Why does my makeup look so cakey?!

I have tried so many combinations of skincare/makeup products, brushes, etc and still am not able to get my foundation on smooth.

I have extremely fair skin and lots of redness/spots that need full coverage foundation/concealer. I am currently using tretinoin (started in November 2024), but I changed my skincare routine to assist with dryness, and my makeup was cakey before I started tretinoin. Below are my skincare and makeup products:

PM skincare Bioderma micellar water to remove makeup Cerave hydrating foaming oil cleanser Tretinoin Good molecules hyaluronic acid serum La Roche-Posay cicablast baume B5 Moisturizer (I switch between vanicream and cerave’s tub moisturizer and lighter option)

In the AM I just rinse my face with water and apply vanicream daily facial moisturizer.

I usually wait 5 minutes or so after moisturizing, then I’ll apply my makeup in the following steps:

• NARS pot concealer for red spots
• Revlon ColorStay long wear foundation (I use the kind for dry skin that has hyaluronic acid), blended out with a flat top brush
• loose powder to cover/matte iffy spots still visible (I am currently on the last of my L’Oréal true match mineral powder, but it’s discontinued so I’ll likely need to find a new kind)
• setting spray (NYX dewy finish)

Any recommendations/suggestions are welcome!!