Make up advice please!

[DependentOnChocolate]

I currently never wear any make up but would like to start wearing a bit, particularly when going out to work (I mainly WFH), and special occasions and mainly to cover up how tired I look!! I am 43, with two very young children; I have never really been into make up and never felt like I knew what I was doing, so please be gentle! I am also quite cynical about expensive make up and all the millions of different things you can buy to put on your face, i want to keep it fairly simple and not spend a fortune (and don't have time to spend ages putting it on!). What do i really need to look a bit more fresh faced but fairly natural and where should I buy it from? Thanks in advance!

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser is lovely and counter staff very helpful. I have also recently tried Trinny London BFF which is good so far too.

I’m lazy with make up, i don’t use foundation and I don’t contour, so I walked up to Charlotte Tilbury and asked for the easiest way to do make up! So I wear a colour corrector for darkness under eyes, blusher, eyeshadow pots in two colours, a light base and pinky colour on top, to use you apply with fingers so it’s super easy. Bit of mascara and done. I do prep my skin though (cleanse tone and moisturise as this really does make your skin and make up look really fresh! I use a setting spray which makes it last pretty much all day so no reapplying (aside from lipstick)

It depends what you call expensive- I live by rimmel (perfect match or healthy skin) or L’Oréal but if I had the money I’d look at Erborian cc cream. I do splurge on concealer though- Nars! I used to use max factor primer but now I use Aimee Connolly primer after it being recommended here- reasonably priced, they cover different skin types and hides redness!! Good luck op!!

I wasn't really into makeup either, but I also didn't want to hire a makeup artist for my wedding. So I set out to learn how to do it myself, which has been surprisingly fun and addictive!

The best thing I did was going to 1:1 makeup classes - I did one with Selfridges, one with Charlotte Tilbury, and one with MAC. There is an upfront cost but it then gets taken off the bill for any products you buy. All three MUAs were super friendly and helpful, they really listened to what I wanted - which was a very natural and minimal look that would also hold up to being photographed. They not only helped me find the right products but also taught me some tricks and techniques. And my wedding makeup turned out great, if I do say so myself!

I know you said you are cynical about expensive makeup - I think that Boots No. 7 have similar 1:1 classes that you can book, maybe this would be a good first step? They have a lot of great products.

FWIW, I found online forums very confusing when I was first starting out with makeup because everyone posts recommendations for different things that they swear by and it's a lot of information to process. I've found forums really useful if I want to inquire about a specific product, look, or technique, but get super swamped if I put out a general request. Hence why I think a 1:1 class might be better!

Good luck OP - and most importantly, HAVE FUN with it!