What to do? Foundation highlighting every fine line.

[ImDoingThisNow]

I’ve been without make up on holiday for a few weeks. I had to get dressed up yesterday and (ignoring that my foundation was too light with my summer sort of colour) it just looked awful. Every fine line that I normally can’t see showed up clearly.

What do you all do when the fine lines are starting? Today, I didn’t use foundation, just mascara and blusher, but it didn’t feel finished.

I have never found a tinted moisturiser that works - they’re all too yellow or too pink.

I'm normally very pale (Ivory/ porcelain and I have summer freckles, rather than a tan) and my complexion tends to be 'ruddy' - red cheeks etc (but not in a nice way).

I feel like I need to start again now that I’m in my mid 40s. I just want to look smart and 'put together' for work.

I just bought Clinique Light Reflecting primer, and it is absolutely beautiful. It has a very light colour but goes on clear, and gives you a beautiful glow. With a bit of concealer, blush/ bronzer you look finished.
Bareminerals primer might do the job for you too.

Op maybe try a cc cream rather than a tinted moisturiser? Get colour matched at a make up counter and ask for their recommendations. I recently got the Clinique cc cream from boots and it's lovely.

Also agree with working on your skin too. Good skin care pays off!

Dermalogica spf 30 primer is really good!
It's tinted so I use it instead of foundation.
It's about 50 pounds but lasts me about a year.Takes the shine off my skin & looks nice & natural.

Definitely tinted moisturiser rather than foundation.

I recommend the NARS one - it comes in a lot of colours including quite a few pale options. Space NK stocks most of the range (not all) to try out in person.

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser also good and a decent range of colours though not so many as NARS I think.

You need to go for brands that are geared up for older skin, like Bobby Brown and Laura Mercier. You could also try a Korean CC creme - they do very light shades. I'm currently using Erborian BB Creme in nude. I have a bit of golden colour at the moment though

I started hydrating my skin better. Specifically with 2 layers of Hado labo gold serum (apply to damp skin or spritz with moisturising toner or rose water before each application). Morning and night. That has helped loads. Then a very very small amount of foundation buffed in with a clean brush or use a damp beauty blender. I like il makiage but find any foundation is 100 times better on hydrated skin.

Face yoga
Moisturisers morning and night
Gentle face exfoliator once a week
Charlotte Tilbury flawless filter

1. When it comes to foundation do not scrimp. Spend whatever you find that works. For me it's Charlotte Tilbury light effect, £30
2. I completely avoid my under eyes and crows feet for this reason. I use my fingers to work it into areas that need coverage.
3. Don’t wear foundation hardly ever and spend most of your time and efforts ensuring your skin is as healthy as can be so that when you do use foundation the base is only enhanced, don’t try to cover up your skin, only the small imperfections.
4. Diet and water intake are vitally important.
5. I chose some supplements after some research. High dose vitamin C, MSM, NAC, collagen, retinol
6. What you put on before foundation is personal due to skin type. I use a serum then a smoothing balm. The balm I have is from Primark and is very nice.
7. Use something at night that you can't use in the day. I use oils that repair overnight.
8. Get yourself a peel, a home one that is not harsh. Mine is from The Ordinary and I do it once a month.
9. Exfolioate every few days with either a Muslin cloth, Italy towel, or decent scrub like St Ives

I'm not sure why, but it seems that ingredients that used to be premium are now mainstream. A formulation you would pay £300 for in the 00s is now available in Primark and seems to be the same product. Must be down to patents or awareness but I do try a few things also and see what works. Since this balm is so good, I'm going to try an expensive one later on that should be much, much better.

It's all working but I've been done this for 20 years, since age 21.

Using less foundation is the key. Laying down some good Moisturiser first, then beauty blending in the smallest amount of foundation.

I have deep sockets with dark purply colour so I dab some peachy concealer into the corner and buff it in with a small brush, working it onto the eyelids for a base. But the rest of my face gets only a bit of foundation blended, blended, blended in.

I'm older than you 51 and find I have the same problem. Recently I've been using a Mac foundation or a glossier skin tint. But I look hellish with it sinking into every wrinkle and looking cakey. I'm very pale and despite daily SPF 50 and living in the north of Scotland have managed to get some sun damage.

