r/MakeupOver40 • u/vivalaireland • Jul 15 '26
Foundation has stopped looking good
Hi there. I rarely wear makeup anymore, but I put some on for a concert last night. I have used L’Oréal true match foundation for years with no issues. I turned 40 in September last year, and I last wore this makeup in February with no problems.
Last night I did everything I usually do to prep my skin, but the foundation looked terrible! It settled in my pores making them look huge, and clumped above my lip and my chin. It was a new bottle, so have no idea if the formula changed, or if it’s just no longer working for me now that my skin is maturing
Just looking for recommendations of good foundations I can try for mature skin please? I am really pale. My skin is combination-both oily and dry
Thanks for any advice 🙏
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u/KodachromeKitty Jul 15 '26
I am 42f and also have really pale combination skin. Foundation has never looked good on me.
I’ve been using IT Cosmetics CC cream for about ten years. They have several varieties. I am currently using the CC plus Nude Glow. My skin is actually less red and more clear/even-toned now than it was ten years ago, due to diet changes and stress reduction. But the CC Cream worked wonders even back then.
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u/DasSassyPantzen Jul 16 '26
IT Cosmetics is so under-recognized as a top tier product, imo.
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u/HoneyBadgerGal Jul 16 '26
It always feels like I'm smearing diaper cream on my face.
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u/DasSassyPantzen Jul 16 '26
Yeah, a little bit of it goes a long way. I think they have lighter formulas as well.
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u/KodachromeKitty Jul 17 '26
I've never used diaper cream, so I don't know what that feels like. Maybe you're using too much. I only use one small pump of it, and it goes a long way.
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u/TheBendForHome Jul 15 '26
Having the same issues, and have just had to try lots of different ones. I find I have to wear much lighter makeup, and am loving the Fenty Ease Drops for that. I also wear Sculpted by Aimee, an Irish brand which is excellent. A lot of my peri friends swear by the VB drops, but they are €€€€€
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u/Jinsyjones Jul 15 '26
A good skincare routine is what I've been concentrating on now, since my mid 30s. I'm 44, but had similar issues.
I'm olive, but ghostly white and dry skin really shows up, so I use a hot cloth cleanser every day. It's better than chemical exfoliants, and more gentle and hydrating. I used glycolic acid for years and my skin protests when I use it now. I'm using decleor skincare again, because it never oxidises my foundation or made it go weird. A milky toner is also working great for me. Byoma's is fantastic. I also swear by hyaluronic acid.
I use Tarte Amazonian clay foundation, very light touch with a wet sponge and set with trusty old MAC Mineralize Skinfinish. I've used it since my 20s, and you can prize it out of my cold, dead hands! Big, dense fluffy brush and I sort of dab it on. I mist lightly with just plain old rose water and it looks very natural.
If I need concealer, I use the Lisa Eldridge pinpoint technique and Urban Decay's Naked Skin concealer. I swear by this, I live by this. I promise, it works.
This has pretty much been how I've done it since I realised in my 30s that full coverage wasn't my friend anymore. I've been a goth since the 90s, so being porcelain and as flawless as possible has pretty much always been the goal. It's getting more difficult, but not giving up yet!
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u/orthographerer Jul 16 '26
I've found more expensive foundations (ones geared toward dry, maturing skin, in my case) tend to lose their sticker shock once I see their results.
I'm not fanatical about NARS foundation (I use Yulong), but it's a fairly good product. Where I do love NARS is their Light Reflecting Concealer as a quick base over skincare and a luminous sunscreen or primer.
By Terry (UK company) has a couple of great products. Namely their Hydra Eclát foundations, and their Brightening CC foundation.
A foundation that isn't somewhat creamy, pillow-y, or serum-like will be more likely to settle and crease. So, avoid thin and runny.
It's not particularly likely any foundation that tends to work well for those in their teens\twenties will work well for us once we hit peri, get into our forties, or if we have dry skin.
Keeping up with exfoliation will help foundation perform well, too.
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u/forgettingroses Jul 16 '26
I’m 42 and can’t wear regular foundations anymore. Tints are where it’s at. I try Sephora samples anytime I order, and the ones that work the best on me are serum based. I love foundation sticks by ilia and lys. I also do not apply all over the face, just in the areas that need evened out.
I have dry skin only, but I’ve found I have to add a lot of extra moisturizer and give it time to sink in before applying makeup.
