I know nothing. Please help me?

[NunoBettencourt]

I wear very little makeup and anything outside my small sample of products I wouldn't have a clue how to apply. As an example: I'm 36 and I have never worn foundation and it (and its ilk) intimidates me slightly.

But I get married next month and whilst I don't want to look like I've plastered it on I would like to cover up the imperfections. And I would like to look a little bit pretty!

I am quite pale, have crap, almost invisible eyelashes and eyebrows, large dark circles under my eyes (thank you DD3 and rhinitis) but fairly good skin. A real catch obviously :o

I think I'm after product recommendations. Whether that be eyebrow pencils (I assume they do still exist?), mascara (so that I look like I have eyelashes but that doesn't deposit itself down half my face after wearing it an hour) or foundation (but don't want to feel like I'm wearing a mask).

I suppose I'll need something like a blusher too otherwise I'll look like a ghost (and with a white dress that's probably not a good look), and something for the lips (I tend to wear lip balm so more gloss than lipstick will feel more familiar I suspect). Anything else - eyeshadow, eyeliner?

Oh, and something for the dark circles! I have tried touche éclat in the past and it was alright but that was all. I'm worried the only hope left for them is to call on the dark circle banishing pixies...

Any tips on how best to apply will probably be needed too. God, how did I get to this age with knowing so very little?

I know I should probably go to some makeup counter but I don't know if I could put myself through the experience and with 4 kids finding the time is difficult.

I have a feeling I may be too much of a project but I will be very grateful for any help :o

I would get my eyelashes dyed in a salon. Try and find time to go to some of the big make up departments and ask for advice, it's the only way to try a lot of stuff otherwise you could end up wasting money. SpaceNK are good but their stuff is expensive.

What about getting your make up professionally done for your wedding?

I went to the no 7 counter and made an appointment. I was really impressed and there wasn't a big sell on their products. But it did give me an idea of what to do without patronising me!

I would go to a Bobbi Brown counter. The products are great (although expensive), and they specialise in natural tones which sounds perfect for your upcoming wedding.

The make-up women in department stores may look a bit orange and scary, but IME they're usually really helpful and nice. I especially like the Clarins people - I never feel like they're just pushing products. I think it is worth doing what it takes to park the kids somewhere for an hour or so.

I'd go to the Clinique counter and explain what you need. I'm pale too, and they have a tinted moisturiser which is lovely - looks very natural, like my skin but better, once on. They do a very subtle eyebrow crayon, a mascara called Lash Power which won't budge no matter how much you weep/rub your eyes, and their Chubby sticks for cheeks and lips give a subtle flush of colour. I'm sure they'll have something effective for dark circles too, and they'll give you a mini makeover so you can see how they all look and how they work.

I second the No.7 suggestion. I had the colour match done and am really happy with the foundation shade it picked for me. The woman at the counter was very helpful and suggested a blusher and showed me how to apply it. No hard sell at all.

In fact the woman I dealt with helped me make the most of my points/vouchers because there were offers on so I got a good deal.

Have your eyebrows threaded.
M&s has this magic serum called Nuxe, it is £27, but worth every penny, it closed my pores and made my face really smooth.
Foundation: get some help from a counter. I prefer the ones that are basically moisturising cream with a bit of foundation, I have Olay and Max Factor.
Dark circles can be tackled with a concealer, I use chanticaille and I bought a Bourjois one as an emergency and it's fab.
Mascara: max factor is my favourite, same for blusher. I use Murano shade, it's giving me a subtle glow, quite nice, I have quite high cheekbones, can't have too much on.

If you want eyeliner, Bodyshop one has a nice 'brush', almost like a fine pen, it's great.

Get some perfume too!

If you are not used to full makeup then I wouldn't go overboard as you will just feel alien on your wedding day, suggestions;

Eyebrow thread and tint (say you want to look natural but groomed)
Eyelash tint - this can be brown or black or blue black depending on your coloring.
A good concealer on uneven bits only - try Bobbi brown for excellent colour matching.
Sheer lip colour - try Laura Mercier semi lipsticks.
Blusher - you may well be glowing on the day so not need this.

Ok, so the main thing I am gleaning from this is that I need to suck it up and go to a makeup counter :o

I will try and get babysitting and a friend sorted (I'm assuming this isn't the sort of thing a 28 and 11 month old will sit still for?!). Any ideas of just how long it will take? And do they make you feel obligated to buy their products or are they quite laid back about? I'm shit at saying no (probably how I've ended up planning a wedding ;) ).

There's been a good few suggestions about where to go. Who is the best on a not fantastic budget? Or if there are one or two items that it's best not to budget on what are they and where best to go for them?

Sorry that's a whole lot of questions again.

Agree I need to go light as I'm not used to wearing much.

And WildBill that did make me chuckle about glowing enough to not need blusher. I am Jack Skellington though :o

Perfume too Kia? I hadn't even thought of that! I'd need a whole other thread for that. I don't even have a sense of bloody smell!