I rarely wear make up these days but I definitely should - advise me please.

[leftmymistletoeatthedoor]

Where should I start9

Also, am skint to cheap but good reccommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Excuse typos - should also wear glasses evidently!

Well, we probably need a few more details to give you good recommendations!

What kind of skin do you have, dry, oily, combination? What sort of skintone?

What are you wanting makeup for - are there any specific issues or things you want to fix e.g. dark eye circles, are you looking for general natural makeup for every day or something more glam? Any products or brands you usually like?

To start - a great budget recommendation - get Cosmopolitan magazine (the April edition, should be out tomorrow) and each one has 2 Clinique freebies in it, either a mascara and moisturiser (a really nice one) or a lipgloss and a face scrub. Not bad for £3.50! :)

Yes, what are you trying to achieve? Or do you just want to experiment and have fun (casts mind back to 1985 and some yellow eye shadow...)

Rimmel foundations are excellent, as are bourgois... the new rimmel wake up foundation with the orange lid is better than lots of high-end brands I've tried (and, ahem, I've tried a few!)

If you're feeling a bit 'blurgh' then the number one thing I would recommend would be a cream blusher in a healthy pink - bobbi brown is fab but the max factor one (about £5) would work just as well and is perfect for when I have that appealing corpse like thing happening...

Ok thanks for the reccommendations.

I have very fair skin and very dark hair. Very light bluey/greeny eyes.

Lots of dark circles and rosy cheeks but not in a good way. Oiley skin everywhere apart from around my eyes which is usually dry.

Just want a nice 'fresh' look and a 'glam' look for special occasions.

Ok thanks for the reccommendations.

I have very fair skin and very dark hair. Very light bluey/greeny eyes.

Lots of dark circles and rosy cheeks but not in a good way. Oiley skin everywhere apart from around my eyes which is usually dry.

Just want a nice 'fresh' look and a 'glam' look for special occasions.

This is what I wear everyday. I have medium toned skin, green/grey eyes, freckles, dry/normal skin and brown/blond highlighted hair.

No7 light diffusion under eye concealer
Collection 2000 foundation--only around my nose, and on my chin
No7 pressed powder--a very light dusting on nose, chin and eyes
No7 bronzer- a light dusting on cheeks and down nose
Topshop Cheek tint in bitten berry--on cheeks
1st curl eyelashs then Maybeline Mascara
Lancome juicy tube in Rose or Vanialla

I have been told I look unmade up but very fresh faced.
Good hair cut and accessories help me feel "put together"

Maybeline mascara is cheap and is great!
Topshop make up is also cheap and I really like it.
No7 is good and not too expensive if you wait for the 3for2 and use the £5 off vouchers at the same time!

Your colouring and skin sound like mine. I'm 37, with dark hair, blue eyes and oily skin ( but getting dry and wrinkly too in places ).

I've only been wearing make up for the past two or three years, gradually adding more as I get more confident with it.

I'll try and stick with budget recommendations if you're skint :)

A primer makes the world of difference, especially if you have oily skin. Can't really recommend a budget one I'm afraid. I love MAC spf 50 prep and prime. It keeps the shine at bay and my make up on my face all day.

Foundations, there's a lot of decent high street ones. For oily skin the revlon colourstay is good, or the Rimmel 25 hour one. My favourite is the Bourjois foundations though. Healthy Mix or 10 sleep effect for a lighter finish.

Blusher makes a huge difference. For your colouring, I recommend Benefit Dandelion or budget version Natural Collection Pink Cloud. Superdrug MUA do a nice pale pink one for a pound too.

I wear Bourjois mascara, and I like high street lipsticks. I like No.17 in Beehive, which is natural, or the Collection 2000 cream puff lip creams. Natural Collection do some lovely lipsticks. I have a nice every day one called rose bud or something like that.

I also fill in my eyebrows and line the outer third of my lower lash line with any old brown eyeshadow and a flat angled brush. Natural Collection do one called truffle I think. Or I have a nice GOSH eyebrow kit from Superdrug which is brilliant and does the same job.

All takes five minutes, makes me look ten times better.

Thanks all. I'm 30 if that makes any difference.

Have never used a primer.

Any tips on how to hide my horrible rosy cheeks?

If you wear a foundation, that will even out your skin tone.
Also L'Oreal does some colour correctors that do the same thing.This is the one for correcting too much redness.

Thanks

Ok...got some clinique mascara and a rimmel eyeliner as well as a cheap and cheerful eye primer. Need to get my skintone sorted though.

Also, any suggestions on what eye make up would look best?

Second the recommendation for Rimmel 25hr foundation. Nice dewy finish and lasts well on my oily complexion.

Bourjois eyeshadow is great, Beige Rose is a irridescent cream colour that gives a sort of "lit from within" effect, nice and polished. Easy to apply and lasts well

Also recommend Bourjois Blush, great colours and nicely pigmented so they dont disappear within an hour

You should blag a sample of tinted moisturiser from the scary ladies. You might find that if you wear it, you can forgo blusher. Some of the red will show through and with the right level of tint, it will work out just right.

Thanks for the tips but I can't talk to the scary ladies I will turn into dust if I so much as glance in their direction