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Unless the oompa-loompa look is in, orangey, cakey foundation isn’t going to be your look of choice. Since you probably didn’t purposefully buy a foundation that’s orange in color, you can evaluate all the reasons why your foundation may have turned orange all on its own. While you’re at it, consider why your foundation is caking too -- you may have purchased the wrong type of foundation for your skin type. A few changes and your skin can appear smoother and a color that appears in nature.
Oxidization
Your color sensors aren’t off -- you likely didn’t purposefully purchase a foundation that looks orange. However, when you apply certain foundations to your face, the oils in your skin can mix with your makeup, turning your makeup orange. This process is known as oxidization. If this is the case, check the product label on your foundation. If it contains oil, the makeup has a greater chance of turning your face orange. Instead, look for a foundation that’s labeled non-comedogenic or oil-free, which means it doesn’t contain oil.
For Next Time
Since foundations can and do turn orange, this is one of the good reasons to always try out your makeup before you buy it. When you apply a foundation, wait one to two hours before making a purchase. If your foundation hasn’t turned orange by then, you’ll likely be safe to wear the foundation moving forward.
Prime Time
One way you can solve both the caking and orange issues is by applying a foundation primer. Foundation primers can act as a barrier between the oil on your skin and your foundation, which can keep it from appearing orange. Primers also help your makeup go on more smoothly, reducing the caking factor. If you have a new bottle of foundation that has a tendency to turn your skin orange, you may wish to try applying primer before putting it on. This may save your foundation from the trash.
Evaluate Your Application
If your makeup has a tendency to look cakey, sometimes it’s user error instead of a problem with your makeup itself. One reason makeup can cake is because you aren’t applying it evenly. If you are using a powder foundation, apply your foundation with a powder puff and roll it over your skin instead of swiping your powder on. Another option is to switch to a tinted moisturizer, which offers light coverage while the moisturizer makes your skin appear smoother. If you use liquid foundation, try applying a thinner layer next time because thick layers of foundation can contribute to caking.
