Makeup buying help very much needed!

[FaciallyChallenged]

I'm almost 30 and still very much a stranger to make-up - almost never wear it and even for a special occasion I only usually stretch to some BB cream/tinted moisturiser, cheapo eyeshadow, lipstick and perhaps clear mascara. Would love to change that though, would like to wear makeup more and know what I'm doing with it! Especially would love to be able to do eyeliner and foundation 'properly'. Also, mainly, am getting married next April and don't want to look pale and pasty for the photos so need to sort something for then.

On a slim budget though of about £60 so options are;

1. Forget getting any make-up and try and find a cheap make-up artist for the wedding day - not keen on this as feel it might be a bit of a waste of money, especially if I don't like the look.
   
   
2. Go for a MAC lesson - you pay £30, get an hour being shown how to make yourself up then get then £30 off whatever you buy, so effectively have the lesson free. I could buy the best couple of things for around £40 then make the rest up with cheaper products like Boots own etc. Have heard MAC products are fab and would be really helpful to be shown how to do everything properly.
   
   
3. Buy cheaper (but not dirt cheap) makeup and learn how to use it via Youtube tutorials. Love the look of Bourjois makeup and could get far more for the money, especially as Boots is doing 3 for 2 atm and a 'points evening' soon where if you spend £50 you get £12 in points so I'd be quids in - but I'd have no makeup artist help.
   
   What's probably the better option?

[MakeMeWarmThisWinter]

I'd do no2 definitely. YouTube tutorials are great but if you have a proper lesson, you can ask questions and see how products and techniques work on your actual face.

[slug]

Option 4. Ask a friend who is fairly competent to do your wedding makeup for you

[addictedtosugar]

no2 - or go to a big department store (when they aren't heaving), and look for someone who's makeup you like: not concessions do a lesson and sell you the stuff, I understand.

You need makeup for your wedding - my Mother took me to a beauty salon when I got engaged, and got them to practice putting some on. I bought some, and went back on the day I got married.

You may still want a professional on your wedding day - it might be worth asking for a hair and makeup cost for your wedding day as well.

[Andcake]

No. 2 definitely. Mac is great stuff and complement bits you don't buy with bonjouis etc
I use Mac but learnt how to do mine after I had to have my Make up done professionally for a photo shoot and asked for tips.
Also watch some make up tutorials and get into make up e.g read the guardian ladies column saili Hughes I think ( also suspect she's a mumsnetter for some reason)
Talk to friends but having had friends do my make up they tend to put on what suits them not me!

[Dontlaugh]

Not no. 3. Too cheap. I'm 38 and have to invest a bit more in better quality products as I get older, you are still young and gorgeous no doubt, but still if you are not a make up expert then spend as much as you can to get the best you can.
AND if there is one spend justified on yourself ever, it is having your make up done professionally on your wedding day. Worth it.
Go for the MAC lesson regardless.
Enjoy the day!

[FaciallyChallenged]

Thanks for the replies, wondered if I was stretching the budget too hard with MAC but sounds very worth it now. Would love a professional makeover so would be a treat too, can't wait now :-D

Slug, unfortunately as we're having a very small wedding I'd only have one friend to ask and she'll have 2 little dcs with her so not sure how reliable that would be, but if I can do it myself I could ask her for help/input. Am thinking of having hair done professionally, maybe just nipping ton a salon though for 'hair up' rather than paying lots for 'wedding hair'.

[mewkins]

I wpuld go for the lesson and buy the important bits from mac eg foundation/powder, concealer and maybe eyeshadow if you can stretch to it. Buy mascara, eyeliner, blusher from cheaper brands. I like bourjois for blusher, max factor mascara and maybelline eyeliner pencil, rimmel liquid liner.

[Dontlaugh]

You are worth it, for such a special day. I am frugal, usually, but think hair and makeup for wedding day is for other people to worry about.
Unless you plan on doing it 10 times .
And congratulations!

[SaltySeaBird]

I'd go to a few of the different make up counters and get them to try out products and show you how to apply.

I do mainly use premium brand make up but I'm not a fan of MAC. I went into one of their stores recently on the hunt for a new foundation and they were quite unhelpful and when I eventually got a foundation sample it ended up being the worst one out of all that I tried. It just didn't suit me!

By going to a few different counters you can get a feel for different brands.

[SuperFlyHigh]

I'd ditch mac and go for Bobbi Brown or ysl.

Mac are good but can be quite bright, strong and not best foundations.

Pixi are lovely if you're in London (1 shop).

[SuperFlyHigh]

Laura mercier nice too.

[nailslikeknives]

My friend had her wedding make up done using Bare Minerals. She had a free trial in the shop and then asked if the lady did it in people's homes -she did and my friend looked amazing on the day.
Like you, she doesn't often wear make up but this was a fairly natural look, all her best bits were emphasised.
I know she was really pleased.

[nailslikeknives]

And my friend bought the bits the make up lady used so she now recreates her wedding look for nights out. Bargain!

[Fabulassie]

If you are lucky enough to live near a really large Boots (like the one in the Arndale in Manchester) you may be able to get a sales assistant to help you with Max Factor: they have a proper counter at my local Boots and so the testers aren't all fingered up and the girl who works the counter can help you with application. It's not the same as a lesson, but you can get some good pointers and try the products.

