What is the perfect foundation for 40+ skin?

[MissMiss1]

I'm on the lookout for the perfect foundation.
I'm 40+ with a combination skin that is quite dehydrated around the cheeks and eyes.
I want a foundation and concealer that gives me a polished look. I don't want to look caked in makeup, just a natural gorgeous glow. Plus, something that'll last
I'm not sure if powders work as they make my skin feel very dry.

Any suggestions gratefully received

[Octopus37]

I turn 40 on Friday and recommend the No7 Radiance Bright (think thats what is called, I cant go and check cause my 4 year old will kick off). The sales assistant used a machine to ascertain my skin type, mine was soft rose and found the right foundation for me. My skin is somewhere between dry and combination, have been told different thinks at different times. This foundation feels light on the skin and just gives a glow. I also got a half price offer on an other No7 product that I bought, I bought a lipstick after being given a card showing me the suitable lipsticks for my skin type. Foundation was £12.50, definitely on the expensive side for me, but still a lot cheaper than a lot of other brands.

[MissMiss1]

Thanks Octopus37 I've tried many High street foundations but No7 isn't one of them. I'll pop to my local Boots.
I'm off out shopping tomorrow so hopefully I'll return with the perfect foundation
I often wonder if I'm too fussy but I just never seem to be able to find the right one.

[smugmumofboys]

I'm 46 and have used Chanel Vitalumiere in the past - mostly in winter and I've never found it overly cakey.

This last year I bought Clinique's CC cream (green tube), initially for summer use but I've stuck with it in the colder months as it gives a lovely finish. I put a flick of powder on the top and am good to go.

[odoneel]

Suqqu - both the primer and foundation. Pricey, but you only use tiny amounts and it lasts for ages. For me it is the only product that improves the appearance of my skin and doesn't look like there's any product at all ( no cakey, gloopy, powdery etc effect). I'm 40 with dry skin

[Philoslothy]

I can use vitalumiere in the summer but it is too dark for the winter.

I have started using Lancôme teint idole ultra which is long lasting and a natural looking great coverage. Not 24 hours, but remains on all day. It is quite drying so you need a good moisturising routine and primer

[ocelot41]

Chanel Lift Lumiere won the Good Housekeeping best foundation and a lot of those ladies are older than us. I tried some on the basis of that and wow, I suddenly looked really WELL....

[Philoslothy]

It also needs no powder, which adds to the more natural look. Huge range odiferous shades as well.

[Babelange]

For a number of years I've been using Chanel foundations but inexplicably their colours have suddenly become very yellow in tone (I am more of an English rose!) so I realised that instead of looking polished I looked ill. Recently I switched to Bobbi Brown - really good colour range and found an exact match, very light coverage and I'd anticipate the bottle would last and last.

[Philoslothy]

I found the exact same, I have flirted with other foundations but always went back to Chanel. Then all of a sudden the colour was wrong.

[Iatemyskinnyperson]

Clarins Ultra Comfort is lovely. My skin just looks perfected and plumped! Their instant concealer is great too, I have dry under-eyes.

[southeastastra]

i like \link{http://www.johnlewis.com/bobbi-brown-skin-foundation-spf-15-30ml/p37442?colour=Beige%203\bobbi brown} doesn't make me glow, have to use an illuminator for that, but it's good coverage and works well

[Pooette]

Have you tried CC creams instead?

I'm late thirties with dry/combination skin and was finding my old favourites foundation-wise (Chanel Vitalumiere for day and Revlon colourstay for heavier coverage when going out) were looking a bit cakey.

I'm using Bourjois Cc cream at the moment and am SO happy with it. Same coverage as. Chanel, I'd say, but gives a much smoother, dewier finish. And only a tenner . Doesnt come in a wide variety of shades, though, so depends on your skin tone as to whether the current shades will suit.

