Make up doesn’t suit me at all it makes me look awful

[CantLookGood]

I have tried so many different base products and every single one makes me look worse not better.
My skin is actually really good and I regularly get told I look much much younger than I am but I wanted to wear make up just to feel and look better.

Everything I try makes me look terrible !!! At first I thought I was picking the wrong shades as I looked ill and dull but even with a good shade match products either highlight open pores or fine lines making me look terrible , or my skin gets irritated, or I took too shiny or too matte. Just everything is wrong.

Im starting to think I should just forget the foundation / concealer and just use eye make up and lipgloss. Am I being silly trying to find a base when my skin is pretty good?? Every time I try a tinted moisturiser or foundation I feel so relieved when I take it off as instantly look ‘myself’ again !

i just wanted to look more polished but it makes me look horrible it’s weird it’s almost as if my face can’t take much make up it really even when lightly done/natural make up makes me look quite horrible ???? Then I feel upset as I want to make an effort !!!

Ive tried glossier (skin tint and stretch concealer), multiple no7 foundations and tinted moisturisers, bare minerals foundations and tinted moisturisers, L’Oréal foundation drops and a couple of rimmel ones. I don’t have a massive budget and can’t keep buying them to try as so many have been fails so I feel like giving up. I just wanted to look more polished and not a mess 😭

Recently tried Estee Lauder daywear tint release moisturiser which comes out the tube white but goes a lovely dewy tint when on the skin. That and a bit of hourglass ambient lighting powder.

Heavy foundations or even medium ones are out it's all skin tints and glowy powders right now.

I think I just felt like I should do more if that makes sense ? Part self care part looking more polished ? But I spend so much time on skincare which obviously is working her maybe I should just be happy with not needing base make up, I think I just wanted to as keep seeing others looking good with make up but I don’t think it suits me.

i am starting to wonder about my skin tone too as I’ve really struggled with good shade matches . I’m fair but some kind of weird neutral pink…. But neural tones are too yellow , pink too pink, mixing them doesn’t work. A couple I tried were too ashy and I looked almost grey/green 🤦‍♀️

Oddly I’ve always struggled with lip colour too and never really found a good one that suited me . I tried pillow talk once that apparently suits everyone but made me look Ill!

I can’t wear normal foundation, I hate the feel of it on my skin and it just looks wrong. I use bare minerals barepro now, having started with their original powder nearly 20 years ago. It was a chance purchase when on holiday in the US, and I’ve not looked back.

Try sunscreen or moisturiser mixed with a little bit of foundation to give you a even look rather than make it looks like you have foundation on. Then set with a powder foundation then use blusher or the tan/orange one on checks up around top of eyes to make you look more tanned?

Foundation and concealer are designed to imitate great skin. They will never be as good as the real thing, so if you already have wonderful skin, they will just make you look worse. Don’t cover up your amazing natural complexion!

Have a look on you tube at the Trinny London videos. I’ve always loved wearing makeup but have found lately it doesn’t look right .

Trinny London products give a very natural look and she only puts base products where you need them to cover redness etc. I tried it with my products and looked much better , I also applied with a sponge rather than brush which helped .

I often mix my base with moisturiser to make it more sheer and also mix my foundations together to get the right shade .

If you’ve got really good skin you probably could even just use concealer in some areas. I did find her videos really helpful so you may too , no need to buy the products just adapt what you already have .

No make-up is your look. Just love it. Saves money, better for your skin, and authentically you. If you want something for a more polished look, stick with mascara and sheer lip colour, maybe some light bronzer or blush if desired. Get your hair and nails done if you are after polished! 🙂

As someone has said - find your closest Bobby brown counter- you can book a free session. They are the absolute best for the natural / barely there look and you will look polished but not 'made up'. Their BB cream is a great halfway house imo between nothing and foundation.

