What make up do you use for a natural but groomed enough for work look?

[Jemster]

I've just turned 40 & need to give myself a bit of an overhaul. I've started eating better & I do drink water.

I din't think my make up is doing much for me though & I don't know what I should change.
I currently use Clinique's Perfectly Real Foundation & have done for years. I like it as it is a medium coverage & just the right colour but recently I think it's starting to make my face look a bit chalky & my pores look bigger.

I use tescos concealer under eyes which is ok but it doesn't really cover my dark circles & I look permanently tired! Clinique mascara. I like the idea of lining my top lid but it always ends up a smudgey mess.

Cheeks I use either clinique cream blush or a powder blush, corally colour. I use clinique powder to set
It all.

Lipstick is whatever I have on me, i suit warm colours best.

I have been paying attention more to other women my age & so many of them look fresh skinned with a slightly tanned looking face without looking orange & just nice & groomed.
I want this healthy look but not sure how to achieve it. I can see how less is more as you get older but I do need some make up as otherwise I look knackered & ill!

I'd really appreciate any help or suggestions.

No advice really as i also struggle with many of these issues, you are not alone! Watching with interest - hopefully some wise and knowledgeable people will be along soon.

Thanks hollieberrie nice to know I'm not alone! I've got so much unused make up that just doesn't work for me. I just want a few key things that actually make a difference without looking caked on.

Jemster, I wear Clinique CC cream and I love it. It has a nice glow and coverage without being heavy. A few people have said they didn't know I wore anything on my face, they just thought I had good skin!

I put a wee bit of blusher on (Darphin stuff), Clinique Chubby Stick on lips, mascara, bit of eyebrow pencil - good to go. I don't look like an absolute stunner or anything but it does make the peely-wally old face look a bit more polished!

Thanks AgentCooper, this sounds nice yet simple to do which is what I need.
I think I tried the CC cream but didn't like it as the colour was wrong so it looked too obvious. Does it come in different colours? Also does it stay put all day, do you add any powder?

I don't consider myself to be very well groomed but am 40 too and also feel I now need to put in a bit of an effort, whereas I never really bothered before. I use Laura Mercier tinted foundation and MAC under eye concealer for my v dark under eye circles. It's great, doesn't budge and doesn't crease. Laura Mercier cream eye shadow, very very easy to apply and lasts for ages. L oreal eyeliner on top (or Rimmel, have never noticed an expensive eyeliner to be better than a cheaper one) and Dior over curl (no better mascara) to finish off.

Vanessa i have heard the MAC concealer mentioned before. Does it do a good job of hiding the dark circles & which one is it please as there are a few on their website? I might draw up a shortlist of products to go in somewhere & try before I buy.

With regards to concealer, I absolutely LOVE the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I have searched far and wide for a good concealer that will work for both under eyes and blemishes and will never use anything else now! They have a huge range of colours so ask the assistant to help with a match.

You may want to consider mixing in an illuminating cream with your foundation to give you a bit more of a dewy glow...I like the Body Shop ones.

I had the same issue with my (Estee Lauder) foundation not looking good as my skin had changed. Trial and error led me to Boots Instant Radiance. No more flaky bits and settling on my skin. Just the right amount of coverage. Cheaper too.

Hi Jem, my Mac concealer is: pro longwear. I love it! And bloody need it too these days... My other top tip would be Dr Jart premium BB cream, it's so soft and silky but alas only comes in one colour (last I checked) which is too dark for my skin. Happy shopping!

I second the NARS creamy concealer. It's brill. I'm late to the party with this but I bought NARS Orgasm blusher yesterday and am smitten - it's a beautiful peachy coral with a sort of gold sheen to it. Really flattering and not horribly sparkly. I also bought the new Bobbi Brown Eye Opening mascara which is amazing and makes me look like I'm wearing false lashes, although I don't think the fat-ish wand will suit everyone. But it means I don't have to bother with eyeliner on the top lid any more as the mascara is dramatic enough on its own.

I wear Lilylolo mineral foundation. Good range of colours and no faffing with blending liquid foundation. I just swirl the brush around my face and it's pretty much done. I have about 2 mins to do my makeup in the morning so it suits me. I also wear mascara, at the moment it's a Boots 17 one called Falsifeye. I usually fail to do blusher and just wear tinted lip balm as I'm not a lipstick fan.

