I need some makeup help

[Deleted]

And the CEP makeup thread is huge and scary and I don't even know.

So here's my problem:
Over the last couple of years my face has changed and gotten really weird. No matter how much I exfoliate and moisturize, I have these teeny tiny little bumps on my face, and also my pores have gotten larger. So the foundations that I've always used now end up highlighting these little bumps, and settling into my pores and it just looks BAD. I hate it and I'm so frustrated. 

Other things to note:
My face is naturally splotchy with red patches, so I need something to even that out.
Combo skin with an oily T-zone and dry-ish cheeks/around my nose. 

I have a little money to play with and I'd like to try something other than my usual drugstore stuff, unless there's some really awesome drugstore stuff you can recommend. I've got some perfume in my Sephora cart already so if I can get it there even better.

I've used a plethora of Revlon, Rimmel, and Covergirl and its all just not working for me. 

HALP??

[underwaterrhymes]

The little bumps sound like millia. What kind of moisturizer are you using?

[rachers]

Are you using any type of primer? That would be my first suggestion. Smashbox makes really great ones. They're pore minimizing one (purple tube) has made a huge difference for me.

[waffletime]

I have pretty similar skin with regards to the redness and combo, and using a green primer under my foundation helps me a lot with the redness, and it tends to dry out the oily spots and soften the dry spots for me. Smashbox makes a good one, but I've used the e.l.f. one with success too because I'm poor. It might help even your face out and help with the pores too.

[zoomzoom]

I love Two Faced's BB cream. I still use a moisturizer but then the BB cream over it. It really smooths out my skin. You can definitely get it at Sephora. My other suggestion would be to get a facial. I've been getting them regularly for years and my once HUGE pores are now tiny. You can't beat a good facial!

[shamrockshake]

I would start with skin care before you try and change up your make up to just cover your issues. There was just a thread on S&B about Paula's Choice products and have they're fantastic and can fix everything, maybe see if they have something that can help

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 10:47:46 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

The little bumps sound like millia. What kind of moisturizer are you using?

It doesn't look like most of the examples I saw on google, but it does kind of look like this (the teeny tiny bumps not the bigger ones)






I've been using this because it helps with the dryness on my cheeks/neck etc

[riffraff]

I might go into sephora and talk to one of the beauty consultants, They will do a makeover if you spend $50 on products.

[Deleted]

THIS IS HARD! MY HEAD HURTS! WHY DID MY SKIN HAVE TO CHANGE!!

[Deleted]

Talk to your derm! I had the same thing and assumed it was a reaction to something since I didn't have this before. It turned out to be some sort of cystic thing and I took a round of antibiotics now they're gone. It was a cycle because I wanted to cover them and that just seemed to make things worse

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 10:56:05 GMT -5 nuggetbrain said:

Jan 30, 2015 10:54:00 GMT -5 @fucksticklegit said:

THIS IS HARD! MY HEAD HURTS! WHY DID MY SKIN HAVE TO CHANGE!!

.......what if this is a late life cat allergy manifestation?

I will get drunk every day on Benadryl if I have to.

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 10:56:25 GMT -5 @holly said:

Talk to your derm! I had the same thing and assumed it was a reaction to something since I didn't have this before. It turned out to be some sort of cystic thing and I took a round of antibiotics now they're gone. It was a cycle because I wanted to cover them and that just seemed to make things worse

I DONT HAVE A DERMATOLOGIST I AM POOR

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 10:57:25 GMT -5 @fucksticklegit said:

Jan 30, 2015 10:56:25 GMT -5 @holly said:

Talk to your derm! I had the same thing and assumed it was a reaction to something since I didn't have this before. It turned out to be some sort of cystic thing and I took a round of antibiotics now they're gone. It was a cycle because I wanted to cover them and that just seemed to make things worse

I DONT HAVE A DERMATOLOGIST I AM POOR

Ack, sorry! I Canadia we get free derms lol 
can pharmacists prescribe antibiotics over the counter in the US? 

