Cakey Foundation

[#1]

I have been using CoverGirl Clean collection for some time now, mainly because I needed cheap makeup that covered my acne and came in an extremely light shade ( I have really pale skin, and I'm talking REALY pale). In the past year, I have gotten a "job opening" and have extra money, and I have become more interested in clear skin and great makeup.  I currently use CoverGirl Clean makeup in Ivory in sensitive skin. But every day, it gets so cakey after powder, and it gets splotchy, shows dry skin, and my acne.  Now that my acne is reducing, I wand to start tinted moisturizer, but is there a certain application process for foundation or powder that I should be aware of? Blush tips would also be welcome...

[#2]

I agree with using a gentle cleanser to remove your makeup THEN washing with a treatment cleanser (I love Boscia's Clear Complexion cleanser and Bliss' No Zit Sherlock cleanser). If you are just starting to move away from Cover Girl products, a great one to try out is Clinique's Acne Solutions foundation. I was not a fan of the old version but this new version is AWESOME! It gives great coverage and has a natural look. If your skin has a lot of redness due to the breakouts, check out the Redness Solutions foundation. This one calms down the red almost instantly, so you do not have to use as much makeup to cover and conceal. Both foundations are less than $25 and do the job pretty well. Sephora is a great place to try these items out before buying them. Maybe go in for a foundation consultation and try one on each side of your face and see which one you like best.

[#3]

rather then tell you I would like to show you the best way to prevent your foundation from caking up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDP5YFqNRB4

Follow those steps and you will be pleased with the results.

Also, I know tinted moisturizer sounds less intimidating but you really should go about applying your TM as you would with a foundation except with a tinted moisturizer it's a lot easier to use your fingers to apply. So moisturize your face, apply primer (if that's what you normally do) and then go in with your tinted moisturizer. Then lightly dust with a setting powder with a brush or press and roll your powder into your skin with a powder puff.

As for blush, don't smile when you apply it because not only does that look unnatural it ends up dragging your face downards when you're not smiling (if that makes sense). You can either use blush to contour or if you want a more natural flush, start from the apples of your cheeks and apply slightly upward and outward to your hairline.

Here's a vid that may help (includes all you need to know about contouring as well):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l56_RPHUegQ

Hope that helps!

[#4]

No matter what blush color you are using, use your face shape as a guide for how to apply your blush.  Since I don't know your face shape, I've listed blush application tips for different face shapes that will ensure that you are getting the most beneficial coverage from your blush.  

Blush Application Tips for Oval-Shaped Face

An oval face type typically does not need any contouring at all since the natural slope of your face already provides a perfect plane to apply blush.  For a natural look, apply blush onto the apples of your cheeks for a flushed, healthy glow.  If you are going out for a night on the town, add slightly more blush to the bridge of your nose for extra color.

Blush Application Tips for Square-Shaped Face

For this face shape, soften the angles of cheeks by concentrating the brighter color of the blush on the apples of your cheeks, then sweep the color straight out towards your temples.  This will give your face a natural lift.  If you want to round the corners of your jaw line, lightly dust some blush from your chin to just below your ears.

Blush Application Tips for Round-Shaped Face

Start applying blush to the area just above the apples of your cheeks and slightly blend forward to thin the face.  Make sure not to get blush too close to your nose; otherwise, the extra color will highlight the rounded area of the cheeks.  Next, dust the contour shade just below the cheekbone down to the jaw line and blend the color so it looks natural.

Blush Application Tips for Long-Shaped Face

To create the illusion of width on a long-shaped face, apply blush to the apples of the cheeks and extend the color outward towards your ears.  Next, sweep your blush across the middle of your forehead and along your chin line.

Blush Application Tips for Heart Shaped Face

When applying blush to a heart-shaped face, start below your cheekbones, not on them.  Heart shapes tend to have nice bone structure, but applying blush directly on top of the bones can make your face look wider.  Dab blush all along the underside of your cheekbones up to your ears.  Sweep your blush upwards, using a little less below your eye sockets and temples.  Blend with a large brush, rotating it in circles as you do so—this helps set the pigment and gives a more natural finish.

As far as foundation goes, I would try Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup because it has great coverage, neutralizes redness and is medicated to help prevent future breakouts.  You can find it at:  http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P259605​&categoryId=B70

You can also use Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer for any hard to cover blemishes.  It is medicated, too, and you can find it at: http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P244700​&categoryId=B70

If you are interested in a great skincare routine, I recommend Clinique's "Acne Solutions" line of products.  They make some great skincare products (I love their foaming cleanser) and I will list a few below:

• Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam:  http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P188309​&categoryId=B70
• Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion:  http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P188307​&categoryId=B70
• Acne Solutions Clearing Moisturizer Oil Free:  http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P188306​&categoryId=B70

You can get the three above items in a set together to try out (and save money by getting them in a set) called "Acne Solutions Clear Skin System Kit" and you can find it at:  http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P188308​&categoryId=B70

I hope this helps you.

[#5]

What are using for the acne?    Do you take off all your makeup with a Cetaphil type cleanser....then wash with your favorite get my skin clean cleanser.  Sometimes if you do not do that it makes the acne worst....Anyway, I have found that powder causes me to break out so I do not use it.    Have you tried a face primer like Smashbox LIGHT....it forms a barely there layer, so you would only need to use a tinted moisturizer..or mix the tinted moisturizer with your favorite foundation.  I mix my foundations.... My favoites are  Dior ($$$), Dr Denese 30 SPF Defense Day Cream.  I have others as well and usually mix up 3 on my fingertips before applying.  I believe I get a better match to my skin tone that way.

As far as brands, go to the nearest Sephora or Department store and check em all out.  Get little samples to find your fav.

Not sure what your age is?  I think there are alot of better foundations out there other than CG? 

Good Luck and Have fun!