Please critique my skincare routine/why won't my make-up stay on all day?

[BlaWearie]

Can you please offer some suggestions about why make-up doesn't stay on my face? I'm 45, combination dehydrated skin, don't drink enough water.

am: TO Buffet & Hyaluronic acid 2% & B5
LRP toleriane fluide
LRP anthelios XL 50+
Clarins beauty flash balm (I've tried others but this seems the best)
Estee Lauder Double wear foundation

pm: Lush Ultrabland
Simple cleansing lotion or ponds cold cream
either TO Lactic Acid 5% HA 2%
or TO Granactive retinoid 2% emulsion & Azelaic Acid 10%
and LRP Toleriane fluide

Make up starts out ok but after a few hours it has gone and I just look rosy cheeked and shiny. Any suggestions?

Primer under the foundation and powder on top? I find both essential to make make up last.

Paperdoll beauty flash balm is primer. Powder emphasises wrinkles round my eyes, so I tend to avoid it.

I'd ditch the BFB and try a different primer. That said your skincare regime sounds good. What make up brands do you use? Do you touch your face habitually or does your hair cover it? Are you having any hot flushes as that can play havoc. Careful deployment of loose powder really helps set my make up - avoid eye area obvs.

I will be honest and didn't really understand much which you put on about all the %.

Have you been to see a professional makeup artist? They may be able to suggest the.m best for your combination of skin. It sounds to me as if the oil is moving your foundation and you need something matte, maybe ?

Sparkle I've tried quite a few primers and the BFB seems the best. Do you have any recommendations for my skin type? I don't get menopausal hot flushes yet, but I get hot or red cheeked if I run, get hot, get cold etc etc. I use Estee Lauder DW foundation. I'm not sure if I touch my face much, I probably lean on my cheek while I'm working, which won't help. I only have my hair down when I'm out & about, I tie it back when I'm working or at home.. I'll try adding powder but I struggle to get it only on the bits that need it - it ends up around my eyes which isn't a good look.

I’m guessing it’s the Beauty Flash balm. I’m 46 with classic combination (sometimes drier on forehead/cheeks in colder weather). I can only use BFB under my eyes as it makes my face too shiny/make up doesn’t stay put so guessing it’s the same for you. The best Primer I’ve used is Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Fave base, it’s fabulous & also smells amazing

How do you apply your make up? If you use your fingers, the natural oils in your fingers will combine with the product, which can impact its durability.

Thanks Fullfat, I'll try to get a tester of that.

I think it depends somewhat on how/why it's disappearing. If it's sliding around on oily skin or transferring off at the slightest touch I'd be looking to change to a primer like Becca ever matt poreless primer which is a very dry primer with very little slip and adding a finishing powder if needed to set things in place. Powder wise I prefer something like the Hourglass finishing powders as they diffuse the light better so don't sit in fine lines the same way as a matte powder but don't look shimmery on the skin. That said, even with the best products going it's difficult to get makeup to stay on particularly oily skin beyond 4-6 hours. Oil absorbing sheets (the plastic type rather than powdered paper) used regularly throughout the day and a quick powder top up of the worst areas will help to increase longevity, but it just won't last as well as it would on more dry skin types.

On the other hand, if foundation seems to disappear into thin air on the surface of the skin whilst perhaps leaving a residue sitting in the pores, I'd look at increasing hydration even further as it's likely that the problem is moisture within the foundation getting sucked up by the skin like a sponge. You could look at trying a more hydrating foundation but my first skincare step would be adding in a hydrating spritz before the serum stage (and maybe even again before moisturiser), something like the Clinique moisture surge spray. I'd also consider upgrading the HA serum. Depending on budget and just how bad the dehydration was I'd either swap both Buffet and HA for Hylamide SubQ or I'd give Niod MMHC a go as the first serum. I love MMHC, it's so easily absorbed and feels invisible on the skin unlike The Ordinary formulations which seem to sit on the surface as a thin film (on my skin at least). I'd then look at adding a slightly more occlusive moisturiser on top, or maybe even a light oil to seal the hydration in.