Another vote for Nars Radiant Creamy concealer. Great for dry skin. I use a basic moisturiser, SPF 50 sunscreen, then Nars tinted moisturiser. If I'm going for a polished rather than everyday look I use Armani Luminous Silk foundation. Like Nars, a great range of colours. You can go warmer or cooler as well as lighter or darker. I might put a tiny bit of powder on my T-zone (Mac loose powder or even Cornsilk). To give myself a slightly sunkissed glow I'll sometimes use Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light on cheekbones, nose and forehead (where you'd catch the sun in other words). You can use it in a very subtle way or build it up. Not sure I believe the claim that it blurs fine lines and imperfections but it gives a nice finish. Gives any blusher I put over the top a nice but subtle glow too.

I like cream and powder blusher but tend to use powder more: Mac Melba or Dolly Mix. Nars is nice for blushers too. I used to like Bourjois blushers (great colours) but got fed up when the baked blush would sort of become compress then not give off any colour (mind you, I kept them for years).

I find that I use mascara everyday, which helps to give me a more groomed look.

Gentle cleanser to remove makeup: micellar water (various), Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser or Cetaphil.

BUT, the reality is, for makeup to look nice, I have to look after my skin. Not going to bore on about serums, Vitamin C, Hyaluronic acid, Retin A and SPF, blah, blah, blah, but I think you're right to pay attention to water and food intake. Sleep too! Talking of which, look at the time!

Ren BB Cream is good if you have a warm skin tone and want a slight glow with a bit of coverage.

CAIS by NIOD (a serum) has made a huge dent in my dark circles, so I would suggest that rather than a concealer.

RMS lip2cheek creams are good...bold enough to be noticeable, but doesn't need lining etc. Beloved is a lovely red with orangey tones.

I'm a big Charlotte Tilbury fan. One of my favourite products is her Filmstar Bronze and Glow: www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/filmstar-bronze-and-glow.html
I am reasonably fair skinned but it gives a subtle polished colour and highlight that I think makes me look a bit more groomed for work. It may be worth looking at a few similar subtle bronzes to see what might work for you.

I also think that good eyebrows make a difference. I always use a gel wand to keep them in place, and sometimes subtly fill them in with something like this: www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/brow-lift-grace-k.html

My favourite blusher is Nars The Multiple but there are so many good blushes out there that I'm sure you'll find a great one for you if you spend an hour in a department store!

Personally I try not to wear foundation every day because I think that as I have got older it is actually just slightly ageing on me. I think a good concealer is more important, but it will vary for everyone!

I'm very lazy. I dye my eyelashes so just curl them and put on a dab of vase line. Light coverage foundation and a dab of stick blusher. Really quick, no fuss and looks neat enough for work. I work I a professional environment not suits but smart.

Ooh sorry, forgot to say - No7 blusher and L'Oréal foundation. Cheap and cheerful but as good as any pricier brand.

Pin point concealing - as described by Lisa Eldridge
Highlighter cream
Eyebrow thread
Cream or liquid blush
Tubing mascara gold tube from no7
Setting powder - I normally use a pale bronzer for this and only use a tiny amount

Thank you all for the ideas. I'm going to have a look round tomorrow and try some things out.

Just wondering if tinted moisturiser might be better for me now but I always think I look a bit shiny with them. I'm either too shiny or too cakey, can't win!

If you want to hide pores I swear by the benefit porefessional primer. I use that with a light cover foundation or bb cream, mascara, a little bit of blush, and lippy. And concealer if needed. At the moment I'm using a touch one of the hourglass ambient lighting powders too.

What I have found is that I can't use a black mascara. I use either dark brown or purple. And I use one designed to give me feathery lashes. I think that that makes me less likely to look like mutton dressed up as lamb.

If your dark circles are really prominent you might want to look at a correcter rather than a concealer. I had a sample of one in the past but I can't remember who it was by.

I love the Bobby Brown mineral powder, if my skin is clear I use it on its own. If I have a break out I use a light Clinique foundation and a quick dust.

Always use mascara.

Most beauty counters will do free makeovers for you. Try a couple and see what you like.

Boots No 7 BB cream was a real game changer for me - far lighter than foundation, but just enough coverage to look groomed and polished. I'm 46, and I'm convinced you need a lighter base as you get older.

The aldi bb cream was amazing but they stopped doing it. Am still looking for a replacement. I use Chanel vitallumierre but more out of habit than anything. It really suited me a few years ago but I think I need to rethink

Love YSL Touché Éclat foundation. Also the NiOD range has worked wonders on my skin which is no small deal as have been having chemo for the last four months so expected my skin to be badly affected.

I use BB cream (garier) and Benetint, with blusher over the top. I really like this look. If I need more coverage I use a cream foundation like benefit some kind of gorgeous.
Curl lashes but only wear mascara in the evening.
I love benefit lemon aid for eye lids.

Clinique Moisture Surge tinted moisturiser is brilliant. Anything else feels too heavy for me. Good colours too. Hope to God they never discontinue it...