Calling all you fashionistas/style gurus! We need your style-and-beauty tips

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We're thinking of doing an MN Guide to Style and Beauty - but we can't do it without you!

We'd love you to post bestest, wittiest, most practical style/hair/beauty tips, secrets, rules, dos and don'ts on this thread.

Obviously, we're thinking "this will make you look good in the 13 seconds you have between getting up and getting the kids up", rather than "this will make you look good but takes six hours and £3000 to achieve".

Right, over to you. And thank you!

Janeite I dye mine about once a month, which does the trick. then I have to fill in the bare patches with ybf eyebrow pencil from QVC

Quite the catch, aren't I??

My eyebrows are disappearing too - I don't use a pencil to fill them in (I tried this and ended up looking like a 30's Hollywood vamp), I use eyebrow powder (L'oreal do a really good one, two eyeshadows and eyebrow powder and a nifty litle brush to put it on with, available in 4 different shades iirc). Really makes all the difference.

Also agree about cheaper foundations, I am sporting a new No 7 cream to powder job bought with my endless supply of £5 Boots vouchers and it is AS GOOD as a Precriptives one I used to swear by.

I don't work for L'oreal, btw

Lol at myself 'nifty little brush'. Sound like Bruce Forsyth.

The pencil I use change colour depending on the pressure so can go from blonde brows to raven

Oh allright then about your foundations, but find that Chanel and By Terry foundations a lot better after years of using crappy Rimmel and Maybelline.

even if you havent got time to do your make up, get a bit of mascara on and it will open your eyes and make you look less pale.

honestly, really does make a HUGE difference.

Bloody hell I want that magic pencil.

Cheers. Will look for the L'Oreal one I think. The idea of dying them is too terrifying to contemplate!

Its easy, better if you do it yourself as salons can leave it on too long

Exercise gets the blood pumping round your body and gives your face that wonderful natural, healthy glow we all use make-up to try to achieve!

Even just a twenty minute brisk walk every day will boost your circulation, giving you extra radiance.

Brown/black mascara is more flattering and less ageing than black

Exercise makes you beautiful inside and outside

Superdrug vitamin E radiance boosting moisturiser is good and only about £3

cheap foundations are cack

When applying hand cream apply it to the backs of the hands first and massage in there before moving it to the rest of the hands. The skin at the back of the hand is very thin and the bit that ages so it needs the most moisture.

Yes to an eyelash curler too, they have transformed my eyes!

if charity shop browsing - check the label - Mango skirt for £3.50 (such as the one i am wearing right now, hemhem)- bargain. Primark - not so much

also remember to stand/sit up straight. it will take a good half stone off you immediately

A decent set of make up brushes can be built up over time, will last for your whole life and are completely worth the money

Agree that decent foundation is worth the investment. Also whenver I buy cheap foundation I seem to go through it really quickly so unsure about it's actual cost effective powers.
Generally I am considered to have lovely skin (remarked upon by women in peer group and friends)...you're so lucky etc etc but without foundation actually it's very variable in colour with a fairly purple nose (boozing) and discolouration patches from pregnancy alongside pores you can plant spuds in

Chantecaille, try it it's fab

dotn buy the brushes at BObbi brown or mac
get em on ebay from staff who nick htem presumably

Anything foundation from Space NK - Laura Mercier, Chantecaille, By Terry, all well worht a go.

Caudalie creams from there also very nice if you fancy a treat.

Actually, Space NK a far nicer experience than the beauty harridans at Debenhams or House of Fraser. They are far more knowledgeable and friendly.

Chantecaille is fab.

Not just the foundation. The mascara, the lip gloss, the brushes, the concealer,Le Stylo eyeliner pen - all the best I've tried. I'm gradually building up my Chantecaille collection.

Drink water, even if you hate it replace 2 cups of tea a day with water, your skin will thank you for it

Don't pull/scratch/pinch/rub around your eyes, your skin will not thank you for it

Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning, you wouldn't stick your face in a nice hot bleachy bowl of water and expect it to look ok

I absolutely agree that a good foundation (or tinted moisturiser) is worth paying money for. Everything else you can get cheap.

Absolutely essential for me:

Clean hair, cut well.

John Lewis shaper pants for under dresses - they're much comfier than Spanx, not very strong support, but brilliant for just smoothing your silhouette.

As you get older, you do need to change your make-up to look younger. I wear a good illuminating primer, a damn good foundation (but apply lightly - you can't afford to look like a caked-on panto dame), translucent powder just on the T-zone, pinky cream blush, neutral eyeshadow, Bloom taupe eyeliner just on the upper lid, brown mascara, tinted lipbalm (step away from the gloss once you turn 40). It takes ten years off.

I hate to agree with getting your colours done - but I do think it's a really good idea, because most of us think black suits us - and it doesn't.

I want to get my colours done but am worried that I will end up with about 2 things in my wardrobe