Help me find a foundation for my awful skin please!

[OhThisIsJustGrape]

Ok, my skin is terrible. Had acne since I was 11, never full-face type spots but just 2 or 3 large cysts each month that have left quite a few, deep scars. Acne now under control which I am putting down to a very effective skincare regime (glycolic acid products) and using mineral foundation.

However, I am still a total oil slick and despite using a couple of products to minimise the shine - and they do work, would be even worse without - I still look awful before lunchtime.

Also am blessed with large pores and my skin is red in places and I have quite a few broken veins. I sound delightful don't I

Anyway, I'm currently using Lily Lolo mineral foundation, I apply their finishing powder beforehand too and afterwards, plus their concealer. Once fully made up I do actually look quite presentable, I can minimise the deep scars to a certain extent but appreciate that I can't fill them in completely. My problem is that it doesn't last.

I've tried a few primers - bare essentials (crap), benefit porefessional (quite good but it breaks me out if used for more than a day at a time so it's reserved for high days and holidays lol), smash box targeted pore filler thingy - this would be fab if only my make up didn't highlight where I've used it, have tried all sorts of ways of applying it to no avail.

I really rate Lily Lolo but I think it's starting to make me look old. I seem to be really aware of it being on my face despite applying it properly (buff buff buff!) and I can't use more than one layer otherwise I look really elderly plus it just cakes once the oil starts breaking through.

Apologies for long post, I guess what I'm after is something long lasting for super oily skin, something with heavy coverage but doesn't look like I've applied with a trowel, something that wont highlight my huge pores and something that won't break me out, I just cannot go back to the spots.

And reviews of laser treatment for acne scarring would also be much appreciated :)

[izzysmydog]

My daughter has suffered from acne for a while now. She likes the new max factor face finity foundation and Laura mercier concealer. Hope it gets better for you

[K2ZJH]

my skin is super oily and uve always had problems with acne too (the all over the face kind) but about a year ago now I started using the body shops oil free foundation its amazing it has anti bacterial properties which reduces my break outs and isn't making my skin oily.

under the foundation I use avons magix face perfector, another amazing product which absorbs oil and reduces the look of pores. I some times where just that.

I also use the body shops tea tree oil consealer which again has anti bacterial properties.

it can also matter how you apply you make up. what do you use to put you foundation on?

[K2ZJH]

ive not uve

[freerangeeggs]

I have almost exactly the same issues as you. I haven't fixed them but maybe I can offer something.

Make up wise, I've been trying out Estee Lauder Doublewear Light. It's definitely longer lasting/better for shine control than my previous foundation. Throughout the day I use tea tree blotting papers that I buy in The Body Shop and a blotting powder from Mac (though am thinking of changing this as it can be a bit too powdery looking).

I had some broken veins on my nose. I got them lasered. It was amazing, they disappeared immediately. I would do it again. It cost me £40 for the bits underneath my nostrils.

Porefessional makes me break out too. I also find it looks a bit cakey on any dry patches and on my nose.

[OhThisIsJustGrape]

Thank you everyone!

I use a kabuki brush to apply my mineral foundation and that and all the other brushes I use get washed weekly.

I'm also a fan of blotting papers, it's scary to see just how much oil I can get off my face!

Have been thinking of trying EL double wear (either original or light) but scared to go back to a liquid incase it blocks my pores.

Have done lots of research on laser treatments, I know they could improve my skin massively but to do what I need doing will be quite pricey and its not something I can financially do at present but I'm definitely doing it one day.

I just hate the oil, I really do look fine when my make up has just been applied but its all gone to pot within a few hours :(

[lurkingaround]

Laser will help, but you do really need to save. It's expensive.

I used to be very oily, like you-makeup gone before lunchtime. I took Roaccutane and while I shine a bit now (finished Roaccutane a year or more) I am nowhere near as oily as before, and the relief! I use EL doublewear light, good staying power, colour good enough, but it's the best I've found. It won't clog your pores.

As a by the by, if you're really bothered by the oiliness, there are some dermatologists who will treat with a tiny dose of Roaccutane. You would probably have to see them privately tho.

[QuinnFabray]

Oily skin and broken veins here too ( plus wrinkles now to boot, yay! ).

MAC spf 50 prep and prime is good for oily skin, at least it stops the foundation from sliding off. Long lasting foundation - EL double wear, Revlon Colorstay, Bourjois 123 perfection are all okay. The knack is in the application. I find with long lasting foundation, using as little as possible, applied with fingers, then finished with a buffing brush or beauty blender, gives the most natural finish. A fair bit of blotting throughout the day. Nothing's perfect, and it's a pain. Wish I didn't have to think about it, but sadly appearance does matter, in my experience, and I look 10 times better with make up than without.

Salicylic acid peels, and treatments such as La Roche Posay Effaclar duo or Effaclar k help with the oiliness, but then this week I have pmt, and i'm an oil slick again, regardless.

I need to give up sugar, my skin is much more normal when I don't eat sugar.

