If you have ever applied your foundation and admired how it perfectly matched your skin tone only to later find your face seems to have turned slightly orange, then you may have been a victim to your foundation oxidising.
As if trying to choose the perfect foundation wasn’t already daunting enough, to think you’ve finally hit the jackpot with your colour match only to look in the mirror hours later to slightly resemble a 5’4″ Jaffa orange is of course more than heart-breaking – it’s enough to throw the towel in altogether and admit defeat. But you don’t need to give up on your foundation routine entirely, there are methods to help minimise the likelihood of your makeup oxidising.
What causes foundation to oxidise?
There is a difference between your foundation oxidising and simply choosing a foundation that’s not the right shade for your skin. If you find that when you first apply your foundation it looks like the perfect match but hours later, it seemingly has an orange hue appear out of nowhere then this will most likely be down to oxidisation. However, if when you first apply your new foundation, you notice it’s a little too orange for your skin tone then you’ve probably just picked the incorrect shade.
Foundation oxidising happens in very much the same way a sliced apple will start to discolour after it’s been left out for too long. It’s a chemical reaction caused by a cocktail of different factors, including the mix of oils, foundation pigments and minerals mixing with the humidity of the atmosphere.
Abide to the use-by advisories
Unfortunately, foundation doesn’t last forever, standard advice being that you should keep your foundations for no more than 12 months after opening. If you’re still using an old foundation that has been rattling around in your makeup bag for the last few years then it may be the reason your complexion is turning slightly orange. Oxidisation doesn’t just happen once the foundation has touched your face, it may be that the foundation has oxidised in the bottle from it’s prolonged life. Not only is your out-of-date foundation turning you into a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory cast member, but it’s most likely also harbouring nasty bacteria’s you really don’t want to be caking your face with. If this is the case, it’s probably time to go ahead and bin that prehistoric foundation and treat yourself to a new bottle.
It’s all about antioxidants
This is about to sound like I’ve taken you back to your school science lesson but hear me out. To stabilise your foundation and try and prevent oxidisation, you need to bring in the addition of antioxidants. It may sound complex, but I promise it’s not; simply apply a serum or pick a foundation that has added antioxidant ingredients. The most common antioxidants found in makeup and skincare that can minimise oxidisation are Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Green Tea extracts.
Use a primer
We all have some level of acidity in our skin but those with a higher pH level may find their makeup is more prone to oxidising as higher acidity can react with foundations. This is where popping on a primer before you go in with your foundation is a crucial step as they will act as a barrier between your skin and foundation. Silicone based primers are perhaps the best to stop the natural oil your skin produces and your foundation for mixing and potentially oxidising.
Benefit The POREfessional face primer
Blot away excess oil and opt for oil-free formulas
Oil is one of the main culprits for making your makeup oxidise, you pretty much want to stay away from anything that adds more oil into your skin and do your best to take away oils if you have an oilier complexion. Blot away excess oils through out the day and use oil reducing translucent powders to set your foundation and decrease shine. Choosing oil-free, water-based makeup formulas such as Born This Way foundation from Too Faced can also help to reduce the chances of your foundation oxidising.
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
Choose a lighter foundation shade
If you’ve attempted every trick in the book to try and stop your foundation for oxidising but still seem to be having no such luck, then it may be time to admit defeat and simply purchase a lighter foundation shade. This way, when your foundation starts to turn darker throughout the day it will end up matching your skin tone, simples.
