Make up counters and foundations

sofababe

I really need to sort out my "grown up" foundation. For years I've used whatever was cheap and cheerful but I've never been to a proper make up counter and spoken to the scary looking ladies. My skin is beginning to signs of aging (I'm 40:eek:) and has become more and more sensitive in recent years. I had some EL Doublewear which was given to me some years ago and I really liked it, but have no idea what shade to buy. If I go and speak to the lady at the counter will she allow me a sample (sometimes it takes a while for the sensitivity to show, sometimes its immediate) and will she try to give me a shade thats going to make me look orange, like she does? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Does anyone have any recommendations in terms of foundations to investigate? Another one I'm interested in is Clinique Even Better. Matt coverage would be preferable as I have a combination skin. I also have rosacea (milder now than it was) but no acne.

I've never been able to afford to buy make up in this price range before but I'm determined to buy better quality, but less of it, now that I'm older. I was using mineral powder make up but it sat in the crease under my eye and made me look older than ever

Help me, oh knowledgeable ones!!!

MrsE_2

I really really rate No.7 intelligent colour (about £15), but its very sheer. Their loose powder is really good too.

I would have said go to the prescriptives counter, as they are fab for foundations, but they ceased trading:(

My DD really rates Clinique & Mac.

I'm more keen on a sheer foundation & a light dusting of powder with any problem areas addressed with concealer, I like this

http://www.elementalbeauty.co.uk/mineral-cosmetics/healing-mineral-concealers-1.html

PS Fairly light is not nearly as dark as it looks on the web, I use that & bright eyes.

GlasweJen

I like lancome. I have a strange colouring that makes me look orange no matter what colour and the lancome lady did my face 3 times with foundation til we found the right one and then she finished my makeup so that I could wear my face for the rest of the day to make sure my skin wouldn't react.

The foundation is expensive(ish) but it is very good (i use one called teint miracle). You always get samples when you buy as well which is great, not had to buy eye make up remover for ages because of freebies.

whatatwit

Clinique now do a redness solutions foundation with SPF15 in it.

Having avoided foundation for years as my rosy cheeks would just shine through, I do like this one.

The Clinique lady at Boots applied some in the shop, having tested out different shades and also sent me home with a small sample pot.

I now use this every day, along with other parts of the redness solutions range and I feel so much happier in my skin.

People have noticed and commented on how I look, my favourite one was that I used to look haggard :eek: but now I look lots better :rotfl:

Bronnie

sofababe wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Does anyone have any recommendations in terms of foundations to investigate? Another one I'm interested in is Clinique Even Better. Matt coverage would be preferable as I have a combination skin. I also have rosacea (milder now than it was) but no acne.

I had a Clinique consultation in JL before Christmas by a lovely mature and naturally made-up SA!! They do a skin analysis questionnnaire and the Even Better foundation came out as one of the appropriate ones.

It does feel very nice on the skin initially, very light but evens out skin tone and feels like your skin can breathe. You can also vary the amount you use depending on the coverage you require/on the occasion.

However, after wearing it all day for a couple of days, I found I wasn't sure whether it was agreeing with my skin and I started to get dry patches on my cheeks, which I never normally now I do oil cleansing.

When I was in Boots, I mentioned it to the young Clinique SA and she said, she couldn't use that one cos it brought on her eczema :eek:!!

I use it quite sparingly now and not everyday, just so as not to waste it, it's ok but wouldn't buy it again.

The one I do like, which is similar I think, is this one by YSL. It feels very light but gives amazing coverage and endures well.

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_123066104099_-1?breadcrumb=Home%7Etxtysl+perfect+touch

However I absolutely hate the brush which I find awkward to use and wasteful. Only the other day, I got a good tip from another forum. Hold the brush between your teeth and tug sharply and it pulls out leaving a very small dispensing point! Perfect now, prefer to use my own brush and no waste.

These foundations are too expensive to make a mistake with. I would go and have an advice session, have it professionally applied and ask for samples to take away. I bought the Even Better in the recommended shade after the SA had applied it, however I kept catching sight of myself as I shopped and felt it was too pale. JL exchanged for a shade up luckily. Definitely ask for samples and go away and try them. Try the same counter in different stores if necessary. Take your time!

Sorry to drone on, what a long reply !

Citygirl1

whatatwit wrote: »

Clinique now do a redness solutions foundation with SPF15 in it.

Having avoided foundation for years as my rosy cheeks would just shine through, I do like this one.

The Clinique lady at Boots applied some in the shop, having tested out different shades and also sent me home with a small sample pot.

I now use this every day, along with other parts of the redness solutions range and I feel so much happier in my skin.

People have noticed and commented on how I look, my favourite one was that I used to look haggard :eek: but now I look lots better :rotfl:

I've never known the Clinique sales assistants give out samples in pots. I once asked and was told they couldn't do it for 'hygiene' reasons which is a lame excuse as you have a clean pot and take it home to use as you wish. Other counters such as No7 give samples in pots. I reckon its a way of Clinique getting you to buy a foundation straight from the off and spending your money straight away, even though its more expensive stuff. Having said that, I do like Clinique products.

donnac2558

Estee Lauder do make up sample pots for you to try.
Clinique depends and they try to push you to buy full size there and then.
YSL don't really do samples, appart when a new product comes out. Crap shades in the samples usually only the darkess.

Lancome very highly perfumed so be very careful.

Smashbox usually in Debenhams are a good range.

MAC great makeup brand but their foundations do not get brilliant reviews from people. They make you up samples.

Chanel are good as well.

Bobbi Brown should make you up samples.

Do not go near BE Bare Minerals, it contains an ingredient which is a known allergen(sp). Wouldn't chance it.

renegade

I have skin problems always have had. I could never find the right shade of foundation after spending £££'s on mistakes.
I got a sample through the post of Max Factor Lasting Performance in Natrl Beige 106 and it suited me perfectly, no longer do I look 'washed out' in M&S lights, I have not had any reaction to it, covers really well without the 'made up' look, I now feel more confident and went and bought 2 lots just in case they change it as these manufacturers have a habit of doing.
I also had a 'free makeover' at Clinique, I was not impressed, she did not ask me anything about my preferences in shade etc and I felt too made up when she had finished, I'm sure they use these 'free' deals to practice on!
Good luck with your search and don't buy without trying first.

glowgirl_2

DD swears by MAC and had a consultation she got exactly the right shade and consistency for her and she hasn't had a reaction like many do to MAC, I like EL but react badly to it eventually , I recently bought Revlon Colourstay and that has proved to be excellent both colourwise and efficiency and comfort on my skin, ok its not a premium brand but its certainly behaving like one if not better than many I have tried:)

whatatwit

I must have struck it lucky with my Clinique counter.

I have been given samples of the 3 Step system to try before I bought, although this was a few years ago.

Then last autumn, I got the foundation sample.

I do tend to go during the week when the store is a bit quieter though.

minerva_windsong

I use Benefit Play Sticks which contain calming ingredients like chamomile and gingko biloba, and have definitely noticed a difference in my skin condition since I started using it (I used to get loads of spots and those painful under the skin lurking lumps but since I started using this one I don't get them anywhere near as much). They're also very good at matching your skin tone although they don't give samples, and I find I get through mine reasonably quickly - about every three months or so - even though I don't wear foundation every day.

There is a company called MeMeMe which do very similar shades to the Playsticks but I don't know if they contain the same ingredients.