Oily Skin/Acne Foundation Routine

Today I am bringing you a post about my foundation routine. I have oily skin and mild acne, and I feel that this routine is really effective at covering my blemished skin. This is a fairly new routine, but it is really working for me.

Today I will be incorporating the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation, the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, and the Covergirl TruBlend Pressed Powder. I really like all of these products and I can hardly fault them.

I really like the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation because it is light on the skin. It claims to have medium coverage, which I think is perfect for blemished skin. I know that sounds weird, but hear me out. The fact that the coverage is medium is great because it is buildable. It also doesn’t make your skin look cakey, but instead creates a more natural finish. It feels lighter and doesn’t add extra layers to already bumpy and textured skin. I have been applying this foundation with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge. I highly recommend purchasing a makeup sponge to apply foundation, especially if your skin is acne prone. The reason being that the sponge smooths down any dry skin, and creates a nice even finish. It also sheers out your foundation to make it lighter on the skin, but the coverage can be built up. Rubbing foundation onto your face with your hands can make your pimples irritated and make them look much worse and red, so it is much better to use a sponge which is more gentle.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

Pros:

– It smells really nice

– The colour blends really well

– It makes skin feel quite velvety and smooth

– It is not cakey and looks quite natural

– Placing a few layers on the skin creates great coverage that does not require heavy concealer afterwards – maybe one or two dabs on really red pimples

– The pump on the bottle applies a great, controlled amount of product

– It makes skin look vibrant and not dull

– Perfect for everyday use

Cons:

–  The colour I selected (dark beige) is a bit too dark for my skin tone, but with the right amount of blending, it looks good. It will be perfect in the summer when I am more tanned.

– If it had just a teeny bit more coverage but kept the same consistency and finish, it would be even more amazing!

– There is not a very large colour range (only 5 colours)

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Pros:

– Creates an amazing natural, airbrushed finish

– Cheaper than the Beauty Blender

– Pointy end great for under eye concealer

– Slanted sponge angle perfect for even coverage/application

– Perfect for quick make-up application

– Blends foundation and concealer really easily

– Doesn’t irritate skin

Cons:

– Difficult to clean

– Absorbs a bit of product – but not too much that it’s annoying

Covergirl TruBlend Pressed Powder

Pros:

– Instantly mattifies skin

– Provides extra coverage to skin after foundation

– Makes skin feel smooth

– Hides pimples due to coverage and removing shine which can often make them more prominent

– Great applicator sponge

– Easy to carry in your bag

– Helpful compact mirror

Cons:

– Can look a bit cakey after multiple hours of wear

Foundation Routine

I start my foundation routine by priming my skin. I am constantly switching up primers, but I really like the NP Set Pre-Foundation Pore Perfecting Primer, the L’oreal Nude Magique Blur Cream, and the Benefit POREfessional Face Primer as they are all excellent at blurring my pores and making my skin feel smooth, which creates the perfect base for make-up. I wait about 5-10 minutes for the primer to sink into my skin before applying foundation.

I then place a small amount of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation on the back of my hand and place my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge in the product. It is good to begin with a small amount and place a sheer layer on your skin to let it dry and see how much more product you need to apply. It is much harder when you go in with a thick layer as it can look cakey, oily, and will take a while to dry. Make sure to build up the coverage slowly. I softly pat on the product, starting from my cheeks and working outwards. You can still see my blemishes after one layer, however they are less red. I normally apply about 3 layers and continue to pat the sponge on my face to blend it out to create a natural, airbrushed look. Up until recently, I would use a ton of concealer on each of my blemishes, however, this just made them more prominent and added extra texture to my already bumpy skin. My advice is to use lighter products to create a more even base.

To finish my routine, I go in with my Covergirl TruBlend Pressed Powder and use the provided applicator sponge to apply a sheer layer on my skin. I only apply this after my foundation is dry so that the powder doesn’t slide off. I don’t rub this product in, instead I pat it on so that it doesn’t move the foundation underneath. I can really notice a great difference when I apply the powder as the pimples, especially on my forehead, look less noticeable as it stops the light reflecting on my face and creating shadows. I can also reapply it throughout the day when my skin gets oily. Another great tip to minimise oil is to use blotting sheets and pat them on your face to mattify your skin.

I have been following this routine for the past week and a half and I really like the way my makeup looks. Let me know if you have a foundation routine that you swear by!