I need a makeover...

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

I am a trump. I look pretty crap 100% of the time. I used to make an effort and wear makeup and style my hair but two time consuming children later and I'm a shadow of my former self.
I have decided I want to start making more of an effort and start wearing a bit of makeup on a daily basis.
It has been so long since I wore any that I expect the stuff I have is a bit rank by now. What makeup essentials do you recommend and which brands? I have quite very pale skin and therefore have quite dark eye bags. My lips are often dry and cracked and I can be prone to coldsores if I get run down or get a cold etc. my eyes are a blue/grey and quite small and I also wear glasses.
any help an inspiration would be much appreciated... i am clueless

[cleaninglady]

I think to start you off you might be best with a BB cream - foundation probably too heavy if you're not used to make up and some of the BB creams are great - my favourites are the garnier one and maybelline. Curl
your eyelashes at least and a tinted lip balm and just those few changes make a massive difference! I also like mixing in a drop of the soap and glory hocus focus (highlighting liquid) in with my BB cream ....gives a "dewy" look

[cleaninglady]

Oh and dark eye bags the bain of my life! the Aldi copy of touché éclat is a good start but so many out there that going straight for an expensive brand might not be a good idea so its a good one to try

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Come and join us on the new year resolutions thread!

Step one - buy a blusher. Benetint if you are rich or a Max Factor creme blusher if you are not, would be my recs for adding instant perkiness to pale faces!

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

I am not rich, no.

I have lads of different foundations and blushers and mascaras and have never found any that really work for me. I wouldn't say I'm not used to it, my skin is in good condition, neither oily nor dry and I do wear it when I go out.

I'm going to try and get up 15mins earlier tomorrow to try and put a bit on.

What is a BB cream?

Essentials: Foundation, powder, eyeliner, mascara, lip gloss, blusher? I can't afford the like of Clarins and Mac etc so No7 or Rimmel or something mid range.

I get nervous with blusher... Feel like I always put too much on then I worry that I'm too rosy cheeked. How do I know what colours suit me?

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

Excuse my typos...

OP obviously should have said frump

[cleaninglady]

BBcream is something in between a tinted moisturiser and foundation ....if your not used to foundation then it's a good compromise .... Makes me still look like me but better

[cleaninglady]

That should say even if your used to foundation :-) using phone to type on !

[AlwaysSleepingBeauty]

I would definitely recommend the Korres lip butters as a place to start- they will help your dry lips and add a bit of colour too. My favourite is the Wild Rose one, but they do a few and I think Waitrose might even sell them now.

[TheWombat]

I have pale skin and dark under-eye shadows. I found bobbi brown concealer the best thing ever - it seems to brighten up my whole face. It's expensive but worth it - and a small pot lasts a year.

I agree with remus about blusher too. I like all the benetints- the original, the posie-tint and..the other one (peach coloured). They look lovely and are long wearing, and a little bottle lasts forever!

[MikeLitoris]

Dont listen to her coconuts is not a frump. She is lovely and I am very at her skin

I second a bb cream. The garnier one made my crap skin feel amazing but it made my eyes sting like mad.

A cream blusher (I use a maybeline one)

And a highlighter like highbeam (benefit) really lifts my face. It wasnt cheap (to me) but lasts forever as you only need a teeny bit.

A bit of mascara and some vasaline and your good to go.

[MikeLitoris]

I'm fibbing. I dont use a cream blush. I use the mousse one.