I need to liven up my complexion, what would you recommend?

[fadingfast]

I’ve just reached the 50 milestone. As I hurtle towards the menopause, my skin is dull looking, quite dry, increasingly lined and an awful texture. I’m looking for something to brighten up my complexion, improve the texture and with light/sheer coverage. Does such a thing exist??
I’m also very pale so sometimes struggle to find a suitable match in foundation. Most foundations seem to just sit on top of my skin and make it look worse. I’ve already tried the Erborian cc cream, which lots have raved about, but it just looked orange on me.

Any idea what I could try? Happy to sell a kidney for a miracle product.

I love No 7 hydra luminous but make up is such a personal thing as in what suits us.

I think before you leap into planning your foundation, you should aim to pep your skin up underneath. For dull skin, vitamin c is a good option - buy a moisturiser with one in it or try a serum. The Ordinary and The Inkey list do good budget ones and Murad or Medik8 are good on the speedier side. Also ensure appropriate levels of hydration with sufficient hylaronic acid.

I'd also consider a good face base. I love the Bobbi Brown vitamin enriched one but it's a bit marmite - so see if you can get a sample pot before splashing out. It really does help with foundation. I quite often just mix my Bobbi brown face base and foundation together for a lighter, but still effective, coverage.

Stila colour corrector or Bare minerals gel cream are both great.
I recommend Trinny London, too. I can’t wear the De-stress serum, but the concealer is the best I’ve ever worn.
Get one of her blushes and a highlighter and you’ve got a fresh glowy complexion in a couple of minutes.

Vitamin c glowing serum- forgotten who makes it and cba to walk to the bathroom

Clairns double serum is really good.

Im nearly the same age as you and I have found that superdrug retinol twice a week is great. I also use their vitamin c liquid every morning and, the two together has really improved things

Make your skin well moisturised before laying on any foundation. It'll do wonders. Also try a light amount foundation with a damp beauty blender and softly bounce it into the skin you can build it up if necessary. Add a few drops of liquid highlighter to the foundation for a lovely glow. Use a cream blusher rather than powder. I always need to get 2-3 foundation shades to mix and match to my colour. It's hard to say exactly what moisturiser to suggest as everyone is different but I use a rosehip one as it's great for rosacea or red skin.

Also, not sure if it's your cup of tea but a friend of mine in her 50s got mild chemical peel done and it has transformed her skin. I think it was about £200

Excellent Skincare negates the need for foundation I've found.
I use Charlotte Tilbury wonderglow primer with a bit of hourglass powder

If your budget allows find a good facialist/dermatologist, high quality active skincare (I use mesoestetic) alongside peels and facials have made all the difference.

You’ll almost certainly want some hylauronic acid, Vitamin C and retinoids in the mix but to what degree you ideally need some help with.

Thanks all, I think you’re right I probably need to pay more attention to the preparation, rather than expecting one product to do everything. I have used hylaronic acid but not consistently enough. Sounds as though I need some vit C in the mix and I wouldn’t rule out some sort of chemical peel (if I can find someone locally I can trust!)

Two items have been medically proven to improve your complexion.

A vitamin C serum: applied after cleansing, wait to dry before your moisturizer. I am in the USA and the one I use is pricy but amazing, I love it.
https://www.skinceuticals.com/skincare/vitamin-c-serums/c-e-ferulic-with-15-l-ascorbic-acid/S17.html

The other item is Tretinoin which we can only get here with a prescription or from a dermatologist. Causes your skin to turn over fastest (like younger skin), smooths skin, fades discoloration, prevents dryness etc. I only use it twice a week at the moment as any more and it makes my skin too sensitive.

I am 54 and since I have been using these my skin looks amazing. Everything else is a bonus but these two really work. I use the new No.7 moisturizer for day and night creams.
Also get a facial if you haven’t had one for a while. Regular microdermabrasion, light skin peels (ie you walk straight out looking great, no downtime) will prevent your skin looking dull.

Of course don’t forget sunscreen and also treat your back and décolletage. A healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and drinking enough water are essential for good skin. Junk food shows.

P.S. here’s some ideas for foundation for pale skin. Focus on improving your skin though and you won’t need foundation as much.

https://www.instyle.com/best-makeup-for-pale-skin-6362970

Totally agree it becomes more about skincare, got to get the foundation right. Even the best make up will sit on skin if its dry or lots of visible pores etc.

I'd get a Dermatica prescription and use diligently.

I think sleep and diet help too.

How well do you sleep and do you get plenty of fresh air. Do you drink enough water and eat considerately?

You can put as many products on as you can buy, but the foundations (pardon the pun) have to be there.

Last week I looked like shits older, shittier sister. But I was sleep deprived and eating micro dinners. The results were immediate and not cool.

Same with exercise which releases endorphins, just brisk walking every day (hopefully somewhere close to nature) helps your mental outlook and improves your health. Less stress, more fresh air = better skin.

Glycolic acid. It brightens anyone's skin.

Also use vitamin C. They do million times more than any blusher

I’m 62. I’ve transformed my skin by alternating these two products on a night.

https://uk.alpha-h.com/collections/moisturisers/products/liquid-gold-overnight-repair-cream

https://uk.alpha-h.com/collections/bestsellers/products/liquid-gold-exfoliating-treatment-with-glycolic-acid

I get mine on qvc or shop around for offers. Both last ages. I’ve just started using their absolute eye cream and that might become a holy grail product too

If I fall off the wagon with my skincare I can tell within a week, my face starts to look like a tired paper bag.

Get a led light mask and use religiously.

Am 49, very pale and never really got into a routine so am in the same boat.

I'm on session 2/4 having biorepeel peels... it's fab and my skin looks much better! I'll def continue to do this in future coupled with a good skin care routine. I've only really just started that though at 45 😞 my skin just looked knackered and dull.

Try the Maybelline 4:1 Skin Perfector. It's bloody amazing.