Face Base Intervention

[BobbinThreadbare123]

I need a foundation intervention. I'd like some suggestions, please!

I have extremely sensitive, very pale, dry skin. I wore Clinique's shaved powder for years and they stopped doing it. Since then, I've had Bare Minerals, which gave me loads of spots, Clinique CC cream, which is ok but I don't like applying with fingers, Clinique pressed powder, which I like but dry skin issues, and now Boots No.7 mineral powder, which is giving me spots!

I used to have fairly clear skin with the odd spot, but lately it has gone very blotchy with lots of mini spots and red patches. I've no crows' feet or lines (yet!) but the dryness doesn't help things to sit.

I'm 32. I do not want a mask-like appearance as I don't wear much makeup otherwise. Just a light/med coverage.

Budget could be up to about £30 if it lasts. I'm already paying Clinique prices.

Help meeee!

What's your skin care routine?

Lily Lolo is great.

Sort out your skin, easier said than done I know, but no cosmetics will sit well on dry skin. Some may be better than others but nothing will be great.

Skin care routine is good. I use a scrub in the morning then moisturiser, then hot cloth cleanse at night. Sometimes wipe a glycolic pad over. Make up always comes off. Once a week, a face mask for moisture and sometimes a rich cream to ease irritation. All Una Brennan, Clinique and Lancome.

'Sort your skin' is easier said than done. I'm not so bothered about the dry bits; the red blotches are pissing me off more. Medication that I take for a chronic illness is the culprit, so I think I'm going to have to stick with that!

I'm liking no 7 stay perfect light - it's like a tinted moisturizer in terms of finish but better coverage for my red bits. Doesn't accentuate dry areas especially if stippled on lightly with flat top brush. The lightest shade is calico - probably equal to Mac 15

Your skin sounds exactly like mine - it's extremely sensitive and if I mistreat it - it shows for hours.

Currently I'm happy with how my face is looking with foundation as long as I follow these steps:

GENTLY Exfoliate first thing with Nivea for men scrub

Apply Nivea women's intense day cream generously and press it in firmly

Leave for 10mins

Apply NYX green primer to counter redness - again I pat / press it on not rub

Leave for 2-3mins

Apply Maybelline FIT foundation sparingly with a damp ( warm!) beauty blender

Then a dusting of benefit dandelion powder.

I never used powder before because I was convinced it would settle into dry patches but this one is fab!

My skin type sounds similar. The only thing that's sorted it out is Vichy moisturiser. Nutrilogie 1 is excellent and I quite often use it in place of a primer. I also use their micellar cleanser which cleans well without drying me out too much.

I use Gosh foundations. I tried more expensive brands but my skin just seems to like this better.

The Boots No. 7 stuff is impressing me. My mum likes it too and she always used to cough up for Bobbi Brown. I might look at the tinted moisturiser next time I'm in Boots. I like skin to look like skin. It freaks me out a bit when someone has no colour changes or freckles because they have loads of foundation on.

Sounds like you over-exfoliate to me. It could be causing your skin to become over-sensitised. I have dry skin & only use a chemical exfoliator once or twice a week. Try replacing the scrub with a good cream cleanser (I think they're much of a muchness, I like the Caudalie one). Also, have you considered a facial oil? Rose is great for sensitive drier skin.

Oh, I have to second the recommendation for Vichy Nutrilogie! I use 2 at night & 1 in the daytime.

I don't have any particular recommendations for bases asI don't have reactive skin. My favourite at the moment is Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue for Tinted Moisturiser type base or YSL Le Teint Touché Eclat for fuller coverage

You could try the Body Shop as I think they now do drops you add to the foundation to either lighten or darken it. I've swapped from the No7 foundations to a Body Shop one and I much prefer it. Have a look on the website to find out more, but I'm very happy so far and I also have a reactive skin.