Foundation settling into pores and fine lines - any advice please?

[Sunnysummers]

I was reasonably happy with my foundation until I looked in the mirror with my reading glasses on 😱. Pores like craters with foundation absorbed in and where I have fine lines (say nose to mouth) foundation caked. It was like looking in an extra strong magnifying mirror! I’m mid fifties and yes, I have some lines but thought they were fine, probably have a loss of volume in my face.

This is probably a ridiculous question but is what I see with my glasses on what everyone else sees or are others seeing what I see when I stand back from the mirror which is makeup lightly applied and looking okay. If it’s the former, then what do I do to fix it? I can’t go out looking like this!!!! Help!

I've found using a primer helps, I think! Just a cheap one, they're all similar. It puts a coat on your skin, although I find it does tend to make you feel a bit hot at first, think baseline coated. Xx

Yep I like the Trinny products but the woman herself is quite annoying 😂

I saw this in the shop today and your post has made me wish I'd bought it. They had a liquid version as well. Do you know which is easier to use?

I use Stilla primer at the moment-the one with all the colours in it, I used to love it but I'm starting to wonder if they've changed it some way, as it doesn't seem to be as good.

I'm using the one in the tube at the moment, @MrsMappFlint.The product in the pot's supposed to be the same, I think, but I found it thick unless I'd warmed it up a bit first. It would be better applied with a sponge, I guess, but that's one thought too many for me in the morning!

Sunday Riley Good Genes as part of your skin care regimen is a game changer. Also, using a BB cream like purlisse ageless glow is sometimes better with mature skin as it doesn't settle into pores. It isn't full coverage but gives skin a nice moisture boost, light coverage and has sunscreen in it.

Thanks @GarlicSmile

All foundation does this to me once I hit 40. Even BB and CC creams. I now mix a little super glowy foundation with my moisturizer and go over the areas that really need it with concealer.

I use primer. It doesn’t make a difference to the foundation settling into my under-eye lines ☹️

Urban decay primer - game changer

Use a primer , it's a game changer. Also use a light foundation if you can get away with it. The heavier and thicker the foundation, the worse the 'cracks' and pores. Go lighter rather than darker to your shade. I also use a shimmer liquid and dab it on top. Then it kind of 'reflects' off instead of 'in'.

Also you'll get people recommending ridiculously expensive foundations especially designed for the job. But they're all a load of money making tosh. (Been there, done it, tried and tested)

I highly rated boots no 7. I get a lot of compliments on my make up.

The Estee Lauder water primer is fantastic, expensive but better than anything else I've tried , every thing else makes my face feel sort of claustrophobic.

I actually find primer makes my make up look worse. I also gave up on foundation and use a tinted moisturiser now.

You need primer.
I like the Huda one

Are you wearing a foundation because you feel you need to or out of habit?

I need to! I’m horribly pale and it also evens out my skin tone!

So many of you mention primer - so is everyone layering serum (maybe), moisturiser, primer, sunscreen and then foundation? I tend to use sunscreen instead of primer on the days I opt for sunscreen.

Am going to do a bit of research into Tret … am due to replace Retinal and that will be around £80 so maybe I should try Tret for a few months instead but can I use Medik 8 Press & Glow with Tret? It’s a newish bottle and I don’t want to waste it !!

I'm 48 and the foundations that still look decent are diminishing. I need to use soft dewy ones. Hourglass Illuminous Glow is my favourite if I want slightly heavier coverage.

Otherwise I've been using the new Milk Skint Tint or Erborian CC Red Correct. I rate both of these, the Erborian is the lightest coverage but great at toning down red and evening out skin tone.

I also recommend a primer under foundation. Elf Pore Putty is good and cheap. At the more expensive end YSL Touche Eclat Blur is lovely.

Something new I've tried recently is mixing a bit of glow product into foundation/Tint. Vieve Skin Dew is really nice and seems to do a good job of brightening and softening. You only need a little amount though otherwise it's a bit much.

I made the mistake recently of trying the viral Maybelline 30 Hour wear foundation. I looked freeze dried. My matte foundation days are gone.

If I didn't have rosacea flare ups I'd probably be fairly happy these days with a good moisturiser and a bit of glow/bronzer. I think as we age a lot of make up products actually work against us so it's a case of figuring out the few that do work and letting go of whatever used to look good in our 20s/30s.

Interesting @OvaHere my matte foundation days are over too. I’ve been using the Fenty Pro Filter Soft Matte which last year I loved because my skin was oily. This year dry skin and it looks cakey ( I also have rosacea so have to be careful with what I use)

Yes I should have said I do have dry skin but it's managed well these days with a good routine so I foolishly thought a matte would be fine. Except it sucked every bit of moisture out of my face about an hour after application.

I agree. At 66 I find less is more.

I’m 55 and put the majority of work in with my skincare. I take collagen supps and do facial massage.
a.m - hot cloth cleanse, vitamin c serum, The ordinary multi peptide serum and then a rich moisturiser ( currently using a L’Oréal Age Oerfect one with Manuka honey) which my skin drinks up.
pm- cleanse, glycolic toner, serum ( currently L’Oréal Le Duo which is a passable dupe for the Clarins double serum) and then a night cream which I use for my massage. I add some tanning drops to the night cream which makes my skin look a bit more perky.

in the 2 months I’ve been doing this my skin texture has changed due to the collagen, my jowls are firming up thanks to the massage which also improves my circulation, meaning my skin looks so much clearer. My roseacea is receding.

subsequently I’m using much much less foundation, but what I do use sits so much better on my skin - most days I just use concealer and a bit of powder on my t zone.

anyway- TLDR: better skincare can help.

I’m horribly pale

If you use foundation to look less pale, have you tried self-tan drops instead? Gone are the days of orange oompa-loompa face - just mix a few drops in your moisturiser and you'll have a subtle glow and it does even out the skin tone as well.

@LadyOfTheCanyon can you elaborate on the facial massage please? I often see someone doing it on Instagram but it’s one of those things I never get round to trying! I started Collagen in December and think my face looks slightly fuller but it could be a case of imaginitis!

@DecafDodger haven’t tried self-tan drops (probably due to a fear of looking like my face had enjoyed a fortnight in the sun whilst the rest of me remained at home!) but this might be the right time of the year to experiment. I’ll investigate, thanks!

Primer - a good one that doesn’t roll.
Dusting of translucent fine powder over top when foundation dries.

Primer - I use benefit The Porefessional.
i have tried lots of cheaper ones including ones mentioned on this thread but I go back to this every time. You don’t need foundation with it, it’s slightly tinted.

Which collagen are you using?

For cleanser I use Anua - I bought it for my preteen as he’s getting a few spots then I tried it and I really like it!
It. has really helped him too - he was getting little spots on his nose and if he uses it daily they go.

Byoma pink bottle moisturiser.

I use a factor 50 Nivea sensitive uv face at the minute.

The porefessional goes over fine