Lately, my makeup looks cakey whenever I apply it. Is it a dead skin cell issue or a lack of moisture?

Lately, I've been stressed because my base makeup just hasn't been applying well. In the past, my skin looked quite natural and smooth even with just a light tap of cushion foundation, but these days, even if I spend a lot of time applying makeup in the morning, the sides of my nose and around my mouth start to cake after a few hours. It really bothers me, especially after I smile or talk a lot, because the lines around my mouth look even more cracked.

At first, I thought it might be due to dead skin cells, so I tried using exfoliating pads and light peeling gels. However, while my skin feels temporarily smooth afterward, it sometimes feels even drier the next day. So, I'm wondering if it's not just a dead skin issue but rather internal dryness. It's even more confusing because I do tend to get a bit oily on the surface.

People around me say that replenishing moisture comes before exfoliating, but others say that if I don't get rid of old dead skin cells, no matter how much I moisturize, it's meaningless lol. I really don't know what I should do first.

Has anyone else experienced severe makeup creasing like me and managed to solve it? Please recommend an exfoliation routine, a hydration routine, or any products that helped before applying makeup! I really want to feel less stressed every morning when putting on makeup.