I use Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue with SPF 30. It is a tinted hydrating gel cream made to even out skin tones. Over that I use Bare Minerals (powder) blush.

You can look into BB creams, which are light coverage with sunscreen. However, I wouldn't eliminate the sunscreen step. You need a good layer for it to reach its advertised effectiveness and I don't know anyone that wants such a heavy layer from makeup. I prefer a moisturizing sunscreen, let it dry, then apply Bare Minerals powder foundation or IT Cosmetics CC cream (this is a bit too heavy but it was spend-y and I'll use it, kind of a grey cast at first) with SPF. There are SPF powders for re-application but I haven't used them, yet.

Some options, depending on skin tone
Australian Gold tinted sunscreen

Missha BB cream - online, Korean beauty brand

Garnier BB Cream

Maybelline BB Cream

Urban Decay Naked Skin One and Done - $$

Nars tinted moisturizer - $$$

Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer - $$$

Edit: applying ~1/4 tsp for the face and neck is the common guideline for adequate protection. While outdoors/exposed to UV, SPF 30 gives you 30 min before burning, SPF 50 is 50 minutes, etc. Re-application is needed for continued filtering.

I just started wearing makeup on my face last year too. I love Laura Mercier primer followed by Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. It’s all super light, has sunscreen and evens everything out. There are a choice of primers as far as moisturizing, protection (more sunscreen), sparkly etc. My favorite is Protect or the one for dry skin. I think it’s about $40 a tube and I buy about 2 a year of each and wear daily except in the summer when I get too tan (my Italian skin darkens 2 shades in 20 minutes even with sunscreen on).

I also have dry skin and with aging, a few imperfections. After all these years of trying almost everything, I finally found the perfect product.

In all the makeup threads I mention this powder:

Too Faced

Notice how the powder is white? It goes on white but blends in beautifully and even outs the skin tone & hides thin lines. I rarely pay this much money for makeup since I don't wear it often.

It doesn't feel like I'm wearing powder.

I'd keep moisturizing though.

I started using IT cosmetics. The foundation I use has sunscreen, PF 50 and a bb cream or cc cream or something. I have dry skin too and it's never gotten cakey on me and doesn't go on real thick, but definitely evens out my redness.

IT foundation

For evening or formal I use Chanel,

O/W, i read a thread here a few years ago that turned me on to Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, which I use w Neutrogena primer. Note the LM has an SPF of 20, not 30. YMMV.

I have splotchy redness on my chin, sides of nose and between eyebrows. I have never found a product that evens out my skin tone....at least not for any length of time. Any foundation seems to get absorbed within an hour or two and then it looks like I have nothing on, even with primer. I feel like I've tried every foundation...drugstore to high end.

Joanie, have you tried a color corrector on the red areas? I wear minimal makeup so it takes me forever before I can experiment with new products. For me, better skincare and skin cell turn-over has helped with the staying power of any makeup I do wear. I haven't found a primer that I like but ELF setting spray did a pretty good job. I sprayed it on after sunscreen and before makeup.

I agree that you might want to try a nice tinted moisturizer/BB/CC cream. I like the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer and IT CC cream. For a drug store version, try the Covergirl CG Smoothers. It's only about $6 and not bad.

Alex, any advice for better skin cell turnover?

I have used Revision Intellishade tinted moisturizer with spf45 for several years. Love it and my skin has never been better. For going out I use something with more coverage but this is my daytime go-to.

DD gave me a tube of Australian Gold Mineral which is a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen. I like it too. It seems more matte, is cheaper than Revision, and is one of those recommended by Angie, who does those Hot and Flashy You Tube makeup videos for women over 50.

Zalco, along with a hydrating cleansing/moisurizing routine, I've used mild chemical exfoliants (AHA, BHA) to a retinoid product, with a goal of using tretinoin (Retin-A).

Varying concentrations can be found among several OTC skincare. Some are mild enough to use everyday, like Stridex (BHA) or Pixie Glow Tonic (AHA) available at Target, while stronger formulas are for 1-2x a week/month. Working up to the stronger acids is a smart way to incorporate them. These exfoliants work at the end of the skin cell's life cycle, sloughing away the dead cells so that the newer skin underneath can glow. Here is a nice overview with links to some informative blog posts/articles.

Reddit sub - Asian Beauty Advice

Retinoids, treninoin in particular, affect the beginning of the cycle by regulating sluggish skin cell turnover. Among other things, it increases collagen production, reverses UV damage, and clears clogged pores. The side effect of extreme dryness can be addressed by slowly adding it to your routine and using moisturizers as a buffer. Getting your skin to a well-hydrated state before beginning use is also key to tolerating it.

