I can't find my foundation I give up 😩

Mar 7, 2016

Star M.

I give up with finding foundations I have tried everything and my skin is dry and flakey and I always put foundation and even moisterize and nothing works. anyone have any help lmk everytime input on foundation my face still even with primer or moisterizer I still have patches that dry up when the foundation sets.

Mar 7, 2016

Roz X.

Are you chemically exfoliating? Do you ever physical exfoliate?
Have you tried MUFE Face and Body Foundation or Embryolisse Lait-creme Concentrate?

Mar 7, 2016

Marleen B.

I agree on addressing the skincare first. But in the meantime, Bobbi Brown Tinted Balm is very moist and has sheer coverage. It has a strong fragrance, its kinda greasy, its sheer and it's expensive. Why do I even bother mentioning this product when it seems to have so many cons? Because it was the only thing that layed down my flakes after overdoing the retin-A back in the day. It doesn't dry down very much and stays moist. I would get a sample, it's not for everyone. But I was desperate.

Mar 7, 2016

Star M.

Rozberry- I do once a week or every other I feel it doesn't do anything I'm going to try lush products and see if it works I use the FREEMAN black charcoale w/ sugar and nothing I don't know if it's bkus it's cheap but a lot of people said it works I don't know & no I haven't tried those yet it's a pain in the butt trying foundations it looks good on the store and when you actually do it , it's just the same I don't know what I'm doing wrong bkus I actually bought the beauty blender n wet it and it goes on so smooth but then the patches still grab the foundation and my face looks overall dry but then when I got the primer form Kat Von d and another foundation that was I believe Mac mineralizer it was too greesy like I don't know what to do anymore. I want my face to look smooth.

SailorMoon- I honestly don't even have much of a rountine bkus I have a one year old and I forget so much at the end of the day I fall asleep with my makeup but I use PONDS WIPES to remove my makeup and then after I use the FAB Intense Hydrating cream and leave that over night and exfoliate atleast once or twice a week but mainly once. I just want when I put foundation for my skin to look smooth but my face isn't smooth I don't have acne issues pimples here and here I don't care the foundation covered most of the marks but it's just after a while it looks dry and hen in the store it looks so good I don't get it

Mar 7, 2016

Roz X.

Star, babies are exhausting and after giving birth, many women's skin changes, so naturally their needs do.

Your Freeman Scrub, I know you probably love it, but sugar on the face is rough. It can actually worsen your skin. The Freeman doesn't even seem to use brown sugar which is at least more gentle. On the body. it's fabulous. The face? It's like sandpaper...even if you can't feel it, it's doing it's damage. It's making skin more sensitive to light, to other products, etc.

Chemical exfoliation is very gentle and effective. I have insanely medically dry skin. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm pushing 10. My derm kept pushing Chemical exfoliation and so did my friend whose an Estie and but I was afraid of the word "acid" and "chemicals". The truth is, these natural acids work miracles and if used correctly as a part of a broader skin care regimen, banish those flakes. You see smooth, shining skin. It's pretty spectacular. My Derm nagged me into it and I'm ever so grateful for her persistence.

Do I still physical exfoliate?
Well, yes. I like my instant gratification on some days.
For those days, I use Philosphy Microdelivery wash in a very small amount on a wet face. My best friend JUST gave me the Boscia Exfoliating Gel. I was anxious because it has both citrus oils and lavender...a couple other ingredients I wasn't familiar with. So I headed to the Sephora website and read the reviews..hmmm. I was SO nervous, so I tested it on my hand. HOLLLLY shiznit. My hand was soft as silk. It LOOKED nicer. My pores looked less noticeable. So I tested it on my forehead next. (Bangs hide a multitude of sins) Today, I woke up and WHOAH. No irritation (shocking for me) and my skin feels softer than usual. I need to try it more before I can review it extensively, but you may want to pick up a sample of both the Philosphy and the Boscia and see how you like them.

I'd stop the Freeman use, personally...but you may want to run it past Kitty or Sarah H, who is an Estie here in the forum. Shelley is also very informed, but I haven't seen her here lately, sadly. Marleen...she's another great lady with dry skin that always has great ideas and products. (I see she posted just above me)

As for wipes. I hate them..I don't use anything but pure cotton on my skin and so I'd rather use Microcellular water or Ponds coldcream, Coconut Oil, etc. on a pure cotton puff than put a wipe on my own face. Synthetics scratch and they irritate my skin. Lots of people use them and love them, but I cannot. It's something to consider.