[GeorginaWorsley]

Am 47 and have a box full of foundations.
I have oily skin especially the t zone so I switch between
EL double wear...bit too heavy but lasts
Revlon colorstay..ditto
Double wear light,okay but struggle to get colour match
Clarins Everlasting, doesn't last
Dior Flawless, no not for me
Bourjois healthy mix,excellent for price and in winter but would be oily in summer
Yves St Laurent touche eclat, lovely finish but wears off
Benefit wow ,the same.

Am going to try the Yves St Laurent fusion ink I think next.
I use primer and powder my chin and nose but I like a flawless,bit of glow but not shiny finish.
The Dior and Clarins I found ageing and Double wear but strangely not as much.

[Philoslothy]

Georgina we could be foundation twins, I have tried all of those foundations. I would suggest the lancome one, especially if you have a skin tone that is difficult to match to a foundation.

[Megglevache]

Georgina have you tried the Touché Éclat foundation with Estée Lauder double wear powder? It's fabulous. I used to wear vitalumiere- too light for me now then I switched to ProLumiere which was great but it got discontinued.

[Megglevache]

Miss miss I never wore powder until a few weeks ago when the EL girl convinced me it wouldn't look Cakey. Application is key- never use the puffs or sponges- brushes all the way

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I like the lancome teint miracle - it is pretty light. The older I get the lighter foundation I want so mostly use a tinted moisturiser. Am liking the chantecaille one at the moment but will get nars next.

I did look at the Armani foundations but they just seem too silicone filled and I don't like that feel on my skin.

I use a clarins powder on my nose. This getting older thing is so much fun as I have dry wrinkly eyes and yet an incredibly greasy t zone.

[gonegrey56]

Maybe an extravagent suggestion but try YSL Fusion Ink on your T zone and chin, with YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat on your cheeks and under eye area. The shades are the same . I am very fair and use BR20. My skin sounds very similar to yours . Both bottles are large and a little goes a very long way so in time the cost works out. This system of using two foundations , same shade but complementary finishes works for me !

[Thisishowyoudisappear]

The Dior BB cream is nice if you want to look as natural as possible. I found Touche Eclat made my skin look dry - it did last well though. The perfume in Chanel foundations is slightly irritating to my skin.

Do you have a Lidl near you? Don't laugh, their CC cream is lovely - very very light, but it gives a glow and is £1.99! I think it only comes in one shade though - roughly Dior shade 2 I think.

Bobbi Brown pressed powder is lovely and not drying or powdery, but I only use it on my nose and chin.

Try Collection for concealer - cheap and very good.

I like Touch Eclat highlighter but I'm on the lookout for a cheaper version!

[Girlsbrigadewashorrible]

I used Chanel Vitalumiere last winter, switched to Clinique CC cream in summer and am now using Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation. Of the three, the Bourjois one is my favourite. It's about a tenner and is often on offer in Boots. The colour range isn't huge - I'm using no 53 which is perhaps a tad too dark for me now it's the depth of winter. For that price I should buy a lighter shade to see me through the next few weeks. I was once told that Bourjois are owned by Chanel; not sure if that's true or not.

[GeorginaWorsley]

Thank you for your suggestions ladies!
Sorry for thread hi jack.

[MissMiss1]

Thank you ladies
I've been to a Clarins counter today and got a few samples of the extra comfort, as a friend of mine also recommended it.
I had a look at Bourjois but feel a little reluctant to spend £10 if a £20-£30 is better, I'd rather put that £10 towards it
Why can't it be easy
My foundation needs have def changed over the last few months n my need for something not too drying has greatly increased

[Iatemyskinnyperson]

Hope the extra comfort works out for you. I had best results applying it sparingly with fingers, and really rubbing it into skin.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

The extra comfort is just too heavy for me and made me look older. But even more, I just couldn't cope with the smell of it.

[piechuck]

I've been using (and really like), cliniques Even Better foundation but used over the top of Clarins Flash Balm. I don't know what the Balm does but it makes me look alive somehow!