Makeup advice for oily, blotchy, spotty, late-30s disaster skin

[Pizzafaceat37]

Hello. I had my first child 18 months ago and for the year I’ve been dealing with a massive flare up of hormonal acne on my cheeks and jaw - lots of small whiteheads and red, painful under the skin spots. I only have a couple “active” spots at a time but have so many red marks from healing/healed ones, my face is a total mess. It’s also dry and blotchy on my cheekbones, oily and bumpy on my forehead and sensitive and prone to eczema all over. So generally a real treat!

I finally stopped hoping it would settle and went to the GP last month. She’s prescribed me Duac. I’ve only been using it for four weeks so a bit early to say it it’s helping much - a slight improvement maybe but nothing amazing.

I usually muddle through and try not to stress about it. I know in the scheme of things acne isn’t the end of the world and my DS and DH love me anyway. I mostly WFH so get by with a few splashes of concealer here and there for video calls as I hate the feeling of caking myself in makeup - I’m sure it doesn’t help! I’m also crap at applying it so live in fear of it all looking totally shit and drawing more attention to the spots, as well as breaking out more.

But I have two hen dos in a row coming up next weekend and the one after. These are with girls I don’t know well and after catching sight of myself with my usual ham fisted attempt at concealer I feel very nervous about going as feel so self-conscious about my spots and red marks.

Please can anyone suggest any acne-friendly yet effective primer, foundation, concealer, powder etc? I hear good things about Estée Lauder Doublewear. I need strong coverage. I have tried Laura Mercier loose powder for the oil but it doesn’t seem to work :(

[Please no tips on managing the acne. I already double cleanse with v gentle cleansers and use a gentle moisturiser, along with the Duac. I’m under the care of the GP and have a good plan in place for trying antibiotics and potentially combined pill if no improvement. Thank you]

Also just to say I unfortunately don’t live anywhere near a decent Boots or department shop so needs to be something I can try to colour match and buy online!

Anyone? 😣

I haven't taken the plunge yet but have been looking at Il Makiage foundation, the ads are promising for coverage and colour matching. I have a fair bit of scarring too and more dry skin than oily, it makes it hard to get the "base" right before you even start doesn't it. I used to swear by GOSH primer but I think it was changed/discontinued, or my skin just doesn't like it any more! I hope you find something 🤞

@ISeeTrees thank you for your reply, I have seen mixed reviews on Il Makiage but maybe I will give it another go! Which Gosh primer?

Hi @Pizzafaceat37 you need to be looking for non-comodogenic products when you're choosing (for your moisturiser as well as any primer and foundation). What moisturiser do you currently use?

For cheap and reliable concealer I like to use maybelline fit me, or the maybelline eraser. These both work really well for me and I've had problem skin for years.

Foundation I like Nars Natural Radiant Longwear (medium to full coverage), Estee Lauder Doublewear is also really popular but it is heavy coverage.

A dusting of loose powder followed by a setting spray will help hold things in place after. Try not to use too much powder if your skin is flaking anywhere as this can be made more visible with powder.

Hi @MamaMiaOhDear thank you for your reply! I use Cerave which is non comodogenic.

I am a bit frightened of EL DW as am dreadful at applying makeup and sounds like it could easily go horribly wrong. I will check out Nars thank you.

Nars is definitely more forgiving in my opinion but I'm not a huge fan of the heavy coverage look.

Try applying with a brush or a very lightly dampened make up sponge ☺ and remember less is more.

Thanks @MamaMiaOhDear do you use a primer?

I’m also paranoid about foundation breaking me out. Ugh it’s so fun worrying about this in your 30s

Double Wear can be applied reasonably lightly, or super full coverage. I've got acne prone skin and it's been my go to for years, because it covers well.

Second the suggestion for a slightly damp blender sponge, it really is as simple as putting a little on the sponge, and dab dab dab

Thanks @Lellochip any recommendation for primer too?

My skin used to be exactly like yours. I used and still use nars radiant creamy concealer, it covers everything but doesn't look cakey.

I know you don't want acne advice but honestly that's what you need to sort. The only thing that helped me was prescription strength topical tretinoin. If your gp can't or won't prescribe it you can get a referral to a derm or you can get it in various strengths via skin and me or dermatica in the post. I wish I had started using it years sooner and not suffered through trying various ineffective products.

Good luck!

Thanks @atthebottomofthehill . I understand what you’re saying with regards to the tretinoin. I have tried skin and me but it triggered a dreadful breakout.

did/do you use the nars concealer all over or as well as a foundation?

I use it where i need it which sometimes is a lot of my face and other times just spots and under eyes. It blends well and to me looks more natural than just a thick foundation. Let the nice parts of your real skin shine through and the blemishes will be less obvious. Nice natural blusher and big lashes, curl them, strong brow, no one is going to be looking at spots.

(FWIW it took me about 6 months to get past the pain barrier with tret - it tends to cause breakouts and skin peeling at first even if you use it carefully but this is basically your skin purging. All good now)

Ps I use frezyderm 50 sunscreen as a primer (same consistency) and then the concealer and it helps it blend and stay put. So I would recommend a primer and concealer rather than foundation. I haven't found a single foundation that doesn't break me out

I don't often wear one but if I do it's The Ordinary's high adherence silicone primer. It's quite silky/slippery feeling, feel like it works nicely on drier skin.

If it's mainly for these specific events, what I've been known to do is find samples of products if I'm not sure on shade etc. Double Wear isn't the cheapest (though a bottle lasts once you know your colour) - either direct from Estée Lauder if they do it still, or even eBay sometimes have them. Might be cutting it fine for time though.

Alternatively, do you know your shade in any other brand of foundation/concealer? The website Findation.com can give matching shades for different brands