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 10:59:21 GMT -5 @holly said:

Jan 30, 2015 10:57:25 GMT -5 @fucksticklegit said:

I DONT HAVE A DERMATOLOGIST I AM POOR

Ack, sorry! I Canadia we get free derms lol 
can pharmacists prescribe antibiotics over the counter in the US? 

No. Also, I dont think its  anything antibiotics will take care of. I've been on antibiotics in the past 2 years for other things and it didnt help.

I think it might be related to my Keratosis Pilaris

[Muddled]

What are you using to exfoliate? A scrub or a peel type thing?

A scrub may be too harsh for your skin? I like this: m.sephora.com/product/P375421?requestSource=%2Fpower-peel-trade-professional-spa-grade-kit-P375421

I'm sure Paula's Choice has some good options, too.

[underwaterrhymes]

Okay, I think skincare is where you need to focus first.

It looks less like millia to me and more like acne just under the skin. Is it painful?

Your moisturizer might be too heavy. I would use something light with sunscreen during the day and make sure you're NOT using something with sunscreen overnight.

Next, make sure you're removing your makeup every night, and washing your face in the morning too.

Don't exfoliate too often. You should only need to do it once or twice a week, and nothing harsh.

For my skincare, I use I use almond oil to remove my makeup, wash my face, and as my nighttime moisturizer and it's awesome and light. During the day I use Trader Joe's Enrich Moisturizing Face Lotion.

Baking soda with a touch of water makes a nice natural exfoliant, but I also like my Mia Clairisonic. (I only use that once a week, otherwise it's too harsh for my aging skin.)

As far as makeup is concerned, I really like Urban Decay Naked Skin Makeup. www.urbandecay.com/naked-skin-liquid-makeup-from-urban-decay/334.html

It's pricey, but it lasts awhile and is light, but still has nice coverage. You want to make sure you're using a foundation that is non-comedogenic.

As others have mentioned, primers are good for helping your makeup sit where it's supposed to and not settle into lines, but I don't use it and I find the Urban Decay looks great even without it. My makeup does stay longer when I use a primer, but I only use it every now and then and don't actually have any right now at all.

ETA - For the splotchy skin / uneven tone (which I have too), you can find a green toned concealer to balance out red. Or I just use a regular concealer under my foundation (especially on my eyelids, which are red) and it works fine.

[pantsparty]

Have you tried any type of glycolic acid product? I love Makeup Artist"s Choice peels. You could try a mandelic acid peel for something milder. They always have coupon codes.

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 11:06:44 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

It looks less like millia to me and more like acne just under the skin. Is it painful?

Not at all painful, nothing comes out, and I rarely get actual pimples. Maybe one or two once a month around my period or occasionally if I'm sick. I've got some generic scrub I use 2-3 times a week. 

[Deleted]

Blerg. I think I'm going to take a trip to Sephora tomorrow as much as it makes me want to hyperventilate, just so I can get some recommendations and thoughts on WTF is going on with my skin.

Thanks everyone

[justemily]

Do you have an Ulta nearby?

The one near me has a "Skin Center" and they do free consultations. They are Dermalogica consultants, and I've heard great stuff about their products.

www.ulta.com/glowingskin/

[KB]

Have you tried a product with AHA? Retinols may help.

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 11:17:20 GMT -5 superduper said:

Jan 30, 2015 11:01:15 GMT -5 @fucksticklegit said:

No. Also, I dont think its  anything antibiotics will take care of. I've been on antibiotics in the past 2 years for other things and it didnt help.

I think it might be related to my Keratosis Pilaris

If this is the case, I would look in to food intollerances. I've had awful KP on the back of my arms for as long as I can remember. When I finally went Gluten Free because of other suspected issues, it cleared up completely. Nothing I had ever tried worked, no moisturizer, no exfolication, nothing. I would at least look in to it. When I started researching Gluten Intollerances, KP was listed as one of the possible symptoms. health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2013/09/17/surprising-signs-of-gluten-intolerance

Not happening. I don't care enough to give up sweet delicious gluten. Also my KP has gotten much better as I've gotten older.

