Foundation help please

[Violetta]

I need some help to get my skin looking half decent for my wedding in August. I know this is a tall order I have yukky skin, I'm tryingthe OCM to try & clear my pores & it is helpnig a little. I have never managed to get the hang of foundation, it has always tended to look a bit streaky or flaky especially around my nose.
I went to Boots yesterday & the lovely Estee Lauder did my foundation for me (used doublewear light stay in place intensity 2) the colour was a good match unfortunately the finished effect only served to highlight my giant pores , it looked as if someone had stuck pinholes in my face. :cry:
Now I know I won't get a beautiful china doll clear complexion but there must be something a bit better than this horrible blotchy, blackhead,openpore occassional zit canvas I call a face. Oh I make myself sound awful I am actally able to go outside & havent frightened any small children.
I've heard good stuff about the Virgin 1step face base & mineral stuff but don't know where to start.
Any advice would be most welcome, thank you Vi

[pnq06]

Hi There,

I really feel for you- I pretty much suffer the same effects! I've spent hundreds on foundations and still not had the "amazing look thats lasted" :(

Well that was until I discovered cake make up, its the stuff used in tv and films and is really thick- Covers everything! I have decided that I will only use it for special occasions so I see a difference but its that great that its proving hard not too :rolleyes:

I'll post up the brand name in a bit xx

[Bitsy Beans]

I always had problem skin. Liquid foundation would just slide off my face and spots were always an ongoing battle. Then I tried Lily Lolo mineral makeup and have never looked back. My spots have cleared up, I wear less foundation but have better coverage and the fact that their stuff contains mica it reflects the light so I end up with a more "dewy" finish to my skin.
You can order small samples from their website which I find helpful.

[McKneff]

Go back into Boots and ask about Mineral foundation. This is brilliant stuff.

Ask them for a sample or ask them to try some out on you there and then.
Start using it now and like Bitsy Beans says, mineral make up will make a difference to the qualit of your skin by the time August comes round.
Good luck

[twentypenceoff]

have you tried using concealer under the foundation the best one i found is barbara daly in tesco it is about 4 pouns and comes from very fair to very dark shades

[donnac2558]

You need a primer. Its like painting a wall, you need to prime first for a smooth finish.
Smashbox make brilliant ones they sort of fill in wrinkles etc and also help foundation stay on longer. If you have Prescriptives counter near theirs is cheaper at £19 and great, using it myself at the moment. If not try justbeautydirect for the Smashbox ones.

Word of warning about mineral foundation, it does not photograph well and gives off lots of shine in photos. Not the look for your wedding alburm.

[Bitsy Beans]

You need a primer. Its like painting a wall, you need to prime first for a smooth finish.
Smashbox make brilliant ones they sort of fill in wrinkles etc and also help foundation stay on longer. If you have Prescriptives counter near theirs is cheaper at £19 and great, using it myself at the moment. If not try justbeautydirect for the Smashbox ones.

Word of warning about mineral foundation, it does not photograph well and gives off lots of shine in photos. Not the look for your wedding alburm.

I wear nothing but mineral makeup and never had this problem. I don't always wear the finishing powder (just the concealer and foundation) but even when I do I have never looked shiny. Perhaps it depends on what brand of mineral makeup you are using.
I agree about primer though if you are going to use liquid foundation. I wasn't using mineral stuff when I got married but my makeup artist used Lancomb primer. It wasn't cheap but it worked really well.

[Barneysmom]

If I were you I'd spend the next 6 weeks concentrating on skin condition, get it glowing with health, then find a new foundation.

Eat loads of fresh fruit, drink plenty of water, take multivits, fish, all the good stuff, no fry-ups or takeaways, plenty of exercise.

This and all the lovely weather that's coming should improve your skin all round.

I like Estee Lauder stuff, it might be the way to go as you can get samples from Boots or Debenhams.

All the best and congratulations on your coming wedding, I hope you have a perfect day xx

[boogellyboo]

I have problems with really dry patches in some places and shiny in others on my face and tried loads of foundations that didnt look right. At present Im loving Boots No7 mineral foundation, it doesnt contain any talc so doesnt stick to dry/shiny patches and emphasise them. It just gives a nice even coverage which you can build up bit by bit. Dont use the piddly little brush that comes with it though, I use a huge no7 brush and it goes on lovely.

[jeannieblue]

Don't go back to Boots.........

Mineral make up is brilliant, but the high street stuff is not great, alot of it is not pure minerals.

I recommend Elemental Beauty and I buy it online. The lady there, is Nicola and I am sure that she will give you tons of advice. I have horrendous skin, correction, I HAD horrendous skin! Mineral make up has been my saviour and Nicola has never steered me in the wrong direction.

