Help! New makeup ‘balling’

[NackeredMom]

I went to the Bobbi Brown counter in search of a light foundation, wanting a made up without looking made up look. Was really pleased with what was recommended which was tinted moisturising balm, followed by a light brush of powder which, upon getting home I discovered is a powder foundation but it does look lovely on and then an illuminating bronzer which was out of stock but it was just for a really light sweep on my cheekbones so not essential. She also recommended this primer which I also purchased. All products were used in store.

Now ... at home when I apply the balm, with a brush as recommended, it balls (it’s the only way I can describe it) on my cheeks. I then have to flick the balls off before applying the powder which gives me a lovely finish.

Any ideas why it might be balling? I have a sneaking feeling that it’s the primer and shall try it without primer tomorrow but meantime any ideas to prevent it balling would be more than welcome!

I can’t go back to store as it’s a 100 miles from me!

Thanks

This usually happens when the bases of your products arent compatible as far as I'm aware. I think you need water based foundation with water based primer and silicone based primer with silicone based foundation.
Could you email the company and ask them to explain why the products don't work together?

Oh that’s really interesting tonic. I do know the primer is silicone based as I asked but can’t find an ingredients list for the balm. Still have the box though. Yes, emailing is a great idea. The primer feels so different to my old Laura Mercier primer - which has just finished so can’t even try it. Thanks for that!

The primer will be reacting with your moisturiser/sunscreen if it's the primer balling, as above you need water based or silicone based products together so change the moisturiser and that should stop it happening. I've had it with high sunscreen so have changed up primer for the summer and that worked for me.

Jist did a live chat with Bobbi Brown and they said it is down to me using too much of the balm and to apply it differently- warming it in hands and then pressing on. Which is different advice to that which I was given in store. I will try their suggestion tomorrow but still feel it’s a primer problem!

Clutter, I’ve been using Clinique Moisture Surge as got a sample of that to try but I think it’s water based. Would it be better to try a non silicone primer if it happens again?

Great, glad that they've helped you! You could look up the ingredients online (usually listed where you would buy online). And perhaps try a different moisturiser that fits with the water based/silicone bas ed routine.

I think the actual term is ‘pilling’ Sunscreen is the biggest cause of this for me, so I am very selective with the sunscreen I use on my face.

It really depends on what exactly you put on your skin after your face is washed and before your foundation is applied. So all skincare and primers, it’s not just down to makeup.

It could be your skincare routine that’s the issue. Sometimes you need to adjust your skincare after a while when your skin changes. As an example: if you’re going through a dry phase and you use hydrating serums and moisturisers, it will be the perfect amount of product for your skin until your skin condition improves. So when your skin becomes more normal, the same set of products you were using before may be too heavy, thus the product begins to pill. This can apply to a range of different skin concerns, not just with dry skin.

A combination of your skincare and makeup is too much product for your face which is why the product is pilling

This is actually really interesting - and thank you for the correct terminology NameChange. So, neither the moisture balm nor the Clinique moisturiser contain silicone but the primer does. However, surely Bobbi Brown wouldn’t recommend them for use together if incompatible?

NameChange, my morning skincare is really quick and simple - micellar water, moisturise and then products (I was using Guerlain Aqua Serum but have recently finished the bottle).

I think I’m going to have to play around with using less of the Balm coupled with different moisturiser and perhaps a different serum. BB did say to get back to them if their suggestion didn’t work so will start with that.

Thanks all!

I would try it without the primer one day, and without the Clinique moisturiser another day and see how you go?

I use Clinique Moisture Surge (72 hour one, have used Intense previously too) and although it’s not a heavy product, it leaves my dry skin hydrated enough to where I wouldn’t need a primer.

As your foundation product is a tinted moisturiser, you’re essentially heavily moisturising your skin twice! This is an issue as the Clinique product is high on the hydrating scale, you shouldn’t need to add futher moisturiser to your face. Adding a primer to this too means that you are probably just adding to much of the same sort of balmy/hydrating product to your skin when it doesn’t need it.

I have actually used the Bobbi Brown foundation product that you’re using in the past, and I remember it being quite heavy in terms of consistency and very ‘balmy’ for a foundation. It has quite a thick base, I have dry skin and it was too much for me. I actually don’t think you should need a moisturiser with it. I think this product is best suited for people with very dry skin as it is very moisturising - it’s not your average tinted moisturiser (which are usually lightweight)

I find with primers, you need about half what you think you need. It’s not like moisturizer where it’ll sink in (in my experience).

Thanks for all the advice. I am experimenting! Today, I skipped moisturiser (which felt a really strange thing to do) and just used the primer followed by a much smaller amount of balm. No pilling! So, not sure whether I was using too much balm or it was the combination of balm and the moisture surge. Tomorrow, I think I’ll try a lighter moisturiser but only a little bit.

You may also find that waiting a few minutes between applying moisturiser and primer helps. I usually straighten my hair in between applying moisturiser and primer, just to let my moisturiser sink in.

Just to add, it kind of is an odd combination of products that they have recommended for you. The primer is mattifying yet the balm is super hydrating and better suited to a drier skin. What's your actual skin type?

I did wonder about the primer violet. My skin is prone to dehydration and can get dry on the cheek area in the winter. It definitely needs something with a hydration element. She used the mattifying primer in store - maybe to try and take shine out of the balm, not sure. Certainly, with what I’ve read here, I’m not sure the primer and balm are a match made in heaven. I don’t often come home with make-up which doesn’t work but hate the waste of money when I do. I left around 5 mins between moisturiser and primer yesterday so don’t think that was the problem.