Why Is Your Foundation Looking Cakey on Your Nose? How to Get Makeup to Stay On Your Nose?
Is your makeup separating on your nose no matter what you do? Getting a smooth makeup application on and around the nose can be an issue for many people!
The foundation can look cakey and never stick to the skin. This step-by-step guide will help you get a flawless makeup application while preventing makeup from settling into the pores.
Check these tricks on how to stop foundation separating on your nose.
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If foundation is not sticking to your nose, follow these easy steps:
PREPARE YOUR SKIN
Before applying any makeup to your nose, it’s better to prepare the skin properly.
The steps can differ depending on your skin type. If you have big pores on your nose, use a gentle charcoal based exfoliator.
This helps shrink the pores by cleaning them and getting rid of impurities. Avoid using thick exfoliators or scrubs.
Use gentle ones like this mask, which removes excess oil that could lead to blackheads. It leaves the skin feeling so fresh and clean!
If you have oily skin, you can use a product with BHA (beta hydroxy/salicylic acid) that cleans the pores. This exfoliator is a good option and is very popular in the beauty community.
Salicylic acid works great for acne-prone skin. It works on the skin’s surface but also inside the pores.
Another way to exfoliate the skin is by using an AHA based product. AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid) are better for dry skin. They help smooth the skin by improving its texture.
As for how often you should use AHA on your face, it depends on your skin! You should start little by little to see what works best for you if you are a beginner.
Choose a product with a low percentage to start with and then go up if your skin acts good!
Because AHAs make your skin more sensitive to the sun, you must wear sunscreen to protect it during the day. You can also use AHA products only at night.
For quick exfoliation, you can use a glycolic acid pad product. The PIXI Glow Peel pads are good, the Nip+Fab Glycolic fix pads are a nice option too.
If you have visible blackheads and want to remove them quickly, you can use these effective nose strips. They help get rid of the blackheads instantly.
Please note that nose strips can temporarily make pores appear smaller. They might cause spider veins and broken capillaries, especially for people with sensitive skin.
They are not the best solution for every day, but they can do the job quickly. Having a good skincare routine can help prevent these blackheads!
After the exfoliation step, hydrate the skin on your nose. Dab a good moisturizer that works for your skin type. Wait for it to sink into the skin, and then go on with your makeup.
APPLY A GOOD PRIMER
If you have a very oily nose, foundation might separate and come off your nose due to the excess oil around that area. Using a mattfiying primer can help in absorbing oil and shine.
Sometimes foundation might look patchy on your nose if it’s incompatible with your moisturizer or primer. Choosing products with the same base ingredients is very important to get the makeup to stay on the nose.
Dab the primer on your nose and press it into the skin. Use a primer that has the same base ingredients as your foundation.
Using the wrong primer can make your makeup look worse, so avoid using a water based primer with a silicone based foundation.
If you are using a water based primer, use a water based foundation. For silicone based primers, use silicone based foundations.
To know if a foundation is silicone based or not, look at the first ingredients. Water is often the first ingredient to get this liquid formula.
If you have CYCLOPENTASILOXANE or DIMETHICONE among the first ingredients, then it’s silicone based.
For example, the L’Oréal infallible 24h fresh wear foundation is silicone based. It works well with the covergirl trublend primer.
Looking for silicone based foundations? Here is my complete guide on the best silicone based foundations for oily skin.
Eyeshadow Primer on Nose
If face primers are not working well on your nose area, you can use an eyeshadow primer instead. Eyeshadow primers have a tacky texture and can let your foundation grasp into the skin.
This high end primer is one of the best on the market. It has a thin formula that blends easily into the skin without leaving any greasy residue.
This silicone based primer is also a great option and it feels hydrating on the skin.
This primer is also a good drugstore option.
APPLY LESS FOUNDATION ON YOUR NOSE
Don’t over-apply foundation on and around your nose. The excess product can look heavy and cakey. Less is more when it comes to getting a flawless look! Dab your foundation with your finger over the primer.
You can use a slightly damp sponge if you have dry skin. Choose a foundation that works well for your skin type. If you have oily skin, go for a light matte foundation.
For dry skin, go for a hydrating one. A thick and matte foundation on dry skin can make your foundation look flaky.
If you have large pores, choose a foundation that helps to blur big pores. Check these best water based foundations for combination skin.
You can find my list of best foundations for combination skin , best full coverage drugstore foundations and best foundations for dry skin over 40 to make sure you’re using the best formula.
Best Foundations For Oily Nose
Choosing a foundation for oily skin can be tricky. If the area around your nose is very oily, the key is to use a light matte foundation.
The trick is to apply LESS foundation on the nose and dab gently with your fingers, dense brush or with a sponge.
This drugstore foundation is a nice choice. It has a lightweight formula, and it’s also long-lasting.
This natural finish foundation is also very good. It has a semi-matte finish and blends easily into the skin without looking cakey.
For high-end, this oil-free foundation is one of the best lightweight foundations. It glides on easily, and it’s very long-lasting.
If you like luxury makeup, this foundation is worth checking out. It gives the skin a natural finish and a buildable coverage that’s waterproof and sweat-resistant.
If you are a minimal makeup lover, there are a lot of minimalist makeup brands that offer lightweight foundations with clean ingredients.
SET THE FOUNDATION
Use a tiny amount of setting powder to set the foundation into place. Choose a good quality powder that is finely milled.
Avoid heavy powders that can look cakey on the skin. Choose a matte powder and push the product lightly into the skin.
I like the maybelline Fit me loose finishing powder and the Laura Mercier transluscent loose setting powder as they are finely milled.
You can use a powder puff to push the powder into the nose area gently.
Choose a setting powder shade that matches your skin tone.
Sometimes, the color of your setting powder can be slightly lighter than your foundation, as some setting powders can get darker when applied on top of makeup.
Related: Setting Powder Vs Primer
Finish With a Setting Spray
Setting sprays usually contain alcohol, so using them daily is not a good option.
They work well for special occasions, so set everything with a good setting spray and let it dry. It helps prolong makeup wear, especially on a hot summer day.
This setting spray is one of the best at the drugstore. It’s very affordable and helps the makeup stay on the nose area.
Related: Setting Spray Vs. Finishing Spray
If nothing works for you and your foundation won’t stick to your skin, try to apply powder under your foundation.
I learned this trick from Wayne Goss, and it works for me!
After applying the primer, put on a light layer of powder. You should choose a good, finely milled powder. Afterward, you can apply your foundation and set it again with powder.
If you are looking for a good setting spray, check out this list of the best drugstore setting sprays.
Final Thoughts on Cakey Foundation Around Nose
By following all the previous steps, your makeup should be able to stay on your nose without separating.
These steps should help your pores Not look like polka dots again! To prevent the foundation from looking patchy on your nose, prepare your skin very well.
Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser, exfoliate and hydrate the skin.
Apply a good primer and a small amount of foundation and powder.
Apply less foundation to the nose area and dab the foundation gently into the skin instead of rubbing it. Use a powder puff to set the makeup with a mattifying setting powder.
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Is Primer Or Setting Powder Better?
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Why Does Your Makeup Look Oily After A Few Hours?
Claire has some great tips on how to stop foundation from looking cakey on the nose. I think following her steps and using a setting spray will help keep the makeup in place and prevent it from looking patchy.
I also agree that it is essential to prep the skin before applying foundation by cleansing and exfoliating so the makeup can go on smoothly.
Thanks for the advice, Claire!
You’re Welcome 🙂