Foundation reacting oddly after a few hours - what should I use?

[PookieSnackenberger]

I've always had ok skin - just a few crows feet, quite oily but usually looks glowy with a medium foundation.

However recently my skin has gone mad. I do my usual skincare in the morning, moisturise then apply foundation. It looks ok but then when I check it later in the day my cheeks have morphed into uneven ruddy patches, dry flaky bits with foundation settled into them. It's horrible.

I ran out of my usual foundation, bought 2 new ones and they both make the problem worse. What can I do? Any recommendations?

You need to make sure you're exfoliating regularly. Mine does this if I dont prep my skin properly before applying.

I exfoliate properly once a week and daily I do a good cleanse and then light exfoliation with a warm, damp flannel.

Then moisturise and allow it to sink in for half an hour. Also, use a primer if you're not already.

go get some trials. See which ones work, it's good to get out of a make rut. go to boots, ask the assistant to try some foundation/tinted moisutrizer so you can check which lasts. I did that in october and had enough trials i was still using in march.... If i had lots of money i would use shiseido, I don't so I use Boots no7 intelligent foundation in medium.

You need to get a decent primer. Mac prep and prime is great

Ajas has hit the nail on the head AND you need the correct type of foundation for your skin type e.g. Matt will hardly ever work on dry skin, dewy usually makes oily skin look sweaty.

Reporting back;

Thanks for all the responses - you were all right about all the different things. My skin has changed so that it is drier on my forehead and my cheeks but still oily overall, so difficult to find a single product that works.

If it helps anyone this is what I did - a combination of all the replies!

Hot cloth exfiliation with a muslin and Elemis cleanser. I can't use grainy exfoliators as my skin is thinner than it used to be. This worked really well followed by moisturiser.

Then I used a primer as suggested - I had some Lancome LA Base and it worked a treat. I also had some Urban Decay stuff but it was irridescent and I didn't like the sparkles.

Finally, I mixed 2 foundations together; a matt one plus a more tan coloured liquid one and it all worked really well and lasted the day, even in this heat.

Thanks all, problem solved for now, although I do want to track down a really good foundation as Mountains suggested. I'd like to try Double Wear as it's one of the few mid range foundations I've never tried. I would go £££ if there was a holy grail product but need to spend time experimenting.