Please help with my Makeup Routine?
I'm fine with my eye/blush/lip makeup, but I need a new foundation/concealer/powder routine. It takes me forever to get ready all because of my makeup. I hate it, but I can’t go out without makeup; I hate my face. I have a lot of redness around my nose, chin, and cheeks. I also have dark circles under my eyes and nothing helps (including sleep, that's just the way they are). I have a few small dry, flaky patches, yet my face is mostly oily. I have several red pimples, along with many red marks left from old pimples. My face gets shiny within an hour and sometimes by the end of the day I feel like my makeup has turned orangey. I need something that’s quicker, covers well, lasts all day, yet still looks natural like I'm not wearing any. I’m wondering if primer would help?
My current routine: Clean & Clear Morning Glow Moisturizer, Advantage Acne Spot treatment, Physician’s Formula green powder, Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance, Maybelline mineral power concealer, Physician’s Formula Organic Wear loose powder.
I only want products I could buy at a drug store or place like Target/Walmart.. nothing too expensive please!
November 16th, 2010 - 14:43
I would not recommend exfoliating every day. It can cause inflammation, wrinkles, and dryness among other things. Some dermatologists recommend exfoliating your face maximum of 2 days a week. I’m not sure if you’re looking for a foundation or skin routine (or both). I have terrible acne and have to use benzoyl peroxide ($5 at walgreens). Now my skin is clear, but it can be harmful to your skin. I know you have oily skin, but you don’t want to dry your skin out. You need the vitamins that the oils provide you. I think you have the right idea in terms of concealer and powder foundation though. When you get oily throughout the day, just blot your face. It won’t take off any of the makeup, just the excess oil. Here is my blog, there is a picture of me after I used benzoyl peroxide, moisturizer and powder foundation. It is a great routine… for me.
November 16th, 2010 - 14:43
Okay, before you apply anything on your face, wash it. Really well. Exfoliate EVERYDAY! I also have oily skin with a little bit of dryness, but exfoliating the dry parts gently but thoroughly gets rid of it for me. Since we have oily skin, don’t use ANYTHING oil based! I use mineral makeup and it doesn’t ware off or add to the oil. Make sure you are using the right tone, lots of makeup looks unnatural and orange if it’s not the right color. I have light skin so I use the lightest mineral cover-up possible and then I add color with some peachy colored, natural blush. It only takes me like, 30 seconds to quickly swipe it on my face and apply blush. I don’t have any pimples but all you really need to do is apply a tiny tiny but of liquid concealer on top of it, blend it, and then apply powder. The powder will stick better and last longer. Use the powder under your eyes too, it blends well and will make the darkness disappear!
For pimples, spend a little extra time before bed to apply the spot treatment, or whatever. During the night tons of oil piles up and makes everything worse. If I get a pimple, I put toothpaste on before bed and wash it off in the morning – it really works! Everybody’s different though, and you’ll have to do some experimenting to find the makeup and routine that works best for you. Good luck =)
November 16th, 2010 - 14:43
It sounds to me, my dear, like you’ve got some extreeeemely combination skin. It’s horribly inconvenient (Trust me, I’ve got it too!) but learning how to control your oily spots while keeping your dry patches in check makes things MUCH simpler. Here are some tips:
Ditch the clean and clear moisturizer. If your skin is getting THAT oily that quickly, it sounds like the moisturizer is way too heavy for your skin. Try switching to a gentler face wash and moisturizer, like Johnson&Johnson Purpose. Their cleanser is suuuuper gentle, yet strong enough to get all the gunk off your face without overdrying, and their moisturizer is the only one I’ve found that moisturizes my dry spots and leaves my oily spots alone, and doesn’t make me break out.
For flaky patches, try rocking an aspirin mask a couple times a week. It will help with your acne, and if you gently scrub your face with it before rinsing it off, it will help get rid of your flaky spots too. Here’s a recipe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Hksg8B4cQ
Make sure you moisturize with a gentle moisturizer afterwards!
As far as makeup goes, try Revlon ColorStay liquid foundation for combo/oily skin. It gives great coverage, lasts all day, and actually really helps control oil throughout the day. I swear by that stuff, and I’m usually very very scared of liquid foundations. I apply it with a damp sponge, and it looks fantastic. Most liquid foundations won’t oxidize (turn orangey) when they come in contact with the oils on your skin. If you’re still getting oily throughout the day, blotting tissues will take care of that. Gently press them against your oily spots, and they’ll absorb all the extra oil without disturbing your makeup. The non-shiny side of toilet seat covers (unused, obviously!) works well for blotting too!
You might also want to try a face primer. Believe it or not, I’ve heard fantastic things about Monistat Chafing Relief Gel as a face primer. It forms a barrier between the oils on your face and your makeup, so your makeup won’t slide around.
Hope this helps, and if you’ve got any further questions, feel free to ask!