Make up basics?

[ThePorpoiseOfStupidity]

Can anyone give me some pointers please with make up, as I have no real clue. I wear mascara but need some tips on make up essentials and any recommendations that are not too expensive as I don't have a big budget. Thanks!

What kind of skin do you have? Are you pale, tanned, rosy of cheek etc? I found the best thing was to go to a big dept store and get the orange ladies to try out their products and see what suits. I find for every day a tinted moisturiser is enough and use Nars, if I want more coverage I use a foundation by Clinique currently. I don't usually have these pricier products but they're left over from make up I bought fod my wedding. Previously or normally I used No 7 products which I think are good. If you can give us more info we could be more specific with suggestions.

I have pale skin, I put moisturiser on in the morning but think I look a bit shiney after iykwim? Could I use a tinted moisturiser or would a foundation be a better option?

Brilliant concealer. Use it around your nose and chin to conceal redness, and on any other marks. Don't have a budget recc but if you can stretch to NARS radiant creamy stuff it is the best concealer ever. About £20 though.

Blush is essential (Bourjois little round pots are great), something without sparkle that gives you a natural flush. Soft eye pencil - Topshop ones are great for bout 4 quid. They do an amazing metallic brown called Saddle. Kate Moss for Rimmel lippies great, as or Topshop ones. Loads of budget mascaras are good - Maybelline, Max Factor. I like dark brown, black is harsh on many faces. Though Clinique naturally lossy is my all time fave, lw key but makes a real difference, no clumps!

Boots botanics bb cream in medium-itsvamazing, try instead of tinted moisturiser. Max factor 2000 calorie mascara is good. Try stuff in boots then order for cheaper from eBay :)

NYX is a range of make up that is cheap in price but excellent quality. Not to be confused with the cheap NYC range you see in supermarkets which is a budget quality.

www.nyxcosmetics.co.uk/

If you have pale skin then I love Bobbi Brown counters. And they never look tangoed which helps

I went in and asked about stuff(!), and I came out with BB Cream (fabulous) for daily wear and foundation for posh events. They also did eyeliner and mascara for me so I had a clue what I was doing; I didn't buy their eye make up products then (a bit expensive for me based on me not being entirely sure of what I was going for as a look) but am considering going back for more.

SundaySimmons I didn't know NYX sold in the UK now! I'm going to stock up on jumbo eye pencils! (Is there anything else you would recommend from them?)

Thanks everyone. So...concealer, blush, eye pencil, mascara, lipstick. What does bb cream do? Is it used instead of foundation?

I sometimes use gloss instead of a lipstick? Or sometimes just some Nivea. I want to look better as tbh I look in the mirror and think I look like a wreck. I kinda want to achieve a natural look though if its possible?

This is a great time for you to mooch about some make-up counters and find out what works for you.

I'm recently converted to mineral powder for a foundation - you can get fairly light coverage ones, and they've cheered my skin up loads. They also really seem to last all day - which is something I really appreciate. I also like a brightening, plain eyeshadow, mascara and a bit of blusher in the morning.

Some things are worth spending more on.

For me personally-

I don't wear alot of make-up but I have Laura Geller Brush&Brighten (baked pressed powder) and Bare Minerals loose

A Laura Geller blush that I love .

Mascara - Mally

I don't wear lipstick so for me there's no point spending loads (I look like a Drag Queen in lipstick) for something I'm not going to wear. I recently bought a Autograph (M&S) chubby stick pencil lipstick which is nice

Barry M pencils - lovely , soft, good deep intesnity

And EYEBROWS. Don't forget your eyebrows

Ah eyebrow maintenance is one thing I definitely do. It's just everything else I have no clue with!

Elf might be good to have a cheap play with colours? The stuff isn't too bad.

My essentials are foundation, under eye concealer (benefit erase paste is amazing), mascara, blush and eyebrow pencil.
The rest i can do without.

Get the Boots No7 counter staff to find your foundation colour match with the hand held gadget they use. There are lots of different textures of foundation in the range from full cover to light, including a good compact one. There's an offer on at the moment too(isn't there always?) buy one get another half price across most of the brands in Boots. Plus you get a £5 voucher off next No7 purchase.
Other than foundation my essentials would be blusher, mascara, eyeshadow, eye liner & lipstick or gloss.

Make sure you use a high SPF base. Check out MAC primers as a foundation base under make up. Also check out Benefit primer. Works wonders. Smooths the skin, fills in wrinkles and I swear it takes 5 years off me. I'm 38 and have NO wrinkles around the eyes (I'm oriental) as we in Asia believe a high SPF reduces delays wrinkles. These are a master makeup artist tricks!

Another great one, is Chanel illuminate powder. Its expensive. Its a very fine powder you put over your cheekbones and strategic places like on your temples. It adds a very light sheer Illuminosity and takes years off you. Its amazing stuff. Really subtle but makes your skin look healthy glow.

Lastly, ivd discovered a brilliant product; Green People anti-aging oil. Smells heavenly and has key ingredients like rosehip oil and omega 3&6. Just a few drops on face and neck before i sleep. To keeprepair my skin from the day and keep it looking plump. I've combination skin so I was afraid of spots but no breakouts at all. Ill give this Product another 6weeks and let you know if I see any improvement!

OP, forgive me, what are your eyebrows like? And your hair? I think a polished natural look is almost more about grooming - hair and skin - than makeup.

My eyebrows are flat shaped (ish) but I do try to keep them maintained fairly regularly. My hair is another issue though, it's quite thick and fairly wavy and is prone to frizz. It's fairly long at the moment and I tend to wear it up.

I'm really selling myself aren't I

Use a defriz spray!! There are loads on the market, try John Frieda brand.

I have thick hair too. I've found Kerastase products life changing - Oleo Relax serum into wet hair (smells divine) or aqua seal cream. Or both. If your hair is really heavy you can use on wet hair fromthe midlengths then a bit more on dry ends. You can get them cheaper online than salons, you might pay £15 but a bottle will last 6m to a year.