Foundation - where am I going wrong?

[CaptainHaddock]

Ok, I am nearly 40 and have finally decided to get to grips with wearing foundation. I have used Clinique 'barely there' in the past and tinted moisturiser, but only for going out.

Now I have some broken veins on my cheeks and although my skin is pretty good I feel it is time for me to start wearing foundation on a more regular basis.

With that in mind, I recently invested in some True Comfort Foundation by Clarins as recommended by a friend. I followed all the directions by the consultant - exfoliate, moisturise, apply with brush, blend well etc but it seems to accentuate the lines on my face especially the smile lines around my mouth. I also think it makes my skin look quite dry - I have sensitive skin which does get dry on my cheeks, with the usual oilier T zone.

What am I doing wrong? I'm really disappointed as I thought it would improve the look of my skin, but if anything it looks worse! Please advise oh wise ones...

sounds like it's too dry for you despite your oily t-zone

a great one from clarins for disguising lines is clarins Instant Smooth foundation

I have an oily t-zone and it's fine for me

I also use (makeup junkie) lancome ideal .

Can you take it back to the preson you bought it from and explain , they may replace it with a less drying one.

Best to get samples of foundation before committing .

Thanks ggirl, will know to ask for samples next time! Will they replace it even though I have already used it?

Am dry too, and old but second what ggirl says about the Clarins Instant Smooth, it's wonderful, I feel 20 again!

Quite a lot of the oil free ones recommended for T-zone oily bits etc are incredibly drying. I once had a Clinique one that made my face creak with dryness!

they may do if you've only used it once or twice
and good to go back to the same place
I would give it a try - they want a loyal customer after all

Clarins Instant Smooth is good on me depsite having combinatoin skin and you only have to use a teeny amount for great coverage.
I am a real fan of it.

See that's what is confusing me - the blurb says the True Comfort one is recommended for dry or dehydrated skin.

Thanks for the suggestions though - I will be brave and go back (woman was a bit scary!)

hmm well have a go
it obviously doesn't suit your skin

chanel vital lumiere (mumsnet favourite) is great for dry skin but slides off my face cos of the oily t-zone

You need a primer too, defo. I like the MAC one Prep+Prime but GOSH at superdrug is good too.

Is a primer the same as a serum?

Hey
I am a Beauty and Holistic therapist and my opinion you need to stop trying what everyone else uses because your skin is unique to you and you alone!
Make an appointment with a reputable salon and get a professional opinion on what's best for your skin.
I am in my early 40's and cannot stress enough that what is great for one person is totally ineffective for the next!
If you are not comfortable with liquid, cream, compact foundations then try Bare Essentuals which is mineral based and can be matched perfectly with your own particualr skin tone.
As an added bonus it is sponsored by the Skin Cancer Foundation therefore promoting good ingredients that do not have any adverse affects in years to come.
I avoid high street products with a vengance due to the chemical content.
For anyone who's interested check your products out on this site:
cosmeticdatabase.com
You'll be surprised......... and shocked!

Have you considered that maybe you're just using too much of the product? If I put on more foundation than I need, it 'sits' on my face and doesn't blend properly. And I know this is a really unpopular thing to say, but I do find that blending with fingers gives you a better and more natural finish as your fingers warm the foundation and it blends better.
Do agree that you shouldn't expect someone else's recommendation to necessarily be the best thing for your skin, but even so if it's sitting in your lines maybe there's just too much of it on there. Before you chuck it, try applying 1/4 of what you THINK you need and then build up in the areas that need further coverage.

Beauty and Holistic therapist

snigger

dont use shitty mineral make up
its crap

To - HelloThisIsJoanie

Snigger, meaning............what exactly?

I was also very skeptical though have learnt in this business not to be dismissive.
Please enlighten me if you are aware of any misconduct where bare essentuals in particualr is concerned?
I'm not implying for a second there are not better products out there although from experience have had good results from this company.
It's personal preference, affordability and availability.
I have extremely sensitive skin and found the products recommended far better than most; if you investigate bare essentuals you will find their research extensive....... and supported (unless you are aware of something I'm not?). Would be very interested if so......
I have been in the industry for some time and agree that most mineral makeup has very little desire and benefit to the skin.......
Am intrigued as to your negativity and would be interested in your views and why.
Please back up your statement as I am always open to constructive development.

Destress- you say the OP should stop trying to use what everyone else uses but are happy to try and presuade her to use what you use

It was merely a suggestion

I'd second a decent primer - mac strobe creme is v good. Also, let your moisturiser soak in well (at least 20 mins) before applying foundation. Chanel vitalumiere and prolumiere always get me loads of compliments.

I am approaching 50 and use Clinique superbalanced make-up. It does improve the look of my skin. I put it on with a brush. It took me a while to get used to putting make=up on with a brush, but with my daughters help I now don't resemble the living dead when going out to work.

Or ditch the foundation? -I'm 40+ and I find any foundation just cakes and I don't have wrinkles - it just sits on my face - so I use a tinted moisturiser from EL - adapts to any skin tone - OK - not huge coverage but I personally think that coverage makes a person's face look odd - slightly flat?

I secong that-I am 37 and find that when I use foundation I look 47!!!!!!
It sits in all my lines and shows up any dry skin I have on my nose, even after exfoliating.

I do however use bare escentuals mineral foundation powder and I get on with this as I feel the coverage is lighter and it dosen,t sit in the dry areas, though I have a friend who does not get on with it.

I would reccommend the mineral powder but know others that would disagree. Have tried true comfort from clarins aswell but found this drying even though it is for dry skin.

YSL Primer is fantastic. Well worth the pots of cash, lasts an age. Boots No7 Instant Radiance Found is good, but, TBH you may be worth looking at something like Olays tinted moisturiser, to give you some coverage, and also give your skin the moisturising that it needs.

Dont get a foundation that hasnt got SPF in it. x

Also, sorry, second re Bare Minerals, I really did find it useless.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I am taking it all on board! I think I need to obtain a collection of samples and see what works best - how do I go about getting hold of samples that match my skin tone? Will the scary counter ladies just give me some or will I be expected to buy something? Have no experience of these things so apologies if being a bit dim...

Scary counter ladies will give you samples and you won't be expected to buy in my experience. I have never had a problem getting a sample and have never been put under pressure to buy. Just ask!

Are you using enough moisturiser before you put foundation on- and leaving for 10-15 mins to sink in?

I find Clinique City Block is a great primer with added bonus of SPF 25 or 40.

If yu have used Clinique before, why not try the Superbalanced? I use their Repair Wear which is great- good coverage and looks natural. But you only need a tiny bit-2 pinheads size almost and blend, blend, blend.