When using mineral makeup for the first time, you need to give your skin time to adjust. If you want to really improve your skin, this is how I recomend you do it. Buy a facial steamer. The good steamers look like a bucket, that you put your face in. Before using mineral makeup, you need to cleanse your skin, and get rid of all the toxins from your skin. Regular liquid makeup has chemicals that are clogging your pores. So the steamer is great for cleansing your pores so you can have a fresh start. I also recommend you to exfoliate your skin. Buy a cleanser with the cleansing beads to remove all dead skin cells. Use a good moisturizer. One that does not have any fragrance or dies. If you cleanse, exfoliate, and steam , you are already on your way to great skin. If you have problem skin, this is definately the way to improve it. I also recommend Dermalogica brand cleansers. It takes approx. a week, to really notice the difference in your skin. When I first tried minerals my skin felt rough and dry. I used the above method, and now my skin is soft, clear, and it has a nice healthy glow. Also remember if you have acne, it will get worse before it gets better. You must follow the ritual of cleansing, exfoliating, steaming. This will help bring all toxins to the surface. For so long you have been pushing chemicals into your pores, the steamer will bring these to the surface. My minerals stay on the surface of your skin. Never clogging your pores, because they don't contain any active ingredients. I also do not recommend micro dermabrasion. You could really damage and burn your skin, making it raw and red. I usually steam my face for a few minutes while watching t.v. You want to keep a clean, wet, washcloth on hand, to wipe away the impurities while steaming. And don't over do it. I only steam for a few minutes. If you do the above, and then use your minerals , you will see a night and day difference in your skin.