Feeling frumpy - time to start wearing make up (at 35?!)

[peedieworky]

Okay! So.. I finally have acknowledged that I need something to perk up my skin. DS is 4 months old and I still look as grim as I did when he was 4 days old . I have dark brown hair, dark brown eyes and sallow skin. I don't sunbathe or anything so it is a pale olive (not freckly) and can be prone to oily, reddish nose. (Jeeeze.. Am painting a beautiful picture here - aint I?? Altogether now, "Rudolph...").

I have tried buying tinted moisturisers but having reached 35 without learning how to pick or put on make up, I found I either felt it looked to orangey or that I rubbed it in so hard you couldn't notice any difference. I thought I'd try with some form of base (foundation? Powder? Tinted stuff?) and a blusher of some form but as you can tell - am totally clueless. Can you advise a good starting point? Thanks!

[Champagnevanity]

My advice, I'm a total make-up Junky, is to get a foundation matched up from Clinique, they are around £20ish pounds, however they'll tell you which to get for your skin type, ect, show you how to put it on. They last FOREVER, and are amazing.

I use Clinique foundation and powder, and have done for years, The foundation normally lasts me around 6months, but the powder ive got ive had for about a year, and is still going strong.

It's a safe but effective place to start, but normally they'll show you how to apply your blusher.

If that sounds a bit daunting. Go to the N07 counter, who do a mineral foundation/powder in one, comes with a brush, like the bare essentials kinda thing, takes literally a minuite to apply and looks fab. Easy, cheap and very simple.

[TheGrassIsJewelled]

I'm about your age and have a 7mth old DD.

I use Olay tinted moisturiser (the one with a bit of Max Factor in it). Don't think it makes a huge difference, but evens out skin a bit. I also wear mascara and lipstick (a subtle colour). Makes me feel more polished, but still look like a 7-day old...

For good quality make up, I recommend Smashbox. If you go to a counter, they are really helpful about how to use it and what to buy, without being pushy or making you look like a painted lady of the night (Benefit, I'm talking to you!).

[SleepyFergus]

No 7 do a nice tinted moisturiser (and there is a £5 off voucher at the moment if you spend £10 in Boots beforehand - I've been known to pay at different tills on the same day to take advantage )

I put it in with Boots own ramer sponge. It's lightweight, smooth and evens out skintone and is v natural looking. You don't feel as if you have anything on, but you look a bit fresher and it hasn't adversed affected my skin. I would also recommend their mascaras. Start with those, then when you feel a bit more confident, you can start trying out other bits, or perhaps visit a beauty counter for some tips.

Clinique - I like their makeup, but steer cleAr of their skincare as I find it very harsh.

A lot of make up brands do bonus times where you get a ample selection of skincare and make up when you spend x amount. A good way to try stuff out.

Good luck, you'll be grand!

[SleepyFergus]

Sample, not ample....sorry!

[cantpackwontpack]

Your skin sounds similar to mine.

My skin was always quite good but a combination of tiredness, age, etc meant I was looking a little rough round the edges. Last year I went shopping with a friend who is really into makeup etc. We were browsing the beauty counters and stopped by the Benefit counter. The girl working there was really nice and used some You Rebel lite tinted moisturiser and Sugar Bomb blusher on me.

The effect was lovely, the moisturiser evened out my skin and the blusher just gave me a little flush of colour.

I bought them and although I am a bit lazy about using them every day I know I look better when I do.

[googietheegg]

Clinique have just launched a BB Cream which would be ideal for you - it works as a moisturiser, primer, tinted moisturiser, concealor and brightener. Just put a bit of that on (not like a mask, just dab on nose, sides of nose, t-zone and chin and rub in) then just add a little lip and cheek stain (try Benefit Benetint or the superdrug copy) and some mascara (the mabelline volumising one is great if you don't want to curl your lashes first). Then just have a tinted lip balm with you through the day (the pink vaseline tin is brilliant). Takes 2 minutes and you'll look polished and feel so much better.

[strictlovingmum]

Go to Earle and order their catalogue, with it you will receive three samples of their new tinted moisturiser, amazing staff.
I worn mine first time on thursday, and looked as if I had something dramatic done to my skin, all the mums commented and asked me about it, it's unreal how good it is.
I would not be without one now, not only skin looks great, but it feels healthy and fresh, and of course beautiful ingredients inside, organic botanicals, grown on Isle of Wight, truly superb staff.
Coat of brown mascara and slick of eight hour "Elizabeth Arden" salve on lips and brows, and you have that fresh, no make up look, just a healthy glow.

[strictlovingmum]

//LizEarle

[higgle]

Just go and talk to the ladies on a Bobbi Brown counter, they will show you what suits you, and how to apply it.

[shoeprincess2]

Is the Liz earle skin tint suitable for oily skin? I generally don't get on with tinted moisturisers, as they make my skin look uber greasy within the hour.

[strictlovingmum]

I am combination with a really oily T zone, it was perfect for me, it absorbs really quickly into the skin.

[QuinnFabray]

I've only been wearing make up for a couple of years, and I'm 36. I'm totally hooked, love the stuff, I look better now than I ever have before.

I learnt everything I know from youtube. Lisa Eldridge and Pixiwoo are good places to start on there.

[peedieworky]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies. Had tried the No7 stuff but wasn't keen - though that maybe cos I wasn't putting it on right! Clinique BB cream sounds fab but seems can only buy it at airports or something? No fair! May pop along to a counter to see. Should have mentioned I live in the (Scottish) sticks so am limited in my access to make-up vendors! Youtube is an inspired idea. Would never have thought to look. Shall head there right now.. You may not recognise me when I return - I'll be the one with the dewy glow

[sparkout]

strictlovingmum, I couldn't find where to order the catalogue from, the link didn't work for me, whereabouts on the site is the link?

[strictlovingmum]

//uk.lizearle.com

[planetpotty]

If you are starting from scratch I would say going to debenhams (other chainstore make up depts available!) and let them go to town on you could be an idea - normally free and if you take time out properly and go midweek should be nice and quiet. Ive done this a couple of times and whilst some of the stuff they have tried to peddle me has been a big fat NO! I have always left having learned something. Bought a foundation brush with a LIFE guarantee! Still going and that was years ago :)

They have never been overly pushy when it comes to the end and I once left having bought nothing.

You tube is brilliant as someone said.

[peedieworky]

What about the Bare Escentuals stuff from another thread? Or is it more for a heavier finish (not sure if that's the right terminology!). My Mum going abroad tomorrow so have tasked her to pick up the clinique BB cream as liked the sounds of that and can't get it in "regular" shops!