Hello! So I don't wear makeup often but when I do, I go all out. I have large pores, high cheekbones, very fair skin, and as the title lists, lupus as well. I have what they call the butterfly rash, along with an overall redder complexion on my face. I'm extremely sensitive to products and try to keep quality and/or clean items, as they seem to have the most success, but I've also found some decent drugstore options too. I've found a good routine for prepping my skin, which consists of the following in this order.

1. Cleansing with CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. I sometimes wash with a manual cleansing brush (Earth Therapeutics Softouch Complexion Brush), but most times it's with my hands and rub (vs pat) dry with a washcloth
2. Toning with Thayer's Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner in lemon scent
3. Serum/moisturizer with bioClarity Drink It Up Oil-Free Super-Hydrating Serum
4. SPF with Hydrating Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 50
5. Prime with Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

The other night I only did steps 1-3, as I was going out after dark and would be home long before sunrise. I also used my primer. I've done all of the steps too. Any which way, as well as any time of year Midwest girl, and including using the complexion facial brush, I find myself scrubbing off half of my foundation (prior to any bronzer, blush, etc.) on my nose and cheeks because it appears "peely". I couldn't capture it up close with my phone, but the closest I could describe it as is a sun burn in the middle of healing. Some slough with healthy skin patches poking through.

With my listed routine above, I've felt my face and it feels soft/velvety smooth with lots of hydration before I apply makeup. I've tried several foundations too, including Maybelline Fit Me! Matte Poreless, e.l.f. Flawless Finish, and Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage. I usually gravitate to the matte foundations because I run oily and all of my extra hydration I figure would be balanced better with a matte foundation vs looking extra greasy with a more luminous foundation. Normally, I'll be upset but deal with the peely appearance because I have nothing else that seemed to work. I tried even using the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser to the same effect in that area.

I've switched more recently to the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer over the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind and overall, I'm enjoying that instead. When the peeling appearance happened the other night, I did my usual 2nd scrub (without reapplying skin care) and used the Tarte Shape Tape.

Surprisingly, it worked! It finally covered my nose and cheeks with no extra texture! The only time I really noticed anything is when I applied my setting powder, but that seemed to fade after the concealer "melted" into my skin.

So I'm wondering if it would be wise to switch to the corresponding Tarte Face Tape foundation? Or go with something else that has higher reviews (Laura Mercier, Esteé Lauder, Lancôme, or whatever)? Or just use the Tarte Concealer as my entire foundation routine?

I also prefer a fuller coverage since my face is so pigmented. I'm also lucky in that my butterfly rash has no extra scaling or skin buildup–other than more apparent large pores, it's like the rest of my skin on my face.

I'm at a total loss and I want to spend my money wisely instead of chasing around returns because something else left me feeling peely and gross in my own skin. It should be noted I've tried other primers (e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer and Maybelline Face Studio Facestudio Master Prime Blur Redness) to no avail either.

Any input would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance 💜