Expert: Ambercinque - 5/19/2007

Question
Hi, thanks for taking this second question. I am 43 years old and am having foundation problems. The skin on my face is a mix of light and ruddy colors. The skin on my neck and chest is very red/ruddy except for under the chin(which shows even with my head in a normal position) and at the jawline where it is snow white. Theses are not surface problems, they are the true skin tones and my doctor says it is hormonal and due to my age. I need something to even me out. I cannot make my face red to match my chest. I cannot make my face snow white to match the under chin and jawline and if I try to match the skin on my face, my jaw is too light and my neck is too red. No matter what I do, I cannot find a balance. I really want to avoid putting make up on my chest and neck. Not only does it get on clothing, it doesn't look natural and most of all I do not want to spend all that time at night removing it. My skin is uneven on the face but I can no longer use medium coverage foundation b/c it slips into the wrinkles and large pores. I really am at the end of my rope and so tired of looking like a rainbow! Can you help me find a way to at least make all these colors in the same ballpark (I feel like I look like I am wearing a mask) without having to make up my whole upper torso? Ideally, I would tone down the red and give the snow white chin/jab a little color. Thank you so much! Diana

Answer
HI DIANA-
Unfortunately, you do have to apply product to both in order to get a blended look.  I would tone down the red by using a color corrector in green. Green neutralizes redness. Shiseido makes a great color correcting stick. blend that onto your red areas. Next, take your foundation and apply and blend over your neck(yes this is necessary in order to look blended and to conceal the green). Then take a bronzing powder or luminizing powder like Shiseido golden beige or bronze and apply it over just the white area. This should darken the whiter area and blend it in.Dust a little more powder over rest of face to blend. If you do not trust the powder go with a foundation shade 1-2 shades darker to cover the whiter area.
Good Luck
Amber