I’d scrap the foundation and just concentrate on adding a bit of glow. Have you heard of Jones Road? It’s the new brand for Bobbi Brown ( the woman) who is no longer involved in Bobbi Brown the brand. She has a product called Miracle Balm which provides a bit of glow to the face. She also does a really nice cream blusher which can be used on the lips. It’s a really low key, polished look. I also second “ Hourglass ambient lighting powder” which is some kind of voodoo. In fact Hourglass have a few products you might like. If you have a Space NK anywhere nearby I’d go and ask to try first though because it’s expense.

I very rarely wear a base. I've never found one that doesn't break me put with repeated wear (ie I can do a couple days, but no more than that). I just use a bit of translucent powder for shine control (v oily skin), blusher and then do my eyes in whatever way I fancy.

It's not about the cheapness of products, it's just about being comfortable

As someone has said - find your closest Bobby brown counter- you can book a free session. They are the absolute best for the natural / barely there look and you will look polished but not 'made up'. Their BB cream is a great halfway house imo between nothing and foundation.

Was just coming on to post the same as the above poster! Highly recommend Bobbi Brown. I find these sessions work best if you let the consultant just suggest the products they think would work best on your skin as opposed to you trying to second guess, anything. I’ve been for a few of these sessions over the years, and always come out looking like a million dollars.

Why are you forcing make up on yourself? Get your eyebrows professionally groomed and tinted and tinted eye lashes . Invest in skincare instead of make up and embrace it
I look dreadful wearing it , a it of concealer and bronzer , mascara and I'm done . I just wear lip balm !

Seconding Trinny London. The BFF cream is brilliant for my skin. It just makes me look a bit evened out. On good skin days, that and a bit of concealer does the job.

On not so good skin days, I use NARS tinted moisturiser over the top. I can’t tolerate highly perfumed products (Lancôme makes me want to claw my face off) and I have no problem with NARS at all.

I am neither stylish nor beautiful so not sure what I can contribute, but I don't really like foundation these days (late forties). I like clarins beauty flash balm and a dusting of some powder on to give some colour. I still use bourgeois healthy balance even though you can only get it on Amazon. No idea if it's any good or how you're meant to use it mind you, but that's my low maintenance look! Bit of mascara and a tinted lip balm.

Just to add the “no make up” look looks fantastic on some people ( not me sadly) and so much more youthful for sure. As someone suggested getting your eyebrows done might be the key.

NARS foundations aren't fragranced - I can use them and am very sensitive to fragrance. I have found them to be quite pigmented and don't give a very glowy look. If you've got good skin , just skip foundation - you obviously don't need it.

Jeeez, where did you learn that foundation is a must in makeup?
I have never in my life used one as skin id good.
To hide the occasional blemish or similar, I'm using good concealer and that's it.
A neutral eyeshadow to accentuate eyes, eyelash curler, mascara, clear brow gel - a very light touch to groom them, but of blush and either lipgloss or red lip if going out.

Oh please don't try to emulate the contoured shiny insta people, at best, they look faintly ridiculous.

As others have said foundation probably isn’t the answer.

Use a little bit of the maybelline ‘instant anti ageing Concealer’ around the eye sockets and under eyes. It’s cheap & brilliant.

Then some mascara. Make sure your eyebrows are neat.

If you decide to move on to foundation mix a small amount with some light moisturiser, and don’t use too much.

Try doing a Glossier look, or the 'Clean girl' trend from Tiktok. If you have great skin naturally that might suit you better than a full base makeup.

Yes, also a full beat with contour etc is a bit out of fashion now anyway.

I don't know why you're tying yourself up in knots over this. You have good skin! No need for foundation then. This is a dream for many! And eye make up is make so your title is misleading tut tut 😂
Honestly, you're so lucky enjoy your skin and keep the products that work for your eye make up.

I have never used foundation - I have good skin and it is still good in my 60s despite not really doing anything to it other than a daily moisturise. I decided in my teens to never wash my face with anything but water. If you are blessed with good skin then why slap foundation on it? You can't beat what Nature has given you.

Hydraluminous aged me about 20 years,it's horrible stuff but must work on some people as often gets recommended.

I'd be inclined just to use a touch of pressed powder , Revolution do an excellent one in a gold compact.