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Style and beauty

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Original poster

I don't look after my skin or wear make up, but want to. Help!

43 replies

ElfandSafety · 28/12/2011 19:43

Honestly I don't take care of myself at all but at my request dh got me some John Lewis vouchers for xmas.
So, I have £100 plus could throw in extra.
I really don't know what to buy though.
I have dryish skin I think my skin must be crying out for some moisturiser. I am in my late 30's.
Could anyone tell me please what normal people do in terms of skin care/makeup?
tia

OP posts:

posey · 28/12/2011 19:49

I think i would head to the Clarins counter with my voucher and get their advice. Have fun

snowmummy · 28/12/2011 20:08

I'd go to Bobby Brown. With £100 you could get some lovely cleanser and moisturiser.

champagnevanity · 28/12/2011 21:27

Bobbi brown make up is excellent,
i think some counters will do a make-up lesson, some will give you a quick demo on how to apply it,

I'd recommend going to clinique and getting your face matched to a foundation, theirs is amazing and a bottle of that lasts me a year, and thats putting it on almost everyday!
Their skincare is amazing but a bit pricey.

I think John Lewis do the Liz earle stuff, i would really recomend picking up a cleanse and polish, its around £12.00 its fab, and everybody raves about it.

I'd be interested to know what you get, so please let me know!

Fluffycloudland77 · 28/12/2011 21:37

Liz earle is very good, no faffing and not harsh.

You have to try samples first, ask for a small sample enough for a week so you can see what suits you. Eg clarins does nothing for me but my aunt raves about it.

Stops you making an expensive mistake, like me with mineral make up, apparently nickel allergies react with it.

humblehippo · 28/12/2011 22:18

Skincare wise I love Clinique, although personally I can only speak for their oily skin products rather than those for dry skin. You would need type 1 or 2. If you want to try the 3 step routine before getting massive sized products, get the starter set which is about £20 for smaller versions (IME the small cleanser and moisturiser should last about 6 weeks of normal twice a day usage, the exfoliating lotion will last at least twice as long)

I am interested to try out Liz Earle since so many rave about it but then again I am v happy with Clinique so don't really want to change!

Original poster

ElfandSafety · 28/12/2011 22:19

Thank you :)
I might pop into town tomorrow,clinique is hypo-allergenic I think, probably best off with that.
Will they show me how to apply the make up
Realistically would what would I be able to buy with £100?

OP posts:

2wwmadness · 28/12/2011 22:22

Another vote for Clarins. They are the number one skin care house in Europe. Bobby brown for make up is fab! I would go to each counter. Be honest and try samples of it all and get what you like. This time of year is quiet so they will be happy to help. A woes of warning for Clinique though, it's very alcohol-y not very natural. Works, but in th long run I've seen some damage done by it

2wwmadness · 28/12/2011 22:24

Most are hypo-allergenic. Ask. Clinique is very well marketed. Not necessarily the best. Really strong.

mamalovesmojitos · 28/12/2011 22:28

I find clinique is overrated & harsh on my skin. I'm a fan of dermalogica. Unfortunately I suppose it comes to trial & error. Ask for samples. With regards to cosmetics I agree that Bobbi Brown is a great place to start .

Original poster

ElfandSafety · 28/12/2011 22:44

OK, so Bobbi Brown for make up, is that hideously expensive?
Look at Clarins/Clinique/Liz Earle for soap, moisturiser and whatever else people use.
God, i'm going to look such a div, really am clueless at this.
Thanks again everyone for your help :)

OP posts:

2wwmadness · 28/12/2011 23:00

Work in cosmetics. Honestly, you won't look like a div. I get so many people asking daily! Get samples and try try try. This time of year we all do the value packs. You could get the lot for bout £130 or less depending on your needs. It will last ages as well!

DonaAna · 29/12/2011 08:36

I'm allergic to Clinique (and Dior and Maybelline and a few others). Their hypoallergenic claims are a marketing trick. Chanel, Bourjois, Max Factor and Almay don't irritate my skin and eyes. So just ask for samples and try, try, try - then you'll find out what works for you.

ameliagrey · 29/12/2011 09:01

Clarins is not good IMO.

If you want the lowdown, read www.beautypedia.com someone posted the link here and it really opened my eyes.

Too much perfume, too many products and too £££s.

I use cheapish cleansers- L'oreal for example- but decent moisturisers from Clinique- I love Youth Surge, Super defence and their anti oxidant night creams ( green tube.) I also like Clinique foundation, but Clarins make up ( not skin care) is nice too.

Don't buy toner- waste of money- just use warm water and cotton wool to get rid of excess cleanser.

You need a cleanser, day cream with SPF, foundation and possibly a night cream.

champagnevanity · 29/12/2011 10:03

Everybody raves about chanel foundations, ive never tried one, but i hear they are amazing.

I think they'll give you a sample, if you ask!

