I have a terrible history with foundation: every time I find one I like, the company discontinues it. Which means that I am constantly in search of The Perfect Foundation. (Also, that you should probably take any recommendation I make with a grain of salt, because clearly every foundation I love is destined to be unavailable in a year or so. Sorry about that.)
I’m a huge fan of the Neutrogena brand; I have tricky skin (acne! and wrinkles! and oily! except for the dry parts! yay!) and Neutrogena’s products work for all my issues. I stumbled on Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup a few months ago — I mix it with my sunscreen (also Neutrogena! of course!) to make a sheer tinted moisturizer.
Recently the nice people at Neutrogena sent me a sample of their Healthy Skin Compact Makeup. I was equal parts hopeful and skeptical — I’m not really a fan of compact foundation (too heavy) but I trust Neutrogena, so I gave it a try.
I love this foundation. Truly. It goes on smooth, and while it’s a little more coverage than I typically wear, it’s not heavy or cakey. And with an SPF of 55, the part of my soul that adores sunscreen is happy, too. Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin line is focused on anti-aging, which is certainly a priority for me; the products are also noncomedogenic, which mean that I can fight wrinkles and acne all at once. I call that a win.
Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Compact Makeup is available in eight shades, and retails for about $10. It will help your skin look flawless — even after you take it off.
* * * * *
My skin needs a little TLC these days. After 35 days of Coumadin, my blood clot is gone (hooray!) but of course that’s not the end of this adventure. Oh hell no. That would be too easy. The short version is this: the blood thinner caused me to have my period for 16 days, which was a little disconcerting — I was pretty sure I was going to bleed to death via my uterus, or at least wind up wildly anemic. Also, the Period That Wouldn’t End was kind of a pain, to say the least.
At the recommendation of my cardiologist, I called my ob/gyn, who put me on 10 days of Provera (a progestin hormone). One of the potential side effects of Provera is — wait for it — blood clots! Since I was already on a blood thinner, the risk seemed low, so no one was too worried. But when I went back last week for my follow up, I was still having some pain in my leg, caused by “sluggish” blood flow, most likely caused by — wait for it! — the Provera.
The solution? Thirty days of support hose. I cannot even tell you what a good look that is, particularly since I’m only required to wear one. Also? It’s been hot as hell here, and yes I am wearing shorts, WITH the compression hose. Sexay.
(If you’ve never seen compression hose in real life, they have the color and texture of those weird tights that figure skaters wear. I’m trying to think of it as a gigantic band aid, but it’s not pretty. At all.)
Another side effect of the Provera, which is only an issue for me, is that it has made my face break out. So that’s awesome, especially combined with my octogenarian support hose. Again I say, SEXAY.
The upshot is that I’m really and truly on the road to recovery. I’m running a 5K this weekend, and I’m down to two prescription medications every day (one for my blood pressure and one — ironically — for my skin). I am this close to being all better. So yay for that.
And I’ve got really good foundation to deal with the temporary bad skin.
I feel like you need a hug. And I’m certain you are still Sexay!!
Oh dear Lord! I hope this is almost the end of it for you. (I have to wear compression hose sometimes too… there’s got to be a way to make a fashion statement with them – cool tattoo patterns? But they are hot as hell.)
You had already sold me on the Healthy Skin Liquid. I will look for the compact. Better to cover the breakouts with. Sigh.
So….do you have to wear the support hose while you run the 5K????
Thank goodness you are safe and well. And when the 30 days are up, maybe you can burn the support hose!
I AM wearing the support hose when I run — it’s a toeless thigh-high stocking (seriously, SO SEXY). The doctor said to wear it during the day when I’m on my feet, which includes when I’m running — it’s a good look.
(This morning, it’s 60-some degrees and humid here, so I’m running in shorts. And one thigh high compression stocking. Woo.)
Yep they are so NOT stylish, I had to wear one after surgery, mine was silver! 24 hrs a day! Be thankful you don’t have to sleep in it. My toes turned a little blue.
I truly am relieved that I can take the damn thing off at night — mostly because the band at the top totally cuts into my thigh (TMI? sorry). I do like the idea of silver stockings though — think about what kind of fashion statement that would make!
If anyone can rock compression hose, it’s you. Sorry to hear about all the yuckiness. Drinks on me in New Orleans (Ok, technically I owe you from the TX v OU game, but I’ve blocked all of last season from my memory).
BOOMER! SOONER! Sorry, had to do that.
Ah I’m sorry about all your health stuff, that sucks. I am glad you posted this foundation review though, think I’ll give it a try
I hope you’re all better very soon.
Oh man…that sucks. But glad you are getting healthy again! I too was going to ask about running in the hose. Yuck.
I can’t decide whether to YAY! or BOO! so how about WOW!? I also won’t point out that the forecast for Saturday is temps in the 90s. Because I am super thoughtful like that. xo
Jenny, the 5K I’m running is on Sunday — not only will it still be hot as hell here, but the race starts at 2:00 pm. I’m totally going to die. Help.
(Also, why on earth does the RedBud START at two o’clock in the afternoon??? Gah.)
I’m glad that blood clot’s gone! As for me the best foundation I’ve had is from revlon. I haven’t really given Neutrogena make-up a try yet. I’m also looking for a nice foundation for my mom. she has normal skin and is 50+ would you recommend that same product to her? =)
Oh my! You’ve been busy.
I hope that you’re back to “normal” quickly and that you can kick some tail in that 5K. I wore one support hose during the last 3 months of my last pregnancy. It was summer and it was awful. I literally burned it in our corn field after the baby was 3 months! I then had to have surgery on my lovely veins and had to buy another one! I could have cried.