Which brand of make-up do you use/recommend?

[Sparkerleur]

Ever since I started wearing make up I have always bought the cheapest of the cheap. Normally just buy Rimmel stuff. The only time I tend to treat myself is when I go to a Body Shop or Virgin Vie party when I purchase an odd lipstick or mascara.
I have decided, after being a mum for nearly 7 years and giving everything I can to my two daughters, I am going to start treating myself to some decent make-up. I have no idea where to start. I know I need to step into Beales or Boots but after that I have no idea where to go.
Help me Trinny and Suzanna's of Mumsnet!!!

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Go for it, Sparkerleur! I hadn't bought much make up recently either and after reading some reviews on here decided to treat myself too.
I bought some Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (which I'd never even heard of I will confess) and it's great. Very natural but I look so much better.

It's worth spending more for your foundation/tinted moisturiser, concealer, blush, powder - Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, Stila all good.

Mascara needs to be changed every few months and I always use Rimmel, which I think is just as good as more expensive brands. I also buy cheap on nail varnish, eye shadow, eye pencil etc.

Lipstick - I think it is worth paying more if you want a good strong colour with pigments that stay true for more than an hour. Clinique do lovely lipsticks. If I'm buying lipgloss, I go cheap - any range that catches my eye, really.

Go for a decent foundation they are worth teh money. So saying I love my L'Oreal Translucide one and it's only £8.99. It happens to suit my skin tone so that's fine. You must get one that does.

I ADORE MAC for most things tbh, their foundations are great, their blushers fab, lip glass is the best ever. Eyeshadows in EVERY colour under the sun and lippys too. Go and talk to teh girls on the counter, they look scarey but they do give good colour advise, the products last forever too.

Macasra I use Maybelline great lash and it is fab.

If you are near a decent dept store, book a makover (free) with most of the beauty counters. Bobby Brown is good for nudes and natural colours, as is Laura Mercer etc. Get them to do a makeover, but ask if you can go away for an hour or so while you decide what to buy. You can look it things in different mirrors and under natural light.

I use a real selection of brands from Boots 17 (cheap) to MAC, the best thing I EVER invested in though was decent brushes, that meakes even cheap makeup work.

Estee Lauder double wear foundation (though will be trying Chanel Vitaluminiere or whatever it's called, as it's been raved about on here)

Lancome for mascara

Eyeshadow and blusher I buy Barbara Daly Tesco ones tbh.

Lipsticks - Estee Lauder, Lancome, Tesco.

Couple of threads that might give you some ideas \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2350&threadid=156653&stamp=060320162103\here} and \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2350&threadid=153672&stamp=060313130523\here}

I like Clinique make up.

Chanel vitalumier foundation, no powder necessary. It's the biz. see \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2350&threadid=162398&stamp=060410142321\here} and \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2350&threadid=156653&stamp=060319145209\here}

thanks guys x

Beat me to it Jackie!

Passionflower. It is fab, that Vitalumiere.

Clinique if you are sensitive like me. But I use it very sparingly and cant afford it any more. Have had to economise on moisturiser. But their foundation and powder lasts me years, literally.

If I was going to make life easy, I'd head straight for a MAC counter all their stuff is marvellous

I love Benefit makeup, especially Bad Gal mascara. They often have girls doing free make overs.

Becca's pretty whizzy stuff. If you're London-based or can get in, there's a lovely lady on the Becca counter in Bond Street's Fenwick store...

Rimmel, coz I'm a chav.

Rimmel good enough really just want to spoil myself.

elizabeth arden

I use

Clinique skin care
Elizabeth Arden foundation (Vitalumiere when going out)
Mixture of CD/Clinique lipglosses/mascaras/ eyepencils

Virgin Vie, but think i'm the only one in the world

YSL Touche Eclait for under eye bag thingies.
Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for a quick brighten up.
NARS blusher.
Lancome or Estee Lauder fruity juicy tube things for lips and a bit of a cheapy mascara as they are all roughly the same and look crap on me anyway.

ooh i need to get some touche eclat - keep meaning to but never actually do it

If you are going on hiols they do a 2 pack at the airports which is a good buy - never use the 2 though at the same time as they tend to go smelly and need washing out!!!!