All that said, the first thing that jumps out at me, you don't mention cleansing in the morning. If your problem is dehydration then leaving products like Lactic Acid, Retinoid or Azelaic Acid on the skin from the night before isn't going to be helping things. If you're at all oily, not starting with a clean base won't help either. LRP toleriane demo cleanser removed with a warm flannel is quick, easy and nice and light.

Dontquote I use fingers - whenever I try to use a brush it ends up streaky. Not sure if it's my technique or the brush I'm using.

Thanks for the very detailed response LtheWife. Is it possible that both things are happening? Foundation slides off my oily forehead, but disappears into my drier cheeks? I might see if I can try different products on different parts of my face (I should have said that I only use the serums on my cheeks, as I thought I didn't need any more shine on my forehead).
I usually just rinse the pm products off in the shower, but I'll try a cleanser too.
Thanks again for the suggestions!

It's absolutely possible to have different problems in different areas. There's nothing wrong with targeting each area with different products so definitely give it a go. But try using the Buffet & HA in particular on your oily areas too as often dehydrated skin can overproduce oil to try and compensate.

I use Double Wear too and would recommend using the Real Techniques expert face brush to apply it. You sort of tap and push it into the skin, rather than swirl and smear it around. I would also ditch the BFB. I used to use it years ago but found it balled on my skin when I applied foundation. And yes to adding a cleansing step into your morning routine.

I can't tell from the products you list if you're using a moisturiser?

I had oily skin for years and had this problem. Then someone suggested that the problem was actually I had dry skin, and it was producing so much oil to try and compensate. I started using a proper moisturiser before my makeup and I have never had an issue since.

BFB is disastrous for me (46 with oily / combination skin). I don't spend masses on primers but get on well with MAC ones and currently an M&S hydrating one that was in my advent calendar. Try using a decent foundation brush or beauty blender. If you struggle to control powder then smaller brush or even a set powder might help. I was in a habit of resting my face on hand in boring meetings so has to train myself out of that!

Have you tried using a setting spray as apposed to powder to set your makeup, OP?

Thanks for all the suggestions. So far I've tried cleansing thoroughly in the mornings and using powder - things which I probably knew I should do but just forgot about. I'm a lot less shiny and my foundation stays put.
I'm still not getting great coverage on my nose, so I'm going to order the real techniques brush and try that next. Then I'll gradually work my way through all the other suggestions.
Thanks again!

I have normal skin and find most foundations seem to disappear after 4 hours or so. The only remedy is powder IME. I don't like powder that much but use alight Bobbi Brown one - think it's the light reflecting one in the beige compact with different squares of colour- it's really sheer.

The other thing that helps is to apply two layers of foundation AND allow around 15mins for all your skin products to sink in before applying foundation. If I apply foundation quickly after moisturising, it just disappears.

I'd not us the BFB daily- it's meant for special occasions to give a 'glow'. If your skin needs more moisture use something like Clinique Moisture Surge and let it sink in.

You might not need Double Wear- your skin could be dehydrated as others have said. Why not try a light foundation and a very light powder on top? I like Dior Star.

When I was a teenager a little bit of hairspray was a common 'hack' to keep name up on. Mostly done for formal events that required a professional make up artist afewhouesbeforehand. It worked very well. Not sure how good it would be for one's skin done regularly though.

How about a setting spray - urban decay all nighter is pretty good?

I struggle with this. Try mixing powder into your liquid foundation - offers more coverage and makes your face feel lovely and velvety. Then use a setting spray afterwards. W7's setting spray works fine for me.

I find Benefit primer good.

You need a primer that will actually help extend the wear of your foundation (not all primers do). Dior Forever & Ever primer would be a good choice. Beauty flash balm is basically a moisturiser.

Apply with a Beautyblender sponge, or a round foundation brush rather than a flat one to avoid streaks (the Real Techniques brush mentioned up thread is excellent).

Make sure you set your makeup with a decent powder. I quite like Charlotte Tilbury's one as it keeps everything in place but isn't the least bit cakey. Use oil blotting sheets on any oily areas as needed throughout the day.

I use the same foundation and found an enormous difference when I started using a sponge instead of my fingers or a brush.

Can also recommend Clarins setting spray.