Annoyed with flaky foundation and patchy makeup? Try these expert hacks for dry skin

Here’s the thing. I’ve suffered from scarlet splotches, scaly skin and flaky foundation my whole life – the calamitous consequence of being bombarded by the sweltering sun on the one hand and arctic air-conditioning on the other.

If you’re similarly sick of your patchy makeup melting off your mien, take comfort in the knowledge that you’re not alone – just about everyone and their mother are acquainted with someone else who’s a sufferer of said syndrome.

Right, then. In keeping with the sensitive nature of this struggle, let’s get straight to the good stuff for skin that’s calmer, cooler and more collected. Good luck!

Image: 123rf.com.

Want more? Check out my personal pick of the most luxuriously lightweight lotions that work like a dream under makeup for protection against the aggressive assaults of our clammy climate, as well as this ingenious pore-shrinking and face-slimming trick that’ll give you virtually instant Insta-ready skin. Get your daily dose of beauty at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.

The first order of business is to squelch the splotches that makes ruddy skin so unpleasantly prominent. I’m an enthusiastic endorser of misting your mien – just about anything containing stuff like alleviating aloe vera will do, but my obsession du jour has got to be Vichy’s superbly soothing pH Balancing Thermal Water, which is ridiculously refreshing to apply when it’s hot as blazes outside.

There’s method to the misting madness, such as it were. You see, the dewy droplets from your spray work like a cold compress to cool the “hotspots” on your skin, shrinking tiny blood vessels and reducing redness in a process referred to in cosmeceutical circles as “vasoconstriction”. (Impress your dermatologist by casually dropping said jargon at your next appointment!)  

Try: Vichy pH Balancing Thermal Water, from $9.90 for 50ml.

Want more? Check out my personal pick of the most luxuriously lightweight lotions that work like a dream under makeup for protection against the aggressive assaults of our clammy climate, as well as this ingenious pore-shrinking and face-slimming trick that’ll give you virtually instant Insta-ready skin. Get your daily dose of beauty at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.

Fortify your face against aggressors by slapping on a moisturising mask like say, Kenzoki’s perfectly pampering Serum in A Mask. The comforting cellulose sheets are stuffed with a brightening botanical blend and hydrating heroes, for skin that’s instantly suppler and springier.

Top tip: Try stashing your swag in the fridge to crank up the cool factor. This speedy spot treatment will calm and comfort in a jiffy, plus the extra helping of hydration will also imbue your mien with a subtle inner sheen. Bottomline: Make masks a must-have step in your skincare regime – yours truly, for one, cycles through two sheets per night. (#JustSaying.)

Try: Kenzo Kenzoki Serum in a Mask, $56 for three sheets.

Want more? Check out my personal pick of the most luxuriously lightweight lotions that work like a dream under makeup for protection against the aggressive assaults of our clammy climate, as well as this ingenious pore-shrinking and face-slimming trick that’ll give you virtually instant Insta-ready skin. Get your daily dose of beauty at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.

Let’s move on to makeup proper. If your face is fragile and paper-thin like mine, I recommend gunning for a water-based cream, because the chances of unsightly caking and creasing are radically reduced if your already delicate skin is kept perfectly pampered and well hydrated.

Try Innisfree’s beautifully blendable Water Fit Cushion, which is stuffed with thirst-quenching moisture magnets and shot through with carefully calibrated blurring powders and pigments to “colour correct” patchy complexion.

Another big plus: The perfectly respectable SPF34 PA++ rating also means you’re shielding your sensitive scarlet skin from the rapacious rays of the sun. (Layering a separate sunscreen under your face paint is still best practice, of course.) In any case, press your puff into your skin, paying extra attention and going back in on areas where red patches are peeking through.

Take a step back and scrutinise yourself in the mirror. Pleased with the level of coverage? Give your skin another once-over with a calming mist, and you’re good to go. All ready to “face” the day. Good luck getting out of the red!

Try: Innisfree Water Fit Cushion SPF34/PA++, $19 for refill; Glow Puff or Fitting Puff, $3 each; Cover Stamping Puff, $8; My Cushion Case, $12 each.

Want more? Check out my personal pick of the most luxuriously lightweight lotions that work like a dream under makeup for protection against the aggressive assaults of our clammy climate, as well as this ingenious pore-shrinking and face-slimming trick that’ll give you virtually instant Insta-ready skin. Get your daily dose of beauty at www.herworldplus.com/beauty.