Foundation gets blotchy?

Mar 12, 2014

Emily W.

Hey everyone,

I tried searching but couldn't find a topic to help me. I've been having trouble with foundation lately, and I can't for the life of me figure out why! Every time I wear products on my face, they go on perfectly but an hour later they start to break apart and look cakey and blotchy I didn't used to have this issue. I haven't changed any skin care, my skin hasn't changed...

I've tried:
- Moisturizer, foundation, powder, setting spray
- just foundation, powder, and spray
- primer, foundation, powder, spray
- primer, foundation, spray (no powder)
- BB cream, powder, spray
- BB cream, spray (no powder)
- primer, BB cream, spray

I'm using the same products I always have; I never had this issue before! I honestly can't figure out what is causing this... Help?

Mar 12, 2014

Emily W.

I forgot to note that I have normal/dry skin (never oily). Ugh this makes no sense...

Mar 12, 2014

Winter P.

Same here!!

Mar 12, 2014

Alma M.

Hi Emily,it's just a product change up you need after awhile things need to be change in the routine.What primer are you using? and what Foundation? sometimes the best fix is just changing your face primer to also match the ingredients of your foundation.

Mar 12, 2014

Shauna S.

Hmm that's strange, it might be the weather that's affecting your makeup? I don't know how the weather is where you live but I've noticed a change in my makeup application this winter. This winter has been so brutally cold and I've noticed myself developing skin issues that I've never had before.
Also overtime sometimes you just need a change up in your makeup, especially in different seasons where your skin might change from dry-combo-oily.
Always make sure your makeup products have similar ingredients. For example, if you use a water based foundation you would want to be using a water based primer. Using oil and/or silicone based products with water based products can cause them to not sit well on the skin.
Also out of curiosity, what makeup products are you using for your primer, foundation, powder, spray, etc?

Mar 12, 2014

Anupa M.

I've had this happen to me with old foundations :) If nothing else has changed it just might be that the formula of one of your products have changed over time. Try seeing what your oldest item is and switch it up

Mar 12, 2014

Emily W.

I am using Maybelline Age Rewind primer (thought it might help keep everything from creasing around my eyes, I smile too much :P ), either Sephora liquid foundation (just got it as a gift last month) or Revlon Colorstay Whipped (purchased in January) or Etude House something-or-other Cotton Fit BB cream (just bought last week). I use e.l.f. pressed powder, and e.l.f. Mist & Set or Mehron Barrier Spray. None of them are expired or anything.

I've applied with a brush, with a sponge, with a damp sponge, and with my hands... We haven't had a winter here yet (California) so it isn't the weather. I wish it were that simple!

I never used to use primer, and never had this problem. :( I could try using a different one, but I'm not sure which kind to choose. I can't read the ingredients on the BB cream (the bottle is Korean), but shouldn't that not need a primer anyway? As for the Sephora foundation, I think it is water based. I'll have to double check.

Mar 12, 2014

Caitlin M.

That's strange. I know my skin is currently soo DRY. The most it's ever been thanks to winter cold and acne meds. I'm going nuts. Doesn't help my Clarisonic broke and I'm still waiting on a replacement. It looks like you've tried everything I'd try to do so I'm kind of stumped here.

Mar 12, 2014

Emily W.

Caitlin: Right?? I'm so lost! Literally NOTHING has changed. Makes no sense whatsoever.

Mar 12, 2014

Anupa M.

That's so odd, everything is fairly new :/ do you think that one of the companies changed the formula recently (I don't know I'm running out of ideas lol)

Mar 12, 2014

Shauna S.

I do know that Revlon Colorstay had changed their formula... maybe you got one of the newer ones

Mar 12, 2014

Emily W.

It could be, but that still doesn't explain why it is happening with all of them... I appreciate everyone trying to help! Such a frustrating quandary...

Mar 12, 2014

Emily W.

@Jacqueline Usually I only use it to set my makeup afterwards. I use it more for body painting, but I thought it would do a better job holding my makeup after this blotching thing started. No such luck.

The primer/foundation mismatch might explain it sometimes, but it has happened without primer as well. I have dry skin that never gets oily (I mean never; not even when it is 110? outside). I thought that perhaps my skin was getting oily and I just didn't see it, but a blotting sheet came back clean.

Mar 13, 2014

Emily W.

Oh no! :( Maybe someone will think of something. Darn it this is frustrating!

Mar 13, 2014

Emily W.

Thanks dear, I'll ask them. I don't think that my skin changed but you never know. This is all just too weird!

Thanks for the help everyone!

Oct 1, 2015

Kayla S.

I know this post is old, but I stumbled across this while searching for a solution. I currently am having the same issue. I have tried numerous foundations, primers, skincare, etc.and for the life of me can not find a solution. Was curious if you were able to solve your problem?!