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.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm heading off soon to the shops so will go to some of the counters. Should I ask each counter for their advice on the whole look or just specific items?
I'm just thinking if each one does a bit of a makeover I could be there all day and will the next counter be happy to wipe off the previous makeover so they can do theirs?!
There's just so many products on offer, I find it a bit mind boggling & I can't afford to make any more wrong purchases.

I use Dr Perricone's No-Makeup Makeup range. Very subtle and natural.

I suggest having a walk round, ask them for advice. Ask to try the ones you think sound right for you. I love clinique foundation and their mascara, for colourful makeup I use Bobby Brown, so you may find that different elements from brands suit you.

Start with foundation and a good mascara. Try not to do it all at one go.

im in my early 40's and like to look good (try!) and as a receptionist and front of house I feel obliged to too.

but I do like wearing make up.

I use a Rimmel primer, 1st one I bought and it works. then Clinique foundation. Avon Anew concealer, No7 powder. some cheap bronzing pearls. eye shadow. avon glimmerstick eyeliner.Super drugs MUA brow mascara and Pro Base kit containing concealer/highlighter.

sounds a lot but its very natural and dewy.
no lipstick. just vaseline

I am 39 and until recently never used foundation. Went back to office work after a few years SAHM-ing and working from home and felt like I needed something. I use the Magic Cushion stuff recommended on the Asian/Korean skincare thread and it makes my skin look much better without the cakey feeling that I always got if I tried foundation.

But I am stalking your thread for a good under eye concealer that might work for my sensitive skin.

I'm 42 and switched to BB cream for similar reasons - Dr Jart Premium. Missha Magic Cushion and Lily Lolo are also my favorites. And if I have breakout, I use Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla. My skin looks great, better than ever, glowy and 'real' (full-coverage foundations tend to make it look a bit flat and dead). And I maintain the glow with Nip+Fab glycolic acid pads used a couple times per week.

I use a gentle exfoliator once a week as I believe that skin cells turnover slows as you get older and I feel I need a little help.

I've added a serum to my skin care routine now.

I agree with PP about eyebrows and I use the Benefits Give me Brow! to shape. define and keep my brows in place. I really think this frames my face.

I use Clinique foundation and blusher, BB mascara and eyeshadows. I have the driest lips on the planet so I use lip gloss.

I would describe my look as natural but polished. At times my makeup has to last from 6.00am - 10.00pm

I like the Clinique CC cream and the Nars concealer. I use a Sleek brow kit to define my eyebrows and a clear mascara. My top tip is to mix a small amount of illuminating cream (like Benefit HiBeam) with your foundation for a lovely dewy glow- I got loads of comments on how nice I looked when I started doing that.

Borntobequiet, I like Clinique moisture surge tinted moisturiser too, which shade do you have? No7 tinted moisturiser is nice too.

03 works for me. I like that it's always suitable, in winter when I am pale or in summer when I have a bit more colour - it always just evens out the skin tone.

I came across a maybelline natural BB cream a few weeks ago- it's white in the tube and looks amazing on my face
41 year old here and used to use Estée Lauder double wear light-which is great but expensive

nars tinted moisturiser and concealer, the use the naked eyeshadow set.

I use the No 7 Perfect exfoliater twice a week, nose strips weekly to get rid of black heads, a tiny blob of Nivea BB cream mixed in to Olay Illuminating moisturizer, MUA bronzer & Lancome mascara.

For special occasions I will add blusher, lip stick, eyeshadow & eyeliner.

It's important to get regular haircuts and eyebrows threaded just to look more groomed.

I've got open pores, paticularly around the chin area, and every foundation that I tried seemed to sink into the pores and make them look worse. I was recommended to try Revlon Photo Finish as a primer and I have found it excellent, no matter whether I use liquid foundation or Bare Minerals. You can get it in natural or with a hint of colour. Costs around £10.

pootlebug - if you are looking for undereye concealers I can recommend a couple. I like benefit fakeup (I have it in light). It's creamy and goes on well. I just blend it out with a finger and set it with some ambient lighting powder. I've been known to go out with just that and a bit of mascara on days when I don't want the bother of makeup (i.e. when I'm not working).

For really bad days I also have some Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer. It's not cheap but you use the tiniest amount so it'll last forever. It's really full cover so you have to be careful not to use too much and to blend the edges. But it works for me. I also use it to hide the redness on my nose when I have a cold, etc. I put it on first and then put my normal light cover foundation over the top. I'm not sure where you can get it in the UK though. I travel alot for work and bought it in Sephora in the US.

I use a Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, with Nars radiant creamy concealer over redness and Maybelline Age rewind over my enormous dark circles. Then it's No 7 eye crayon in a taupey colour, and their colour and pop cream blush. Maybelline mascara in a pink tube - sensational maybe? Whatever lips I've got to hand but my favourite is Jean Queen Medieval.

I'm only 34 but I do look noticeably younger than my sister, who's 31, so I must be doing something right.

Good skin care is the A and O (for me especially - I smoke). Yes to good moisturizers and exfoliant a (I do a course of glycolic acid every once in a while and use a gentle scrub otherwise).

Makeup wise I usually wear Garnier BB cream for daytime - Clinique Super Balanced when I'm having a bad skin day. A concealer that is the same colour as your base or even a tad darker will actually do a much better job at concealing dark circles than the currently fashionable extra-white - which does look fab used sparingly elsewhere to highlight.

I wear a matte peachy blusher and the tiniest amount of brown eyeshadow through the socket. A little black or brown liner when I feel like it and I always curl my lashes and wear mascara. Lips will always have balm and then anything from completely bare to bright colours depending on my mood.

I'm naturally a real slob looks wise but work in a job where the polished look is de rigeur. Seem to be pulling it off rather well.