Please tell me what I need to buy

[BallacheForLife]

I'm 35 and due to both my kids having SEN I've completely let myself go.
I've recently decided I HAVE to make an effort so I've bought a Fenty foundation and a make up revolution spot cover up but do I need a powder as well?

I still have a lot of acne and also wrinkles so I always look quite haggard but don't want a cakey powder so what should I buy that will work on my horrible skin to still look natural but that will help hide my acne too?

Please help x

Not necessarily, it depends whether you want to wear powder or not. A finely milled setting powder might be good, especially if you are on the oily side, but it’s not compulsory, the foundation and concealer will probably be enough to cover the spots. Have you got a blusher? I always think blusher is the one thing that perks my face up if I’m feeling/looking tired.

Are you using anything for your acne?

I use a benefit blusher and a bit of pencil on eyebrows as they're very blonde. I use a smash box neutral palette for eyes and a Lancôme mascara. Its the whole foundation / cover / powder stuff that I've been lax with. I feel like such a rubbish woman I don't really know anything about make up.
I'll look in to a setting powder. Are there any you recommend particularly?

Acne wise I have recently started using GlamGlow to see if that helps. Nothing else to date has helped since I was 11. It's not cystic but I do get a lot of spots on cheeks and chin area

This is what my skin looks like

Hi op, I've suffered with spots since my teens too. I've recently signed up to Dermatica as recommended on here. You could send them the same photos you've just posted here and their dermatologist will recommend a product to help, it's about £20 a month, they send it out automatically but you can cancel at any time. I figured that it was worth it for the chance of sorting my skin out and to be honest it all adds up buying different products to try all the time anyway. May be worth a look? I use Estee lauder double wear camoflauge foundation as I have melasma too, covers spots really well! I would only use a powder if you get lots of shine during the day.

There’s a Laura Mercier loose setting powder which is nice but a bit on the pricy side. At the moment I’m using One Powder Wonder from Beauty Pie which I really like, but hopefully some other people will be along with more tips.

If you have time, I really recommend watching some YouTube make up tutorials. My favourite is Hannah Martin, but there are quite a few out there who aren’t teenagers, and who share tips for natural-looking make up.

Sorry to hear you’ve had acne since you were so young, that must have been hard. Have you tried much in the way of prescription medication for it?

I was on antibiotics for my skin for a while but had to stop due to being the 1 in 10,000 that had the side effect of brain swelling. I've had prescribed topical creams, treatments etc.

Wondering if I should skip the powder and look at a highlighter maybe? I've never used highlighter but it might be fun to try?

Why fenty foundation? From what I’ve heard it’s quite heavy and can emphasise dryness etc so although it’s full coverage, it may be difficult to work with.

Forgot to add that the fenty foundation alone might be cakey, let alone with concealer and powder on top

Laura mercier’s powder is good, won’t make your face look heavy. You don’t have set your foundation unless you think it’s at risk of moving or fading eg oily skin

Have you tried benzoyl peroxide OP? I had a really bad break out recently like that and put a super thin layer each night. It's a lot better 2wks later and I'm now dropping down to a few times a week(as it gets a bit peely!). I've got a layer of astral on tonight to get some moisture back...its getting there.

I also have some fenty and used that this week, didnt need much at all and it had good staying power at work! The pro filter one...

And also, you need to try and prioritise yourself. Realise it's hard with kids and SEN to deal with but get some downtime where you can, sleep more, good food and water, relaxing activities. All these things will help, so be kind to yourself too.

Sam Bunting's videos on youtube are really good - I followed her advice and cleared my acne. Basically you need benzoyl peroxide (I got Duac from my GP) plus a retinoid to use at night.

Not a foundation but I recently read about azelaic acid for adult acne

www.google.co.uk/search?q=azelaic+acid+for+acne&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

Acnecide from the pharmacy, a thin layer every night and clothes that brighten your skin tone, I have similar colouring and have banned, grey, beige, cream. I think jewel colours would look good on you

La Roche posay effaclar duo is brilliant for spots

Although you have pimples, your skin appears to be a pretty even tone (not blotchy) so I don’t think you necessarily need a concealer and a heavy cover foundation. As mentioned upthread this can look quite cakey. What about a mineral foundation? Lily lolo may be worth a try? You can build coverage but it feels pretty light.
My daughter had success with Mario Badescu for her spots.

Mario badescu spot zapper is excellent

You’re very pretty and your skin looks actually looks lovely (bar the few spots) If you get my gist.