Have never worn make-up! Help!

[JamJarOfDaffs]

I have never worn make-up except lipstick and at nearly 40 want to give it a try as I do look worn out.

I just do not know where to start.

Which products? Which colours/shades? How to do it?

I missed this stage of development as a teen I was being badly abused then and its taken 20 years for me to be able to look myself in the mirror I guess (sad but true).

I am gay and don't want to go for too girly a look but feel sure my skin looks could be improved with make-up.

Any tips would be great

I love bare minerals and find it really easy to use, I would go to a store like Debenhams and let the ladies show you what to do, it's easy honest.

Go to Lisa Eldridge's website and watch some videos. She has some good tutorials for beginners and ideas for 'everyday' looks. Sali Hughes on the Guardian also has loads of great video tutorials.

Great ideas, thanks.

Think I would be too self-conscious to go into Debenhams but the online videos could get me started. Thanks.

What's your colouring, skin and hair?

Average brown hair.

Skin quite pale but tans quickly to olive in summer.

Wayne goss is fabulous. He's on YouTube. Lisa e is great too.

Ooh yes Lisa Eldridge videos good!

I would agree, watch a few of Lisa's videos. Then I would buy a cheap blusher and a brown eyeshadow set (they generally have a light, medium and dark shade) and some cheap brushes and just have a play. Once you've played about a bit and feel a bit more confident then you need to get colour matched for a foundation.

If you really can't face getting colour matched then go into boots with a cotton bud and a mirror and try a few testers out on your jawline. The right colour is the one you can't see.

Sounds like a good idea, I am not really sure what blusher is yet though!

Go for some undereye concealer. Nothing girly about that. It's easy to brush on to any dark circles and will make you look less tired, but not all dolled up.

There's a Lisa E video about makeup for 40ish faces, which was great for me. I now understand about how best to use eyeshadow (eg blended along the crease line) to give the illusion of younger, less tired eyes.

My basics are primer, concealer, brows (v pale otherwise), blusher, and an eyelash tint (reducing the need for mascara faff)

I'm not mad in make up either, I can do it for high days and holidays, but don't usually bother.

But the thing I do find essential is moisturiser and let it soak in first.

I often only bother with powder, but wether just powder or foundation then powder. It goes on much more evenly after moisturiser.

You could try some BB cream which is basically tinted moisturiser and really easy to apply. Also I find I always look far better with a bit of mascara on as I have blonde eyelashes so look a bit washed out without it. I'm too lazy to slap on lots of make up every day but those two items do make a difference for minimal effort.

I think a simple and effective tip is that for most skin tones pink blusher looks nicer than bronze. I made this mistake for years as I have a Mediterranean sort of look. Pink really lifts your complexion and gives you a lovely healthy flush.

I agree curious. I have olive skin and brown hair and used bronzer for years as blusher. Now that Ive switched to a dusky pink I look far healthier.

Jamjar blusher is just a little block of pinkish or peachy coloured pressed powder that you sweep over your cheeks to give your face definition and to make your skin look healthy.

Honestly, just buy a cheap set and play about. Its how most of learned (its just that we probably did it at age 15!). Once you've got the hang of it and feel a little bit more confident then personally I'd pop into a larger boots at the clinique counter (bit less daunting than a department store) and ask for some help in choosing a light foundation that will suit your skin and some advice on other products like mascara.

For most people who don't wear makeup mascara will be the one thing they do sometimes use.

try also Pixiwoo on you tube - they do some out there make up looks but also if you look at some of the more basic tutorials it gives you a grounding. Also some of their 'whats in my makeup bag' type videos also talk about products and good they would be good for - I found this invaluable in deciding which type of foundation I wanted to go for (as there are so bloody many out there). Agree with Sali Hughs, and also love amodelrecomends which has some nice, not out there tutorials as well.

Thanks everyone.

I am ridiculously excited to try out these videos, looks, techniques!

Will let you know how I get on but bought some foundation today - did pluck up the courage to get it matched at the counter - as well as the two colours of eyeshadow recommended by Lisa Eldridge for smoky eyes! I do feel about 15 years old

Make up is such fun, one of the great things about being a woman. I hope you enjoy it!

Yes, it really is loads of fun. Embrace it, play & have fun & stick two fingers up your nose & stick your tongue out at anyone who says otherwise!

Good Luck and enjoy . The trick with foundation is to make sure you moisturize really well first (no matter your skin type).

The other tricks are use a foundation brush & blot the waxes & picks away before you powder. I promise this works!

Picks? Nooo! OILS!