New to make up.

Jul 5, 2016

Alyssa N.

I find the same issue as you, how it looks powdery and off!! So instead I just use concealer where needed. That way it's not covering the whole face and it looks much smoother. Then I carry on using eye makeup (mascara) and blusher. I don't like wearing much makeup.

Jul 5, 2016

Tia B.

Primer helps it go on smmoother.

Jul 5, 2016

Anna A.

I have a similar skin type to yours. I switch back and forth with foundations frequently. Right now I'm loving the Make Up Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation. Easy to use, blends beautifully, but it doesn't give me the caked on look. I use the MUFE mattifying primer with it and that seems to take care of the oil issue. For cheaper options, the Loreal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR foundation is really good, but its important to use a thin layer. They've just come out with a Pro-Glow foundation, but I would also say to use a mattifying primer with it.

Jul 6, 2016

Kitty K.

Well I have to be brutally honest here Megan. Expecting results as the one you posted is unrealistic.
The image is rather altered and if that's the effect you want you can easily do that with any editing app. Most phone cameras even come built in with a 'Beauty' feature which blurs out the skin.
If you pay attention to the hairs on her forehead, her eyebrows, her chin, even the holes of her nose are blurred and her lips. It's really amateur editing at its best probably done with a photo app. As someone certified for editing, she can't fool me and neither can majority of these 'flawless' girls on Instagram 😉
A dewy foundation wouldn't really work with oily skin.. The oil production may make you look like a grease ball. I recommend focusing on skin care and perhaps looking into a finish that isn't all matte since skin isn't exactly matte either. The Urban Decay naked skin gives a pretty finish that's neither dewy or completely matte.

Jul 6, 2016

Aleena P.

How are you applying the foundation? and are you using matte foundations?

Jul 6, 2016

Kitty K.

If the foundation is appearing dry or powdery on oily skin, that's a sign of dehydration. Skin is an organ and when you strip it of moisture, it will want to make up for the lack of moisture by producing more moisture. Key is to pay attention to your skin rather than blaming various products... Are your products free of solvent alcohols and harsh detergents? Fragrance free (both synthetic and natural?)
For your skin type, you can go with a toner based off of witch hazel. Thayers offers a line of witch hazel based toners that are free of solvent alcohols. Since you have oily skin instead of opting for a cream or lotion moisturizer, you can go with a serum. The molecules in serum are much smaller which means a bit more bang for your buck. It'll get the job done without the heavy cream feeling. Paula's Choice offers a variety of serums based on skin type. Sun protection is important as well since the sun is very damaging to the skin. SPF and cover up are very important. Once oil is controlled, from there you can factor on the products. For a skin like finish, I wouldn't go with matte.

Jul 6, 2016

Shengmin L.

In that picture that girl probably has good skin to start with and the reason why it doesn't look cakey is because she has on a sheer coverage foundation or a tinted moisturizer, which you can try. You can also get a beautyblender because it soaks up excess product and won't make you cake on foundation.

Jul 6, 2016

Aleena P.

Kitty is definitely right about skincare being the base for pretty much everything makeup. I would start or at least keep focus there. she's also very right about that picture being photoshopped to give the person smoother skin than she has. I get it, but I don't GET why people bother editing like that. I am now assuming her skin is way worse than it probably really is. but anywho...matte foundations are a lot easier to get a powdery or cakey look with in my experience, just by nature of the formula. but they are better for oily skin because they won't slide around and make you greasier. I've tried the matte and the dewy version of fit me and I think they are both good foundations so I don't want to blame the product on its own. though if you haven't tried a semi matte foundation that may be worth a shot. you could even mix a small amount of moisturizer or facial oil into the foundation to make it a bit dewier and see if that helps. the foundation may just be a mismatch for your skin, you said it happened with others but did they have a similar formula? make sure you are using very thin layers of the product and letting it set a bit between adding more layers. sometimes adding just a little too much at once can make everything congeal on top the skin and look powdery/cakey.
if you're setting it with powder try blotting your face just before you powder because excess oils can cake up. and keep in mind that you only need a very small amount of powder to make a big difference.
are you letting your moisturizer set before putting the foundation on? of there's excess moisture from that it could be mixing with the foundation badly.
a wedge sponge is a perfectly good product even if it doesn't have a brand name. but if you are really having trouble blending the foundation smoothly try putting it on with a brush and then going over it with a sponge. the brush will buff it into the skin better and the sponge will smooth out the top layer.
if you are getting them damp try to use warm water because the heat will help the foundation move better.
if you haven't already you could try a finishing spray to take down the powdery look when you're all done. I like the elf setting spray for that purpose, even though it doesn't help me extend my makeup, as well as good old rosewater and glycerin. if you want something to take down the powdery look and help your make up last I like urban decay all nighter and the Loreal spray is only a few ingredients shy of being the same formula (a few fragrances and the UD has extra glycols) and it works well for me.
are you using a primer at all? if it's getting cakey because your natural oils arent mixing with it well you could try a mattifying primer or if you've been using a primer try applying it without one and look for a difference or with a different type to see if maybe the primer and foundation don't like each other.

Jul 7, 2016

Shengmin L.

Also Megan you should also try using the Cerave moisturizer. It's a really good moisturiZer for applying makeup. I used to use Clinique but after switching to Cerave my foundation application looks so much smoother.

Jul 7, 2016

Cathy D.

Try a bb cream.