Foundation that doesn't sit in pores or lines

[SwinginFromTheChandelier]

I'm approaching my big 4-0 and have still to find my holy grail in foundation.

My skin has extremely dry patches around the creases of my nose. I have very large open pores on my chin, cheeks and nose. I have redness around my chin and nose. I have quite deep 11s.

Whatever foundation I try it just sits in my lines and my pores make my face dotty. I have tried numerous primers. Tried applying with sponge, beauty blender, brush (all tried damp & dry) and fingers. Nothing works

Some of the brands I've tried are-

Body shop mineral powder
Body shop B.B. cream
Chanel vitalumiere aqua
EL Doublewear- horrendous mistake
No.7. stay perfect
No.7. Airbrush
No.7 perfect and protect
BareMinerals powder
Max factor miracle touch.

Any suggestions?

You need to fill in the pores with primer first.

I didn't like the consistency ofMF Miracle Touch, but their Miracle March is great.

What primer are you using? I tried a few before I found one that worked for me.

Eggs ive tried numerous primers- water based/ silicon based but no makes no difference! I moisturise and leave for 10-15mins, then add primer and leave for 5 mins but the foundation goes swimming in the little pools in my pores!

Also, you mention having dry patches - trying a really good moisturiser to deal with those will help improve the appearance of foundation on your skin.

Primers I've tried-

Baby face
Body shop instablur
Boots airbrush away
BareMinerals

and some others but can't remember!

I'm going to try avenno cream for the dry patches. Unfortunately it's down to my working conditions.

Have you tried Barry M Flawless primer - the one with the pinky coloured label? I found that makes my skin look really smooth. Or Rimmel Lasting Finish in the blue labeled tube is also pretty good.

One more thing, it might not help but worth a try - are you using anything to fix it all in place? Barry M also do a good fixing spray but there are other great ones.

It's difficult if it's work related, maybe lathering on a long lasting moisturizer would help?

Thanks Saskia, I might pick one of those up and give it a try. Problem is that I feel wasting my money buying a product that then just sits at the back of the cupboard! What skin type are you?

If it wasn't for my job I think my skin would recover in a few months. The dryness around my nose also gets very sore but unfortunately there is little I can do!

Back again - I've been trying to find a YouTube video I saw a while ago. Can't find it, but IRC the chap who made it, suggested putting a layer of concealer over the area with the large pores, then applying foundation over that . It did minimize the appearance of them. He also said not to try to hide them completely because it looks a bit odd, people have pores and it's okay to do so :)

Use Benefits Porefessional and then you can use whatever foundation you want.
It's excellent.

, I might pick one of those up and give it a try. Problem is that I feel wasting my money buying a product that then just sits at the back of the cupboard! What skin type are you?

I'm the same, I buy stuff and it doesn't work and then it seems like a waste of money. I do look for samples though, that's how I found the Miracle match stuff, I got it as a free sample when I bought some mascara and it turned out to be brilliant. It's worth popping into somewhere with proper beauty counters and asking if they have any samples of products you'd like to try.

My skin gets dry in the winter, I have to exfoliate and moisturise it really well or I look a bit scaly.

I have EXACTLY the same skin as you. This is my absolute skin saviour. It doesn't dry you out, but covers pores, redness etc and sits like a dewy silky covering. Amazing! (BTW if you've ever tried the similar Max Factor Facefinity crap, its NOT the same. MF is chalky, talky and drying, this one is not!)
M&S

Have you tried the nivea mens aftershave balm as a primer? I have deep pores and it works great for me, and back to using a very plain soap (fragrance and colour free) for washing face has helped the dry patches.

Thanks Big, I'll check that out

My HG foundation is L'oreal 24 hour Infallible Matt. It covers redness around my nose, doesn't oxidise, doesn't need a powder to set it, looks matt and somehow seems to sink in rather than sit on my skin. Also it's relatively cheap. It seems so different from any other foundation I have tried.
I don't have a pore issue but my favourite primers are by The Ordinary, having said that I'm only using them because I've got them, I don't think they are needed for the Infallible Matt foundation.

When I get a chance I'm going to get myself down to my local boots which has all the high end counters as well as your high street brands.

Problem is I have done it before- things look good in stop, then I get home and realise I've wasted my money!

I have heard about the Nivea shaving balm, might be worth a try!

My new fave is Diorskin Forever. It’s pricey but good. Also clarins everlasting and the touche eclat foundation. Try & get some samples. I am in my 40s and found all these very good.

I've just ordered the new tarte hydrating foundation so will report back!

Right! I might just cause confusion but, I too are guilty of buying products that claim to do great things (and may just do that for some people) but haven't for me & ended up in the back of the make up drawer never to be used again! My biggest disappointment was the benefit porefessional - luckily I only got the 'trial' size for £10 & not the full size so I wasn't hugely out of pocket but it didn't do anything magical for me.

My sil, her make up ALWAYS looks immaculate (ok so she's like 5 yrs younger than me) but seriously she's always done up & make up is spot on. She told me, it's not so much the foundation but what you put on before that really matters. She showed me a couple of primers she uses, I think one of them were L'Oréal lumi & the foundation was L'Oréal infallible total cover. So I tried it for myself & was impressed! The foundation is, I think too thick to be used on its own, so you really need a primer under it. It gives good coverage without it being heavy. I have ALWAYS used Nivea Soft moisturiser first. Never lets me down.

Now, I came across a primer called 'prime of your life' by Kiss in Wilkinsons for £3. It's in a pink tube. This is just as good, if not better than the L'Oréal one.

My other favourite foundation Max Factor Ageless Elixir Miracle foundation. BUT, I can not get either the L'Oréal primer or the Kiss primer to work with it - the only thing that does seem to work with it (after moisturisering) is the Nivea Post Shave Balm - as mentioned in a previous post. So it's a bit of hit & miss with primers & foundations - but they're my favourites & the ones I think minimise the look of my pores!

I love Clinique city block, it’s an excellent primer for open pores.

My skin sounds a little like yours - I did have dry cheeks but also some noticeable pores around my nose, forehead and across the tops of my cheeks.

I'd work on skincare first of all to mainly minimise any dryness and also help with the pores and wrinkles.

I swear by glycolic acid - so Alpha Liquid Gold, nip + fab glycolic pads (though Superdrug have their own called Radiant glycolic pads that I think are just as good and have now converted me), then a really nourishing moisturiser like Lacura Caviar night cream and an aspirin facemask once or twice a week.

Once you've nourished your skin (particularly the dry bits where foundation will really show every flaw) your foundation will sit much better.

Primers I like are Porefessional, M&S Illuminate and Glow or Perfecting, No7 and Clinique Universal are also pretty good.

I've tried a million foundations and I always end up back with Rimmel Wake Me Up, mixing two colours and applying with a brush then blending with a beauty blender.

Any Primer
MAC studio fix liquid foundation
Light dusting of MAC studio fix powder
Fixing spray

Won't budge or fall into lines at all after that.

My favourite primer is the elf one it's 7.50 and my foundation goes on flawlessly

I used to use the soft box one for about 25.00 but this is easily better and a fraction of the cost