Good luck!

DonaAna · 29/12/2011 10:12

Some Chanel foundations may be amazing, but the new Perfection Lumiere is really mediocre. I had high hopes for it and got a free 5-day sample from the counter. Too orange or yellow, rubs off, looks grainy on my face, accentuates flakes and pores, lasts only 6-8 hours, not a full day. Yet perversely hard to remove, like paint! On me, it looks worse than a drugstore foundation! So definitely get samples before committing to buy.

Bunbaker · 29/12/2011 10:13

All good advice here, but expensive IMO. Unless you have very sensitive skin you don't need to spend £££ on skin care. At the very least you need to buy some moisturiser with SPF15 minimum to protect your skin.

I have even tempered skin and have used Bodyshop vitamin E, l'Oreal, Boots no 7, Vie, Olay plus numerous other makes and have good skin. I also look younger than my years.

It is a good idea to go to make up counters and ask for advice and get as many free samples as you can before buying.

I agree that toner is a waste of money. Also you don't need expensive cleanser as it doesn't stay on your skin. If you want to splash out spend it on moisturiser. I don't like foundation because, at my age, it doesn't flatter so I wear tinted moisturiser instead. That is an option you might want to consider.

Ifancyashandy · 29/12/2011 10:14

Agree with the poster who said don't spend money on cleanser but do invest in moisturiser and serums. Liz Earl cleanser is lovely and not pricey.

I don't like Clinique or Clarins - too perfumed - and would go for Elemis, Decleor or Dermalogica for moisturisers and serums. Or Estee Lauder for their Advanced Night Repair serum. All pricey but worth it.

Bobbi Brown, Armani, Laura Mercier (esp for tinted moisturiser) for make up. They will all give lessons.

Hate to say it but you'll need to add ££ to £100 if you're doing cleanser, moisturiser, serum and make up.

Bunbaker · 29/12/2011 10:26

"Hate to say it but you'll need to add ££ to £100 if you're doing cleanser, moisturiser, serum and make up."

I don't agree. You have only listed expensive brands. I realise that what suits you is dependent on your skin type, but it doesn't have to be that expensive.

LoveInASnowyClimate · 29/12/2011 10:36

Liz Earle for skincare, Bare Minerals for make up. You can't go wrong.

bbface · 29/12/2011 10:41

Very expensive but absolutely phenomenal. Genuinely revolutionised my skin in 5 days..... creme de la mer moisteriser and eye cream.

Eye wateringly expensive but sensational. Also, if you are careful with it - it lasts for ages.

ameliagrey · 29/12/2011 11:02

DonaAna

That's not quite true- your comments about Clinique - they could not make advertising claims that were really misleading( especially in the US) if it was rubbish.

I read somewhere that they test each product on 600 women ten times and if there is one reaction, they reformulate.

I used to have severe eczema on my face and the only products I could use without it becoming worse, were Clinqiue.

Having said that, I am now very happy with L'Oreal Age Perfect cleanser for £4, and prefer to spend my ££s on products that have good UVA/UVB sunblock.

OP there is no correlation between price and quality and effectiveness- what counts is what suits your skin. There's no magic bullet and the best you can do is have a healthy diet, lifestyle, block the sun all year round, and use some make up that brings out your best features!

LoveInASnowyClimate · 29/12/2011 11:08

Clinique strips my skin dry and doesn't work for me at all, but friends swear by it. Liz Earle cleanser is fab. And Boots No 7 serum and moisturiser is great for the price.

Bunbaker · 29/12/2011 11:13

"OP there is no correlation between price and quality and effectiveness- what counts is what suits your skin. There's no magic bullet and the best you can do is have a healthy diet, lifestyle, block the sun all year round, and use some make up that brings out your best features!"

ameliagrey I agree.

Lovein Where is the best place to buy Liz Earle? Do I have to buy it online?

Can I use any cleanser with a hot flannel instead?

hermioneweasley · 29/12/2011 11:17

I have oily/ combo skin and I'm in my mid 30s. I use oil cleansing method (google it) which costs about £5 a year and mineral make up, but I know a few people with dry skin didn't like minerals.

ameliagrey · 29/12/2011 11:18

Can I use any cleanser with a hot flannel instead?

Yes

I don't rate LE at all sorry. I have a sample of her cleanser and find it a) smells odd and b) is so thick that it pulls your face to remove it.

The idea of the cloth is that is rubs away dead skin cells- so any old cleanser is fine. it's only on your skin for 30 seconds so how can it make any difference if it costs £50 or £1? Unless it's causing irritation, then it's fine.

TBRH- it's what you put in your mouth that makes your skin what it is- cut out sugar ( terrible for skin) , caffeine, alcohol ( in moderation) and eat loads of omega 3 and you'll look fab!

And use sun block every day- I have for over 20 years and the asst on the Clinique counter thought I was at least 10 years younger.

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