Why does my foundation always look shit!?

[Starbores]

I see these celebrities with beautiful glowing skin, I know they have make up artists but can this be achieved at home?

Since having my twins my skin has gone to shit, I'm paler than I used to be, blotchy and flakey. I've tried my usual rimmel, boots matching service and benefit hello flawless which used to look fab it now looks orange and clings to my dry patches.

I have a full set of real techniques brushes and a beauty blender that I have not a clue how to use.

Please help.

Are you using a primer, OP?

sorry if this sounds harsh, but no foundation will cover flakey bits well
I sorted mine out pretty well with glycolic toner plus a dollop of emollient (epaderm) just on the flakey bits

I find bobbi brown Skin foundation has a very light, natural finish and comes in very pale colours - would recommend.

Yep I have a rimmel one which used to work well but it's just sinking straight in now.

Exfoliate regularly, cream before bed, use a primer. Beauty blender I find works best damp. Start with a small amount of foundation and build it up. Watch some youtube videos.

Jimmy harsh is fine! Can you recommend a toner?

Swoosh what primer can you recommend?

I'm on a tight budget thanks to maternity pay

This used to be me. My issue turned out to be my moisturiser I was using before foundation, switched to one that suited my skin better and found foundation looked SO much better.

Do you have the expert face brush in your Real Techniques brush set? That's the one I use and it's brilliant. I use it with Estee Lauder Double Wear for full coverage and it stays put all day.

I use the Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm as a primer. You can pick up a sample pretty cheaply on ebay if you want to see how it works for you? I also have the Rimmel one but I now favour Elemis. I've tried the Laura Mercier one in the past but I found it too shiny and it didn't really do anything.

What is your current skincare routine? I used to have redness around my cheeks but since switching to hot cloth/double cleansing, my skin is much better, and therefore foundation goes on much smoother.

I haven't really got a skin care routine anymore . Before I had my twins I used to use a facial scrub a couple of times a week, soap and glory peaches and clean every day and just the White Nivea moisturiser. I do still use these when I can but I think my skin has changed too much and they just don't work for me now.

I do have the expert face brush but I've got so many dry patches the foundation is just sitting on them.

I think I need a lighter foundation as my usual ones are looking orange so I think my skin tone has changed if that's even possible!?

I love the Stila 3 in 1 primer best. It's redness correcting and brightening too. It's lovely

it's this one
I think you can buy in M&S!

I agree you need to sort out your skin care before really worrying about the foundation.

I don't know how old your twins are, but it's normal for new mums to be way paler than beforehand - at least for a while. Part exhaustion, possible slight anaemia, etc. Especially if you aren't getting a good diet on top of that.

But really it depends on what your skin type is. Is your skin very dry generally? I'd recommend switching to a very very gentle face wash/cleanser, and changing your moisteriser to something a bit less greasy. La roche posay do a really good range of moisterisers for dry skin, but a brand like simple would probably also do a decent one if your budget was tight.

Getting into a good routine will be half the battle - if you are really pushed for time then try cleansing wipes (just make sure you actually take time to cleanse properly when you use them).

I'd forget about foundation for now - give your skin some room to breathe. If you need a bit of coverage, try a cream concealer just where you need it - that way you won't be getting product all over the dry patches as well, which never looks good!!

Do you think your skin could be dehydrated?
My foundation used sound like yours till I used hyaluronic acid serum.
It only took two days to sort out once I started using it.

try the oil cleansing method OP, its transformed my skin

i use pure coconut oil and an ordinary face flannel. just slap the oil on, rub in then scrub off with a flannel that's been dipped in hot water and wrung out.

then i use boots no7 protect and perfect serum, then once that's sunk in another thin layer of coconut oil as a moisturiser

also once you have sorted out your skin always use a primer before foundation. some primers are so good you can use them on their own, i use avon magix.

I think my skin is definitely dehydrated, my hair is dry and nails are snapping I'm working on drinking more water again.

goodness I think it's a combination I all those things. I had severe anaemia which I haven't had tested since giving birth, my diet isn't great at the moment and I'm tired.

Babies are 5 months and in a good routine now so I have a bit more time to sort myself out.

My skin was on the dry side anyway but I didn't have all these dry patches. I'm prone to eczema and psoriasis so that's probably not helping.

My face is about 3 different colours at the moment white, yellow and pink.

I was going to give coconut oil a go on my hair so I could try it on my face too. Are all the brands the same?

So I need to cleanse with a gentle cleanser, use coconut oil and take off with a hot cloth, use primer and maybe I should go to boots for a colour match again?

star if your nails and hair are dry too, make sure you're eating enough (good) fat - avocado, nuts, oily fish. And maybe try a course of Imedeen tablets; I haven't tried them but have heard they are very good.