I will get you a link in a minute - I hope (I'm not always good at the linky thing!).

Either way - you will be a gorgeous bride!!

Off to find a link... :D

[jeannieblue]

Think I've got it...

http://www.elementalbeauty.co.uk/

Howzat!!

[Violetta]

I always had problem skin. Liquid foundation would just slide off my face and spots were always an ongoing battle. Then I tried Lily Lolo mineral makeup and have never looked back. My spots have cleared up, I wear less foundation but have better coverage and the fact that their stuff contains mica it reflects the light so I end up with a more "dewy" finish to my skin.
You can order small samples from their website which I find helpful.
Might try them did see a bit about them on the mineral makeup thread but there was so much info I was a bit overwhelmed. Have you had photos taken wearing the foundation at all? Were they ok, I remember seeing photos of people wearing the touche eclat stuff & the flash was doing something wierd with their undereyes maybe bouncing off it and making the skin look oddly white. That sounds so wierd maybe I imagined it.
If I were you I'd spend the next 6 weeks concentrating on skin condition, get it glowing with health, then find a new foundation.

Eat loads of fresh fruit, drink plenty of water, take multivits, fish, all the good stuff, no fry-ups or takeaways, plenty of exercise.

This and all the lovely weather that's coming should improve your skin all round.

I like Estee Lauder stuff, it might be the way to go as you can get samples from Boots or Debenhams.

All the best and congratulations on your coming wedding, I hope you have a perfect day xx

I've been doing all the healthy eating stuff since Feb not much improvement in my skin have lost 2&half stone though:j. It was the estee lauder stuff she used as I'd heard such good stuff, I was so dissapointed .
Thsnkyou for the congrats too, not long now!!

[Little Chicken]

I recently started using mineral foundation and the change in my skin condition is unbelievable. I bought the starter kit from www.lookfantastic.com as it was £40 and had £140 worth of products - and the brushes which are excellent quality. The brand name is esscetials I think. I didn't like the lily lo stuff as much. hth

[Violetta]

Think I've got it...

http://www.elementalbeauty.co.uk/

Howzat!!
They look so pretty!! Might send Nicola an email.

Thanks for your help everyone.

[Barneysmom]

Violetta, it's just hit me reading your post.
If it's not diet and exercise, maybe it's hormonal? Don't answer this as it's private, are you on the pill.
Might be worth having a chat with doc just incase you've got an imbalance? Oh gosh that sounds impolite but I don't mean it that way.
I bet you're not as bad as you think?

[jeannieblue]

They look so pretty!! Might send Nicola an email.

Thanks for your help everyone.
Please email her - or call her.

Mineral make up is not complicated. The more you faff around with it, the worse it can be as you put too much on. It is a case of less is more.

Nicola will also advise you on brushes to apply it. Most seem to use a kabuki brush. I use a slightly different one with a longer handle as that suits me. It takes a bit to getting used to it, but once you do, you won't go back to yucky liguid stuff!! Also, as it is natural, you can sleep in it without aggravating your skin like the yucky stuff - wake up in the morning after your wedding looking blemish free?? Ok may be not entirely - but not far off!!

I have/had very problematic skin - and I can now only wear mineral make up as it doesn't aggravate. Elemental Beauty do two and one of them is a healing foundation - it has been my salvation!

[Violetta]

Violetta, it's just hit me reading your post.
If it's not diet and exercise, maybe it's hormonal? Don't answer this as it's private, are you on the pill.
Might be worth having a chat with doc just incase you've got an imbalance? Oh gosh that sounds impolite but I don't mean it that way.
I bet you're not as bad as you think?
:eek: Moi unbalanced????? How dare you!:rotfl: No worries honey, my skin does seem to have more spot's at certain times in the month, I think it's a genetic thing too my poor dad still has pretty rubbish skin & he's even further away from teenage hormones then me (and that's saying some)
It prob isn't anywhere near as bad as I think, I mean how many people will be as close to my face as the mirror is when I'm examining it?

[jeannieblue]

:eek: Moi unbalanced????? How dare you!:rotfl: No worries honey, my skin does seem to have more spot's at certain times in the month, I think it's a genetic thing too my poor dad still has pretty rubbish skin & he's even further away frome teenage hormones then me (and that's saying some)
It prob isn't anywhere near as bad as I think, I mean how many people will be as close to my face as the mirror is when I'm examining it?
The EB healing foundation for you then - and your dad :D

[melancholly]

i use RMK foundation as no-one else went pale enough for me!! but the weapon of choice for pores has to be clinique's pore minimizer instant perfector. for me, the other pore minimizer products didn't help so much, but that one really helps. you can use it under or over foundation, or just on its own. can't remember who on MSE recommended it originally, but i wouldn't be without it now to hide the huge pores on and around my nose!

