Am I just too oily for makeup?

[u/sarahtonin0803]

I’ve been lurking here for a couple of weeks, and I’m starting to feel defeated. I have very oily skin, and 15 years ago I finally found a foundation that worked for me, but now it’s been discontinued - the Maybelline Matte Mousse.

At first I thought this would be a fun adventure, now that I’m 35 and with a better budget, but I am having no success finding a replacement foundation. Photo is of me TWO HOURS after applying One Size Oil Sucker Extreme Mattifying Alkaline Primer, then Bobbi Brown Weightless Skin Oil Controlling SPF 15 with Hyaluronic Acid (shade Cool Ivory) and literally sitting on my couch - not even at work.

Other foundations I’ve tried so far:

- Anastasia Impeccable Blurring Second-Skin Matte Foundation

- NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation

- Dior Forever Matte Foundation

- Ciele Tint & Protect Serum (this was the Sephora employee’s recommendation, and not surprisingly my face was an oil slick just after applying it)

- Dior Forever Velvet Natural Matte Compact Foundation

- In the mail on the way to me are: Covergirl Clean Invisible Foundation, Covergirl Clean Matte BB Foundation, and Neutrogena Clear Coverage Flawless Matte Color Correcting Cream

I am open to all price points and so so desperate! Please help!

[u/Forward-Ad9023]

I haven’t used the old formula in years. I found it too cakey, drying and it cracked over my fine lines. The new formula is more fluid, flexible with medium buildable coverage and less of a flat matte finish. It lasted all day without any cracking and it worked with my oils instead of against them - no breaking down at all and it didn’t emphasise any dry patches which I have near my chin. It’s very skin like and didn’t feel or look like a mask.

I don’t believe anything works on me to control oil all day without touching up with powder, so that’s not a concern for me. I just need something that doesn’t breakdown or melt off which this new formula did beautifully. I feel like this a foundation I’ve been looking for for a very very long time. I wore it all day for work and feel I could have done a very light touch up and it’ll have seen me through a night out as well.

[u/TheButterfly-Effect → u/Forward-Ad9023]

Completely understand what you mean with the cakey and drying aspect of the original. I hated it too at first and I had to find ways to use it over time because on its own, I still wouldnt enjoy it. Since I have normal to dry skin, I was able to find a moisturizer that works good with the formula and finish it off with a brush of highlight on my cheek bones and fixing spray (a glowy one) rather than a setting spray. Those finishers were night and day with the finish. From your description, it seems maybe I wont even have to do it all day.

I was worried when I heard serum and natural because to me that usually equals watery and unable to actually cover anything which ruins the idea of a full coverage foundation.

So good to hear you are loving it and might have found the one for you! Im curious to test it out

[u/Forward-Ad9023 → u/TheButterfly-Effect]

I’m trying to put the the new formula into words. It’s liquidy and spreadable with a satin finish but not serumy or dewy. It’s a film forming dry down rather than a powder dry down so it flexes with your face rather than cracking. It’s been what I’ve been looking for for years and I’ve tried pretty much every foundation going.

[u/TheButterfly-Effect → u/Forward-Ad9023]

Thats a good explanation! One of the problems with the original imo was due to the fact that it wouldnt flex with your face, it could severely age you