Foundation advice please

[WaitMonkey]

I recently bought some Bobbi Brown foundation, but I hate it. It looks cakey, yellow and doesn't give the coverage I wanted. £30 wasted then.

So I'm looking for another foundation. I have pale skin, that varies between dry and oily. I do tend to have red cheeks. Please will someone advise me ? I did used to use Clarins, a few year's ago, and was thinking of going back. I liked that, but I stopped using it, though can't remember why, but there must have been a reason.

Yes, they just ditch it, honestly that's how it works. I buy tons of make up way too much and I have never had a problem. I always ask if I can bring something back if I don't like it and they always say yes. I'm not prepared to waste 30 odd quid on something I can't use. Ultimately they want you to be happy and return as a customer. Also bear in mind a 30 quid foundation actually only costs about a fiver probably to make. They just dump it or use it as a tester.

And if I haven't convinced you to take it back then next time ask for a sample, say that colors sometimes oxidise on you. They will give you really good samples ime usually enough for a week. Clarins are particularly generous.

Thack you Dame, I will sleep on taking it back and see how brave I am tomorrow.

Do you have something you can mix it with?

I've used primers, illuminators, moisturisers and oils to add to foundation to fine tune it.

Trial and error, but it's great she you find something that work.

Don't worry about how they deal with a returned and used item - they are used to it.

The other day, my DH and I went to dinner somewhere new. We weren't massively pleased with a few things and when the waitress asked us how the meal was, I was honest (and nice) about it. We ended up getting the whole meal for free - and it was dealt with in a way that made us feel like they had a policy and were used to it. I thought they'd just say sorry and tell us that they'd improve, so it was surprising that we didn't even have to pay.

And I've returned a dry shampoo (it was one of the smaller cans at around £10) as it stopped working after using it once. I did contact the brand first who asked me to take it back to Boots. Boots were absolutely cool about it - I didn't have the receipt and went in there thinking they'd just tell me that they couldn't help.

I'm certain that if you take the foundation back to the counter and nicely explain the issue to them, they'll be cool about it. They want you to be a happy customer - they want you to tell everyone how awesome they are and they want you to return. I simply cannot see why they would do anything that should make you feel uncomfortable or not try to make you a happy customer.

If you still don't feel like you want to go in and ask face to face, you could consider calling them instead? Or you could contact the brand via their UK website explaining the issue and asking what to do - if they ask you to take the product back, you could take the email from them with you to the counter so it shows that the head office has asked you to do it. It might help you feel a bit braver about it :)

id take it back. Pretend youre confident even if youre not. Whats the worst they can say?

Lisa Eldridge (who's videos I'm addicted to thanks to this board!) has a series of YouTube tutorials all about foundation, how to find the right colour/type for your skin, recommendation for different skin type etc.

I took a bottle of Clinique Laser(?)wear foundation back to Boots last summer after being convinced it was fab by the sales assistant and rushed into buying. When I got home I just didn't like it so I took it back and just said that it had brought me out in a rash could I swap for a moisturiser.

sorry..... sales assistant just apologised and swapped no problem and gave me a few freebies.

Dame and everyone else who advised me to take it back, thank you thank you. I've just rang BB customer care, because I thought I would find it easier to return if someone in the phone said I could. Shy . And they have refunded me over the phone, don't have to go back in to the shop or even return it, I'm sure one of my friends can use it. Lady on the phone was so nice said, she would refund me and I could pop into the shop and pick another shade sometime, I won't. Wouldn't have even thought about it without you lot. Thanks so much.
Off foundation shopping now.

Hooray

Let us know which one works for you. It's totally trial and error and what works for one person won't work for another.
Makeup alley gives good consumer reviews of products but, again, what one person loves, another hates...

I'm also very pale with skin that varies between oily and dry. Because of the oily bits I prefer an all-in-one moisturiser/foundation rather than using a separate moisturiser (thereby adding extra grease!). I've tried a few things and a few days ago bought Maybelline's matt BB cream, which I'm really liking.

I always look at make up alley too, their reviews are great. I have the app on my phone

Monkey, your skin sounds exactly the same as mine, oily and dry, pale, red cheeks etc. the best foundation I've found is the Bare Minerals matte loose powder foundation. I don't get on with liquids or creams at all, they all seem to either go cakey or to just sit on my face & roll up in weird greasy lumps.
The BM one works well, you can have a light coverage or put more on to cover up more.
I use the BM primer underneath but I've also used lanacane gel as a primer which works just as well.
If you don't want a matte look, the original BM foundation has more of a 'dewy' look but I find it a bit sparkly for me.

I use Nars foundations - sheer glow or something like that - I use it with their primer. I'm a right foundation whore too - have about 4 bottles on the go of different brands at the same time but that's the brand that I keep on buying (whilst also testing out new stuff).

Lots of places shouldn't pressurise you to buy because you need to check it out in natural light - a great excuse to run and try something out elsewhere until you find something that suits?

I had the same issue with bobbi brown foundation it just looked really odd. I find Chanel Vitalumiere aqua brilliant, its really light so just evens out my skin tone but layers really well for a heavier look.

Thought I'd update. I bought YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat. Absolutely love it so far. Is so much better than the BB foundation. Also bought a Touche Eclat, I have used this before and it's nice but not as good as the foundation. I also bought some Mac bluster and bronzer I had a lovely day buying make up. Thanks again for all the advice.