Foundation Frustration - Anyone Use Merle Norman?

tarzy

I'm hunting for the perfect foundation. Everything seems just a tad too warm on me.

Someone recommended Merle Norman, and there happens to be one not far from where I live. I've never even seen anything from this brand before, and know nothing about them.

Anyone know the brand?

12 years ago

General

16 replies

Latest reply was from velvetychocolate

(website)

Veteran

funny you should ask - I remember them more from the 80's but just today I went to a local consignment shop that shares space with Merle Norman. I do recall seeing a LOT of shades to choose from. Why not go look?

12 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Have you tried MAC, I know they do warm and cool variations.

12 years ago

crwilson

Veteran

I haven't used Merle Norman since the 90s, and I can't say that I have positive memories. I suspect, however, that much has changed in the past decades, and it certainly doesn't hurt to check it out.

12 years ago

Debora

Veteran

I've never tried Merle Norman, but I'll be following this with interest, Tara. Right now I am using Estee Lauder Lucidity.

12 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

I tried MAC NW20 today (they have a weird system, so NW actually is a cool shade.) It turned just a tad golden on me.

I also tried some Lancome today, which was better. I think it was Ivory 2. But it still wasn't quite perfect.

Clinique has a ton of different shades. I wanted to methodically test each one, shade by shade, but the SA was hovering and I felt uncomfortable.

I'm on a mission!

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

It's a hard mission - good luck! I have found myself blending 2 colors together for the last couple of years, partly because I keep moving from the mtns to the beach. In both tinted moisturizer and powder mineral foundations, I have blended 2 different brands and shades to make 'my' color.

12 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

While I haven't used Merle Norman ...I wanted to ask what it is you're looking for in a foundation, because I have tried quite a few myself lately.

Faves so far:
------------------
Make Up For Ever High Definition liquid foundation
Estee Lauder Double Wear liquid foundation
Jane Iredale - a combination of Dream Tint tinted moisturizer and PurePressed pressed Mineral powder (it's a compact instead of a loose mineral powder) foundation together
Lancome Photogenic Lumessence liquid foundation

I would recommend each and every one of these, depending on what you're looking for in a foundation makeup.

Favourite Concealers:
-------------------------------
Lancome Effacernes concealer
Exuviance Multi-Function concealer

Good luck with this, I know it can be kind of annoying trying to find just the right thing.

12 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

That's a good idea, Mo.

I should try that, if I can get close enough. I tested two of the L'oreal True Match colors, but I'm pretty sure they made me break out.

12 years ago

D'Ellen

Veteran

I've recently been using Merle Norman Luxiva Sheer Defense tinted moisturizer instead of foundation. I love the finish it gives my skin...not much coverage, just a more even tone and a subtle glow. I think it comes in 4 or 5 different shades. I cannot tolerate the feel of a heavy foundation and I've always had a difficult time finding a good color match, so the sheerer the better for me. My favorite foundation was Estee Lauder Enlighten, but it's been discontinued.

I've received gift-with-purchase samples of Merle Norman foundation over the years and I seem to remember it having a strange odor. I haven't noticed that with the moisturizer.

Good luck with your search, Tarzy!

12 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

You could also go to Sephora on a slow weekday and ask for one of their pros.

12 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Velvety - thanks! I'm looking for medium coverage for mature skin that can still break out. I'm not super oily, but not super dry. I've been using Bobbi Brown Sand, but it's too warm. I should try to shade below (ivory, I think?) but I know their colors tend to be slightly warmer.

12 years ago

Anonymous

I just started using MAC Studio Fix in shade NC25. The sales gal sat me down on the chair, stared at me a while, grabbed a sample and it was a perfect match. It was weird and amazing. Then she showed me how to use concealer. Also amazing. Then she showed me blush...I had always used cool-toned pinks but she said a warm shade would look better on me and a wave of her magic brush and I had perfect cheeks. I think this sales gal is a magician. I walked out of the store with a little black bag filled with all sorts of treasures! This is the first time in my life that I have invested in "real" make-up. I've been using random items from the drugstore up until now.

If you are having a hard time finding a line that works for you, I would go to one of those mega make-up stores (sephora or ulta) that has lots of different lines to experiment with all in one place.

12 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Enginemom - that's great you had such a good experience with the MAC SA and walked out with stuff you love! That's such a great feeling, isn't it?

12 years ago

Anonymous

Tarzy - Yes, it was a really nice experience and loads of fun. I also have "mature" skin. Its become super sensitve with the arrival of peri-menopause and breaks out worse than when I was a kid. So far the MAC offers good moderate coverage and doesn't appear to make me break out. I've been using it to even out my skin tone and those reddish zones that have appeared the past couple years.

12 years ago

Anonymous

Tarzy, the Temptalia foundation matrixes might be helpful to you:

http://www.temptalia.com/foundation-matrix

http://www.temptalia.com/foundation-matrix-2-0

Good luck!

12 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Hmm...I am not battling the occasional breaking out problem yet - so can't say which foundations I've tried that are good for that aspect. Cross off the Estee Lauder Double Wear, I think the coverage might be too heavy for you. I liked it because it actually stayed *on* during business trips with my husband to really hot locations this past summer (Dallas in August isn't my idea of a good time), instead of sliding off within an hour.

The Jane Iredale is known for being 'good' for skin - but I just happened upon it because my hair stylist put some on me a few times, and I bought it. I think it's only sold in salons and online, so might be a bit of a hassle to try it out - and you want to try before you buy.

I bought Make Up For Ever High Definition after researching ...I was part of a wedding party, and this one was recommended for being great in photos. It worked, and I still love it, but don't know if it's good for preventing/avoiding breakouts - you can get it at Sephora, and they will help you find a good shade and let you try it out etc. This one is almost a cult favourite or something - pretty good foundation, imo.

The Lancome Photogenic Lumessence is excellent - medium-ish coverage, and gives an almost 'lit from within' look. I'm not sure about the 'skin friendly' aspect. Worth a try next time you're in a dept. store. They might give you some decent-sized samples to take home and try out for a few days, ask

Try Sephora too. If no luck then try Ulta. Ulta has everything from drugstore brands up to higher end brands, and some good staff on hand to help you find something. Sephora has higher end brands, and they are also good at helping you out.

I'll be looking forward to hearing how your search for a decent foundation works out - it's just one of those things that seems to take a bit of time. It's ok if it takes quite a bit of looking and trying. No point in having jars of foundation sitting around that were potentially expensive that you can't use. In your case - I'd try to get as many samples as you can, once you've been matched up colour-wise as best as you can manage in the store. I think it might be important for you to be able try out a foundation for a few days rather than just a one time 'try on' in a store, due to concerns about how your skin will react to them.

12 years ago

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