[Curtsey]

Oh OP, I do understand. Lily LoLo has been a godsend for me in that it covers everything, is the right shade of pale, and doesn't inflame or clog. But you're right, it is perhaps a little bit ageing. No advice, but I'm hoping to get myself to a place where I only need a little bit of concealer and bronzer for everyday wear (see my other thread!).

Have tried Estée Lauder Double Wear (mixed with a little moisturiser) for special nights out. It's lasted very well, but it's not an everyday foundation for me.

[cerealqueen]

Revlon do a long lasting foundation, oil free and lasts, with a powder too. Can't remember what it is called though?

[cerealqueen]

Colourstay!!

[emsyj]

I'm a long term acne sufferer too, and I now use Estee Lauder Double Wear. I tried the Light version but it wasn't enough coverage in one application and I was layering it to get the cover which made it heavy and less natural looking than the original, so I'm sticking with the original.

It's best applied with fingers in my opinion as it sets quite fast and you will get a good coverage (I rarely use concealer now) with one thin layer applied with fingers. I use a light dust of loose powder over the top and it does last all day until it's removed. I've had issues with foundations blocking my pores too but can honestly say the Estee Lauder Double Wear doesn't give me blackheads or exacerbate spots.

[EllenParsons]

I'm another double wear fan.

[LineRunner]

freerangeeggs do you mind me asking where you went for your laser? I would love to have that.

[valiumredhead]

I can't use LL as it doesn't have the staying power for my skin so I use Bare Minerals.

Wrt redness Bare Minerals Bisque is amazing stuff.

[valiumredhead]

I prefer the matte version to the original.

[Jemster]

Ohthisisjustgrape would you mind me asking how you got rid of the cyst like spots? My son, who is only 5 had a spot that has become a cyst on his cheek. We are waiting to see a dermatologist but I wondered if it's something that will go away with time or will he have to have it cut out. Sorry for diverting from your thread topic. Thanks

[OhThisIsJustGrape]

Val we were on the BE thread together with Jodie, I just couldn't get on with it. The bisque was an amazing concealer but both shades totally wrong colour for me and came out dark against my foundation. Shame as it is fab stuff. I really do prefer LL but it does settle in fine lines and I know I look older wearing it :(

As for my cysts, I'm not sure if they're the same thing as your DS, mine were definitely hormonal as I have PCOS. When I first started getting them I would squeeze and squeeze to no avail, I soon learnt that this way I would scar. So I stopped squeezing and still scarred anyway!! I would just leave them until they eventually went down of their own accord but you can have a hydrocortisone injection directly into the cyst I believe but I guess you'll just have to see what the Derm says.

My skin has cleared up mainly to the strict skin care regime I'm on as my hormones are still all over the place , I might get a spot every 6 months or so - very rare for it to happen now

[valiumredhead]

I thought it was you Oh shame about the Bisque.

[ClaudiaCutie]

Grape - in similar situation as you (just not acne). Like others have said, laser for the horrid red veins. Worth saving up for! I find EL Double Wear adds 5 yrs to my face and highlights pores. It's old technology foundation, very aging and hard on the face. It's also rubbish once the oil has broken through. Good old Colourstay actually gives me a far better result.

The new Bobbi Brown oil free foundation is brilliant at minimising pores and is more hardwearing that ELDW. It gives a far softer, more youthful look - there's no comparison. However, the key for me is a really good prep. Once you've cleansed, prepping with Bioderma Sebium products (for oily skin) are by far the most effective thing I've tried. MILES better than Smashbox, MAC Prep/Prime, Hourglass, or any other primer. They do a Mattifying moisturiser thing and a Pore Refining product and both keep me oil free until 4pm (previously I was frantically blotting and re-powdering by 11am). They are a hassle to get hold of though, no UK retailer, so try Ebay. I am so pleased I found that brand. Have a look on Makeupalley for the reviews. When I have to powder, I am currently using MAC Blot but I think I can do better, new quest is to find HG powder product. Good luck.

[OhThisIsJustGrape]

Some good suggestions here, thank you.

Does anyone know if I can get samples from Estée Lauder and Bobbi Brown? Don't really want to buy before trying and I would rather stick pins in my eyes than have an orange lady do a make over on me (only because I'm too ashamed of my skin )

[valiumredhead]

You can ask an orange lady for samples to take home 'so you can test them properly in daylight'

[OhThisIsJustGrape]

That sounds like a plan

[emsyj]

Yes, Estee Lauder will give you a week's worth of Double Wear (or any other foundation) to try at home.

I don't find Double Wear ageing personally, but no one product suits everyone - I've heard great things about Dior Forever (their relatively new long-wear foundation, not tried it yet but generally Dior stuff is very nice) so might be worth getting samples of that one too.

[freerangeeggs]

LineRunner, I got it done at the Kingston Laser Clinic in Hampton Wick.

I got a sample from Estee Lauder and it's lasted me a week so far (even though I always think I use quite a lot), which I think is great. I just asked them to colourmatch me and give me a sample at the counter.

[LineRunner]

Frrerange, thanks, it's good to have a recommendation. I have loads of facial thread veins (inherited trait in my family) and I have a dream to get shot of at least some of them.

All good tips on here about foundation - brilliant.