To have reached 45 without knowing how to do make up

[Aibusadandhormonal]

And what can I do about it?

I'd quite like to look a bit more put together. Working from home for past 10 years and 2 kids means I've been only one step away from doing the school run in my pj's... I'd like to be more put together and I've made a start with clothing being a bit smarter but I think what would help me feel a bit more professional (looking for a new job and just wanting to grab a bit more of life).

But my make up ideas are either some BB cream slapped on or on a night out the same plus mascara...

How can I learn 1) what to use for a minimalist look but smart and 2) how ro apply it!

Follow Beauty and the Boutique on Facebook, she is amazing and specialises in makeup application for over 40s - she has an online shop for all of the different products she uses. She does full face tutorials as well concentrated areas e.g. brows, smokey eye etc.

Me too!!

Fair enough, I thought you meant just putting it on! In the case any beauty counter will sort you. I use Clarins but any of them are quite nice really.

I booked at John Lewis for a session. The makeup lady tried different bits on me from various counters and it was really useful. I emphasised that i wanted simple, natural looking. I found the few online tutorials i saw completely overwhelming - for this basic look, take these 15 products, blend with this brush...
I bought some bits i liked/didn't have - tinted moisturiser, eyeshadow pencil thingy and also blusher, mascara.

I use a tinted moisturiser, bronzer / cream blush / highlighter and mascara.

I feel anything else ages me massively.

I did a make-up trial thing at the Dior counter and honestly it felt like it was caked on (even though the woman told me it looked natural 🤔) and hated it.

https://www.lauramercier.co.uk/products/tinted-moisturizer-natural-dewy-spf-30-uvb-uva-pa?variant=49557268070696

I use this and I love it. It's so light and really natural. I just use my fingers to apply it!

If you go to "find my shade" it should help you pick the right one for you....

Caroline Barnes speed beauty is quite a good start on YouTube

Same here. Can't be bothered and I don't have to look at myself anyway so who cares?

If there’s one near you I rate the counter at Trinny London. I learned loads and I already like make up. I also like the products. Enjoy it! Make up can be fun to use

Have a look at beauty and the boutique for videos. Quite simple and fresh. You can use chat GPT to find similar products, ask what colours suit your hair colour and skin tone and skin type / age, ask for dupes of expensive branded products etc. I think it's just about experimenting so I'd watch some videos by qualified make up artists, buy some cheap stuff and then start experimenting!

@Manymoresometimes

The feel of foundation was awful!”

you shouldn’t be aware of it. Maybe you put too much on

@MakeYourOwnSunshine

well, OP obviously cares hence her posting about it

I thought it was obvious I was talking about myself.

Watching with interest as I’m the same at 54, would love something to cover my menopausal spots 😞

Still got make up that I was given for my 18th!

Look at Katie from Beauty & the Boutique on facebook/instagram/website. She is a make up artist who specialises now in make up for the over 40s. I watched a lot of her videos to learn the techniques, look at recommended products etc. I really learnt a lot.

I’m 61, I’ve worn full make up approx 4 times in my life (one of those being my wedding day). I’ve never known what to do, not helped by wearing glasses. I just brush a bit of powder on my face as and when and some lippy. Having said that my eyebrows look like they belong to Dennis Healy and I think I need to do something with them.

I don’t have a clue either.

DD and Ds’s gf do amazing makeup, I make them do mine for any important occasions 😂

Have to agree, half the fight for a 'good' makeup routine is skin care.
It makes sense - you can't get a good picture from a poor canvas.

Once you have that, I swear by a good primer. I'm currently using the Benefit green one and I can basically ditch any other 'coverage' but it's about suiting your skin.

When I really have to, I'm currently using Loreal foundation and a damp sponge applicator, and given how cheap it is, its honestly as good as anything else I've ever tried. The key is as little as possible though. The multi-layer, product heavy stuff you see in videos is horrible on older skin. It all just settles into the cracks and highlights them.

As I've gotten over 40, I have learned to soften my eye makeup - no harsh lines and I've actually switched to brown eyeliner not black - and change the placement of my bronzers and blushers, putting them further up and back on the cheek to drag everything 'up'. It's much more flattering.

I then always set everything with setting spray (not powder) because it melts it all together.

The key is colours that suit you and a light hand. Oh, and getting your eyebrows shaped (if they're not) instantly adds to 'groomed' as a look.

Lisa Eldridge on YouTube is good!

Jones Road (Bobbi Brown's new brand) is great and simple - a good tinted moisturiser, a nice balm blusher - they have lots of videos of 2 min routines that look fresh and put together with minimal techniques/products

I think if you’re not well trained then less is more.

1. Concealer over blemishes and dark circles applied lightly with a warm finger.

2. Clear brow gel to set them into a groomed position (I wouldn’t fill them in as if unskilled it looks clownish).

3. A little light brown shadow over the eye lid applied gently with a loose shadow brush if you want it.

4. Mascara

5. slightly tinted lip balm.

That way you’ll look clean, like you’re organised and put together but without looking silly.

I’m 62, never learned and never wear it.

Well throw that away. It’s about 34 past its expiry date.

Go to a beauty counter at a department store and ask for what can help cover your spots and how to apply. Fenty is good or bobbi brown

you've already lost me at primer!!

I do ok but before my wedding my MUA seemed a bit flakey so I went to MAC and got a make up lesson. They were really good, the girl talked about what I normally do and the look I was trying to achieve. She did part of it to show me then got me to do it too. She gave me samples and gave me a face drawing that she had added the colour too. The money I paid was redeemable against products .