Skin and foundation/ make up routine for dark vein and redish skin. Help :(

[MeltedChocolate]

I have awful skin. Really awful. Partly due to genes and made worse by chocolate and sugar addiction... :o On the dry side that gets greasy as the day goes on. Dark purple veins and smaller red veins. Haven't many wrinkles yet. I am not tanner. On the paler side but not white.

So apart from eating healthy and drinking water, please talk me through a skin care and make up routine. Please list all products you would us and how you use them. I am useless at this. My skin is embarrassing.

I have not found a foundation that covers flaws without looking cakey. I have used cheaper foundations and bare minerals as well. Do I use primer? how do you use concealer? How do I stop it all going cakey.

:( Please help! My face did look good when I had a spray tan but I can't afford that often. I was told I looked really good and healthy. Then it faded :(

I should say that Bare minerals was good and I can do it without it looking cakey but with how my skin is it just doesn't make much difference. The amount of concealer I need ends up making me powdery.

I have skin similar to yours ... dry and gets greasy later on, with some pigmentation to cover. I use Lancome Teinte Idole Ultra with Chantecaille powder makeup over the top to set it. Lots of coverage, not cakey. But you may need to re-powder during the day.

Maybe a daily tanning product so that you always have a bit of cover? You can do this yourself by using the tanner that is best for your colouring + moisturiser. Vaseline your eyebrows and whack it on every other evening.
Also a concealer with green will rid you of redness faster than caking on loads of other products.
Finally...you could get your smaller veins lasered...cheap now and an excellent result

I have Olay complete care gradual tanner for face but am really scared to use it!

Anyone had any experience of using one for these. I have used body gradual tanners before but know how it can go round knees, even with knees moisturised. Worried about similar effects on face!

Are you sure it's dry not dehydrated? Oily skin can be dehydrated too and if that's the case then the right serum will help a lot.

Interesting Kaloobear. I used some Nuxe oil thing that I got with my beauty box and it seems to have made my skin less dry. The flakes that I get on my forehead seem to have gone. So is that dry or oily but dehydrated?

I should say that I seem to be dry in other places of my body. Hands and scalp can be dry.

It can be hard to tell but basically if it looks better after a shower it's dehydrated. Dry skin needs oil and dehydrated skin needs water, so for dehydrated you'd need a serum designed to keep moisture in-hyaluronic acid is a good ingredient to look out for. In general flakiness (esp if you also have small pores) points to dry skin rather than dehydrated but you'd get a definitive answer by going to a good facialist. Dermalogica's a good brand, as is REN for serums.

Oh right, well after a shower my skin is tight, painful and very flakey. Or it was before I was told on here to use a hot cloth cleanser. That has eased the dryness. Thanks :)

I have to admit that Ihave really good skin but I did go through an awful stage of bad facial eczma caused by stress.

This is my routine:

Cleanse- use L'Oreal or Clinique cleansing lotions morning and night. No toner- waste of ££- use warm water. Boots No 7 is also good.

Moisturise- Clinique Youth Surge or Superdefense- like both.

sun block- Clinique City Block also acts as a primer.

Make up- used to use Clinique Repair Wear - loved it- but have discontinued my shade. i thas brilliant coverage but you use only a tiny bit and blend like mad. I am now using a Clarins foundation- extra firming which is nice.

Bobbi Brown concealer- covers purple under eye circles.

I exfoliate roughyl every 2 weeks.

I also recommend REN products- frankinsence night cream and Omega 3 serum are nice.

why not go to a Bobbi Brown or Clinique counter and ask for a make over?

Definitely dry then. Yes, gentle exfoliation with a hot cloth cleanser should help, as well as an oil based serum. The Liz Earle Superskin range is great for dry skin. I would do:

AM
Hot cloth cleanse
Superskin moisturiser, allow to sink in
Prime with Smashbox Photo Finish or MAC Prep and Prime
Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Foundation only where needed-redness etc
Concealer on veins (BB do a brilliant one but there are lots that are great-Laura Mercier etc)
Powder VERY lightly-Smashbox, BB or LM are all good.
Blotting papers in your handbag for use if you get a bit oily later in the day.

PM
Hot cloth cleanse
Superskin concentrate
Superskin moisturiser

Phew!

Yikes! Looks like I better save my pennies!

No where near a place with a counter but will go next time I am anywhere near one!

Thank you. I will write this down, start looking for stuff and give it all a go!

All of these products mentioned are available from websites and if you order from John Lewis, the P&P is free if order is over £30. Clinique has a computer type analysis on their site so you can work out your skin type and what suits you.

REN is a bit the same- again, can be ordered online.

You'd need to go to a store for the make up but skincare could be bought online.

That's a bit of a problem for me amelia. Can't get to a store with these counters for ages! I will get the skin care stuff til then and will wait for the make up til I can get to a counter. :)

My skin started looking a bit red after xmas and I have had to switch to clinique anti redness products when previously I could use anything. It has really helped and my skin is back to normal in about 3 weeks! But teh cleanser moisturiser and foundation was over £70!