Why is my foundation pilling?

[novembersnow]

HELP!

I have pretty normal skin, neither oily nor dry. Never had any sensitivity issues.

I use the Beauty Vinegar by Roger & Gallet (decided to give it a go. Not really loving it, nor am I hating it tbh) after cleansing my skin, then Vichy idealia serum (I know, not a Sephora product) , and top it off with Rénergie Lift Multi-Action creme in the morning (Fresh Black Tea overnight mask at night). Then I put on sunscreen.

I usually start with either Dr.Brandt's Pores No More primer or Hourglass Veil Mineral primer. I've been using Lancome Teint Idole foundation on top, or Baremineral's Barepro powder foundation when I feel lazy. I use beauty blender for both.

I give about 10 seconds in between steps to make sure each product is absorbed, and pat them dry before starting my make up routine to avoid pilling, and it's always worked, until now.

I'd like to believe that I'm pretty thorough with my cleansing. I exfoliate appropriately, and do masks from time to time. My routine has always been the same (except with different toners, but I think I had the same problem even with a toner before that wasn't Roger & Gallet -- but would really a toner cause THAT much of a difference?), and I'm not sure exactly why I'm having this problem all of a sudden.

I don't over-indulge on my skincare, and I only apply half a pump of my foundation. I've tried applying less, with different foundations, different tools, different sunscreen, different moisturizer, and I apply less than pea-sized amount of primer (it doesn't seem to pill at this stage, only when at foundation), and I've even tried without a primer. Pilling gets worse when I don't use a primer.

I try to make sure my tools are clean at least once a week. I have a beauty blender, and have tried it both dry and wet. I also have a dry make up sponge, and sometimes use those puffs that comes from a cushion foundation. As I start to blend, that's when it pills. (I don't really like using my fingers because I don't like the way it looks.)

I use a kabuki-brush or a dry beauty blender for powder foundations. But both looks super dry and texturized and flaky when I pat it on my skin, so I usually smudge and blend it to look more natural (and that's when it starts to pill).

I really don't want to have to go through searching for different products again to stop this 😞 Can someone give me an advice, or a different technique to try while salvaging what I still have? Please help!

[k617]

Just an idea, as I have not used many of the items you listed (except the Hourglass primer, which I've been using for years with at least 10 different foundations and have never had balling issues).

Sometimes foundations are not compatible with what's underneath. Are you sure it's not the Pores No More primer? Those primers tend to be thicker in order to be pore filling, so maybe it balls up. Or maybe it is the vinegar? 

Try removing each product for a day and see if you can narrow down a single product that may cause this. 

In addition, are any of your products getting close to the end of their shelf life? I find that even with my eyeshadow primers, they tend to be less user-friendly if I'm near the end of the tube because the product is drier. 

Good luck finding out what might be causing your issues! @novembersnow

[carlym99]

I've tried many foundations - Lancome, Armani, Estee Lauder, Laura Mercier, and Urban Decay. All these foundations felt like I was wearing foundation which I hated. Fortunately I found a foundation that worked well for me as it is lightweight, buildable and matches my skin tone. It's the Dior Diorskin Airflash Spray Foundation. Next time you're at a Sephora, you should ask one of the cast members if you could try it out. It's really about you're preference on feel as well as if the color matches.

[novembersnow]

*crying*

thank you so much for your advice- and I've tried taking out the toner out of my routine in the morning, and just went serum, moisturizer, sunscreen, then foundation - and it still pills 😞

I've tried mixing the foundation with primer, and all other combinations I could think of, and still the same... I'm at a loss for words, really.

[k617]

If it pills without anything underneath, then it sounds like your foundation not sitting well with your skin 😞

[skcfan]

I also think you can check if products work together by rubbing small amounts together on the back of your hand. If they mix together well, you should be fine. If they turn into a goopy mess, maybe find a different combo. I usually just test my primer and foundations together, not all my skincare because I let those sink in while I’m doing my hair so they don’t usually interfere.

[darlyndar]

I think it may be the foundation. Lancôme is best on oily skin. Maybe you need to use a more luminizing foundation that has more moisture in it so it won’t pill. Try something drugstore first. Like the Maybelline FitMe dewy foundation.

[novembersnow]

but it's not just this foundation though. So far, I've tried:

Lancome Teint Idole

Giorgio Armani's luminous silk

Same brand's Power Fabric

Becca luminous glow (or something)

MUFE HD foundation

Hourglass candleglow

Too Faced Peach foundation

Baremineral's PRO powder foundation

IT powder foundation

and all pills (some of them were samples, not gonna lie). and with this foundation before, I've had it before (and that's why I just repurchased it), and it didn't pill - nothing pilled on my skin before 😞

The only thing that won't pill is cushion foundations, but I really don't think cushion foundations are worth my money, seeing how much I pay for the little amount of product I get (if that makes sense).

[GG84]

@novembersnow The only thing I can think of is dry skin. You are layer quite a few products ontop of one another and it could be having a sloughing effect.

[novembersnow]

But IMO this is a basic skincare routine - a toner, serum, moisturizer, and sun protection.

I've tried it without toner (because it does have a layer of something that looks like oil?) and it was the same :S I've tried it both with and without primer.

and I don't really have dry skin though 😞

[Susubee]

Have you tried leaving out the Serum? I'm not familiar with what you're using, but I have a few that are suspending in something that's slightly more viscous, and there are certain foundations (and some primers) that I can't wear with those particular serums underneath. 

[novembersnow]

I got lazy lol and I've tried the routine on the back of my hand, and no pilling! (serum, moisturizer, sunscreen, and foundation). It's sitting on my hand perfectly well!

I'm so confused... :S