Base makeup for combo skin

February 4, 2024 8:12 PM

Hormone treatment and aging are changing my skin type quite drastically, and I’m look for primer, foundation and concealer recs that might suit my needs.

Over the past year my face has gone from normal/slightly dry to solidly combination/oily.

I’ve been switching up my skincare and got back into prescription retinoids, which has helped a lot, but I feel like my makeup has been failing me. With the amount of products out there these days, both drugstore and high-end, I feel like I have no idea where to begin.

My go-to primer/spf and foundation pairing for years was the Avène tinted mineral fluid and NARS sheer glow foundation. This combo used to last 8-10 hours with minimal blotting or powdering, but now it just lasts a couple hours before looking like a heavy oily mask that catches on my dry patches.

I generally go for medium coverage as I have some redness and dark circles, but I’m open to trying lower coverage stuff as well if it performs nicely. Also open to concealer recommendation that stay put without creasing or breaking up with oil.

So if you have combo skin and a base makeup routine that you like, please share your knowledge! I would love to stop looking like a melting wax figure when I get home from work :)

posted by Pemberly to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (3 answers total)

I have combination to oily skin and most light weight anything does not last very long.

Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner as primer goes a long way to give me longevity and even wear, absorbs a reasonable amount of oil and does not feel drying. For me personally, I do have to blot after several hrs. I do find that most products that are oil absorbing enough to allow me to never blot feel too drying and give a very matte complexion, too matte for my liking.

With the Bioderma base, I can get away with very light foundation/tint like nu bare look tint. I would not use anything marketed as 'glowing'. Glowing implies that we are adding a degree of subtle shine that you won't need to add.

If I want to use just a single product it cosmetics cc cream matte lasts all day. I use a tiny amount, maybe half a pea sized amount, spread very thinly with a foundation brush.

Using that little, it evens out my skin beautifully without looking anything like full coverage. And it does not move. After several hrs, there is a bit of shine again.

If I want to cover a blemish, I apply a pinpoint amount of the cc cream to the blemish and blend that out. May require a couple of layers but works well.

For my dark under eye area, I use a colour corrector, again just a tiny amount, tapping my pinky finger or ring finger.

I don't set anything with powder. Because my dark areas are quite close to the inner corners of my eyes, I don't feel the need to set the colour corrector either, although they tend to come in textures that would benefit from setting. But I do not use any mascara on my lower lashes and there is simply no need.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:54 AM on February 5 [2 favorites]

If I'm trying to make sure my makeup sticks I do a primer, THEN a light dusting of powder, THEN foundation. I know it sounds insane but it really does work. I like the Hourglass powder, which is pricey but you can get in mini/travel sizes to try and it does last forever. This might help you keep some of the products you already like.

Also, have you considered adding a gentle exfoliator to your mix? Ive really liked this

I use Rare beauty concealer (a little goes a long way) for undereye and I dont feel like it moves on me. I would avoid their primer/foundation though, cause even my dry skin can feel oil slick-y after a couple hours wearing it.

Also a classic, if after your sking gets used to the retinol (no more dry patches) but is still oily is Mac Studio Fix powder foundation
posted by zara at 6:32 AM on February 5 [1 favorite]

Two foundations that get a lot of love for stayability are Estee Lauder's Double Wear, and Lancome's Teint Idole Ultra Wear.
posted by nanook at 8:36 AM on February 5 [1 favorite]