I started with Stridex in the red box, with the BHA salicylic acid, to address texture and sebaceous filaments (the yuck Biore strips pull out) because we got it for DD's closed comedones. I kept that up for a couple of months, then added a 1x/week 10 minute "peel" from Korres (highly scented if sensitive) that uses AHAs (lactic, glycolic, and fruit acids). I saw a definite difference in the tone and smoothness using AHAs. CeraVe Skin renewing serum was my first retinol, and I still use it on my lower orbital bone.

Now, I'm trying out the OTC strength of adapalene. It's one of the generations of retinoids developed for acne but there's evidence that it can also help reverse photo-damage and reduce wrinkles. It has further improved texture, the appearance of pores and filaments, and general skin tone. The BHA and AHA products have been sidelined, for the most part.

When using acids, regular application of sunscreen becomes even more important to protect your newer, exposed cells from UV damage.

It kind of sounds like a pain when writing it all out. I only incorporated one new product at a time, slowly increasing frequency, often months apart. I read quite a bit before purchasing but it's still trial and error as I omit and add products. My skin isn't sensitive to ingredients so I haven't had any bad reactions with Stridex feeling the most drying before applying moisturizer.

I don't use foundation either. I use concealer - a peachy/pink under my eyes (it doesn't look that color on my skin and it hides undereye darkness). I use a concealer that matches my skin for any redness, etc. Then I use a bit of mineral powder in either a bronzing (light shade) or luminesence for a bit of a glow. I prefer using a separate sunscreen because then I can control what ingredients are going on my skin. I prefer a mineral based sunscreen. You want to use a high SPF for your face and neck area especially.

Oakley, that powder is a primer. Do you not use anything over it?

I like Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, too. Recently discovered Lancôme Skin Feels Good foundation, which has a little more coverage and includes spf 23 and some good stuff like hyaluronic acid and antioxidants. I’ve been using that more often now since I figure I can use all the help I can get. I do not leave the house without a tinted moisturizer or foundation.

Tina, it can be used as a primer but most don't. Here's a good description from Sephora where I buy mine. I never wear a primer unless I'm going somewhere nice, and my primer is cream.

"This silky, translucent finishing veil adjusts to any skin tone while minimizing the appearance of pores and fine lines. The weightless formulation can be worn alone or under and over foundation to prep skin, lock down makeup, and control shine for a complexion smoothing, flawless finish. High-resolution, reflective powder technology transforms skin by visually minimizing pores, fine lines, and imperfections for an airbrushed-looking finish. "

ETA, when I'm wearing foundation I put the powder over it, then use blush.

I guess I'm the outlier. I wear full coverage makeup and my favorite to date is Estee Lauder's Double Wear. I've never worn it for the 24hrs they claim it can stay on but I can vouch for 18hrs. It doesn't have any sunscreen but I prefer to choose my own sunscreen due to skin allergies. My sunscreen of choice is Obagi's Nu-Derm 35.

My mother recently starting wearing Rimmel Match Perfection. It really looks amazing on her skin - almost a pearlescent finish but in a good way. At $6 bottle I may gamble and see if my skin can handle it.

Wishing you luck on finding your favorite foundation - it can be quite the task.

I wear a medium coverage Lancome foundation to work and Nars tinted moisturizer on weekends. I rarely go out without one of these products on.

Just mentioning for anyone who is susceptible to cold sores.... AHAs can trigger outbreaks for some people. I've suffered from cold sores all my life, but very infrequently for many years (worse as a child/teen). Using a product with glycolic acid triggered a horrible outbreak that I had to see my doctor and get a prescription to treat. I'm sure that wouldn't be the case for everyone... but just a heads up.

That us good to know. I get them as well.

I quit using foundation when I discovered Trush McAvoy tinted primer with sunscreen. Coverage is good enough to even out skin tone, but light on doesn't feel like make up. I also use her instant eye lift under my eyes. Pricey, but worth it. My skin is slighy oily, and this doesn't get greasy. I only wear moisturizer at night.

Goop makeup/sunscreen. The BEST that I have ever found. Decent coverage, great sun blocker. I also use the Goop setting powder. The very best primer is the MAC one, absolutley wonderful to give that perfect matte skin. I got lucky genetically, I have dry sensitive skin (my entire body) but very few lines and wrinkles and never any breakouts.

I use this one for summer and light coverage

(unfortunately only SPF 15..so not sure how helpful is this info )

https://www.lancome-usa.com/makeup/face/bb-cream/imanance/439768.html#start=11&cgid=L3_MakeUp_Face_Foundation

I used to love Laura Mercier's one just as others mention, and used it for several years, but at some point, I started being allergic to it

I'm allergic to most of stuff, or become allergic to most of stuff, so have to choose from a very narrow pool