Maybe you need to try and pinpoint what's drying you out as well.
Amp up your hydrating foods and reduce things that dry you out. Check your products for "denatured alcohol" or "alcohol". Witch Hazel is a great alternative in a toner for many people verse alcohol, but it also depends on where that Witch Hazel falls on the ingredient list. Some people can't even use it. I have a toner I love now that's free from both Alcohol and Witch Hazel and my dryness has improved as has my redness.

I remember in your small haull you had the UD Spray. Awful for dry skin. Actually increases flakes because it's main ingredient is alcohol. I don't care what their claims are, it can bring on flakes for many dry skinned folks. They probably don't even realize that's a big contributor.
I can't remember which FAB formula you purchased (they have a few and I remember yours was in a jar), but I know those sorts of products take time and there's one or two that used to have eucalyptus oil in them, and I'm highly allergic on my face to that.

If you want something that will show results in as little as a week. I won't push, but I'll suggest one last time chemical exfoliation, a detergent free face wash. a moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid far up in the ingredient list, Allantoin or Panthenol, Niacinamide, or Sodium hyaluronate. Maybe your FAB has these in them and if so, you need to give them time.

I really DO feel for you with the foundation search. I've been there. I'm always there looking for the newest and best, but the MUFE Face and Body, the IT CC Cream and now, the FX Cover Drops with the tint means I can drop that pigment into any moisturizer I want and get smooth, hydrating "foundation".

The Smashbox Facial Oil that Marleen recommended..that's pretty impressive, especially on the nose (but far from the eyes).

You want to streamline your routine, so you just pick one wash, one toner, one moisturizer for day with SPF, one thicker, more rich moisturizer for night, one chemical exfoliant and one physical exfoliant. That's 7 products total. In the morning, that's 4 products if you include a primer. It's quick, even with your little one, and you will look and feel much better if you just are patient and don't give up.

Here's a list of hydrating foods that will help your skin, as will keeping up your water intake.
http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-drinks/top-30-hydrating-foods

If it's windy and chilly when you are out, protect your face with a light scarf.
Use cooler water when you wash, including in the shower. Hot water is too much for really dry skin. Don't invest in foundations or primers until you test them. You will save yourself SO much stress. Even on my driest of days, the MUFE works like a charm, for me. Beauty Blenders don't always jive with certain foundations. My derm told me to try using my fingers with the foundation when I'm running extra dry and she was right. Some days, my clean, dry fingers work better than anything.

Kat's primer, it didn't hydrate me. It did nothing. My Embryolisse...that was a game changer. My Age Smart Primer from Dermalogica, that too..great with dry skin (it is silicone based and has SPF 30) Lightly tinted, gives a glow..no patching on me.

My own final suggestions to sum it up: Forget the Freeman Sugar Scrub, Return the Kat primer, Hit up Clinique for the Moisture Surge samples and pick up some MUFE Face & Body and Embryolisse lait creme samples as well. Get yourself a hydrating wash that calms skin. Eucerin Redness Relief soothing wash, CeraVe, Cetaphil,..these are all inexpensive and will give your skin a much needed break. I don't know what you are toning with, but I have a recommendation if you'd like one. Slather that FAB on in a very thick layer and use when you are just watching TV or around the house. I prefer CeraVe in the jar, but I think some of the FAB formulas that are eucalyptus oil free and a good choice.

Stick with cream or gel blushes. Josie Moran has an oil based cheek stain that is perfect for dryskin. MAC Strobe Cream is a great priming base or a highlight. You can also mix it with foundation and get hydration. A trial size is about $10 if memory serves. I avoid powder most of the time and it works well for me unless I need it in a certain spot. (which is rare)

Sometimes, products add up to much more than the cost of a facial..and I say this all the time on the forum. Winter time spas run facials and light peel specials for sometimes half off. Hit up Yelp, look your local salons for one that's reputable and see if their website has any specials. You can leave a spa with hydrated skin and then maintain it, which is easier than starting from scratch. Your own products will work better. I've seen some dry skin facials as low as $40. My own spa is doing a hydrating facial with a light peel for $60. That's less some creams and unlike those, provides immediate relief. As a mom, you probably need some stress relief and so if you can manage it. Take an hour out of the week and get to a spa.

I don't want to push and so I've shared my own thoughts and experiences, but respect your own choices so I won't make mention of these recommendations again.
If you want a chemical exfoliant or a new toner, hit me up and I'll send some effective options your way. I really wish you the best. I've been there. It's tough. *hug*  

Mar 7, 2016

Star M.

Thank you sooooo much rozberry I don't have a toner what would that do? I have had recommendation but not sure what it does if you can tell me & chemical exfoliation is what and where can I get it? I bought the hydrating CERAVE but returned it I felt no change at all my skin felt rough still.

Mar 8, 2016

Roz X.