[suki1964]

Keep up with the OCM

Add an exfoliator to your regime, For a cheap creamy one tescos natural range is as good as any. Use at least three times a week, use the OCM on the other times.

You may want to pay for a deep cleanse facial help get those pores as clean as possible. Do it now and that will give time for any eruptions to calm down. Clean pores are small pores

Mineral foundation is the only way to go. Get the samples from what ever range you are thinking off - I too love EB as its very calming - and get practicing.

But at the end of the day you need to get your skin in as good a condition as possible so cleanse, ex foliate and moisturise

[Violetta]

Thanks suki I have been using a scrub, go between oil of oalay thermal scrub and an Avon clearskin proffesional deep pore cleansing scrub that has salycyclic acid in it. I will try and get a facial done had a mad moment wondering when I could get 1 what with work & my daughter then I remembered beauty salons are open on Saturdays so her dad can look after her while I go.:doh:

[b3nton]

I would give pore minimiser a go, you can get it from Boots.
Good luck with the wedding! https://www.smileyserver.com/i31-14.jpg

[jeannieblue]

I recently started using mineral foundation and the change in my skin condition is unbelievable. I bought the starter kit from www.lookfantastic.com (http://www.lookfantastic.com) as it was £40 and had £140 worth of products - and the brushes which are excellent quality. The brand name is esscetials I think. I didn't like the lily lo stuff as much. hth
That is rather expensive. EB is alot cheaper and excellent quality - and really, you only need a brush or two. But as you said - mineral make up really is the best for skin! We all have to shop around to find what suits us.

Alot of us seem to suit EB - other makes made me itch like mad!!

[wendy+5]

I 2nd EB! I sent an email to them and got a reply within 5 minutes. I also ended up ringing and Nicola (I think it was Nicola) couldn't have been more helpful. She also sent me a couple of freebies too!

All I need now is a decent brush and I'm off!

[annie123]

Find a local college that trains beauty therapists.
They all have open clinics to the public and all trainees are experienced before they let them loose on you so dont worry;)

I went in weekly (when my DD was studying) for months as a guinea pig for all sorts of things.

You will be able to have anything from a simple deep cleanse (DD's college cost £2) to laser therapy. a full make up to fake nails and all for very little money.
By August your skin and the rest of you will look great :D

[Krasnoludek]

Hi there

If you go back to the Estee Lauder and purchase a product called Idealist skin serum it will magically make the "holes" disappear then apply the Double Wear foundation and your problems are over. I have the same "holes" in my nose but when I use Idealist, you cant see anything, make sure you buy a brush for the foundation too

Go ask them for a demo and you will see for yourself, its not cheap so they will give you a sample to try but it works brilliantly honest, as does the foundation

Good luck

K xx

[melancholly]

i used to use the estee lauder skin serum (just can't afford it anymore!).... i hadn't noticed it helped my pores but then again i am noticing them more these days.... hadn't made that connection before.... it is amazing stuff that puts all other serums to shame (even the No7 intense one i'm using now) but the price tag really is very high. one to add to christmas/birthday lists for me!

[mogwai]

You can also get a product to temporarily fill in the pores, like cliniques pore minimiser, which will help with heavier foundations like double wear..

Mineral makeup isnt so good for people with oily skin - since its a powder, you get this kind of oil well effect around your pores surrounded by the mineral foundation powder. Maybe less is more for oily skinned gals, but I couldnt get it to look right on me :(

[suki1964]

Mineral makeup isnt so good for people with oily skin - since its a powder, you get this kind of oil well effect around your pores surrounded by the mineral foundation powder. Maybe less is more for oily skinned gals, but I couldnt get it to look right on me :(

Mineral make up ISNT powder its mineral and its ideal for all skin types including oily.


Some mineral make ups do have a shiny finish and are not the best for oily skin, Bare esscentuals gives a bit of a shiny finish and needs the mineral veil, but then EB's healing foundation gives a nice matte finish.

