I'm almost in tears about this. My skin has been going haywire lately and I've been eliminating foods and soaps etc. to find the culprit and not sure what it is yet. Been having breakouts all along my jawline and underneath and I know that area is considered hormonal acne. I've been forced to start using a foundation again ,occasionally like once a week, which I don't really like having to do but I must at this time. 

I've used Alima and Everyday Minerals and both break my skin out terribly. Also was using Jane Iredale and it looks great except it turns slightly orange on my skin. I've had success with Stila's Illumination Powder Foundation, looks awesome, but it's kind of sheer and last week I did some ingredient sluthing and it contains a fish oil (eicosapentaenoic acid). (BTW I bought this foundation last year and didn't know anything about it containing fish oil as, you know, the label doesn't use that in the ingredient list. haha.). 

I'm desperate and need some help. My skin is clog prone and oily T-zone and I also need fair skintone that does not oxidize. And, of course, cruelty free!

Please help!

Thanks!

Hi greenseater2,

I sympathize with your frustration, as my skin breakouts are finally slowing down after switching to vegan and playing around with different foods to lessen them, too. I use a combination of liquid and powder makeup to help cover up marks for now, and both lines work great--and are vegan! Gabriel Cosmetics makes a good liquid foundation, but if you're looking for powder makeup, I'd suggest Larenim. I started using their line after using Bare Minerals for years, and I love this line already!

Until the marks and breakouts fade away, for now I'm using a liquid foundation from Gabriel to dab over the problem areas, then I use a powder concealer from Larenim before using the pressed facial powder from them too. It doesn't make some of my cystic acne disappear completely, but enough to satisfy me! The only downside is that both lines are a bit expensive, but considering I used to spend that much with Bare Minerals, it evens out. I'd suggest finding a store near you that carries these lines so you can play with some testers to find your shade.

One more note: for toner, someone suggested I used a freshly squeezed lemon and mix it with water in a small bottle (I found a 6 oz one for cheap at Target). I store it in the fridge and shake it up before I apply it. So far it works better than any toner I ever purchased!

I know this was a lot, but hopefully it helps!

Does the product your using have bismuth oxychloride in it? That is a very common ingredient in many mineral foundations that is known to cause break outs. Try looking up on Etsy, they have MANY crafters who make vegan makeup there and that contain no bismuth oxychloride. Also, mica can somtimes cause breakouts in some people because mica is cut like a diamond to make it shimmer and because of the shape, it can sometimes irritate the skin. If that is an irritant to you, I recommend trying a foundation that is simply zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and colored with only iron oxide (a natural concoction).  That is simple as it can get with a foundation.  Hope that helps. If you want a liquid foundation, you can always add the powder foundation to the moisturizer. (Also, the zinc oxide is a natural sunscreen, so if you are concerned with sunscreen, zinc is your friend. Zinc oxide is also an antiflammatory.) Also, have you tried neem oil for your acne? It is a natural oil that has been used for hundreds of years for skin conditions. I can personally say that when I apply it to boils on my  leg, they literally shrink over night (and boils use to stay there for weeks with other treatments.) It actually has been researched in clinical settings in other countries and proven to even kill virus such as ecoli. However, FDA has not recognized it because mainly drug compaines have not stepped up to fund research on it (there is no money in selling an oil that can not obtain a patent since it is available in so many sources.) Anways, if you google neem oil, you should be able to find some. Oh, but it does stink and is brown. Smells like garlic. Anways, I know a lot of that stuff because I make bath and beauty products from scratch, not selling anything right now though, just wanted to let you know I do have some expertise to the subject. Hope that helps and be blessed. 

Thanks Manda and Jolene!

I'm familiar with Gabriel and Larenim but have not tried them out yet. I get tired just thinking about the returns I'll most likely have to do if I buy anything so I never bite the bullet. Maybe this year I will though. Thanks!

Jolene,

Thank you for all that info! Some of that was very new to me! And yes I'm very familiar with neem oil and yes, you're right, it smells awful! Sad cause it works amazingly well! 

I'd be willing to bet its the mica you're sensitive to, since you said you'd tried Alima and Everyday minerals. Neither of those brands use bismuth oxychloride (I'm senstive to THAT one myself, so I've used both!). I do highly recommend Gabriel liquid foundation (you might have trouble with their powder, since it does have mica. Although I have found that the amount really matters, too, if things are lower down the ingredients list, sometimes they don't bother me, even when I think they would.

Another liquid foundation I am liking right now is Ecco Bella. Their line is not 100% vegan yet, but I'm told they are working on that. They are cruelty free and the vegan items are clearly pointed out (foundation is vegan). Cool thing about Ecco Bella, if you email them a photo, they will do a free consult and recommend colors - they were right on with me. Gabriel and EB both are good about returns if they don't work, although I know its still a huge pain!

Like Jolene said, if nothing else works, try the simplest foundation you can - I know there are some mica-free mineral foundations out there with just the bare minimum of ingredients!

Awesome info Jolene! I've never heard of neem oil, so I'll be sure to check that out.

And starflower, thanks for mentioning Ecco Bella--another brand for me to play with!

there's another mineral makeup a friend of mine started using. It used to be called Daisy, but now is called Reliq Minerals. Here's the url so you can check it out. They claim to not use fillers, bismuths, perfumes, oils, fragrances, starches or dyes. I haven't used it myself yet but my friend loves it and wants to try some on me!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReliqMinerals