Recommendations for my tired pasty face please

[Honey1975]

I'm 42 & looking tired. Olivey skin tone but pasty & generally worn out, dark circles. I take medication for a condition which I'm sure has aged me quicker.

I have tried Clarins foundation & tinted moisturiser but it seems to sit on my skin. Have also got some Clinique (superbalanced?) foundation but that feels too heavy.

I also have a clarins bronzer but think its a bit orangey on me (another expensive mistake)

I want to treat myself to something that will help me look healthier and brighter but not caked in make up.

I've seen some people who seem to have a slight shimmer/glow to their face which looks lovely and subtle but I don't know what that is.

I'd be grateful for any recommendations please.

I’m hoping for some recommendations too! I’d describe my skin pretty much as OP does (so I hope this isn’t an excessive interlopement) except I’m a pale skin tone. But also pasty, worn out and dull and rather puffy under eye (and on medication).

The last good base I had was a simply ancient No7 tinted moisturiser.

Hi iVampire, yes I'm wondering if a tinted moisturiser would be best as my skin feels dry no even after moisturising. But then I think is it enough coverage and will it have disappeared by lunchtime.
There's just so much choice out there, I find it a bit overwhelming and have made several expensive mistakes!

Do you exfoliate? I find whatever I put on my face when I haven't exfoliated looks dull.

I do when i remember, but maybe not often enough?

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue a light weight slightly dewy tinted moisturiser.

Also use something like Nip & Fab pads as part of your routine once or twice a week. They gently exfoliate, which allows your moisturiser to be more effective.

I would start with a nice soothing cleanser and decent moisturiser. I couldn't believe how much better my skin looked when I started really looking after it. Doesn't have to be anything expensive either. Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean cleanser is reasonably priced, or Superdrug Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser. And a nice moisturiser that is soothing but not too heavy.

Then for makeup, something like a BB cream maybe? And a cream blusher. That would really brighten up your skin without looking 'makeup-ey'.

Treacle, i curently use the superdrug cleanser but my skin feels so dry after using water. I like the sound of a cream cleanser but can you get face really clean without using water?

Can't help with moisturiser, as mine (Cetaphil) seems to have stopped working for me.

Benefit Dandelion is a wonder product for pale skin. It's a v pale pink and just gives skin a bit of a lift, either just as blusher or v lightly all over.

Thank tou Remus, do you think the benefit dandelion would work on olivey skin?

Honey I'm not too sure tbh! I feel like I need water for my face to feel clean, but I don't struggle with my skin feeling dry the way you do, so I'm not best placed to answer, sorry. Maybe a richer cleanser? Body Shop Camomile Balm?

I think we have similar skin. I recently started using body shop chamomile balm cleanser and it's lovely and leaves my skin soft. I also bought an Aldi day cream (caviar) which is also lovely (but beware, highly scented). These two products have made my skin look a bit better, more soft and plump. I also highly recommend adding a hylauronic acid if your skin is dry or starting to show fine lines.

The first cosmetic thing I'd buy is blusher, if like me you have zero colour in your cheeks. Bourjous round pot are good & affordable. I also like YSL touché éclat to highlight around eyes, but I know not everyone likes that product.
Foundation-wise I'm using Rimmel wake me up. It's not perfect: Light coverage, and can be a little shiny....but it gives a glow and I'm happy to use the bottle (with a little powder!).

I'm not an expert at all, but started experimenting this year as I looked so terrible!

Thats ok thank you treacle

Benefit dandelion is lovely on others but too pale for me.

Thank you mama for the ideas.

I agree blusher in an unscary colour a warm terracotta not a cold pink. Put it on with a big brush quite sparingly

[https://www.eucerin.co.uk/products/urea/smoothing-face-cream-5percent-urea Eucerin]] products are very good for dry skin. This moisturiser is so light and so effective (why did I only discover it this year?)

I'm very pale. I use lancome foundation but I adore max factor bronzer. Light gold. Definetky not orange and just the lightest touch gives a glow (remember to do neck).

Link that works for Eucerin

It's worth giving it a go - they are usually good at giving you a quick makeover if not too busy. I'm very pale yellow!

Like a PP I highly recommend Bare Minerals complexion rescue.

It's basically a tinted moisturiser with slightly better coverage.

I use that combined with a blusher (sometimes creme sometimes powder)

You don't have to spend a fortune to get good products now. My very glam friend uses Maybelline fit me foundation and says it's great. Think it's about £8 a tube.

The MUA range is great too. I have their pressed powder and it feels lovely on the skin. Same with their highlighters. They just give a bit of a glow without being too strong.

I also really rate the Garnier sheet masks. They really soften and lift the skin.

Lastly, are you drinking enough water? My skin starts to look rubbish when I'm not drinking enough.

Thank you!

I use Nip and Fab pads, have used Eucerin in the past and had just got my first pot of the Aldi one.

I’ll have a look at Maybelline and others - how much does Bare Minerals and/or Benefit cost? (I thought they were expensive brands)

I have a horror of looking shiny, but matte foundation makes me look dead!

Oh, and I don’t know if I’m drinking enough water (how long’s a piece of string?) but I’m certainly drinking more than I used to before the meds started (doctorly advice to up clear fluids whilst on them)

Benefit not cheap but you can buy a tiny Dandelion for about £12. I'm not one to spend a fortune on makeup, but it's THAT good (for my pasty face, anyway!)!

Do you know what I love?
Clarins gentle exfoliator toner
Garnier sheet masks

I use olive oil squalane (not to be confused with the less stable squalEne). I use it alone, under moisturiser, I use it instead of cleanser and follow it up with a hot cloth.