Makeup for the lazy and disinterested

[RubberDuck]

Okay. So I've always had a love/hate relationship with makeup. I like the way it looks but most of the time I can't be arsed.

Only, now I have a job and I'm of an age where really I can't get away with being bare skinned any more. For years, I've used Avon because it's easy to buy (I have a friend who is a rep) and it's been okay. But lately, I feel either I've got to the age where I need better quality makeup OR the quality of Avon has gone massively down hill. I'm not sure which.

I'm thinking of just wandering into town, walking up to a counter in a department store and getting them to do all the thinking for me. I have no idea what looks good on me, I just know that I don't want to have a massive effort every morning and I want to look presentable. I also have sensitive-ish skin in that I don't tolerate overly perfumed products terribly well.

If you were me and didn't want to be taken through a 265-step program of beautification for the five minutes I have every morning to get ready, which counter would you plump for?

I would try Mac. Tell them what you have told us and also explain to them that as you have sensitive skin, you are not buying anything straight away, but will check how your skin is after a few hours. The Mac girls are normally really heavily made up, but they seem happy to do a very understated make up if that's what you want. The one time I was not happy with a foundation purchase (I noticed the colour was not a good match when I got home), they exchanged it no with no hassle at all.

I am so there with you (except I will never wear it every day) but I went to a wedding last year and direly needed new makeup and was really pleased with benefit. They made up half my face first so I could see what difference it made and honestly until they did wedding eyeshadow I just looked like me but better.

Bobbi Brown? If you look on their website it even has their 10 steps to a made up face. I find their eye shadows to be quite light on the pigments which is good for a make-up wuss like me. The one thing that seems to be a bit heavier is the way they use the gel eyeliner, but it's not compulsory to buy the whole look they give you anyway and the make-up artists are always happy to write down what they have used so that you can go away and think about it.

I'm about as lazy and disinterested as you can get and I used these products:

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser
Laura Mericier secret camouflage concealer
Lancôme Hypnose mascara
One of a handful of lipsticks

That is it, takes 5 mIns.

I would go and see a few counters. I like combinations of stuff from various counters - Clinique for foundation, benefit for blusher, Chanel for mascara.

Personally I would go and see what a few counters say. Don't be frightened to ask for testers, especially of foundation. I never buy a new foundation without taking samples home as shop lighting is not favourable.

Get your face done and leave. Go outside and have a look at yourself a few times. Yu will obviously need a mirror! Take some wipes. Wipe off and try another counter

Hmm I'm not sure going to a makeup counter is a good strategy. Odds are, at home, you won't be able to duplicate their technique and won't want to put the same amount of time into it, so it won't give you a realistic idea of the products/effects.

I'm also a bit older with sensitive skin and don't like to spend a lot of time with makeup -- this would be my advice:

1. Make sure first and foremost you have a good skin care regimen -- gentle cleansers and a good moisturiser. Maybe an eye cream. This will make an enormous difference. I use Avene products, which are made for really sensitive skin, but there are lots of threads on here with suggestions. Try to get something not only scent-free but paraben-free.

1. The one thing it would be good to see the make up counters for is foundation/tinted moisturiser options. I use the latter as I find foundation just doesn't look as good anymore.

1. Mascara.

1. Lipstick/lip balm.

I think for most people, this is really enough to look professional and presentable, but will only take a few minutes.

Obviously you can do a lot more if you want, but if you just want the bare minimum, I think this is fine.

OP would agree with dreaming, above.

I do love make up but I have a job which can get hideously stressful not now which is why I'm on here.

For those days:

1. tinted moisturiser (Boots No 7 for me)

1. mascara (Benefit or Too-Faced)

1. lip balm (Burt's Bees) with quick slick of lipstick (Lancome)

Something that makes a lot of difference to me too is using Benefit Watts Up illuminator: you literally just dab on cheekbones/ nose/ wherever the light would normally catch you. That'd be my no. 4 step!

This takes approx 3.5 minutes. It is easily enough to look professionally presentable unless you are a stripper or tv presenter :)

I really like the Boots No 7 tinted moisturiser too -- I think it gives very good coverage.

I got estee lauder double wear cos it lasts all day and maybelline 24 hour lippy combined with soap and glory cheek tint I am sorted as once its on I don't do a thing all day until I get home and grease it all off again. result

Bb cream, mascara, Benefit PosyTint on lips and cheeks, done. 2 minutes flat.

I second the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser recommendation above, can put it on without even looking in a mirror.

Wow, thanks everyone! Lots of great advice here.

What's the coverage like with tinted moisturiser. Thanks to a heady mix of allergies and not enough sleep, I normally have really dark rings under my eyes which need hiding and can have the occasional zit too (doesn't everyone?!) Obv I'll need a decent concealer, but then aren't you supposed to use "proper" foundation over the top?

Also, if you do use a proper foundation do you have to use a powder to set it, I always end up looking a bit dry and flakey then (although suspect that's down to poor quality makeup rather than anything else)

Disclaimer: is a complete ignoramus with this stuff.

You mean uninterested.

I'd spend on foundation. Choose carefully acc to skin type.
Cream blush.
Bronzer then mascara

BUT get your eyebrows shaped and tinted professionally every 5 weeks. Makes such a difference.

I don't use powder or concealer. You can add too much IMO.
What skin type are you. ?

I never use powder, it makes my skin look too flaky.

I think the coverage with tinted moisturiser is good for general redness, blotchiness, just evening out your skin. It's a good idea to get a specific concealer for under eye circles.

You don't necessarily have to put foundation over concealer, just make sure everything is well blended.

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser is brlliant. It covers well without the heavy foundatio feeling. I use bobbi browns concealer when I've had a late night night. Benefit posy tint is good for lips and cheeks. Bit of eye pecil and mascara and you're ready to go.

OP the illuminator I mentioned might help with dark circles. Or a quick dab of concealer under eyes - a gym bunny mate who works on the Clinique counter swears by theirs.

Would second the reccy to get eyebrows done. Takes ten minutes, costs me £8, and makes a massive difference.

lol @ foundatio

Sorry to be utterly ignorant, but do places like Boots have Laura Mercier, or do you need to get it from a bigger store? And Bobbi Brown?

Oh also, I use tinted moisturiser instead of foundation, but then I have a compact of translucent pressed powder in my bag and if I'm getting oily towards the end of the day then I just dab some on. Adds no time to morning routine.

I get my Laura Mercier from Space NK. John Lewis do it too, and House of Fraser I think.

Have you considered asking at a beauty salon about having a facial and then investing in a good daily serum? If you have a rejuvenating facial and your eyebrows threaded, that groundwork might allow you to stick with tinted moisturiser.

Bb cream is fab, its primer, illuminator and light foundation in one. I use garnier one which means i don't need concealer too (and I have under eye shadows too) .

Then blusher, eyebrow pencil and mascara.

Good to go.