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Post in Dry Skin
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Light-Medium Coverage foundation - retinol skin (dry/flakey)

Hi everyone,

I started 0.5% prescription Tretinoin 2 weeks ago and woke up to major flaking the next week with a few acne here and thereโ€ฆ I was told Iโ€™d have a purge. Never expected it to be this flakey though. I have good moisturizing products and use a konjac sponge with warm water/ oil cleanser in the mornings to help with the flakes. My main issue now being none of my foundations look good anymore. I had dry/dehydrated skin before I started tret and my go to makeup was  DIOR Dior Forever Skin Glow Hydrating Foundation  and Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation . They look so cakey and ugly now even if I put a little bit on (I use a beauty blender) and my husband says it looks like I have put too much on like a mask (stage makeup). And I agree with him, it looks very unnatural. I canโ€™t not wear foundation because I just donโ€™t feel confident without it because of the bad scarring. And my confidence is taking an even greater hit now more than ever. I know patience is key but if anyone has a good skin tint or foundation that is light to medium coverage For EVERYDAY USE. Or light coverage skin tint with a great concealer recommendation??? + a gentle exfoliant recommendation would be more than welcome. 

I really would appreciate any help I can get. Thank you and have a lovely rest of the week!! โ˜บ๏ธโค๏ธ

6 Replies

Re: Light-Medium Coverage foundation - retinol skin (dry/flakey)

Hi...i have dry flaky skin as well.   I tried Ilia True skin serum and it didn't seem to stick to my flakes.   It is a light-medium coverage and moisturizing foundation.

 

On the other hand, ensuring that your skins barrier is intact.   Believe it or not, but a very thin layer of Vaseline after your nightime routine helps seal in the moisture and prevents it from evaporating.  I just started this and so far so good for me.    Vaseline is non-comedogenic.

 

 

Re: Light-Medium Coverage foundation - retinol skin (dry/flakey)

Hi @Glimmernglaze  that was my experience when I started on prescription tret as well. Here's what helped me.

 

  • I changed the frequency of how I was using tret. I began using it 1 time a week for the first month, 2 times a week the second month, 3 times a week the third month and so on. This helped a lot with the flaking/peeling.
  • My skincare routine after cleansing in the am is (in this order):
    • eye cream
    • facial oil
    • good moisturizer
    • sunscreen *super important especially when using tret (I like Supergoop brand)
  • Gently exfoliate your face once a week (check out my thread regarding scrubs:  https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/Everything-about-Scrubs/m-p/6037033)

 

I have found that less is best with foundation, I actually use the same foundations you mention and sometimes I just blend out a couple spots of concealer. Keep up with your tret regimen, it is worth it! ๐Ÿค— Hope this helps.

Re: Light-Medium Coverage foundation - retinol skin (dry/flakey)

Thank you @AMK721 for the reply and Iโ€™m so glad to hear from someone thatโ€™s gone through this process.. it really helps!! โ˜บ๏ธ Both the above foundations are medium-full coverage and I find that itโ€™s just sitting on top of my skin instead of melting into it beautifully (like it did before), I think itโ€™s because of the flaking and dryness. Do you have a lighter coverage skin tint/foundation you would recommend for everyday use?? And yes, I was thinking just yesterday about sheering out my base makeup and using concealer on spots just so that it doesnโ€™t look like too much. Iโ€™m glad thatโ€™s your suggestion as well. โ˜บ๏ธ I will definitely look into your post on scrubs/exfoliants because I need a lot of help in that department as well ๐Ÿ˜‚

Re: Light-Medium Coverage foundation - retinol skin (dry/flakey)

@AMK721  thank you for the suggestions. โ˜บ๏ธ Iโ€™ve tried the Charlotte Tilbury one and it looked dry and this was before tret so I donโ€™t think itโ€™ll look any good now. Iโ€™ve heard so much about the Estรฉe Lauder one and itโ€™s on my list of to try/buy. Iโ€™m going to definitely give that a try now. Also, thank you so much for giving me advice on how to start tret and a good way to slowly increase the frequency, my derm didnโ€™t give me so much info lol ๐Ÿ˜… so it was really nice to get a good routine to keep up with as things are still new to me. โ˜บ๏ธ I hope you have a lovely rest of the week โ˜บ๏ธ

Re: Light-Medium Coverage foundation - retinol skin (dry/flakey)

@Glimmernglaze  you are very welcome. Slowly introducing tret was a great help to me, so I'm happy to pass that info along.

Re: Light-Medium Coverage foundation - retinol skin (dry/flakey)

@Glimmernglaze  depending on your budget there are a couple of "lighter" foundations that I really like.

 

TOM FORD Traceless Soft Matte Foundation, 

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation ,

#Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation

 

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