To give up trying to find a decent foundation

[PookieDo]

I bought a new foundation stick today and have turned myself orange. DD’s think this is hilarious

They are impossible to bloody match to your actual skin, even if you get the No7 matching done this doesn’t help you find a shade in a different brand. I’ve been to make up counters before and they never seem to get a good match either. I’ve done Findation online for colours that match but in L’Oréal foundations I don’t like the formula and it gives you a list of colours so at least I have that now

I need full coverage as I have a lot of melasma (butterfly shape across eyes and forehead also upper lip) but I find that liquid foundation slides off, goes weird and patchy. So I tried a fixing spray but this just makes it worse.

Cream foundation kind of seems to stick to my melasma patches strangely but does seem better coverage. I used to buy powder foundation but couldn’t find much of any today in any shops, is this no longer a thing?

My skin is kind of dry, do I need a primer? What one?! They feel greasy

What am I doing wrong? I have heard good things about MAC studio fix and Estée Lauder double wear but I don’t know if these are worth trying at £30 a go

Or give up and just go to work make up free (I do not want to do this, I want to wear make up!

I was an Estee Lauder Double Wear fan for years but kept trying others. I found Revlon Colourstay to be a great dupe and they do one for dry skin and another for combination. I get the combination one and love it. The colour range isn't as good but it's a third of the price and I buy it when it's on offer. I buy a lighter one and a darker one in a tone that suits my complexion and mix them depending how tanned I am or if I'm wearing fake tan.

Hope you find something that works for you soon!

I'm sorry to hear that OP. I suppose it's a case of everyone being different. For those who've recommended bare minerals I can't say I had the same positive experience. I do know quite a few people who use Estee lauder and they talk positively about it. @BluebellCockleshell123 I am the opposite, will compromise on anything but mascara

I have used the dermablend concealer and that is quite good coverage

Ask for free samples, go on, be cheeky!

Attached is the one I bought, it’s amazing and literally didn’t budge all day.

Estee Lauderdale double wear is good, but then I swear by Christian Dior. I love their star foundation.
They do a good primer and concealer. Pop into a debenhams or John Lewis and get them to actually put the products on for you so you know if it will actually do what you want it to. Good luck. X

k beauty lightyears ahead and often combines skincare with make up. once you start using cushion foundations you will never go back! high coverage, buildable, dewy, dry down brilliantly. shade range usually abysmal but if you’re yellow toned you should be able to find a match - i’m very fair with yellow/sallow undertones and use them every day. the cosrx blemish and the laneige anti aging are my favourites. you can buy them online on sites like style korean or yesstyle

i also agree with those who use chantecaille just skin - i have super dry skin and it doesn’t cling. for non-foundation day’s it’s perfection!

I plan to get the minerals done and find the right colour, then ask Estée Lauder to sort me out then I will try to wear the Estée Lauder for the rest of the day and see how this fares. I know I like BM but would like to see how the EL is on me

They have a smashbox at the one I am going to so will look in there too

Hiya IT makeup which you can buy online or in boots, is absolutely fantastic. They have worked with all sorts of professionals so there makeup covers all sorts of skin types and problems. I can't rate it enough. Go and check it out you won't be sorry.

For anyone with roseacre try everything in the kalme range. And esp the concealer. Goes on green but is amazing

Eloisedublin definitely going to give this a go, thank you!!!

CYO lifeproof. Everyone I've recommended it to really likes it. I struggle with foundation clinging to dry patches or separating and this does neither. Plus it's about £7, and I prefer it to any high end brand I've tried (Lancôme, Chanel, dior, urban decay...)

You need a decent moisturiser for foundation to look even & stay on. Have you tried a richer one? To get the right colour, patch test on your inner wrist where the skin is likely to be same colour/texture as your face. Or buy the nearest two shades & try mixing your own colour. Maybelline has loads of choice for very pale or very dark skin tones & the liquid one isn't runny & gives great coverage. The 24hr one is a bit dry for me tho. Inexpensive too.

