Make up help!

[purplewhite]

I have no idea what I’m doing wrong. Everyone seems to have beautiful, flawless almost air brushed looking make up all day and I look like a sack of

I’m 32 and never been good at make up. I’ve tried every brand, product, foundation, bronzer, blush, contour, primer, moisturiser and I just look crap no matter what!

foundation slides off and / or goes cakey.

I exfoliate and moisturise. What am I doing wrong???

Foundation is the toughest part for most people. You might need a primer to go under your foundation or a setting powder on top. Estée Lauder double wear seems to be a popular full coverage foundation. Otherwise you might not need that much coverage and just need a tinted moisturiser. It’s a learning curve. Head to Sephora and get some advice and hopefully samples. Also check out YouTube makeup tutorials

I have double wear and feel it just goes blotchy throughout the day. I do use primer and have the Laura mercier translucent setting powder. Sephora is a good shout - I didn’t want to just head to one place as I didn’t want to be tied to a specific brand so this makes sense!

I only wear a BB cream around my nose and chin. I then dust a light bronzer over my face. If I wear full foundation it doesn't sit right. A good moisturiser is a must also. I'm lucky my skin is decent though.

I'm 31 and had this issue up until recently.
I've started using a cheap SPF from Home Bargains, elf primer and loreal true match foundation. It's made such a difference

I have very oily skin and unless I use a setting spray my make up will slide off.
I use Dior backstage primer, dior foundation, a bronzer on my highlights, bit of blush, brown mascara and Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray.
Works a treat.

I'm 64 @purplewhite and find Estee Double wear too heavy. I'd keep things to a minimum:

Light moisturiser (apply at least 5 mins before make-up)
Foundation
Concealer if necessary.
Cream blusher
Dusting of translucent powder.

I think clinique foundation in the egg shaped pot is superb.

Oh I’ve just bought the Clinique chubby sticks and they have been awful - they come off after a couple of hours. I just got the ceravae spf moisturiser to try. It’s my birthday soon so I might use my treat at Sephora..

I see all the tutorials have base layers, foundations, concealers, highlights, contours etc etc and they look amazing but I look awful and nothing stays on!

@purplewhite I prefer a skin tint and like the Lisa Eldridge one. It’s natural coverage and for me it’s easier to wear than a foundation. I have a fairly simple routine and use SPF, primer, skin tint, clear mascara on the brows, eyeshadow, mascara, bronzer,highlighter and blush. Takes me around ten minutes all in.

How do you apply the DW?

What are you applying your foundation with? I keep swirling mine over my face with a buffing brush like the one below...

I also mix my DW with a bit of an Iconic Illuminator drops or Iconic Super Smoother.

Also shake the bottle before you apply.

Try putting setting spray on after primer. The apply foundation with a foundation brush. Setting spray. Then your eyes and whatever next. Then more setting spray.

Why don’t you splash out and have a make up lesson from a make up artist- check out different websites locally and see their work and what “style” appeals to you.
You could also get recommendations from friends - anyone of them had a make up artist for their wedding?
Did they look good ?
Was it a style you liked ?
Take your time to get the right make up artist for you.
it is an initial expense but you will save money in the long run as you won’t be buying unsuitable products and you’ll look and feel good into the bargain.

Yes, setting spray is good too - I use the Charlotte Tilbury one, it gives a bit of a glow too

I'm abit in awe of those women who seem to create works of art on their faces. It's actually quite creative, isn't it?😀

I'm rubbish at doing mine (didn't really start til my 50s and I'm extremely short sighted) so I go for the 'less is more' approach.
Primer, concealer, BB cream, powder. Abit of bronzer and blusher, just powder ones that don't involve any highly skilled blending techniques! It's very subtle so I don't notice too much if it fades throughout the day.
I also put eye liner and sparkly bronze eye shadow on most days, but that's a me thing as I like the colour and my eyes disappear behind my glasses without!

Moisturiser, first thing and let it soak in for around 30 mins.

primer, leave for 5-10 mins

DW with lightly damp sponge

blush, highlight then settting powder

Sorry all - I don’t really use a brush as I feel I can never get it to set / dry? It just seems to be me continuously swishing product around my face

I do the same routine as you but only leave moisturiser around 5 minutes and apply my foundation immediately after primer.
How do you apply your powder? If you go to the Laura mercier counter they will show you how to press it in with the sponge and I find that way it lasts really well, using a brush I find all the product just sticks to the brush.

I do use a brush for my powder in fairness but to be honest if I use NO powder it seems to fade and cake in the same way

Makeup brushes by Mario @ Sephora

don't dampen your sponge, you're watering down the product. Instead it should be full of foundation. New sponges take a while to become fully impregnated with the foundation. Don't wipe it on, dab it.

I use:

cleanser
snail mucin
moisturiser
primer
foundation and concealer
contour
loose powder dusted and then pressed on
bronzer
blusher
highlighter

I only wait a couple of minutes between each of the initial products.

You need to use a flat topped buffing brush and buff it into your skin in circular movements. Tap some foundation out on the back of your hand and dip the brush into it.

A damp sponge is no good,doesn't take up enough product.

Tackle your skin care first and give yourself a great base. Cleanser, toner, serum and moisturiser. This will give you a glow
I use the ilia tinted SPF serum for foundation. It's great, also doubles as skin care. Absorbs well, similar to a BB cream. Then I use concealer, an ilia blush stick, and mascara/eyebrow pencil.

It might be your foundation, DW is notoriously difficult to wear once you start to get a little older. Something like NARS light reflecting might be good as it's less likely to go cakey.

Leaving your moisturiser to sink in for 30 mins might also be an issue, if you're prone to dry skin you're adding product onto a tricky canvas. A few mins max. Think about adding hyaluronic acid to damp skin before to lock in as much moisture as you can.

I do - moisturiser, SPF, primer, then light foundation with damp sponge. Trick is to squeeze out excess water in tissue so it's not dry and drags across the face and not too damp that it doesn't pick up product.