[Violetta]

Thanks everyone for your input, I emailed Nicola at elemental beauty and got a lovely email back. Personal too, not just a standard reply. So I have ordered a few samples & will be giving that a go. I will try and get a facial maybe this weekend. I will let you know how I get on. xx Vi

[Violetta]

Ok I got my samples from elemental beauty & had a play about with it yesterday evening, it looked ok some redness showing through, later on though when I came to take it off I noticed it had gone a bit shiny on my chin nose & cheeks and claggy around the pores on my nose. When I took it off though I realised when I looked at my glowing nose & cheeks that I must have caught a lot more sun than I realised (I KNOW I KNOW So bloomin stupid spent the afternoon in the park & made sure my dd was covered in sun cream, my arms are bloomin burnt proper too!!) Anyhoo don't think the sunburn will have helped so will experiment a bit more over the next few day's/weeks, I must say it didn't even feel like I had anything on my skin, a few things have made me itch and wan't to scrape whatever it is straight off so that was definitely a plus point.

[ames100]

decent primer maybe mac strobe cream which is illuminating and the light diffusing pigments help minimise lines and flaws, secondly foundation, thirdly a good concealer mac does one which is claims to even cover tatoos!
thirdly a translucent powder to really set your makeup - a new line has been launched called HD makeup by makeup forever i think and it is formulated to look perfect on hd video which picks up every single flaw so could be good for the photos?

other than that try makeupalley.com for reviews on skincare as the more you work on your skin the better you makeup will look. there is one called alpha- hdroxy or hydrox from the us that is a refiner but the site is awesome its real people reviewing products honestly

[Emzycal]

PLEASE!

For the love of God.

Drag yourself to the nearest LUSH and ask them to advise you on which of their products to use.

Lush products work wonders.

[Violetta]

I do find Lush products really nice but I've tried them to no real effect. I did get an email from maybelline about a new dream satin foundation for 1005 poreless look, might be next on the list if I don't get on with the elemental beauty. Has anyoine tried this?

[sexki11en]

I do find Lush products really nice but I've tried them to no real effect. I did get an email from maybelline about a new dream satin foundation for 1005 poreless look, might be next on the list if I don't get on with the elemental beauty. Has anyoine tried this?


Ohhh Violetta, I haven't tried it but was thinking about it. I noticed it on offer in Boots today for £5 something instead of £8+. I didn't get it as i'd already spent £20 on other things I needed.

If you do try it, please let us know how it was for you.

SK x

[jeannieblue]

Violetta,

Re the redness....

I don't have sunburn, but do have the classic redness down middle of the face... :o

Depending on my mood and time ... I may 'swish' a light shade down the middle of my face, then go off have breakfast - then go back and choose the shade I am favouring and swish all over. A light swish I hasten to add, as less is more with the minerals. If you keep on at it and put alot on your brush, it goes thick and powdery and settles in lines.

I found that the more I tried......... the worse it was! Veronarona gave me a good tip, put a little on your brush, shut your eyes and put it on! Swishing all over! Suki also suggested working from the outside in - I found that was a brill idea, when I am having a very red day, then I may do the middle swish first... :D

And you are right, you do not feel like anything is on your skin - it is also not the end of the world if you get in late and don't remove it, as it is all natural. I couldn't bear to put any of the liquid, mousse or cake stuff on my face ever again. Yuk!! Clogged pores or what...........

[missm29]

Hi haven't read all the replies but i noticed my skin cleared up when i used mineral makeup, found the bare id one the best for me. The high street ones were terrible...avon, no7 and loreal. But having looked at my holiday photos i look really ill, i wasn't, but mineral makeup doesn't photograph well, neither does anything light reflecting, will make you look very pale in photos. So make sure you test out your wedding day makeup before and photograph yourself so you can see how well it photographs.

I flick between clinique foundation and estee lauder double wear light, both photograph very well. The estee lauder serums are very good, and clinique do a pore minimiser you put on before your makeup. A primer is what you need to help conceal your pores, again test it our before the big day.

[Violetta]

I'm getting a facial on Thursday night so fingers X'd that will help things, re the redness this is partly caused by wearing a CPAP mask over my face while I sleep (I forget to breath when I'm asleep scatty moo so this helps with that) I've just gotten a new mask from the sleep clinic so hopefully this should help with the redness;.

[Princess Jane]

Instead of Smashbox, which is expensive, try Lanacane anti-chafing gel.

App it has similar ingredients..Google it!

[Meenu]

get shu umeras primer mousse (18-20), giorgio armani foundation (22-25),
estee lauder maximum cover concealer
they are pricey but 1)its your wedding 2)they are great products
3)if u apply foundation and concealer with a brush they should last 4-6 months
if u want to splash out buy armanis newest mascara its superb
i worked in cosmetic ind for 7 years and am obsessed with product!

[violetta]

Instead of Smashbox, which is expensive, try Lanacane anti-chafing gel.

App it has similar ingredients..Google it!

If anyone would like to give it a try, I googled it and found this:

http://www.lanacane.co.uk/survey.asp

It says it dries to a clear, silky finish so sounds promising!