Lotion, Foundation and Sunscreen: How much goo do I clog my pores with?

First of all, I have to say that all of this beauty and fashion stuff is fairly new to me. I’m a 22-year-old college student who grew up on a small farm and attended a private Christian school. Makeup was not forbidden at my school, but I’ve never worn much of it. My mom never wears make up at all and dresses in t-shirts and jeans or jeans skirts, except for putting on a jacket-dress or nice sweater and black skirt on Sunday’s for church.

I started wearing a little make up in high school every day, but since I’ve been in college I only seem to put on make up on occasions where I’m performing (since I’m a singer). I’m trying to make myself wear make up daily though. I’ve only been using moisturizer consistently on my body and face for a few months. My skin is usually very oily, but during the winter it’s very dry.

Back in October I got a book called “Universal Beauty: The Miss Universe Guide to Beauty.” It has all kinds of great tips in it. One thing the books says that, believe it or not, I had never heard before is that I should be wearing sun screen whenever I go outside. I have very fair skin and would love to avoid getting any more freckles. (I’d also love to get rid of the ones I have, but don’t know how to do that inexpensively, and without having the top few lairs of my skin removed.)

This brings me to my question: how much stuff should I put on my face daily? On the thread “Moisturizers and oily skin” Angie said that light skin needs at least SPF 30. My moisturizer only has SPF 15. So should I use sun block too? Or should I use just sun block and not moisturizer? I still struggle with acne, so I don’t want too many lairs of stuff on my face clogging my pores. At the same time, I’d love to have a smooth flawless looking completion, so I need a good foundation on top of my moisture. And my final question: what order do I put on these things? Moisturizer, makeup, and then sun screen? Sorry this is so long. I tend to write books in my posts.

18 years ago

mayapple

Active Member

This is a bit on the pricey side, but it's probably close to what you would spend on all 3 products anyway:

http://www.sephora.com/browse/.....inate=true

It's an oil-free moisturizer with an SPF 30 that's also tinted. I don't think you really need a foundation. You're young and can wear just a tinted moisturizer for evening out your skin. I think I might get some of that myself...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I know that it's hard to believe Sarah, but you do indeed need to wear sunscreen every day and SPF 30 if you are fairskinned. It needs to become as routine as brushing your teeth. Prevention is better than cure! Mayapple has given you a super suggestion. If that works for you, you shan’t need to worry about loads of layers. Otherwise, it’s moisturizer, sunscreen and make-up – that order.

And freckles are gorgeous. They show character. Leave them and love them!

Sarah

Thanks for the suggestion, Maya. I'll definitely try that! It would be great to only have to use one layer instead of three, but I'll go with all three if I have to. I think I'll use a cheaper sunscreen for my hands and arms though. I bough some 30 SPF from Neutrogena the other day, but haven't used it yet.

Prevention is definitely better than cure. I’m glad I found this out now instead of later. Growing up, we only used sun screen between the hours of noon and two on sunny, hot days.

I'm glad you think freckles are gorgeous, Angie. They just never seem to be stylish. In a day where tan even-toned skin is in, mine is Victorian milky white (which I wouldn't change for the world) and freckled (which I'd love to change). I guess my other issue with freckles is that most people say they are cute, and I get called cute enough just being short. My sister's boyfriend thinks freckles are foxy though, and my sister has as may freckles as I do. I guess I just need to convince myself that they really do show character and be happy with my face the way it is.

One more set of questions. Do I need to put sunscreen on every part of my skin that will be exposed to the sun? Like my legs if my skirts is short? How about if I'm wearing hose and a short skirt?

pinkcobra

Sarah, I've personally used the Lorac product Maya linked and it's great! Just a little coverage to even things out but without a heavy foundation feel. In the winter my face is dry too and I actually use a gel moisturizer as a prep for my thirsty skin.

Just remember that you can't add up the SPF on your face...ie: your moisturizer is 15 plus a foundation that is 25 does not equal 40. You only have the highest SPF (in this case 25).

I have freckles too and I love them! My Mom used to tell me that was where I'd been kissed by angels...

Love that you were kissed by angles pink cobra! If you are out in the sun a lot Sarah, you need to put sunscreen on all of your exposed skin. If you are not directly exposed to the sun, apply to the backs of your hands and face. These areas always catch the sun whether you're conscious of it or not. In Summer time, apply to your neck and décolleté as well.

Becky

Veteran

Oh, Sarah, freckles are beautiful! I have a few faint ones left over from childhood and I wish they were a bit more noticeable!

christie

Sarah,

One thing I do is wear body lotion with sunscreen on a daily basis in the Spring through the Fall (generally, the beginning of April until the beginning of November). I like Lubriderm's body lotion w/SPF 15. If I know I will be out in the sun consistently (like on a picnic or long walk), I'll throw on actualy sunscreen in an SPF 30. For my face, last year I wore Clarins sunscreen for the face. A small bottle lasted me the whole summer. Again, if I am going to be out in the sun for a long time--longer than just a commute or walk from place to place--I'll wear real sunscreen. (in the winter, I switch to Neutrogena's Norwegian formula body lotion for my dry, eczema-prone skin)

In the summer, for make-up, you will probably want something different than in the winter. My face becomes extremely oily in the summer, and I think a powder or a powder-based foundaiton is better than a liquid foundation. If you have any complexion issues (spots, for example), you might want something more than a tinted moisturizer. In the summer, I am so oily that I don't even use a moisturizer, but in the winter I switch the face wash and foundation. Unfortunately, experimentation is the name of the game here.

I wrote about this on another post, but I'll repeat it here. I discovered last summer philosophy's acne kit, and it has done a great job on my moderate acne and oily skin. I altered it a bit this winter to use the face wash only at night (and a gentler one purity made simple, in the morning) along with additional moisturizer. My acne was never terrible, but I tried just about everything to no effect.

I would also suggest looking at Angie's old posts on make-up. I use her tips all the time. They are great: a foundation if necessary, do your brows, a bit of mascara, blush and lipstick. For my pale skin, I use prescriptive's foundation, get my brows professionally done (dyed and waxed, with my own plucking in the interim), givenchy's eye fly mascara, Nars orgasm blush, and Nars flamenco on lips. I wrote on another post how cherry chapstick under the flamenco minimizes the color. I never feel like I'm wearing too much make-up. Just enough color, but not overly done.

You touched my heart when you said you wanted a smooth flawless complexion--at 28, I'm still seeking the same. Good luck!

Well, it's good to hear that the Lorac product is well liked. It certainly can't hurt to give it a try. Worst case it won't give me enough coverage. I do like lighter feeling foundations, but in addition to my freckles I've started getting pink spots on my face in the past few years that look like clusters of broke blood vessels. I'm not sure what they are or what is causing them, but they are ugly. I'd love to hide them, or better yet discover what they are and what the cure is. I guess I should go to my dermatologist again.

Thanks for the info on not adding up my SPF's, pinkcobra. I was going to ask that question, but you already answered it. My mom used to say the same thing about my freckles.

Thanks for the answers Angie. And thank you Becky for chiming in with more encouragement on the freckles note.

Thanks for the informative post Christie. I probably will use something different in the winter than summer. I'm thinking of a mineral foundation in the summer when my skin is oily and liquid or the Lorac 3-in-one in winter when my skin is dry. You're right; I will have to experiment.

Thanks you everyone for the help!

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