Whatever the bumps on my face are, they're not nearly as bad as the picture I posted, so I'm not changing my entire lifestyle for it. Sorrynotsorry. 

I'm going to look into the skincare stuff tomorrow.

[happyholiday]

I agree with pants. I would try chemical exfoliation with glycolic acid or lactic acid.

[jane6672]

Have you tried this stuff? 

It's made a big difference in my arms: they are hardly bumpy and the color has evened out (I use just the tube lotion).

[CloudBee]

I would probably use a night cream with retinol, a face wash with glycolic acid, and throw on a primer before applying foundation. You can rotate between an exfoliating wash and a glycolic wash.

A stippling brush will also work better than a sponge for foundation application, in your case.

moisturizer suggestion:
www.sephora.com/skin-perfecting-lotion-blemish-prone-oily-skin-P4050?skuId=654301

retinol treatment which can help smooth your skin:
www.sephora.com/help-me-P4647?skuId=352054

glycolic wash:
www.amazon.com/DDF-Glycolic-Exfoliating-Wash-fl/dp/B00EAUMOXW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422636115&sr=8-1&keywords=ddf+glycolic

glycolic toner:
www.amazon.com/DDF-Glycolic-Toning-Complex-fl/dp/B00HRFMN2Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1422636115&sr=8-2&keywords=ddf+glycolic

So I think you actually need skincare help, not makeup help.

stippling brush:
www.amazon.com/Foundation-Brush-Flat-Top-Kabuki/dp/B00F008GFQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1422636244&sr=8-2&keywords=stippling+brush

Suki scrub may also work for you. It gently exfoliates and has glycolic acid in it. I use this a few times a month.
www.amazon.com/Suki-exfoliate-foaming-cleanser-4oz/dp/B000OY5W3M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422636324&sr=8-1&keywords=suki+scrub

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 11:40:45 GMT -5 jane6672 said:

Have you tried this stuff? 

It's made a big difference in my arms: they are hardly bumpy and the color has evened out (I use just the tube lotion).

I haven't tried that stuff, but like I said my KP has gotten a lot better on its own as I've gotten older.

This stuff works wonders for smoothing the bumps even more on me:



Bonus: sometimes I can find it at TJ Maxx for like $5.

[beefcheeks]

I'm just posting so I can refer back later to some of the rec products...

[Una]

Those look like closed comedones to me, which are basically clogged pores. I get the same kind in the same spot. The only thing that helped mine were BHA and AHA. I use Stridex in the red box and Alpha Hydrox glycolic souffle a couple times a week. I also do a lactic acid peel once every week and a half or two weeks. A lot of people love St Ives exfoliating pads (with lactic acid), as well.

I really hate reddit for the most part, but I absolutely love the SkincareAddiction subreddit. AsianBeauty is great, too.

I also use CosDNA to look at product ingredients. It gives you an idea of how irritating and potentially acne-causing some ingredients may be.

[gault]

I would recommend Clinique's Redness Solutions foundation.
It's a tiny bit heavy for me, but I still use it and it evens out red splotches really well.

I'm sorry. This shit is so frustrating!

[starlily]

Jan 30, 2015 11:01:15 GMT -5 @fucksticklegit said:

Jan 30, 2015 10:59:21 GMT -5 @holly said:

Ack, sorry! I Canadia we get free derms lol 
can pharmacists prescribe antibiotics over the counter in the US? 

No. Also, I dont think its  anything antibiotics will take care of. I've been on antibiotics in the past 2 years for other things and it didnt help.

I think it might be related to my Keratosis Pilaris

It might also be hormonal. I have something similar and it gets better/worse at different points during the month. I also have KP, and both that and the bumps cleared up on their own while I was pregnant.

Being consistent with exfoliating helps me, particularly with products that contain fruit enzymes, lactic acid, or glycolic acid.