Birthday coming up, would like to invest in some posh make up - need advice!

[Lottapianos]

I will be 35 in 2 months. I feel really good about it. I have been really depressed for my last 2 birthdays and didn't want to do a thing (not like me at all) for them so I'm looking forward to being excited this year.

I have dry/dehydrated skin (under control though), fair/rosy colouring, dark hair, blue/grey eyes. I usually go for a fairly dewy natural look but also enjoy a red or fuchsia lipstick and a bit of black eyeliner sometimes.

I would like to invest in some good quality make up, specifically foundation, concealer, maybe bronzer, powder, lipsticks, mascara. I'm happy with my Rimmel/Bourjois type eyeshadows and I'm happy with my Stila cream blushers so that's fine. A liquid/gel eyeliner for a totally cack handed novice would be good too.

Which brand would you recommend? I may go to a department store counter to have my make up done and then buy a couple of products so which would you recommend? I have heard great things about Dior foundations and Bobbi Brown everything, but I want all make up to be wearable in the day, so nothing that gives a mask-like effect.

Budget will be about 150

Thanks all

Bourjois is made by Chanel, in the same factory.

Yes I read that Blue. I love their nail varnishes and eye shadows but was very underwhelmed by the CC cream and Healthy Mix foundation

I love the Bobbi Brown cosmetics, and also Clinique.

Come on make up fans, help me out!

I swear by
Lancôme mascara, hands down the best. I have Hypnose etc, they're all good
Laura Mercier powder/powder foundation
Clinique foundation (but have used it for years so bit sure what 'new' is out there)
Elizabeth Arden concealer. Bizarre, but I love it!

Yeah I'd say definitely go to a make up counter and get your make up done/advice about what will work for your skin type. Especially seeing as you appear to be planning on buying quite a few products.
Bobbi brown are good for a natural type of a look?
Otherwise you could always go to an independent make up artist who would give you advice and a lesson maybe, they also wouldn't be affiliated with one brand?

By all means try Bobbi Brown (I have worn their foundations before and I have the same sort of skin as you), but I find the hard sell annoying. I recently tried the No7 Stay Perfect Superlight with their foundation matching service and I have been very impressed.

Invest in some brushes as well as the make up itself. Body Shop make good brushes at a reasonable price.

I have some Real Techniques brushes that I'm happy with. No7 Superlight might be a good place to start actually as I don't like a heavy coverage and I have heard great things about their foundation matching service.

I have discovered MAC lipsticks. Be warned though, the shops and outlets tend to be either crowded and noisy or strangely ill lit so if you try something on make sure you go outside and check in real light before you commit yourself.

I just tried the Dior Star foundation and my it is beautiful! It gives my beloved Armani a run for its money.

Get the Chanel cream eyeshadows for pure luxury. They're utterly gorgeous.

Best mascara in the world is still Dior Show in my (humble!) opinion.

And if you've got money to burn try a Tom Ford lipstick, just so you have something stunning to put in your evening bag

YSL Touché Éclat foundation is lovely.

The MAC counter is great fun and has lots of choice so I would spend my £150 there to be honest.

I have heard that Tom Ford lipsticks are nice but haven't tried.

I didn't know that about Bourjois thanks Blue!

I think you should start with the basics like a foundation. Get yourself to a make up counter to try some on. I get then to do my whole face and then I go away and look at my face in different lights. It's only after a few hours will I commit to buying.

If you don't wear foundation, you may find it looks strange so maybe try a tinted moisturiser to start. I get the clinique one.

lady am right with you re: the Bobbi Brown gel liner. Wow, what a fantastic product! I've got the ivy green as it suits my eyes (which are brown).

I personally would advise a Space NK where you can try some of my favourite brands - By Terry, Chantecaille , Laura Mercier, Nars. Or otherwise Bobbi Brown counter.

All my make up is from either Bobbi Brown or Space NK. About two thirds is BB, rest is a mix of Laura Mercier, Nars & Becca. Both get mixed reviews on service on here - my local stores are great, though...

There were some good foundation reviews on this morning - around £30 and all women who tried it couldn't fault it

Thanks all. Bobbi Brown gel liner sounds great so will investigate that. Think will go to BB or MAC counter and get them to try some products on me.

My one recommendation would be ysl rouge volupte lipsticks. Love them and have lots, in both the original and shine version. Packaging is either love or hate but the formula is amazing.

Agree with the lancome hypnose mascara.

I've recently switched from Estee Lauder doublewear foundation to boots no 7 stay perfect which is equally good and doesn't look so grey in photos. Colour match seems to be spot on for me.

Currently loving the ysl pure chromatics eye palettes too.

Ps have fun! I updated my make up case a few months back and enjoyed it :)

I also love Mac, their 'Mineralize' foundation is fabulous. I feel like a little kid in a sweet shop at their counter! Their lippys don't drag and do last. I haven't found a liquid liner as good as Maybelines 'master precise' it's like a wet sharpie. My eyeliner has to be Rimmel 'exaggerate' it's a twist up so never needs sharpening and I do get through them...! For 'fun' makeup I love Urban Decay, their colours are amazing and I was given a mascara by my friend (she owns two salons) it's black and called CODE VLM and it's amazing, about £20 but promises to encourage growth. I've used it for a month now and my lashes have definitely grown, especially the bottom ones.

I love Bobbi brown foundation it has natural/light coverage and would agree it has a yellow base which suits my (beige) skin tone. I've tried the liquids and the stick, the stick is better for oilier skin as its a little bit drying. The under eye concealer is also really good and doesn't cake or dry the skin. Don't like no 7 foundation as I find it quite orangey and even with the colour match I had a tide mark! Recently got the ysl shocking mascara and loved it - it really did lift and extend my lashes more than any other mascara I've ever had. Otherwise I've always found that Clinique mascara is very good.

I am addicted to Chanel
The lumiere perfection foundation is wonderful- honestly people often comment on what lovely skin I have - I really haven't it's all down to the foundation.
Also their blusher is gorgeous it smells of roses a pot lasts me about a year with everyday use. It's really perfect.
I think that the Mac lipsticks are the best, if I'm flying out of stanstead I always buy a couple as otherwise their counters are so busy I can't think straight
I am definitely going to try the borjouis after the recommendations above

Bobbi Brown for concealer and foundation, without a doubt - most important products and BB is the only counter who I trust to colour match. And as upthread, their gel liners are excellent.

Where do you live? Just wondering which stores you have access to, as I want to recommend some brands which I think are only in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols...