybe try before you buy. But as far as the alcohol, I wouldn't worry about it, girly! :o)

First of all, I'd like to comment on your pic; I think you are beautiful! Very pretty girl, I tell you. With this brand of make-up, they have everything you need to be stunning. These are my personal suggestions:
*Find out your undertones (highly agree with that, Google was a big help to me!)!!! Then decide which color family you belong to ranging from Fair to Light to Medium. You look like you could be anywhere in these categories, but if you DON'T want pinkish looking make-up, stay away from the cool tones (i.e. Fair, Fairly Medium, Medium. These are all for cool, pink undertones. If you don't like that, stay away from these!!) & go for a more neutral (i.e. Fairly Light or Medium Beige).
*Choose which formulation you want. The Original Foundation is great & adds a nice 'glow' to the skin. Or if you don't want to be shiny looking in the least, choose the Matte Foundation (my preference).
*Ideally, it would be best to visit a Bare Escentuals Boutique & ask a consultant to help you, but really go with your gut. I've found alot of times Beauty Consultants can be very over-bearing & eager, which makes me take less time thinking for myself about what I want exactly. So welcome their help, but in the end, make your own decision about what you feel most suits you, what makes you feel comfortable, & what YOU think looks best. The products are there for you to try, so hop to it & don't be shy! If you don't live near a boutique, try visiting Sephora (they sell Bare Escentuals products & are helpful with these types of questions) or ANY beauty counter at the mall can help you find your undertones & shade. If all else fails, again I stress to go with Fairly Light or Medium Beige (I am very pale with cool to neutral undertones, all year long I can wear Fairly Light, but in the summertime, I can totally rock the Medium Beige without it being too dark for me).
*The most valuable, important products for a flawless face are -PrimeTime Primer -Foundation -Mineral Veil -at least one facial brush (when a friend turned me onto the brand, I bought a get started kit. I find this is the best way to begin to use bareMinerals & they usually have everything you need!) & quite possibly some -Bisque (I don't have any myself, but if you're trying to cover up acne scars, it's the way to go. My friend swears by it!!)
*Always start with a fresh, clean face (using a toner, moisturizer, etc. if necessary).
*Apply a pea-sized amount of Primer to really even out your skin texture.
*Dust a bit of Mineral Veil all over, really concentrating on the areas prone to oiliness, large pores & the like (such as your nose, chin, & forehead). Really grind the MV into your skin. It's HARD to use too much.
*Using your concealer brush, use your foundation or your concealing Bisque, and sweep, buff, & blend over any visible scarring or uneven skin tone.
*Using a larger brush (either from BE or any brand of Buki Brush works nicely), use the Swirl, Tap, Buff technique to apply your foundation.
*This would be the time to lightly apply blush, Warmth, or an All Over Face color to your cheeks, swipe some in the form of a "3" from the forehead over your eyebrows, cheeks, & chin. However, first, I would wait until you have your other make-up techniques down pact before you experiment with contour & highlighting. Just a suggestion.
*Lastly, swirl on some more Mineral Veil. It really helps minimize pores, scars, blemishes, & any other imperfections.
I really hope this helps, I wish you the best of luck, & as I said before, you're already gorgeous, just get your face on right & the confidence should flow right out of you.

I've had the same issues, & the most beneficial way I've found to correct this is to start with a fresh, clean face, be sure you have applied a layer of Prime Time primer to smooth out your face, then apply a layer of MINERAL VEIL before your foundation. The MV makes all the difference in the world around your nose, where it tends to be oily & show pores. Really buff the MV into your skin, & afterwards your foundation will glide on smoothly. And apply more MV once your foundation is on. I know this sounds like it would make you look 'cakey' or even MORE powdery, but I promise, this is the way to go. Just try it, you'll be amazed. My make-up doesn't look smudgy around my nose any more. And be sure you buff & blend very well so you can't tell you're wearing make-up. M'kay, hope this helps.

I have used both formulas, & I like them very much. However, I tend to prefer the Matte foundation as my skin is rather oily. The original formula adds a nice glow to your skin. I have heard that the colors are slightly different (i.e. Fairly Light Matte is said to be a taaad bit darker than Fairly Light Original. I have used them both with no problem, so I don't know how much truth there is to that). My best advice would be to visit your Bare Escentuals Boutique or even Sephora & have one of the consultants help you to find which color & formulation is right for you. And if your skin is a bit dry, be SURE to use some Primer (about a pea-sized amount) to smooth the skin, & as always, the Mineral Veil (of which they now have a hydrating formula that should work well with dryer complexions). It's all about personal preference here, do you want a nice glowing shimmer, or a no-shine matte finish? Best of Luck to you!