recommend your top make-up buys please!

[happynappies]

I'm 8 and a bit months pregnant, feeling huge and am going to my cousins wedding next week. Would like to spruce up my make-up bag which I haven't updated in years, but not sure where to start. Am hoping it will give me a bit of a lift and make me feel better for the wedding! Any ideas?

What's your make up style? Do you prefer to look 'done' or natural?

What products do you currently use? What are essentials? What are nice extras?

Finally what's your budget?

Highly recommend Perfect Touch foundation by YSL.

Also loving the cream eyeshadows around at the moment, really simple to apply with fingertips.

No7 Extreme Length mascara is by miles the best one I have ever tried.

Prefer more natural look, I use Bobbi Brown foundation and concealer kit, and bits and pieces from No7 range - eyeshadow in neutrals, blusher, lipgloss. Never usually use mascara/eyeliner etc but maybe I should try! I'm happy enough with my foundation, just thinking what products might make a bit of a change - eyes/blusher etc. Bit of a tight budget I suppose, but could put things on my 'wish list' for Christmas if I can't get it all now!

One really easy change to make is invest in a coloured eyeliner (No 7 actually do some pretty good liquid ones). Alternatively get a bright eyeshadow and use that as a powder liner.

Investing in an eyeshadow quad that goes with your outfit might make a change from neutrals.

Mascara is another simple change which can be really dramatic and instantly open up your eyes and make them stand out If you're scared about making your lashes look claggy and sooty then go for a brownish mascara. Maybelline define-a-lash isn't as scary as some of the volumising stuff out there.

Has your face shape changed whilst pregnant? If so you might want think how you apply your blusher and that might have a knock on to the colour.

Finally a quick and easy way to update is a stunning new lipstick - think a couple of shades darker than you'd normally wear. Berry colours still look natural on most colourings. What kind of colouring are you?

I've recently discovered mineral make up (do a search on MN there are quite a few threads)

Fab and foolproof

I have the bare minerals kit and it really does make your skin look lovely.

I just use that and mascara

If i'm out and after reading lefraks post I use eyeliner (I've never got on with liquid) Urban Decay 24/7 is good and comes in very funky colours.

blimey didn't mean to bold that ..

was wondering about something like
this but wouldn't usually buy this kind of thing, any views?

That second blusher is scary

I have visions of Aunt Sally circles

[showing my age]

ooh lots of ideas, thanks so far - I'm quite pale with dark brown hair if that helps. Tempted by the idea of mascara/eyeliner... Must admit every time I've tried it in the past my eyes have looked a bit too 'smoky' if that makes sense. Hadn't even heard of mineral make-up so will def. look into that. Thank you!

If you're quite dark (and have heavy brows) then you're probably better emphasisng your lips. I have no knowledge of your bone structure though so that's a very, very failsafe guide!

Am thinking that kind of a palette is a good idea but not entirely convinced by that one and your colouring. The blushers look very strong - it would take more of a medium/dark skin tone to pull off the coral and pink.

Urban Decay's Face Case - sorry for the US site - is probably a safer bet. Urban Decay do a very nice eyeshadow set. They have another one called Preen which is quite good too and a deluxe one.

This might go well with your colouring.

Bare minerals do gift sets at Debenhams here

If your budget can stretch a bit go to a department store and see if they can make you a custom palette. I know Prescriptives used to do this and their consultants were usually really good but they've gone bust

If you do decide to go that route try to choose someone with similar colouring to you whose make up you like!

I have the Urban Decay shadow box and find them great for going out at night.
A bit sparkly for daytime for me (similar colouring to you) but I wear the 24/7 eyeliners every day.
"Stash" is very understated khaki/gold and "Rockstar" is lovely black/purple.

Stila smokey eye palette is great for day or night here

Body shop bronzer in no.2 is fairly pale gold with pink. This makes a huge difference to my general colour i.e. I look healthy!

Clinique buttershine in pink goddess and raspberry rush and Lip Chic in Tea Rose and Zinnia by Chantecaille are brilliant

good website here too

Right, feel more on track now - definitely looking at the Urban Decay gift sets and 24/7 eyeliners, and will work my way through the other tips, thank you - have been out of touch with make-up for a long long time and this has given me a bit of confidence to try something new!

My four make up products I wouldn't be without are Revlon Photoready Foundation, Benefit Dandelion Blusher, Benefit Lemonaid and Mac Creme Brule Eyeshadow.
I'm desperate for a good mascara, I've tried loads from very cheap to very expensive and struggled with them all, I think Lancome make the worst mascaras, they're too wet!