The Perfect Foundation for Older Skin | Beauty

As you get older, like your skincare, you need to change your foundation. Heavier, oil free brands make way for more luminous, moisturising formulations, better suited to mature skin. And I've been trying to find that magic new foundation for quite a while. It's a saga - grab a coffee - but it does have an outcome and a few suggestions along the way that you might find useful.. Because what didn't work for me might work great for you - foundation is so skin specific which is why there are a gazillion brands and formulations in the market.

The main frustration for me in my search though hasn't just been finding a product I like, it's been finding one that then doesn't get discontinued. Three times I've found one that works for me...and three times the product has been discontinued.

Starting with Kiko who had an amazing foundation a couple of years ago called Anti-Age:

I bought a couple of bottles and then noticed it went into the sale. I asked if it might be discontinued (because I'd have bought all that was left if it was going to be) but I assured it wasn't. Next thing you know - it's discontinued and replaced by another thatI tried but it's not as good. Back to square one.

Then I discovered Estee Lauder Double Wear Light and struck gold again.

It had a natural coverage, lasted all day and worked well on older skin. But you've guessed it....within a few months of buying it, it was reformulated...and became NEW Double Wear Light. Apparently, it would be more amazing with new shades and a fabulous formulation. 

Although, I had heard mixed reports online, I was determined to make my own mind up about it but within a few minutes of applying, I know it wasn't for me. Turns out it's an oil free formulation and my skin immediately felt tight and dry. I tried it with primers and different moisturisers underneath but it wasn't to be.

I went for a less expensive option  next with some success - Note BB cream.

This is an impressive formulation for the money and I do still used this occasionally though for nights out and concerts mostly as it's a heavier coverage and feels a bit too much for every day. One worth trying though if you like a heavier foundation.

Next influenced buy was the IT cosmetics CC cream which has the bonus of being SPF 50.

I can see why it has become such a popular beauty product but the coverage was a bit heavy for me and I wasn't a massive fan of the texture. It didn't help that I bought the wrong colour online. Well worth checking out though if you have a stockist nearby that will colour match as the sun protection aspect is great.

The next step was that I got a sample of Clarins Skin Illusion at the counter in Menarys in Lisburn. Loved it and went back to buy a bottle. Small problem - the sample I was given was the old formulation. Which has been discontinued and replaced by this one...

Sigh. I took a sample of this new one and tried it for a week and it just didn't do it for me. The coverage is lighter and it felt like too much work to get my base the way I wanted.

I went back to the Note CC cream for a few more weeks until I was heading up from Tipperary the other weekend and called into the Boulevard in Banbridge for a pitstop. And struck gold. I found the old formula of the Clarins Skin Illusion in the Beauty Outlet shop in Banbridge en route up from Tipperary - priced at 3 bottles for £20!!! 

Sadly it's not available online but if you have a Beauty Outlet near you, it's well worth taking a look and even if you're just a Clarins fan generally, it's worth looking at their site to see the discontinued lines they are selling. A friend who saw my mention of the foundation on Instagram the other day managed to find the lipstick that she wore on her wedding day (which had been discontinued) on the Outlet site and was able to repurchase it. How lovely is that?

I'll be honest, my foundation hunt won't end...after all, I'm using something that's discontinued so I'll need a product eventually to replace it. So I'll keep trying all the samples and watching for your recommendations. Glowy, luminous, with SPF and wrinkle reducing properties...it's not too much to ask surely?

Ax