Make-over mid 30's

[supadupapupascupa]

i looked in the mirror carefully today and decided i really need to start doing something with my face!

i normally wash and moisturise and that's it

can anyone recommend something for red blotchy dry skin? do i need foundation or tinted moisturiser?

i put foundation on last night and it all caked up because my skin was too dry on the forehead even though i had just exfoliated.....

i have loads of broken veins on my cheeks and baggs under the eyes.

thankfully not too many wrinkles and no spots.

what foundation did you use supa?

Do you ever wear make up? what about special occasions?

i used to wear it daily from 13 to about 25 but then couldn't be bothered for work. i always wear it for going out. i have a HUGE kit but it's 'old' and i'm older so i need something new.

the foundation and concealer were clinique (liquid and airbrush)

any tips for colours would be good too.

oh and skin is uber pale

I suggest argan oil. From health food shops. Or rose mosqueta oil. Wait 5 mins then use tinted moisturiser, such as laura mercier or aveda do a nice one. Also olay do a good one with sun protection in it too. Get yourself a nice cream blusher- like the max factor soft pink creamy blusher and youll feel like a new woman.

oil? really? never thought of that!

do you think tinted moisturiser will be enough? i guess it would be better than bare skin

It depends on what sort of coverage you want really. Personally I think tinted moisturiser is fine if you're a teenager with beautiful young skin but a lot of us need something a bit more. It doesn't give me enough coverage. I'd visit a department store and go to a couple of the counters for samples since there is a masisve difference in the moisture content of the various foundations.

My skin is very different since my mid thirties. I would recommend microdermabrasion if flakiness etc is a problem. Its a deep exfoliation and it does make a difference. Then a decent moisturiser or a serum. I use Boots protect and perfect serum because my MIL was on the testing panel and they took before and after shots which showed a dramatic difference and so I know it works!

Yes I think oil as a moisturiser is great - I don't use anything else and my skin is much better. I don't know about the promises of serums - I tend to think that all your skin needs is a thorough cleansing and an absorbable oil. They don't feel greasy.

There are really good foundations nowadays but as Virgil says, I would do a bit of testing as what one thinks is heavy is not what the other thinks etc. My recommendations would be Laura M or Armani (bloody expensive but good), Chanel but also this is good
cheaper brand

Recently Max Factor have sorted it out a bit and might actually get used by makeup artists!

Clinique redness solutions - I have a cream from there I use twice a day under my normal moisturiser and its much much better since I started.