Lightweight alternative to foundation for problem skin

[neverbeenskiing]

I have no idea if what I'm looking for exists!

I am 39 and among the many joys of early menopause, I started to get hormonal acne. This is managed with Lymecycline and sacyllic acid which works well but dries my skin out.

I've realised I can't wear foundation anymore as it makes breakouts worse but also seems to show up the dry patches on my skin no matter how well I moisturise. I feel like it also ages me as it settles into all my fine lines. I used to just wear an illuminating primer to give me a healthy glow on days I didn't want to wear foundation but this isn't cutting it anymore.

I am looking for something lightweight, that will give me a nice glow, even out my skin tone and stop my skin looking dull but isn't as heavy as a foundation. I prefer a dewy look to a matte look.

I have consulted Dr Google and totally confused myself, do I need a tinted moisturiser? BB cream? CC cream? I also have a pale, celtic complexion so need something that will suit my skin tone.

Any advice and recommendations would be much appreciated!

Forgot to say I'm also prescribed benzoyl peroxide which is great for getting red of stubborn spots but can leave me with dry, reddish patches where the spot used to be so something with a little coverage/colour correction would be good

I also have fair skin and very sensitive skin. I use maybelline fir me in dewy make sure you get the dewy one there's a matte one thats too chalky . I get colour 115 ivory . I've tried more expensive ones and have estee lauder double wear in ecru as well but honestly the maybelline one is great especially for the lighter coverage dewy look.

Tint and glow by Sculpted by Aimee is lovely, glowy and lightweight. I find it’s the only thing that doesn’t “collect” when I have dry skin

Thank you will look into both of those! Yes I've tried Double Wear before and didn't get on with it.

Are you using a serum with Hyluronic acid? I’m just using a cheap Tesco one and it’s really helped my acne prone skin.

I've just started using Clinique moisture surge Sheertint which is an oil free tinted moisturiser that evens me out but doesn't look drying at all.
I need oil free due to being acne prone but everything seems to be too dry on my peri skin. The sheertint seems to be just the thing so far. The colours come up dark though so I'd recommend getting a sample at a counter (I'm using very light).

Hyaluronic acid serum will really help with the dry patches

I have very sensitive skin, even shampoos can make it erupt red and angry looking. I also have had pre Hyaluronic days, dry scaly areas, covered with an oil slick, it can still go like that at a drop of a hat it seems if I miss using it

Ive now settled on Laura Geller Balance and Brighten - Amazon, QVC, Website - its not in stores so you cant try before you buy - but you can return. Its a baked foundation, looks like a powder but is a cream. You apply with a kabuki brush and can build up coverage - its light to medium coverage and it never settles or cakes anywhere and aged 59 Ive more then a few fine lines :)

I use light, Im fair and tan easily. The fair was too pale on me but suits a friend who is really pale

I also use the double take foundation in the same range to cover very obvious redness above eyebrows and around nose

Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint is absolutely gorgeous. I've pretty much stopped wearing foundation since I discovered this - it will fulfil the criteria you've listed perfectly, I promise.

I love this stuff. It's so light and gives such a good glowy finish.

I just posted on another thread about dry skin with rosacea. I used to have dry, flaky patches with cystic spots that would stay on my face for months, so you have my sympathy. My GP used to prescribe treatments for it, but they were drying. I've found that niacinamide works well for me and the one from The Ordinary is moisturising. If I do get a cyst forming I use this for a few days morning and night and it stops it and heals it up, no more months' long monsters on my face. So I do a balm cleanser (currently exploring cheaper options and liking the one from The Inkey List just fine), glycolic acid wipe (I use the ordinary, others have been too harsh on my skin), then either niacinamid or hyaurlonic acid serum (both the ordinary), spf in day time (the 50 from Elizabeth Arden works best for me), and then a balm moisturiser (I also use the EA nightime miracle one, but I use it morning and night). For the foundation, which is the only make up I've really worn for the last few years, I like the Elizabeth Arden futurist hydra glow. It's good coverage, lightweight, has an spf 40 and a tiny bit glowy, but on top of the moisturiser perfectly glowy. I haven't had dry pathces since adopting this routine. My face is a little sicky/tacky for the first hour or so but it soaks in after that and my skin feels great. I also have the primer, but I can't see that it does anything additional for me.

Here to second the Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Tint! Beautiful light weight sheer cover...

Will check out all of these suggestions thank you!

Trimmy London BFF D-Stress Tinted serum is amazing. I am a bit of a makeup beauty junkie and this is some of the best make up around alongside Sculpted by Aimme. Its designed for more mature skin its a skincare make up hybrid, the serum is full of hylaronic acid to moisturise and antioxidant to protect the skin with a light to medium coverage in 12 different shades. They do a colour match thing on the website to help you choose your shade. Its £39 but one tube has lasted me over a year, I bought another thinking it had almost run out a couple of months ago then cut my tube open and there is still enough for daily use for about 6 weeks. A little goes a very long way. In terms of coverage its more pigmented and better cover than a BB cream and less thick cream than a foundation. But unlike foundation it is treating your skin at the same time. In light of your current skin struggles and dry patches I think this would be perfect because it’s really buildable you can use a thin layer or build up of you want more coverage. If you used it 7 days a week I think it would last at the very least 6 months. If you want a much lighter coverage with hyaluronic to moisture your dry patches acid and an SPF try the Sculpted by Aimme body base primers they can be worn separately as a light cover with spf & no makeup in the sun or underneath your regular make up. So choosing something that will help to treat your skin while covering soubds like what you need right now. Check out the bdd d-stress on Trimny London website. The d-stress eye serum is AMAZING I have shadows and discolouring around my eyes and very fine lines & dryness because am 53 now & this gives an air brushed look because of the active ingredients.