Make up for someone who doesn't like make up?

[Badders123]

I am 43 next month.
My skin is ok - I use Liz Earle skin care.
I need to wear make up for work...ATM I using up my old stuff which is virgin vie powder foundation (which I love) and blusher and mascara.
I tend to just put Vaseline on my lips
I would like similar - I don't have the time or patience to apply loads of products - but I think I would like some new eyeshadow and lip gloss (not lipstick)
Any (not expensive) recommendations?
Thanks!

Have you tried bb or cc creams recently? Eg in the last 8 years.. Sort of a cross between foundation and tinted moisturiser, but much better than it sounds - evens the skin tone out and makes everything look a bit more groomed. Maybe go in to a chemist and try a few?

I don't really do makeup.

I use No 7 intelligent foundation or their tinted moisturiser, a mac dark brown matt eyeshadow - use it like an eyeliner, it is just softer and you can smudge it in/wipe as much as you like off .

I really like No 7 Sheer Temptation lipstick in caramel kiss - like a lip gloss but not sticky/stays on a bit longer.

Bit of mascara.

I used to use Clinique and Mac products exclusively but am lazy and can buy No 7 stuff locally - seems fine stuff to me.

Hmm....bb cream?
I like the idea of a tinted moisturiser...are they very greasy though?
I need to go shopping next pay day!
I might try boots first and go from there.
Thanks!

The body shop bb cream is amazing, pop in and they'll show you it - it comes in 3 options but then changes to the exact shade of you skin, very much like a light tinted moisturiser I love it. I have oily skin and it's not greasy at all.

What does Bb stand for?

OP - wondering why you suddenly want to wear make up? Is it because everyone else at work does?

if that's it, and you just want to look like you've done something, maybe just use an eye liner and a lip gloss. Lip glosses are much of a muchness IME. I use L'Oreal infallible eye liner, it's not too pricey, lasts all day and gives the illusion that I am actually awake at work

Beauty Balm I think but no one ever calls them anything but BB, they are labelled with it. There's also CC. (no idea what that one is).

My favourite not much make-up combo is No 7 eyeshadow in Wheatsheaf, a touch of blank eyeliner and a bit of black mascara, with Revlon Lip butter in Pink Truffle, halfway house between lipstick and lipgloss. If I need a bit of skin coverage I use Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, but don't always bother with that.

BB is blemish balm, CC is complexion corrector, if I remember correctly!

I'm 43 too, and like you only just started dabbling with make up. I like the Clinique chubby stick intense (broadest berry), it's pretty sheer and looks like gloss. It's one of the few that doesn't irritate my skin, doesn't last very long though.

BB user here too, I buy any with spf.

Still experimenting with eye make up, bought a Bobbi Brown kajal pencil recently, which looks nice but smears :(

The Bourgois CC cream is pretty good and cheap.

If you are pale of skin, I really recommend the Lily Lolo BB cream. They do a sample sachet for a quid, which is good for enough applications to give you an idea about how it works for you.

why do you need to wear makeup for work? Cabin crew?

Ha! Cabin crew?
No.
Retail.
It states in the work handbook that you must look presentable at all times - and for women this = make up of course
I don't mind wearing a bit - it does make me look better (was up sat night with ds2 then in work for 9.30 Sunday morning) but I don't and won't do the full on faceful of product. I'm not keen on eyeliner as I wear glasses (sorry should have mentioned that!)

The Western BB and CC creams are just tinted moisturisers with a different name.
Tinted moisturisers and BB/CC creams come in different formulations designed for different skin types.

I think I would go for something like that or a sheer/light coverage foundation. I recommend getting samples if buying higher end products as you can see how they wear during the day, feel on the skin and if the colour is right for you.

Then a pressed powder for touch ups if needed.

Mascara and a Clinique Chubby Stick for the lips. The chubby stick is a sheer lipstick - on the lips, it looks like a tinted balm. It comes in different colours and there is a more intense range too. Or something like Mac Patisserie which is a quite glossy lipstick, but neutral in colour.

Blusher makes a massive difference IMO. I would get something that matches the lipstick.

If you then want to get more products later on, you can - I would suggest something like Laura Mercier caviar sticks which are cream eyeshadows. Easy to apply, easy to blend, last forever on the lids.

My minimal routine is stuff on my eyebrows plus Burts Bees lip shimmer. I wear glasses too so I often give eye make a miss as my specs frame my eyes already. I use Bobbie Brown Skin Foundation which is pretty low key although if you're happy with your current foundation, I'd stay with it.

This probably isn't helpful but any employer who says you have to wear make up in order to look presentable is a knob.

I agree :)
thanks for the advice x

does it actually say 'YOU MUST WEAR MAKE UP IF YOU ARE FEMALE'? If it does, you can have them done for sex discrimination although that will obviously lose you the job.

you can be perfectly presentable with or without makeup. In fact makeup often makes women look much older and much worse. Very few look better with it, and if it is obvious it always adds years.

not a fashionable point of view but a perfectly valid option. Wear it if you want, but only if you want. And I'm afraid slap doesn't make anyone look less tired, any more than a big jazzy scarf ever made anyone look thinner.

Not specifically, no, but I am going by what the other women at the workplace do.
It's a customer facing role, one has to be well groomed.
I agree that doesn't necessarily mean make up, but I quite like a bit of blusher. I'm naturally very pale.
I disagree re not making you look less tired. I looked a hell of a lot better with powder under my eyes to hide the dark circles and a bit of blush to hide my pallor!

...and I'm really not talking about a faceful of slap...I'm asking about simple effective ways to use make up for those that don't usually.
Sorry if that offends you.

I'm 43 and only wear make up for weddings or the rare night out.

I have a tinted moisturiser/light foundation from Bourgois that is good. Neutral coloured eyeshadow and a coat of mascara. Then to finish off a lip coloured balm gel thing that I think is from Rimmel. That is as much as I'm comfortable with though sometimes I add some blush as well.

That sounds perfect hiccup girl.
I only work pt so it's not like I would be wearing it everyday.

badders, if it's just about tricking the eye into thinking you are mega groomed, a slick of lip gloss will do it.

I put concealer on because I sleep very badly and I don't feel the need to scare my colleagues, but if you haven't got that problem and don't want to do eyes, a cheap and cheerful lip gloss will be fine. I use a tinted balm - is is carmex or blistex - and it actually has quite a strong pop of colour.