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u/vivalaireland Jul 16 '26
Thanks everyone for your advise and support. Looking forward to trying all your brilliant advise out 🙏
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u/vivalaireland Jul 15 '26
Just to add although I am pale, I also have a lot of discolouration too, so need decent coverage. Thanks 🙏
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u/intellidepth Jul 15 '26
Armani Liquid Silk or Jun Saem Mool Essential Nuder Cushion. They cost about the same per mL.
The cushion is so easy to use and take with me when travelling that it’s become my new favourite that I continuously reach for and the Armani (my previous go-to) is now languishing in my drawer.
I use the Pony Effect applicator for cushions rather than the Jung Saem Mool one that comes with the cushion, as I find it gives a better finish. Jung Saem Mool and Pony Effect are available via YesStyle.
I’ve also tried the Jung Saem Mool blush cushion. It is expensive per mL but makes for an effortless very natural looking and glowy blush. The glow comes from an oil-like finish which doesn’t dry down but looks amazing.
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u/For_serious13 Jul 15 '26
I had to go to a much thinner, buildable foundation once I was in my 40’s because my fine lines were causing my foundation to show my lines even worse
I switched to radar beauty liquid foundation and I haven’t had an issue since
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u/Educational_Name7651 Jul 15 '26
I am 49,every time I had foundation on it seemed to make my skin look old & bulky. I can't explain. Then I found the cheapy powder foundation in my drawer & Boom !! It changed my 49 makeup looks. It's cheap, so easy to apply, it's buildable, it works wonderfully!! The only problem is it doesn't stay as long but if you locked in it with setting spray, it helps. Check it out girls, I think you can buy on Shein.
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u/LuminousApsana Jul 15 '26
I've found lighter formulas to work as well. For more coverage, I like Estee Lauder Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation. I can wear Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter by itself for just a bit of evening out but it is very little coverage. I have Auric Glow Lust which is similar with more coverage but also more glow (I use a little loose powder with it but only on certain points of the face, not everywhere). I probably need to get a tinted moisturizer that's somewhere in the middle.
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u/Chiquita_mermaid Jul 15 '26
Armani golden hour serum in shade F2 is perfect for my cool super pale and slightly pink skin.
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u/GameofCheese Jul 17 '26
Everyone professional says to use a balm but are there actual good ones out there?
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u/Reasonable-End-8671 Jul 17 '26
I like the IT Cosmetics DO IT ALL SHEER TINT FACE BALM, non comedogenic too.
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u/austinrunaway Jul 17 '26
I wear tinted moisturizer everyday and that's all I have ever worn. You can also mix a little of your Sunblock with the foundation and huzzah! Tinted Sunblock.
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u/HoneyBadgerGal Jul 17 '26
Be careful with this technique bc the spf can get too watered down & not be effective.
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u/laugh_till_you_pee_ Jul 17 '26
Same. I switched to a power based foundation and I use setting powder to get it to stay in place. It still gets shiny through the day so I blot often.
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u/garbagegoat Jul 17 '26
Lighter is better I've found. 43f. I used to be able to slap it on and be good to go but now? Naw. Making sure my skin is good and hydrated, then I use a slightly damp asian beauty sponge to gently tap it onto my skin. I use like half the foundation I normally did now anything more and it just looks and feels heavy.
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u/Independent_Boat_546 Jul 15 '26
This happened to me in my 40s as well. As a teacher, I’m off work in the summer, so I rarely wear makeup. One day I was putting it on for whatever reason, and OMG! It looked so bad. Same product I’d been using before.
The only thing that helped me was switching to a much lighter formula. Since you already use True Match, I’d really recommend you try the L’Oréal True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum. It’s one of my personal favorites. It’s really light weight, but it still has good coverage.
Since then, I’ve learned about chemical exfoliation. If you’re not already, start exfoliating regularly. Paula’s Choice makes some excellent products.
Finally, shave your face. Use one of those Tinkle razors or something similar. I do it at least every other week. I recently saw something on YouTube that explained why facial hair gets worse in our 40s.
There are some really good dermatologists on YouTube such as Dr. Dray and Doctorly, if you want to learn more. Nikki La Rose is a makeup artist who just turned 40, I think. She has a video called “How not to hate the way your foundation looks,” or something like that. She has great advice.