..and if you're on a budget, you could always try Superdrug's own range. I use their stuff alongside more expensive brands like REN and I've been really impressed. For example, this hydrating serum is good:

www.superdrug.com/Skin/Face/Serums/Superdrug-Simply-Pure-Hydrating-Serum-50ml/p/342700#.VpZpHPmLTIU

and they do hot cloth cleansers too (cleansers that you rub gently into your skin and then wipe off with a warm flannel - just buy ordinary flannels from Wilko or Boots): www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Naturally-Radiant-Hot-Cloth-Cleanser-150ml/p/516251#.VpZpNPmLTIU

For concealer, the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is great value for money and effective. I've used loads of high end concealers and I keep coming back to this one.

Thanks mrs you've just reminded me that I have a soap and glory hot cloth cleanser I'll have to dig it out. I've heard good things about the superdrug range.

I 2nd the cream cleanser and a muslin cloth method. I find that's all the cleansing and exfoliating my skin can take, rather than anything too astringent, and I follow it by dollopING a strong moisturiser (that thick, stinky, vaseline-like stuff from Elizabeth arden) on the dry patches and a thick moisturiser elsewhere. I shuffle between a few brands depending on how my skin is doing, sometimes it needs a break from the EA, and I use a mild soapy cleanser then too. If I Don't do this then my nose gets so dry and patchy that foundation looks dreadful.

Invest your money in skincare and your time in a good routine. Trying to cover up with foundation is like trying to paint a wall that hasn't been replastered and skimmed. It. No. Work.

My advice:

1. Invest in a good sunscreen and oil based cleanser to remove.
2. Invest in hydrating serums that have glycerin and hyaluronic acid high up on ingredients list.
3. Invest in a good moisturiser that seals in your serums (at night vaseline is a great sleeping mask. It does not block pores)
4. Consider adding in AHAs when you have your base routine sorted to exfoliate your skin and give it a boost.

Check out Caroline Hiron's blog for routine advice (take product recommendations with a pinch of salt - do your own research).

Go and get your bloods checked again!

You had severe anaemia - are you still on iron? It sounds like your skin (and you) are still feeling it. No way will your skin or you get better until your body is better.

First things first.

Mint I haven't got time to research products, would love some recommendations if you have any?

Tinger, I've had awful postnatal care, ive had no postnatal check, no bloods and no glucose test even though I had gestational diabetes...think I'm going to chase this up this week.

I'm a korean beauty addict and use a lot of korean/japanese products so struggle with western recommendations but here goes:

Oil cleanser to remove makeup/sunscreen: Clinique take the day off balm. Cheaper alternative The body shop chamomille cleansing oil.
2nd cleanser/a.m. cleanser : cerave hydrating cleanser (available on amazon prime). This is my staple cleanser.
Hydrators: A hyaluronic acid serum. (I buy overseas so mot sure what to recommend).
Oils: Jojoba oil and rosehip oil. A few drops mixed in with your serum will work wonders.
Moisturiser: Cerave PM lotion. (Available on amazon prime). Lots of ceramides and niacinimide.
Sunscreen: Again, i buy japanese sunscreens as they are lightweight, non greasy and high protection. You may have to try a few out but a lot of people recommend the LPR anthelios fluid (available in boots).

HTH!

Thanks Mint, I think that's all a little complicated for me at the moment but I've saved this thread to come back to when I've sorted the basics.

Definitely superdrug hot cloth cleanser – it's exfoliating, but moisturising and not harsh. Then a non-aggravating moisturizer like a Simple one. My favourite foundation (I'm pale) is the Bourjois Healthy Mix (non-serum) – it's smooth and light.

To deal with actual dry patches you have now, vaseline at night.

Also, eat oily fish, avocados and jelly (I know these aren't cheap, except the jelly, but when you can!) Jelly is great for brittle nails and dry skin and hair. And also agree with iron supplements. Feroglobin is good as it contains a load of other useful bits and bobs too.

I'd second what dudsville suggests re: dry patches. The Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant is brilliant. If I ever get a dry patch anywhere on my body (or an insect bite), I pat some on, go to bed, and it's gone by morning. I got two tubes of it for £8 from Superdrug online recently. Currently out of stock but you can also get small tubes on eBay cheaply:

www.superdrug.com/Elizabeth-Arden/Elizabeth-Arden-Eight-hour-Cream-Duo/p/976457?singleResultSearchPage=true#.VpeaCfmLTcs

It does smell a bit like fly spray though! I wear it every day as a lip gloss (but I don't lick it obvs). It's my 'couldn't live without' product.