Foundation for older skin

[SecretVictoria]

I’m nearly 44 and most foundations look terrible on me, they either separate and go patchy or look way too heavy and caked on.

Ive tried: Charlotte Tilbury beautiful skin, CT Flawless whatever, Il Makiage, Revolution IRL, Revolution conceal & hydrate, MAC studio fix/studio sculpt/long wear waterproof, Bobbi Brown serum foundation. Probably loads of others that I’ve forgotten!

I use a primer (generally the one from the brand of foundation) and a bit of powder. The CT ones are the best of the bunch but not perfect….and for the price I need perfect! MAC looks awful on me now after using it for years; either tangerine or ghost, Revolution is OK but very hard to get a colour match and that can look too pale, with like a white cast over my face. Bobbi Brown is way too yellow.

I tried both Erborian and Trinny London BB/serum and I love the way my skin looks…but they have zero staying power. If I even blow my nose they’re gone and very often after the car journey to work.

Help!

I'm 49 and love BareMinerals complexion rescue, been using it for a few years now. I've got very dry skin, but I'm not wrinkly yet. It's lovely buildable coverage, so fine as just a BB type cream, but you can layer up if you want it more foundation-like. Definitely not cakey / mask like. I also use their mineral veil translucent pressed finishing powder which is lovely.

You could NARS tinted moisturiser. It’s lighter than a foundation but got a lot of pigment so lasts better than many other tinted moisturisers.

I don't use foundation anymore just tinted moisturiser or bb cream

Look Fabulous Forever, has the most wonderful primer and makeup for older skin. I have been using this brand for several years and have just turned 50.

https://www.lookfabulousforever.com/

I’m 56 and came to the conclusion a few years ago that with no exceptions, foundation made me look worse. I just use moisturiser and blusher now. Occasionally powder as that can give skin a “ pulled together” look.

NARS foundations - the ‘sheer glow’ one for light-medium, dewy coverage or the ‘radiant long wear’ for medium-full coverage with staying power are both good on my mid-40s skin.

Do you wear primer? I tried loads in my thirties and early 40s and found them to be a waste of money with no visible benefits, but in my mid-40s I’ve suddenly found they really do help my make up glide on better and stay on longer. I use the Elf power grip primer (fairly cheap, only need a little blob).

IT cosmetics CC is excellent and gives a fairly full coverage finish.

Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue is a good hydrating medium coverage.

Older? I thought this would be someone aged 70+ not 44.
I'm MUCH older than you and like Bobbi Brown (although they are discontinuing the one I like), Clinique Even Better is not bad, Nars I liked the formula of Glow but too yellow or pink for me, Estee Lauder - the newer one in a tube.

Sounds as if it's the colour choice that is the issue.
Bobbi Brown does loads of shades ranging from pink toned to neutral to yellow. Have you been colour matched in store?

I'd try more upmarket brands rather than Revolution etc.

Estee Lauder
Clinique
Laura Mercier
Nars
Dior

It might also be how you are using it. Primer tends to blot up any oil to give a smooth base but it does make skin drier (IMO) and foundation can look heavier.

Go to a counter and take away a sample to try at home before you buy.

Thank you all. Lots of great suggestions!

@DeliciouslyDecadent yes, I was colour matched in store. It was only when I went to the loo halfway through a meeting the same day they’d colour matched and I’d bought it that realised how yellow it was. Their shades all tend towards yellow now.

I usually do go for more up market brands but was in Superdrug and had read good things about revolution.

I so wish we had Sephora stores here then I could get impartial advice across brands rather than having to visit each counter separately 😫.

I keep seeing ads for the Trinny London one which looks tempting. Has anyone here tried it?

Another vote for Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue - really good. Lightweight and natural, but long-lasting.

I think Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser is really good - it’s at the more foundation end of TMs and has been regarded as one of the best for years. I’ve used it for over 20 years and never found anything better.

EL futurist is great, but I’m now finding even that is too much for me. I really like L’Oréal plumping tinted serum, not expensive so worth a try. It’s super light and buildable.

https://www.boots.com/loreal-paris-true-match-nude-plumping-tinted-serum-1percent--hyaluronic-acid-10297635?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Beauty_Google&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajUxTSUqJ9e6cRT53JKH4ldxQ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwusunBhCYARIsAFBsUP9YDNa8iVThDnugCmXiXy-rz6_Bq4QtGR8tRFuePW5tmgjHoHoEtUIaAi2fEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I don't like primer - it makes my foundation look worse. But I do like to put on a thick moisturizer instead.

Less is more. Use a damp beauty blender to blend out a small dot of foundation.

Dior glow. Looks lovely all day even in Aircon

I switched to dior backstage face and body foundation from mac (everything made me look like an oompah loompah, (I’m in that unfortunate between NC25-NC30 range). It’s quite thin and I basically use a tiny amount to even out tone, the olive colours (so 2wo,3wo and so on) really reduce redness because it has a slight green tinge. It doesn’t settle in wrinkles but it doesn’t do much for my pores. I have to use setting spray (CT) to have any chance of any foundation staying on my face.

I think less is more with ageing skin tbh and it looks pretty natural.

I was going to suggest Trinny, but I can see that you've tried it. Have you tried the de-stress serum? I love it.

This (photo) was recommended on a review in the times. I love it but use sparingly with a brush only where I need it. No powder needed

Alternatively it cosmetics your skin but better bb foundation (cc is too thick on its own)

EL hydra was too glossy for me and would need powder.

I also occasionally use Joan's road soaringly, Dab a bit of it cosmetics cc where needed and a spot of powder.

For blush I found Mac glow play creamy gorgeousness

I have, I love the way my skin looks….for about an hour. It just has no staying power (for me). I end up using a powder to set it, which defeats the whole object!

I know she does a ‘finishing’ product but I had the blurring one (forget it’s name) and while I was wowed when I first used it, I found it dried up after a couple of weeks and then just rolled into balls on my face 😂. I had a look at the face finish (they stock Trinny in Harvey Nichols near me) and it felt similar to the blurring one so I didn’t bother.

I have recently been using Revlon Colour Stay - I’ve got dry skin and it’s for oily/combination but a combination of humid weather & perimenopause made me desperate for something that would stay on my face! To my surprise it doesn’t feel drying at all and the coverage is just right (one pump for light coverage and I use my hands to put it on). it doesn’t settle in my fine lines. If I can be bothered i blend a bit of a lighter more dewy foundation (currently a Primark one) on top of cheekbones and in the corners of my eyes. I use a little bit of NARS translucent powder to take the shine off my nose.

Other vote for IT Cosmetics CC cream here

Glossier skin tint very light.Can recommend.

I'm 60 and I gave up on foundation several years ago as I found it too heavy. I now swear by Erborian, I haven't found one of theirs that I don't like. I use the CC cream or the Super BB if I want a bit more coverage. The anti redness one is good as well.

I’m 58 and have started using Laura Geller baked foundation. It doesn’t sink into my pores or lines and it lasts all day. Doesn’t look like I’m wearing any just makes my skin look much better. It also does slide off in the heat.

Maybe try Blunder Cover by Monika Blunder.