I'm fancying trying the erborian cc cream that is mentioned on here. I am very pale with freckles and green/hazel eyes. Do you think Clair shade would suit my skin those who have used it.

I like the sound of cream products but my skin is quite oily and I worry cloud paint etc would melt off my face. Thanks

I'm mid 60s and gave up foundation about 10 years ago for the same reason. I have a similar Scottish complexion to you, tending to rosy cheeks and freckles, but otherwise fair. And because I have a slim face I do have lots of smile lines which I have no desire to highlight, they're noticeable enough!

Nowadays I use Serum (I currently like Garnier Vitamin C brightening serum), then SPF moisturiser(Nivea Q10 anti-wrinkle age spot cream) then with a little brush I dot a powder concealer (Bare minerals) over any spider veins, age spots or purple shadows.
Then depending on the season and if I have a bit of a tan I brush over my whole face with a bronzer, or my new favourite which doesn't add colour (I don't always want a bronzed look) I use Bourjois translucent powder called Poudre de Riz de JAVA. It has an imperceptible luminous finish which makes a subtle but effective difference, leaving me feeling a bit more polished. Then with a finger I pat a bit of cream blusher to my cheeks to add a bit of a dewy finish.

I like my skin to look natural and my freckles to show, and I don't think anyone would notice that I had anything on my skin at all.

Either mix your foundation with moisturiser or try a sheer skin tint instead.
I use origins vitazing and it's lovely.
And maybelline 4-in-1 anti age glow thick thing with the sponge tip gives lovely sheer glowy coverage.

Glow *stick not thick

i tried this yesterday and total game changer!

Under eye concealer usually lights reflecting do in a v under eyes towards I suppose top of cheekbones and tap in then blend up to top under eyes.

I’ve tried Glossier Cloud paint and personally didn’t love it, Dior Hologlam powder blusher I’ve almost used up. I mean I don’t mind cream blusher but can be hard to get a decent one, tried Mac ones the other day and just not that impressed.

I did also use some shades in an Ciate Iris Apfel eyeshadow palette and saw there was a sort of bright blue which I hadn’t used but put on top lash line. I have friends who use brown eyeliner but with a heavy hand, you can use it but a fine line, preferably blended looks better.

I’d love to do a serum before makeup but fear most of mine would be too greasy/oily!

TBH no face cream will remove wrinkles. Retinol has to be prescription strength to work and can take years.

If your wrinkles really bother you, it might be worth thinking about non invasive treatments, not just Botox or fillers, but there are lots of other ways like Thermage, and skin tightening/collagen building procedures.

Whatever you do, always use spf 50 all year round even on cloudy days.

A lighter foundation, dot of concealer where necessary, bitnof cream blusher on the apples of cheeks, light dusting of translucent powder. Also a paler shade of lippy for less harshness. I'm 63.

Bit of moisturiser night and morning. I like Estee Day Wear.

I have given up on foundation and just use a bronzing powder. It gives a nice colour and finish without highlighting the lines.

Hi OP. I have a similar complexion to yourself and use Clinique CC cream (SPF 30) for everyday Summer use.

I use Charlotte Tilbury foundation for evening use and had this properly colour matched before I bought it. This gives good coverage over rosy cheeks and even if I've had a few red wines it stops me from looking red faced.

I use Nivea Soft and as someone else suggested mix it in with my foundation if my skin feels dry.

Drinking lots of water sounds obvious and boring but it does work (for me) in terms of making my skin look better.

Primers solve this problem. Benefit's POREfessional is good.

Yeah this sounds like a lack of primer problem. Elf Poreless and Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Pore diffusing are both excellent.

So much good advice here. Thank you for taking the time to answer.

I plan to moisturise better, look into primers and find a lighter type of foundation as a start (mixing the last of my foundation into moisturiser for now).

I have lost some weight and didn’t think it could be seen on my face yet, but I think that’s where the fine lines are coming from. I’ve been eating better and I think my face is less oily because of it (in a good way) but this means I need to think about what type of foundation I’m using.

@AgingDisgracefullyHere I have the same under eye issue, just wondering which concealer you use?

I use something peachy-toned, which right now is ELF camo concealer. I find that peachy pink neutralises the blueish tones.

@fastingworks I've just ordered it from justmylook, it's on offer for £36.75 and free delivery for the month of August.