Have you considered using a lighter weight hydrating formula such as a tinted moisturiser all over for moisture and light coverage, and then a full coverage stick on the areas most in need of coverage? The stick will then go on better over the hydrating tint. I actually use Hourglass Hyaluronic Skin Tint all over which sounds like a moisturiser but is a lovely hydrating formula with seriously good coverage and you only need a tiny tiny pea size. And yes- I’d use a primer. Laura Mercier does a very good hydrating one. Hourglass Veil Mineral primer is great but very expensive (£68).

Another vote for Dermacol (bought mine from Amazon) which I use to cover up rosacea & scarring. Relatively inexpensive, lasts for hours, and my tube is still going strong after 6 months. A little of this cream goes a VERY long way.

Both Mac and Estee will give you free samples so pop in and see if you like it. Tbh I’ve never invested in either as the samples often last me 3+months and then I need a slightly different colour due to season changes so then have another sample hahaha estee is AMAZING though, life changing. Give it a try xxx

Estée Lauder Doublewear can be quite heavy and chalky feeling - you either love it or hate it

I swear by Giorgio Armani luminous silk. It’s pricey but I always end up coming back to it.

Get a few samples in a pot from different ranges and try it at home a few times it's truly the only way to avoid the curse of death pallor v you've been tango'd

I have similar skin Pookiedo, quite "yellow"/olive with melasma

It's Impossible to find a good colour match, IMO

Tried bare minerals which was awful on my skin (maybe I lacked skill to apply)

I must be the only one who dislikes ELDW! It make me skin breakout and settled in all my pores really badly

No7 foundation is shite.

Estée Lauder Double Wear is my go to foundation.
I too have heard good things about Armani foundation, and my mum seems happy with her Dior stuff.
You absolutely get what you pay for with foundation.

I also have dry skin and need a full coverage foundation due to rosacea. I found using an exfoliating wipe after I cleanse my face every morning makes a massive difference in making my skin smooth and foundation to go on better. I use Pixi Glow Tonic every morning - it's very gentle and can be used everyday and hasn't irritated my skin at all.

As for foundations I use Vichy Dermablend, it gives impressive coverage but smooths on and blends very well. The skin shades are good for me as well.

I also came on to recommend IT cosmetics, if they have a counter near you go and try them out

I long ago gave up buying make up that I didnt buy from a counter, even if it is more expensive, the assistant will do the colour matching for you and dont be afraid to either ask for a sample or to ask them to apply it so you can see how it wears for your everyday. Its all very well to look lovely for five minutes but if youre spending good money on it you want it to last!!

Me too. Although it's more expensive to buy, I reckon when I factor in all the money I've wasted on foundation that's ended up in the bin, it probably only works out a little dearer.

I wonder if you might be better to use a colour corrector on the melasma before the foundation, OP? That way you don't need such full coverage from the foundation. And I can wholeheartedly endorse Bio oil. It has really lightened my two (small) melasma patches and is is now doing the same for the age spots on my hands. I put it on at night, before my night cream.

@goodfornothinggnome I switched from Clarins to Dior about 3 years ago. The staff on the Dior counters are so helpful and knowledgeable and not at all snooty, and they are really generous with their free samples. You get the chance to give stuff a good few tries before committing yourself to buying. They always give me loads of little perfume samples, which are really handy when we're touring in our motorhome and my niece loves their packaging (had her bedroom painted in the Dior very pale mauve lol), so they always put stuff in a big gift box for me so that I can pass it on to her.

I've just switched to Forever Skin Glow foundation as they've stopped Diorskin nude, and it's superb. Doesn't sink in to my old lady open pores and leaves my skin so smooth when I take it off that I think twice about putting on night cream. Dior lipsticks are just fab, too.

I always go back to Estée Lauder doublewear after trying others. They'll give you a free ten day sample to try and match you.

It gives great coverage and really does last all day. Another good one is Clinique Beyond Perfect, great coverage but doesn't have the staying power as DW and does transfer. Again they'll give you a sample.

Armani is v. expensive but truly amazing. Works best with a good primer - Murad invisible blur is the best I’ve found. The primer can also be worn as sun protection - it’s a gel formula and does not feel or look greasy.

Right I have driven to Chelmsford. Wish
Me luck!
Cambridge just too spread out for this task