Why doesn't foundation work on my face?

[illnever]

I've tried the following brands and have the same problem:

Maybelline
L'Oréal
Revlon
Max factor
NYX
Rimmel
Nars
MAC
Lancôme
Illamasqua

And each time, I end up with cracks in my face and my mascara transfers.

I've tried with a powder, without a powder. I always moisturise and prime but have tried it without but that's even worse. What can I do? I have dry skin but foundation ages me 10 years and makes me look awful! I'm ghostly pale too so I always have to use lightning drops but even without it's still the same! Any advice? I've tried different brushes and sponges too but nothing works.

And I've tried Kat Von D and Urban Decay feel so crap about myself lately, willing to pay anything st this point.

You didn’t mention Bobbi Brown? Try getting a make up lesson with them and see what the artist recommends. I notice you did mention MAC, who also do good lessons and as they do foundations in liquid, cream and powder formulations I’m sure one of them could work for you.

If it’s cracking are you using too much product?

I have fair, dry skin with a lot of redness and I find that cream formats are best for me. I apply lightly direct to the skin with my fingers or from a stick and then spread out and buff in with a stippling brush. If an area still shows red I add a little more product to that area and buff some more. I don’t prime but I always use a setting spray.

Are you letting each product set before you put on the next? I wait 10 mins after moisturiser for primer and another 10 before I put on foundation. Do you use a setting spray?

You say you have dry skin, are the foundations you have tried mostly Matte? If so that could be why they ‘crack’.
What is your current skincare routine like? Sometimes it’s down to finding the right skin care products first and foundation will sit better.

What skin type do you have and what foundation type are you using? Full coverage, matte etc?

If you have dry skin have you tried Giorgio Armani luminous silk. Amazing stuff and well worth it

With your dry skin, I would skip the primer entirely. It sounds as though you might be using far too much product. Aside from that, I think your skin would be better suited to a CC cream instead of traditional foundation.

Also, if you have dry skin, matte foundations are the last ones you want to use. It's like putting spackle on your face.

Also yes like other posters have said, don't use matte stuff. I have a very dry t zone, so I have to use non matte primer and setting spray

I thought sheer glow was meant to be dewy though?

Try the new boots hydraluminase stuff - it's quite light but with good coverage.

Have you tried mixing some foundation with your moisturiser?

Are you using a primer? My foundation like nowhere near as nice if I don't wear primer.

Primer, plus Este Lauder double where. My face is really dry and it's the only thing I've managed to get on with. You only need a tiny bit to get full coverage

I like Dior applied with the beauty blender like sponges that you hold under running water until they expand.

Dry skin - use a cleansing oil (superfacialist is good) removed with a wet flannel and then use an essence before moisturiser (superdrug B Essence). These will get rid of dryness and flakiness. Take a supplement such as evening Primrose with starflower oil or omega 3 oil.

Always ask for a sample to take away and use at home when visiting counters too.

Do you really need to wear foundation? (Discolouration, redness, spots? Etc) If not, I’d treat your skin as appropriate, and then just use concealer where necessary, like on undereye circles. I think it’s rare to see foundation that looks genuinely good on dry skin.

I know you said you’ve tried Nars and Urban Decay but I’m not sure which foundation you tried - I’ve found Nars Sheer Glow and Urban Decay Naked Skin the best for my dry skin. I use a stippling brush.
I’ve also been using a spray moisturiser recently and find that helps - I still use cream but I can use a lot less and my foundation sits much better since.

I have days when my foundation just doesn’t work and won’t seem to blend. It goes bitty, not like when it rolls into little balls, but just patchy. I put it down to dehydration and use some facial oil or hydrating serum that night but am following for tips.

I think a lot is to do with the amount of product & how you're applying it.

Are you using too much/too little?
Are you using a brush/fingers/sponge?

Also, skin care is absolute key.

I’ll be first in the queue if you want to sell off any of this super pale foundation!! I’m very pale too but greasy skin. What I can say is that the Clinique pale moisturising one - will check for bane was v greasy so might be better. I find them great on pale skin too.

If your mascara is running then surely that's a problem with your mascara?!

Have you tried just something like a BB cream or tinted moisturizer instead?

I'd say it's the skincare and then the makeup tools you need to change up, possibly the colour match as well and the amount you use. That's a wide range of foundations you've tried, they aren't all bad formulations.

Sorry it doesn’t ring a bell when I look at current offerings but they do now have a Moisture Surge CC cream which might be worth a punt?