My Foundation Journey

[BigFatJess]

I have dry skin, an oily nose and shitty freckles in odd places (not the nice cute kind, the kind that sit under my eyes to make me look tired).

So far, I have tried:

Mac full coverage: it's only available mail order, it's like a bizarre compact sticky cream texture. Hard to apply and blend, sticks to dry patches like a mother and slides very easily.

Mac Studio Sculpt: has a chemical type smell, goes on easily but needs blending very well otherwise there will be streaks. This is good on dry patches but it slides easily and oxidises sooooo badly.

Mac Studio Fix: pretty much same as above but doesn't slide at all and stays put all day. This oxidises terribly too, though and blocks pores.

Laura Mercier Silk: beautiful foundation, very moisturising, goes on brilliantly but just nowhere near enough coverage.

Clinique 2 in 1: feels extremely heavy but covers very well. It dries out and sets at a much more peachy colour (I use the lightest shades too). Blocks pores.

Doublewear: my normal foundation. Excellent coverage, can't fault it in most ways except for clinging to dry patches. Also, the bottle lasts me about a year and by the end it's an entirely different shade. I also find this blocks pores.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation: clings to dry patches worse than any other I've tried. It has buildable coverage but doesn't look natural the more you layer on.

BareMinerals Skin: very weird paint like smell and feels oily on the skin. I can feel it sitting there all day and it transfers very easily. It looks beautiful on and doesn't emphasise dryness at all but it just isn't practical to wear all day long. My skin looked better after wearing this once I'd taken it off which was strange.

Bourjois Healthy Mix: lovely foundation and ok coverage but it just doesn't stay in place and looks quite dull. It's a good dupe for Clinque I think.

Chanel Vitalumiere: is basically a tinted moisturiser. Absolutely pointless.

Benefit Oxygen: barely there coverage and looked very dry.

[Nabootique]

Do you currently use a primer and what products are you using to try and tackle your dry skin? I'm probably stating the bleedin' obvious, but if you get that sorted out a whole array of foundations will sit better.

[beeny]

Christian dior pore refining make up ?

[littlewoollypervert]

Lanacane antichafe cream (dupe for really pricey primer) and Vichy Normaderm work brilliantly for me. I need to apply powder in the middle of the day (very shiny nose!) but that's all. Transfers a bit but have had much worse (Chanel I'm looking at you).

[Ifonlyiweretaller]

Very similar skin to yours Jess. I've tried many foundations, , the Charlotte Tilbury Magic is probably the worst ever on my skin! I was sold on the hype...

I now use Illamasqua Skin Base (having first primed with embryolisse cream from Boots - apparently the make up artists secret cream - then using Benefit's Pore-fessional on cheeks, nose and chin).

I had a 2 hour lesson with an amazing make up artist and these were all recommended by her, along with various other products which I swear by now.

[atetoomanybiscuits]

Revlon photo ready is great!

[KoalaDownUnder]

NARS Sheer Glow.

Quite literally the best foundation I've ever tried. Looks like my own skin, but with no imperfections.

[SilentlyScreamingAgain]

The way in which you describe these foundations behaving on you, isn't indicative of dry skin. It sounds much more like you have oily/combo dehydrated skin, which very little, short of the ELDW, is going to stick to if it's not treated appropriately.

[BigFatJess]

Primers you ask, well! I have used Mac skin base and visage. Benefit Porefessional and that gal. Laura Mercier, Nars and urban decay. I liked all but the that gal primer as have a pink tinge to my skin and I despise pink.

In terms of skincare I use all Paula's choice stuff like BHA, AHA toners lotions and potions. I use lush ultrabland to cleanse and ocean spray as a deeper scrub. For moisturiser I use Charlotte tilbury magic cream which I do think is brilliant. It visibly improves my skin.

It's only once I add the foundation things go to shit.

Nars sheer glow was next on my list to try so thank you for that recommendation.

I'm keen to try this emryolisse cream too! Will also look at illamasqua

Vichy Norm is not one I've ever considered so may have to go get me a try of that too.

I once had a Dior lady tell me none of her foundations would help me without even trying so I'm dead against anything Dior nowadays. Very unreasonable I know but it's the little things in life isn't it!

[HeyMicky]

TooFaced born this way.

I also have freckles and oily skin. It's quite sheer but buildable.

[JamieVardysParty]

I have very dry skin and swear by Laura Mercier Tinter Moisturiser and Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk.

I'd also probably look at your skincare routine.

[sammy891]

I have similar skin type and the new Urban Decay All Nighter foundation works really well for me.

[Toxicity]

Urban Decay have a new longlasting foundation out - that might be worth getting a sample of?

Can I ask, how often do you use a scrub and how harsh is the Lush one? My skin changed completely (for the better) when I started using more gentle exfoliators.

[Toxicity]

Sorry Sammy I just saw you already mentioned the UD foundation - would you say it's similar to EL Doublewear? Thanks

[sammy891]

Toxicity that's ok. Yeah it gives a very similar matte made up look and great coverage as double wear but it feels quite a lot lighter on the skin than the heavy double wear original. I can't wear double wear day to day because it feels so thick on the skin but the Urban Decay has a similar mattifying effect with a lighter texture. You should try it out! I went to Debenhams and they matched my shade and put it all over my face to see how it looked.