The Oompa Loompa Dilemma - On Foundations and Oxidation

You finally got the foundation you've been lemming for the longest time. You thought you have finally found your Holy Grail - your makeup looks flawless, foundation feels like second skin, it provides the coverage you desire, it looks natural and not too made up. After a couple of hours, oops! Wait, it has only been half an hour. You caught a glimpse of yourself on the mirror and to your horror, your foundation has oxidized and turned orange on you. And you realize that you look like a character from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Oompa Loompa! I have read a few articles earlier as to why some foundations oxidize and turn dark or orange on people and what can be done to prevent it. I decided to share what I learned on those articles and that is what you'll see on the rest of this post.

What does it mean when a foundation oxidizes?
- When your foundation looks like a perfect match, both skin tone and undertone-wise, upon application and it turns darker or worse, orange, after a few minutes or hours, it means that your foundation has oxidized. It happens when an oxidative agent interacts with another component or substance, thereby removing electrons from it which then leads to a change in color.

Does it happen to all foundations?
- It is hard to tell if oxidation happens to all foundations. Some people claim that a certain foundation oxidizes on them but there are some who do not experience that with the same exact product. But it does happen to any type - liquid, cream, powder, mineral/loose. Although it happens to liquid or cream foundations more often that it does on powder. And it also happens to BB creams.

How about for all brands?
- Each foundation is made up of different components regardless of the brand. Although some brands are notorious when it comes to this issue, the brand name does not guarantee that it won't happen, whether or not it is a high end or a drugstore brand.

Does my skin type have anything to do with my foundation oxidizing?
- While there are no scientific findings at the moment, there is a huge probability that one's skin type has something to do with foundations oxidizing. It commonly happens to those who have combination-oily and oily skin as oils are oxidative substance though there are rare occasions when those with normal-dry skin experience the same thing.

What causes foundations to oxidize:
- There is no single cause that can be considered as the culprit. It varies depending on the person wearing the foundation. But here are the most common reasons why people experience such:

     1. The skin's PH level or acidity - if you're acidic or if it is high, chances are you will experience such a reaction.
     2. How one's body chemistry + sebum reacts to components of the foundation. Same with perfumes - certain scent may smell heavenly on someone but smells pungent on you.
     3. If skin isn't properly moisturized or hydrated enough, the oil glands work double time to produce oils which can cause foundations to oxidize.
     4. Climate and temperature - some foundations are designed to withstand humidity no matter how insane it is and there are those that are suited for cooler climates. The oxygen in the air is another possible cause.
     5. Products applied on the skin before the foundation - sunblocks, toners, moisturizers, primers. Some components of your skin care products may react to a certain component of your foundation and vice versa.
     6. Using a shade that does not match your skin's undertone - using a pink-toned foundation when you have yellow undertones. Same goes with using a shade too yellow when you have pink undertones which make you look sick with hepatitis.
     7. Using makeup that is already on its death bed. The makeup composition changes when it's already expired so make sure that you are not using something that is way beyond its shelf life especially those in liquid/cream form. But I know that a lot of us do not follow the indicated or the "standard" shelf life and keep using them until they no longer look, smell, and feel right. When that happens, throw it in the bin right away. Not only will it oxidize, it might also harm your skin.
     8. A certain component of the foundation could also very well be the cause of such a reaction. Whatever that is, I have no idea.

How do I know if a foundation will oxidize on me?
- There is absolutely no other way to tell if a foundation will oxidize on you or not except when it already happens. If it does not oxidize on someone, that is no guarantee that it won't happen to you since each people have different skin types and PH level. The best that you can do is apply the foundation directly on your face and not anywhere else as the skin and "oiliness" and "acidity" on your face is different from those on your inner arm or back of your hand. Aside from learning if it will oxidize on you or not, it might also help you know if this product causes allergic reactions or not. Serves a double purpose. ;)

What can you do to keep your foundation from oxidizing?
- Before even buying, be absobloodylutely certain that the foundation matches your skin tone and undertone and that you have already tested it. But if you bought something on impulse without having tried it yet and later on find out that it makes you look like and Oompa Loompa (or perhaps The Annoying Orange), then you can only do so much to keep it from oxidizing. But here are a few of the things you can do to prevent this:

     1. Use a primer - it will serve as a barrier between the skin and the foundation, thus, preventing the sebum from interacting with the foundation. Most recommend using a silicone-based primer. But this trick does not work for everyone.
     2. Keep your skin hydrated and moisturized - if your skin is normal and balanced, only the right amount of oil will be produced and that means less oilies will say hello to your foundation.
     3. If you're using different skin care products, experiment. Try using a different moisturizer/sunblock/toner when you plan to use the foundation that oxidizes on you. You may find something that does not have that certain component that reacts with the foundation and it will thereby work for you.
     4. If you really love the foundation save for its oxidation, you can settle for a shade or two lighter. The moment it oxidizes, there is a big chance that it will finally match.
     5. If you want to use up the foundation that changes its color on you, you can use a lighter shade of powder foundation or pressed powder to set it.
     6. As shared by K - She is highly acidic and had her share of Oompa Loompa days so when she changed her diet and lifestyle, it helped. It could also work to those who are acidic - you'll never know until you try it.
     7. If you already have oily skin, you may want to steer clear of oil-based foundations as it could be a problem too.

That pretty much sums up everything I found out but I will update this entry when I read about something new. I hope this post helps.

Happy rainy Tuesday, everyone. :)

Cheers,

P.S. I know that this is the second time I have put off my Becca Boudoir Mineral Powder Foundation review but I will definitely be reviewing it on my next post.