I'm 17, so I'm just figuring out this whole makeup thing. I started using mineral foundation and found that it would look perfect when I first applied it, but after a few hours is was completely gone on the places that I really needed covering.

So I decided to try liquid foundation, I have the revlon colorstay for combo/oily skin. After reading reviews, I bought the mac 187 brush to apply it. I've watched a zillion videos on youtube to figure out the stippling motion, but I just can't get it to not look cakey. Maybe it's the way I'm moisturizing? I moisturize and use a primer (sometimes the green Smashbox photo finish, and sometimes monistat anti-chafing gel).

I really need the coverage on my chin because I get really red, angry zits and to my nose where I'm a bit veiny. It gets very crusty and dry on those spots whenever I apply my liquid foundation.

Sorry, that was kind of a ramble. But any help would be much, much appreciated!

Hi Staceb,
Sorry you are having foundation troubles :( Stippling is done with a teeny tiny amount of foundation, so it could be that you are trying to do it with too much foundation. Try it with 1/4 of the foundation you normally use. Stippling is meant to give an air-brushed-like finish to the face but it takes practice to get it right. I would recommend applying your concealer before your foundation and then you can stipple your foundation over top lightly ... I don't think the primer or moisturizer should be a problem. I know what you mean buy the crustiness over a zits, try to use a creamy, but oil-free concealer ... it is really hard to cover up dry areas. If you are still having trouble, I would recommend going back to MAC and asking them to show you how to stipple ... for the price of that brush, they should show you! lol. If you are still having trouble, you might want to switch to a more liquidy brand of foundation. I am having foundation troubles too right now - it is so frustrating!! Does any of that help you out? :)

I try not to use too much foundation, but maybe I'm still using too much. I'll try using less. The annoying thing is that I live in NH and I don't think there's a MAC store even in New England. I have to get everything over the internet. Could you recommend a drugstore concealer and a foundation that might be good for my problems? I'd like to try a more expensive brand, it's just that I have to order everything online and I don't want to get the wrong color or something.

Right now I am using L'Oreal True Match, but it doesn't cover enough of my red blood vessels on my cheeks, but it is a great foundation to stipple with ... I have read good things about this one from Physician's Formula http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productd... but I have not tried it yet. But I hear the texture is great. It doesn't have any SPF though - booo to that! As for concealers, L'Oreal AirWear Long Wearing concealer has silicones in it to prevent caking and it covers pretty well providing you fit in one of the 6 shades. This one from Physician's Formula can cover anything: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productd... I saw on the Sephora websites that there are 2 stores in NH - are you close to either of them?

I might have just figured out my troubles, maybe/possibly.
I used first my covergirl trumatch concealer, and then a bit of foundation. I usually use a powder to set my foundation, but this time I didn't. I spritzed myself with my homeade fix+ (bottled water, alcohol free toner, and st.ives moisturizer) to finish and my face looks better. Not as dry and cakey. I'm going to wait a few hours though, to see how it holds up.

Woo hoo! I hope it works out for you, keep us posted!!

Argh. I tried to do the same thing today, only instead of my covergirl concealer, I used revlon's colorstay concealer because it has salacylic acid in it. It looked kinda awful. I ended up having to wipe it off and I didn't have time to fix it because I had to get to work.

I think the problem might be that the concealer was in light, and I'm more then likely way too fair for it, seeing how I actually use the lightest color in the colorstay foundation. I'll try it again tomorrow going back to the covergirl.

It is so frustrating isn't it??? I stippled L'Oreal True Match on today and it looked great when I did it at 11:30 but by 6 it had faded (I used Smashbox Light primer and powdered overtop). I really need to get some new stuff ...