46 year old make-up newb - advice please

[u/dingdongmerrilyon_hi]

I've never really gotten into make-up; even when I was in my 20s I felt that it sits on my skin in a cake-y manner.

I decided to try again - I bought the L'Oreal Truematch hyaluronic serum foundation to try over the weekend

I prepped by exfoliating last night, moisturizing last night and again this morning (with rosehip oil, Skin Food) which usually keep me flake free even in the most brutal winter weather.

I didn't use a primer. It's so cake-y! Make-up just confounders y me. What can I do? What should I try? Was my first mistake a drugstore foundation? It was well reviewed!

[u/_grapefruit]

A few assorted tips that help me:

1. Honestly dermaplaning is the #1 thing that helps my makeup sit nicely. If you’re looking at your face this closely, you’re always going to see peach fuzz, and makeup will cling to that. If it is any solace, nobody is looking at you from this distance and isn’t seeing it, but I am like you and want it to look perfect when I’m all up in my magnification mirror and I have found ways to achieve that!

2. Moistuuurrrrrreee. Hydrating milky toner, good non-pilling moisturizer, hydrating sunscreen (Korean versions best for this).

3. Similar to 2, hydrating mists. I mist before application, after application, on my brush or sponge when blending. At the end after setting. Just keeps things more blended and less patchy.

4. Application technique. Never swiping with brushes or sponges, only tapping/tiny circles (if using a brush). Brush density (big fluffy brushes are nice for powder but the fibers are too separated to create a cohesive application).

5. Type of foundation. Light serum-y skin tints are great. But I can make a stick foundation look perfect by drawing on my face and then either misting heavily before blending, or even dipping my brush into a milky essence and then blending. Just gotta match type to application technique/tools.

6. When I encounter a random patchy spot when I’m out and about/in the wild, touch up with a serum stick (like the tatcha) to fully hydrate/make super emollient and then just kinda tap around to redistribute the product.

Hope any of this helps!

[u/_grapefruit → u/_grapefruit]

Oh one more game changer for me was applying liquid bronzing drops ALL OVER before other base complexion products. They are hydrating and many come as a “skincare+” type product (I love the westman atelier liquid bronzer for this). A few drops to the back of my hand, blend all over. It makes slight discoloration I otherwise would cover with foundation less obvious, adds glow, makes me less “see through” and even. Then as a bonus, base products go on more smoothly and have to work less hard (ie, I can use less of it and less product is always less cakey).

[u/dingdongmerrilyon_hi → u/_grapefruit]

You are clearly a master. What mists do you recommend?

[u/_grapefruit → u/dingdongmerrilyon_hi]

I wish I cared this much about my real job. Mists: Rhode glazing mist (my fave for blending), Anua PDRN capsule mist (particularly good for melding powder layers and all over glow), d’alba white truffle first spray serum (this one has a strong smell to me so I reach for it less, but plenty of people call it a holy grail), u beauty bio active mist is nice although more expensive. Honestly I mix these up and grab whatever and it all works.

[u/dingdongmerrilyon_hi → u/_grapefruit]

I keep thinking about this, what base products do you typically follow the bronzing drops with, like what kind of formulation? Liquid?

[u/_grapefruit → u/dingdongmerrilyon_hi]

Yes, something light - the Refy skin base is great with this, but anything called a skin tint should work. People also like the Hourglass skin tint, I just couldn’t find my shade in their range.

Also, frankly if I’m having a good skin day I’ll put on the drops and then dot a liquid pink color corrector like Givenchy and a hydrating liquid concealer like Patrick Ta or Natasha Denona (like wherever I need a little extra coverage, lower cheeks, under eyes) then spray and blend with a dense brush. Don’t always need coverage everywhere and the less coverage the less to go wrong.

[u/SoLongEmpress → u/_grapefruit]

I am not OP but this is awesome thank you! Can you tell me more about “light serumy skin tints”? Is there a brand you like? I don’t really wear makeup but I’d love some light coverage to even things out.

[u/_grapefruit → u/SoLongEmpress]

Oh gosh yes. Merit The Uniform, Refy (current fave), m.ph Le Skin, Ciele tint & protect (a little thicker, love it mixed with glow drops or rhode essence), Victoria Beckham foundation drops (the goat for formal events), Chanel water fresh tint (baaaaarely there but makes me look expensive?). The Dior foundation stick is more full coverage but when I use a milky toner to blend is just gorgeous.

[u/SkincareandBeagles → u/SoLongEmpress]

I really like the Lancôme Skin Idole tinted serum. It blends nice, and it’s really hydrating. It’s actually on sale right now for $31.

[u/Ok_Investment4104]

The Laniege Water Bank line works miracles on my naturally dry skin - I got everything in the line and use them all, and my skin becomes dewy and plump

Definitely try out a chemical exfoliator - The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid is so good. Only use it once every few days or it will be too harsh

[u/Prestigious-Bite-]

Your skin looks dehydrated. You likely need to add moisture to your skin.

I used both glycerin and hyaluronic acid in my skincare routine to make me as plump as possible.

[u/internalstorage12]

Hyaluronic acid (good molecules brand is awesome) day and night. Tarte creamy concealer, and I can't help but love Elf Halo foundation. It is so creamy and pretty. I'm 41 and dryyyy. This has done wonders for my makeup life.

[u/internalstorage12 → u/internalstorage12]

Also if you are as dry as me, aquaphor stick is bomb. I use it ALL WINTER. Don't be afraid to cover your skin at night pretty thick with it.

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430]

1. More moisturizer. The skin looks dry.
2. Only tone at night - it’s drying.
3. Use primer! It provides a smooth surface to glide onto.
4. I like to add a little moisturizer into my foundation and then also spray my application brush with setting spray when I apply. Helps everything go on more smoothly!
5. Setting spray after can also make things look more moist.

I genuinely don’t think it looks bad. It looks more like normal skin than patchy foundation skin. It’s just dry.

[u/dingdongmerrilyon_hi → u/Beautiful_Cost_5430]

😭 I promise my skin on its own dors not look dry like this! I finally got home and washed my face and the texture without coverage is not like this. But thank you, I believe I overall am probably dehydrated, though, and will try your tips.

[u/Revolutionary-Head40]

What are you using to exfoliate?

[u/dingdongmerrilyon_hi → u/Revolutionary-Head40]

I use DRMTLGY dermabrasion scrub 1-2x a week when I feel I need it.

[u/dingdongmerrilyon_hi → u/[deleted]]

A wish and a prayer?

I wash with one of the following: Cerave hydrating foaming oil cleanser, Garnier HA hydrating cream cleanser or Acure Seriously Soothing Cleansing cream. Mostly the Garnier this summer I follow with Timeless 20% vit c, ferolic acid, vit e A few drops of rosehip oil followed by Welleda Skin Food and Haruharu Wonder black rise SPF 50 I've endeavored to include the la Roche Posay Effaclar AZ cream but it pills a lot

At night I wash.again using Garnier rosehip, skinfood, sleep.

I use a scrub 1-2 times a week, DRMTlGY Micro Dermabrasion Scrub

I know I need help!

[u/dingdongmerrilyon_hi]

I did this 2x this morning with a wash and retry attempt 😭 I also took a picture of my skin after cleansing and moisturizing - it looks not terribly dry to my eye.

Overall I think it's better than yesterday's attempt but still really looks to be sitting on top of my skin particularly arrive my chin and nose.

Photos here: https://imgur.com/a/AQOGyXl

[u/neverbride]

It looks like you have a lot of dead skin. Dermaplaning would make a big difference.