I need make up advice. Please help me.

[bagelmonkey]

I've never been into make up. I experimented briefly as a teenager, but never really got the hang of it. Someone else did my make up for me when I got married & I don't own any.
I'm pretty happy without make up most of the time, but I'm starting to become more aware of my slightly blotchy red cheeks & I was hoping for some suggestions for an easy to apply foundation/cover-up type thing to make my complexion look smoother. The make up equivalent of airbrushing? Does that exist? It must do. Please tell me that everyone else's perfect faces aren't natural.
So, any suggestions? (not too many & not too expensive, or my head will explode) Please don't tell me to go to a make up counter. They're too intimidating & I tried it once & left painted up like a clown.
Thank you.

Of course, impeccable eyebrows are a must.

Ooh, I like this thread. I don't wear a scrap of makeup, but at 1 year off 40, I'm starting to feel like I should. (And occasionally when I wear a spot of lippy everyone says how lovely I look!).

Am very encouraged by those coming to makeup late, bookmarking this thread and will be off to youtube tutorials as well.

Thanks!

Estee Lauder Double wear. Or if you live in London Peter Jones will mix up foundation to suit you coulouring exactly.

I agree that makeup counters in big department stores can be a bit intimidating, especially if you don't know which brand you want to try. If you can get to a SpaceNK shop, they have occasional events with professional make up artists (free, and you book a slot) who use the whole range of lovely (albeit not cheap) brands like Nars and Laura Mercier. What's really nice is that they don't have an agenda, or a single product they're trying to promote, so will take time to talk you through different techniques, colours etc. And there's no hard sell at the end, either.

NEVER wear foundation OR tinted moisturiser without a good bronzer or a pale pink blush on top or you will look dead.

For foundation and a cheap but effective concealer pen, try the Lacura range from Aldi, I used to only use YSL touché eclait concealer pen but gave the Aldi one a go and it is just as good, doesn't last as long but at about 1/8th of the price I didn't mind too much!
The Lacura foundation I really like as well, either that or Maybelline.

question.....how do you stop benetint rubbing off your foundation?

I'm going to go controversial and say avoid foundation, at least for day time. It's too easy to go wrong and end up looking over made up and as if you're wearing a mask.

I think you get a better result using concealer and just apply it where you need it. I use a liquid concealer all over my nose, on parts of my chin and under my eyes and a solid stick concealer on any spots. Luckily one of the best liquid concealers I've found is also one of the cheapest - Boots No. 17.

I'm also a big fan of benetint, it gives a very natural look, and wear mascara every day.

Commandershephard Your bottle of foundation must really have lasted well because prescriptives went bust in 2009! (I was gutted because I loved their stuff).

If you have never worn make up before and would like to start wearing it I would suggest buying a tinted moisteriser, a pinkish blusher, a blusher brush, a black mascara and a lipgloss in any colour that takes your fancy. Apply the tinted moisteriser with your fingers just like using moisteriser, apply the blusher with the brush to the fullest part of your cheeks when you smile (only use a small amount), put on the mascara, put the lipgloss on your lips (again not too much) and your good to go! I have no recomendations of brands, just buy what suits your budget, most make up is good these days even the really cheap stuff.

I bough the cheap nivea one off here (Sali Hughes), expected it to be crap but it works really well. Was £2.50 in Boots on offer. Love it more than my Bobbi Brown one. Don't use if your skin is a bit dry, is rubbish then, and I use Bobbi Brown when skin is dry and flakey. www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2011/feb/12/sali-hughes-tinted-moisturiser