Toner is designed to not only help keep a healthy pH to your skin, but toners of today have a multitude of beneficial ingredients in them. Everything from soothing your skin, to anti-aging...replenishing lost moisture to surface bacteria. There are many formulas and these improve the health of your skin. The right toner will ease oily skin, hydrate dry skin, add firmness to aging skin, softness...on and on. Think of it as a serum in liquid form. Quality toners show improvement with each use. You can feel and see your skin transforming. Ms. Jacqueline not long ago was speaking about how her toner changed her skin amazingly, but it is also because it is part of a greater plan she follows for her skin.

Chemical exfoliation for dry skin, I prefer to use AHA. It's Alpha Hydroxy Acid and it gently helps skin shed dead skin cells to reveal softer, smoother skin. It eases fine lines and fades out scars. It helps reduce acne...on and on. That's what brings smoothness to skin. Like Retinol and Retinoids, acids brighten and even skin tone through cell turnover. They can *initially* be drying, so you always want to ease into them. I know you are thinking, why would I want to use something that *might* dry my skin, but ff you ease into usage, you should be perfectly fine without any additional dryness...and your skin will shed...it will slough and your cells will begin to turn over and skin become acclimated to the product. You will banish those flakes and patches. This is why moisturizing and hydrating washes work with AHA's as a team. I have been flake-free all winter,thanks to a skincare regimen that includes AHA's...and the other products I have mentioned here within this thread, but the forum is full of amazing products that work well with AHA's and I've seen some great suggestions. You might want to go back and read your other threads to refresh some member ideas.

You aren't going to get bumps gone and transform texture with a wash. CeraVe wash is intended to be a detergent free, unscented, hydrating, calm face wash. Acids work by remaining on the skin, so things like lotions and toners..peels...this is how you banish flakes and rough skin.

If you bought the CeraVe thinking it would completely transform the texture of your skin, I'm sorry, but it was intended to instead prevent your skin from losing moisture from being stripped by harsh washes that are loaded with detergent. Many members use these sorts of washes to counter the dryness or irritation the elements, a medicine, a topical treatment...an AHA or BHA or Retinol brings.
I believe I've shared this with you previously, but you can find AHA's right at the drugstore. I have three favorite AHA's.
One is the Olay Microdelivery Purifying Peel $38
The second is Alpha Hydrox 12% Souffle. $15
3rd, Paula's Choice $27

The Olay is a triple acid peel, using Lactic, Glycolic and Citric Acid. I find these all to work well with my own dry skin, but I use the Olay and the Alpha Hydrox most. I don't need three AHA's and so I no longer purchase my Derms AHA or Paula's.

You want to introduce them to your skin slowly...maybe every 3rd day for starters and see how your skin responds. They need to be used always always with sunscreen. You can use them on your entire face, avoiding eyelids and mucas membranes. You can use a q-tip and feather it around the orbital area, the nose and the mouth..being sure to not get it into the eye, the nose or on the lips. It's really quite simple and provides a smooth, bright face with regular usage. After you apply and it has dried, I'd apply CeraVe PM and sleep in it. In the morning, use a moisturizing sunscreen that has broad spectrum protection such as CeraVe AM, but there are many sunscreen options.
Twice a week, I physically exfoliate with Philosophy Microdelivery Wash, but as I mentioned, I'm loving the Boscia Exfolating Gel at the moment as well. Still testing that one out. Some people chose to not Physically exfoliate; that's entirely up to you.

Your best friend is an all cotton wet washcloth. That's a safe and gentle way to exfoliate your face if you have flakes. You want to avoid setting sprays loaded with alcohol and if you are truly that dry to where you are miserable, a toner withouth alcohol or witch hazel. (Such as Paula's Choice)

It's not a complicated or a time consuming routine. It's really just about taking a few minutes for yourself every morning and every evening. You'll want a hydrating primer and a foundation that doesn't dry out your skin. There's luckily been plenty of helpful suggestion for those products over the past few weeks and so I hope you find them helpful.

If you'd like to learn more about the AHA's I've suggested, these links will help. They explain all about the products and how to use them, as well as provide some reviews from users. If you'd like more feedback and reviews MakeupAlley as well as Ulta and a few other spots on the web have them.
Knowledge is power. Best of luck to you.  


http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/by-brand/olay/Pro-X/_/ProX-Anti-Aging-Night-Purifying-Micro-Peel

http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia-skin-care-reviews/by-brand/alpha-hydrox/_/AHA-Souffle-12percent-Glycolic-AHA

http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/skin-care-categories/body-care/_/Resist-Skin-Revealing-Body-Lotion-with-Ten-Percent-AHA/