What do you do with your Foundation turns on you and turns orange? Panic, Freak Out, get angry. There is nothing more frustrating when your makeup doesn’t cooperate with you.
Oxidation happens when the chemicals react to the natural oils of your face and our PH balance and counteract with the ingredients of our foundation. This chemical reaction can also happen if you happen to apply sunscreen before hand. You’ll notice these reactions more commonly if products you’re using contain the following chemicals Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxides, and Iron Oxides. It is recommended to wear another product such a primer between your sunscreen layer and your foundation/bb/cc cream.
Environmental weather is also a factor in the possible oxidation of your foundation. In more humid weather there are greater chances of it happen. Air is also a factor and since there is really nothing we can do about Air being all around us, the only recommendation is making sure your foundation bottle is tightly closed. The less air that seeps into your foundation bottle the better. It is also recommended to get a air tight pump bottle which will help keep air out.
Oily Skin, the oil in the pigments of makeup can clash with the oil on your skin, causing a darkening of the foundation.
Acidic Skin, if your skin is more on the acidic side, it can accelerate the process of oxidization.
It can also simply come down to body chemistry in general, sometimes, none of the above can explain why it might oxidize on you. This may be because of your natural body chemistry, everyone is different, and you might just need to try a different foundation or a different skincare routine mixed along with your foundation.
Preventative Measures: Before you Buy
Test the Product First. This is really the only surefire way you make sure that a foundation is right for you. Take home a small sample from the makeup counter, apply it to your whole face and wear it for a day. Especially if you’re going for a high-end and expensive foundation.
Read Reviews. Sometimes you just don’t have access to samples. Read reviews carefully, and not just about if it is a great or terrible product. Pay attention to the conditions a person might live in and if they are similar to yours, age, skin type etc.
Choose a product that is designed for your skin type. Foundations that have non-comedogenic ingredients and are suited for oily to combination skin types might have a lesser chance of oxidizing if your skin problem is oily skin.
Corrective Measures: What can you do if your current foundation oxidizes
Blot, Blot, Blot. Blot your face with a clean tissue to press away extra moisture you don’t need. Apply your foundation and repeat once more. It will absorb the excess oils in your foundation that can cause oxidation.
Use a primer. A silicone based primer acts as a barrier between your skin’s natural oils and oils in foundation. Select something that is targeted towards oily skin. Avoid something with “radiance” and “hydrating” it might make things worse.
Add some alkaline back into your system. Do you have acidic skin? Using a natural toner might help if you apply it before your foundation. As a note your skin is supposed to be acidic. Alkaline skin can damage the acid mantle and lead to extra bacteria which can lead to bad breakouts.It can also cause your skin to age prematurely. Your skins pH should be between 5 and 6.
Try a powder foundation. Since a powder pigment doesn’t have the water and oil content that a liquid foundation does, it might be the ideal situation to prevent the poor reaction. Look for something that is finely milled. If you have dry skin and you want to try this considering prepping your skin with a moisturizer and a primer before application. Dust it on lightly, building coverage to prevent packing it on and looking cakey.
Use a finishing powder. Another barrier between your foundation and air is always helpful. Using one that is the smallest amount lighter than your skin tone can offset any effects of oxidizing but a translucent option is always good.
I hope this helped! If you have any other beauty questions feel free to ask, I’d be glad to research and answer them for you.
<3 – K
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