However, I don't think that's available at very many locations.

Unfortunately, for the cheaper brands, you have to go with trial-and-error. It can help if you study lots and lots of Youtube videos (Goss and Lisa Eldridge are two very good British ones) and cross-reference them with reviews on makeup alley, amazon, and boots.com to try and zero in on the best cheaper brands to buy.

Bourjois do make some lovely things, but there are some excellent products in the other, cheaper ranges as well. You absolutely can buy eye shadow quads for under £5 that are perfectly good, for example. And blush is blush, IMO: if the shade works, you're good to go.

One problem you will also face is the issue of brushes and applicators. Very good ones (MAC, etc) can be extremely expensive. Decent ones can be had for about £7 or so apiece. Very cheap ones can be pretty crap, but again you can do a lot of online research and probably find some bargains.

You say that your budget is about £60... is that just for now or will you be able to add on between now and your wedding?

[queenbrunhilda]

Laura Mercier did wedding make-up for free in exchange for £25 purchase - bargain! They do fantastic bases and concealers that last forever - well worth the investment.

[WildBillfemale]

If you are not familiar with makeup I think the 'Mac makeover' may be a bit too much for you - they have a definite 'look' when doing their makeovers and it's product heavy.

Most people not used to makeup only take colour into consideration when choosing cosmetics but consistency is hugely important. You may be more comfortable with sheer formulas as a cosmetic 'virgin' it's possible to get washes of colour for eye/cheek/lip products etc.
When looking for a make over (and some are free) wonder round a big department store and see which counters you are drawn to.
for example Mac is very on trend, Bobbi Brown promotes the 'you but better' look and so on......

[WildBillfemale]

also re brands - I've had as many bad purchases from high end products (Chanel, Lancome) as I have cheap end so don't be taken in too much by fancy advertising, spin and pretty compacts!

If you get a make over at a high end counter you can always go on 'Makeupalley' and ask on the makeup message board for a 'dupe' of a high end colour. The women there are experts at spotting identical products in differant (lower) priced ranges.

[Paddingtonthebear]

If you don't wear make up currently you will probably find MAC make up very heavy and obvious . I had a makeover at one of their stores and they said the foundations etc are thick and based on stage make up. I also had a bad reaction to the foundation I bought (MAC select), after a few weeks of nasty spots I gave up and asked for a refund which they did give with no quibble, they did say then that Mac is heavy and not always suited to sensitive skin.

Laura Mercier products are very n

[Paddingtonthebear]

Nice!

[addictedtosugar]

nailslikeknives were you at my wedding?
I had bare minerals also.

[SuperFlyHigh]

I can think of somewhere that does brushes and makeup - The Body Shop - not your usual brand but they have some lovely colours and items and they do makeovers/lessons. well they used to do it but not sure now.

[Fabulassie]

Yes!The Body Shop is an excellent suggestion - they have the facilities to properly test things (and the sales assistants hover so much that fingering the testers into smooth oily smudges isn't as easy, unlike at Superdrug.) They have a good comprehensive range of products and their brushes are of high quality.

I do think Youtube videos can be great, but they are often full of extra bells and whistles like highlighters, primers, etc. that will make it hard to stay within your budget. I think you should be able to do most of what you need with foundation, mascara, eyeshadow palette, blusher and lipstick... and you'll need a thin angled brush to turn an eyeshadow into brow colour or eyeliner. From there you can add on powder (if needed), concealer (if needed), and then the highlighters/contours, primers, etc if you want to.

But you won't get that awesome professional look without the skill from practice and without the "extras" I listed above.

[Knittingbat]

Hmm, I would second the people saying Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown rather than Mac. Much more subtle and gentle on the overall look! Bobbi Brown's whole ethos is supposed to be pretty natural looking but just your best self which is very good for low-makeup people and for brides I think.

E.L.F is very good for cheap but good quality makeup brushes. Also their 'glow' blush is a replica for Nars Orgasm, but as it is a cheaper product is much less pigmented which means it is a bit easier to put on (I am a makeup addict but like a natural look - the Nars one is too full-on for me!)

I think good eyelash curlers (prob good ones in super drug), a mascara comb and black or brown mascara - it's not so much buying cheap or expensive but a lot of practice from here until your wedding that will make a difference to eyelashes! Maybe get someone who has perfect mascara to show you how they do it…

Bourjois eyeshadows are great, very like Chanel ones I think.

Kim Kardashian's old makeup artist Scott Barnes does a look on youtube which he calls 'light five minute office' and I call 'quite a lot of makeup but very nice' which also has a teeny bit about contouring (but really about lightening under the eyes, great for photos) which is useful.

Good luck!

[allmycats]

I would have a makeover at a cosmetics counter and have them give you a list of what they have used - to buy stuff for you I would order a set from Laura Geller from QVC for around 40-45 you can get a set with a Kabuki style brush and a eye shadow/liner brush, a 'foundation' - balance and brighten it is called, a blush, a duel eyeshadow and a mascara and can try them out for 30 days and if you don't get on with them send it back. PS Bourjois is made in the same place.production line as Dior.