Help me learn about makeup

[HereMeRoar]

I don't wear makeup.

I am 32 and my laughter lines are beginning to show. My skin's not perfect either. I fear I should attempt some makeup, but as I was brought up in a makeup-free household and never really rebelled at all, I honestly don't know where to start. Ladies on makeup counters scare the shit out of me as they look so freakily painted to me. Even on my wedding day the lady had trouble toning it down enough so I look like me.

Any makeup virgins made the transition to looking half decent on a daily basis and can offer any tips?

Oh and what's all this "skin care routing" crap I might need to know about?

I don't have much time (3 DCs aged under 6), and am unlikely to spend £15 on a single bottle of anything either .

Thank you!

I like laughter lines, it shows you've - well laughed

Sorry not much help, just didn't want to leave you unanswered. Like you I don't have a scooby about makeup!

As far as skin care goes, drinking lots of water is very good for your skin. Plus moisturising is a good idea. Persoanlly I prefer natural stuff like cocoa butter or Neal's Yard stuff. Someone here recommended baby's bottom cream / butter for your face! I haven't tried it but it sounds like a good idea to me

The traditional remedy for skin is Calendula - better know as marigold. It's great for your skin and had been used for centuries for its healing properties. You can buy it as calendula in all sorts of potions and lotions - such as [[http://www.baldwins.co.uk/perl/go.pl/shop/adv-search-results.html these

I remember a workmate of mine had no wrinkles and looked 10 years younger than she was. She used aloe vera everyday on her skin and swore by it.

Sorry perhaps a bit more hippy than what you were after

I'm 35 and until a couple of years ago had no skincare routine and wore no make up. Now I wear it every day and love it.

Youtube taught me everything I know. There are thousands of make up reviews and turorial video's.

Some good ones are from pixiwoo, pixi2woo, gemsmaquillage and camiloveskiwi, panacea81.

Aha, youtube . Why didn't I think of that? Thanks for the suggestions.

I just this minute started trying the oil cleansing method, there are some threads on MN. It is inexpensive anyway, I've always used moisturiser or my skin flakes off. Oil of Ulay doesn't give me a rash but the thicker stuff I need as as I get older, seems to come with a thick price tag too! This I follow with an undereye dark circle cover (Boots) and some light powder dusted over-that's it. It's pretty invisible but I do look a bit less deathly IMO.

If you want a simple, natural make up I really recommend Bare Escentuals. I use their BareMinerals foundation and swear by it.

Many Debenhams' have concession stands in them these days. You can find out where to buy their products here

As a rough guide as to where to start, I wear on a daily basis, a light foundation or tinted moisturiser ( which one you choose depends hugely on your skin type ), blusher, lip gloss or a natural lipstick and a bit of eyeliner (liquid on top line, dark eyeshadow applied with a flat brush on the lower line ) Most people swear that mascara is important, but I have black eyelashes, so never bother. That's it, it takes five minutes, and I think it's worth it, because if I go without now, people ask me if I'm ill.

to be honest, if you've never bothered doing anything I would start by getting a cleanser and using it twice a day. If you don't like the creamy ones, get a foam one that you can use morning and evening. It takes 10 seconds to do that and 5 seconds to moisturize. You don't need to go for an expensive cleanser, unless you were planning to start using very heavy make-up, which I doubt.

Go for a man behind a make up counter if you can find one.

I made the transition when I was about to graduate from uni. Actually I lie - I made the transition from heavy black eyeliner and powder to light, natural looking make up which is easily made heavier for evening wear...It's just a case of getting into a routine.

I'd advise investing in your foundation and, if like me you have long, fine, fair lashes, a good mascara. Lip stuff you can get fairly cheap (won't last long but that's the sacrifice you make), ditto eyeshadows (a trio of neutra browns is a good place to start) and blusher (probably an inoffensive rosy colour but that depends on your skintone).

It's worth having your make up done a couple of times, getting foundation testers and buying the one you like, then picking up cheaper versions of the colours they use on you. Don't go super-cheapo though - think the No7 price bracket.

For faff-free cleansing, just use make-up remover wipes.

I would start just using mascara everyday to practise - once you hit 30 you start to blur a bit, can't rely on youthful definition.

Cheap basics that suit everyone:

Rimmel brown eyeshadow trio 'Orion' £6.99ish Tesco. Includes applicator and has light, medium and dark shades - everything you need.

Max Factor mascara in the pink and green tube, £6.99ish in Tesco again. Go for brown if you can, rather than black.

I got a lady in Bodyshop to find me the right foundation as they have a natural light bulb make up area, I got a free mini makeover in the process. Theirs is the only foundation that doesn't dry me out like a prune in 5mins.

A good foundation is Myface, which you can get in Boots. It's light, but I found the colours to be a very good match. Blusher makes a huge difference, but I would buy a blusher brush, not use the one in the pot. Body Shop do good value brushes. Apart from blusher, I'd go for mascara for definition. New Rimmel one, black and yellow tube, is easy to use and brush is very defining not clumpy. A clear or nude cheap lip gloss would do. You don't mention your colouring. I find brown eyeshadow looks awful on me. A light grey with a hint of shimmer helps me look a bit more eveningy. Hope this helps.

If you don't wear any make-up at all, I would just get a clear or nude pink lip gloss and if that seems like too much, get a tinted lip balm - and actually slap it on.

And build up gradually to the rest!