make up and visible skin lines

[SoTiredoftheWheelsontheBus]

Hi, I found S&B a couple of months ago, and am now addicted have been influenced to up my game. As a result of this, I'm now using the oil cleansing method (in the evening, using sweet almond oil each night, and twice a week including castor oil as well), using a moisturiser with an spf in the morning (bog standard olay one with factor 15).

I've also started wearing make up more. I'm on maternity leave at the moment, and I'm finding that on days when I leave the house more than just for the school run, putting make up on makes me feel less slobby (wearing clothes without baby sick on them would also help I suppose). Before this, I rarely wore make up, even at work, but would put on some lipstick/mascara for a night out. I've now started using foundation (for the first time in my life), and (following recommendations on here) am using Barbara Daly primer, and her face-lift foundation, which I found a good match colourwise for my skin.

I have some lines at the side of my mouth (smile lines as I'm not a smoker), and I've found them more noticable when I'm wearing the foundation. Is this something to do with the foundation itself, my application of it, or something else? The foundation isn't a liquid one, it comes in a little pot and seems to have a mousse-like texture, I've been applying it with my fingers. I just splash my face with water in the morning (only cleanse it with the ocm at night), and apply moisturiser. I do normally leave at least 20 min before starting the make up. It also seems a bit more noticable on my nose, almost like tiny little flakes - is this because of dryness?

I don't really know what my skin type is. Before ocm I used a gel wash in the morning, and Liz Earle in the evening, moisturiser both times. By the end of the day, my forehead and nose would be shiny. I got some pimples on my cheeks and forehead (it was worse before I found Liz Earle). Now with the ocm, I'm still getting some pimples (maybe I haven't yet found the right oil combination for me yet), but the pores on my nose are much smaller and I don't get shiny. I do still have some tightness along the edges of my nose after cleansing (which I always have done), but that's better after moisturisation/a couple of extra drops of oil.

I don't have much money to spare right now so please don't tell me how your skin woes were turned around using a £150 tiny pot of creme!

Wow, have just realised what a massive post this is, thanks for sticking with it :)

Oh, well I guess no one managed to stick with it.

Are you allowing the primer to settle a bit before applying? I've got the same one too, and fine less is more when it comes to application. How are you applying the foundation (fingers/brush/sponge)? And lastly are you using any powder to set it?

It sounds like your skin is adjusting to the OCM and maybe on the drier side. Are you drinking enough water too?

I don't know the foundation you're using, but often a cause of foundation showing up lines is that it's too heavy and so the powder in it is settling in any lines. That's why I always wear the lightest possible - always a tinted moisturiser not a foundation, and even then apply it very thinly only where it's needed.

You could always book in for a consultation with a company that does a good tinted moisturiser - eg Bobbi Brown, or, even better, if you're near one, at Space NK who stock lots of different brands and try it out.

Thanks MooMin. I've been using the ocm for about 6 weeks now, admittedly I have no idea how long new routines take to settle down.

I don't think dehydration is an issue. I'm breastfeeding so am drinking loads of water/dilute squash each day. I guess I could cut back on tea though.

I had been putting the foundation on straight after the primer, I didn't realise that also needed to settle in. How long do you leave it? Practically, how long does it take to get ready in the morning? If tanning body moisturisers say leave 20 min before getting dressed, and you leave 20 min between facial moisturiser and primer, then x min between primer and foundation, how on earth do you manage to leave the house each morning ?

I'm using my fingers to apply both the primer and foundation, and haven't been using powder.

Thanks poly. No space nk here, and nearest cosmetic counters (John Lewis) is a good hour away. If you use a tinted moisturiser do you still use a primer as well?

I do because I use tinted moisturiser as a foundation. So I put on serum then ordinary moisturiser then primer then after 5 mins, a bit of tinted moisturiser. Though often I only wear primer, for radiance, or just stop after the ordinary moisturiser.

Sotired - how old is your baby? Could be hormones causing the changes in your skin rather than the OCM?

I only use the primer when using a liquid foundation and only wait a few minutes before applying with a stippling brush in circular motions. I generally tend to favour mineral foundation and use Lily Lolo in the day and save the liquid one for going out. I tried the primer under the mineral foundation and it settled into my fine lines too (don't get that when just applied over moisturiser). Have you tried the foundation without the primer just to rule it out?

Bobbi brown do some nice tinted moisturisers and sell in John Lewis so may be a better alternative until your skin settles down. Or maybe the mineral foundation? LL sell samples on their website too.

Some foundations accentuate the lines, and others don't. It's trial and error really. And expensive foundations can be just as guilty of this as cheaper ones.

Bobbi Brown is a bit out of my price range (I've just had a look online). Can you recommend a good tinted moisturiser for about £15?

Bobbi Brown is a bit out of my price range (I've just had a look online). Can you recommend a good tinted moisturiser for about £15?

MooMin, ds is nearly 5 months and I can't say I noticed much change in my skin when pregnant, or after he was born (except recently with the ocm).

Thanks for the help everyone :)

Bourjois Healthy mix is good, might be worth a try. It comes in a standard foundation version, and a gel/serum version ( lighter in texture ). About a tenner.