How to get that polished look

[DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel]

How do I look good all day? Ive got my hair sorted, but my face. uggh. Im 37 and dont like looking in the mirror. I dont like what looks back at me.

Ive never been very good at make-up so dont really know what Im doing. I dont want to look like a clown and certainly dont want it to look like Ive tried too hard. It like to look nice, but natural.

Please can you help? What products (a few cheap or one or two more pricey, but worthwhile) should I look to getting? Any tips or tricks would be appreciated too.

Yes the Boots no 7 range is excellent especially the Protect and Perfect range. Sadly it doesn't agree with my skin - I end up with a paint air bubble effect on my skin. Difficult to describe, you can't see it but I can feel it.

I don't pretend to be polished or have the best skin ever but I drink loads of water and top up vitamins and minerals. I drink two cups of coffee a day and maybe a cup of tea but otherwise I'd say my caffeine intake is low. My husband and I get through 2-3 bottles of wine a week between us. I get my brows threaded every few weeks and my hair cut regularly. I'm not so great at looking after my nails but use clear nail varnish.

I really like Liz Earle's skin repair moisturiser (I really notice the lines on my neck disappear when I use it) but it doesn't have an SPF. Because I run, I look for moisturisers with a physical SPF as they don't sting my eyes when they invariably run into my eyes. The brand Amie does a good value moisturiser. I also like Neal's Yard Remedies products - eg the frankincense cream really makes you feel like something is protecting your skin in winter. Another cheap and effective cream is one by Nivea which feels like cotton when it goes on your skin, I think Kate Middleton was said to be using it 2-3 years ago.

And I am not a sun worshipper.

I feel polished when my make up stays and bb cream looks good when applied but an hour later and it's gone. I wear Estee Lauder double wear and it really lasts. Similarly I like benefit pose tint and the naked eye shadow pallette, revlon colorstay eyeliner and any old mascara. That's my daily look and takes 5 minutes.

Go to boots and ask to foundation samples. It's expensive to buy if you don't get on with it.

I don't wear lots of it. I get my eyebrows threaded every 6 months or so but they're dark anyway so no need for pencil.

Make up I have sorted... hair on the other hand.

I agree a polished look seems to feel harder with pale skin, but find a gradual tanner (I use Vita Liberata) worn overnight helps with that. For me the key is a good, but simple, daily skincare routine (I use Liz Earle) and the use of an exfoliator and face mask once a week or as often as I can manage it (quick masks can be done in the shower after an exfoliator). Over the years I've found effective makeup products (mainly bareMinerals): foundation / tinted moisturiser with good coverage, under-eye concealer, a light, brightening eyeshadow, dark brown eyeliner, brown / black mascara, brow pencil /groomer, a bright blusher and tinted lip balm. This helps me feel more prepared for the day. Hopefully that helps!

Yes, galvanic treatments work using a current. There are two stages to the treatment and the second one is supposed to use current to push products into the skin. There is another treatment which is called microcurrent where the muscles under your skin are lifted. It won't last forever of course, so I think usually it's recommended you have a course and then a once a month maintenance treatment.

I used to like Boots No 7 but recently they seem to have made changes for the worse, I've noticed. The stuff isn't as good quality.

Sorry, I meant the make up - I've not tried the skin products.

I do quite a lot of the above and I'm very pale, but have a polished look (so others tell me) on a very low budget. I agree with good hair cut (but I don't pay much, no Toni and Guy for me, go to the local Groupon salon for under £20), lovely clean glossy hair (cheap Poundland products), Protect and Perfect when I can afford it or cheapo Lidl moisturiser if I can't, make-up taking about 5 min a day (foundation, stay-long lipstick, blusher, mascara, some eyeshadow) from lower end of the market.

I also do shave (oh yes) my hairy chin to get rid of the fine hairs that come on in the pre and menopause about once every two weeks, and then pluck any hairs out, do my eyebrows myself after the shower.

My biggest purchase recently was Blue Sky gel nail set with UV lamp off Groupon, it was under £50 for the whole set and four colours, and I always have lovely gel nails in either dark red or pale pink. This makes you look amazingly polished. Someone on here who worked in a salon tried to tell me these were the cheap crap brand, but mine look great! I haven't had significant problems with the nails going in bad condition though, which some people do through gel nails. These are noticed by a lot of people though, so the polished effect here is worth it IMO.

As for paying for expensive facials to prevent spots, I've found Sudocream is great on the chin/lower face area for me, so much cheaper! Gone down to one spot every month, not the constant spots that plagued my thirties.

I just wanted to say you don't have to spend a huge amount of money to look nice and polished, drinking water and cutting out sugar (which I've mostly done) is free, and the rest can be done on the cheap if that's something important to you (you may be rich, not like me!)

I am 65 and have very good skin for my age -as did my mum and as do my daughters.I am told I look ten years younger . I think it's largely genetic .
However I do try and drink a lot of water and avoid sugar ,which definitely brings me out in spots, even at my age, as well as making me feel tired .(I drink only about 1.5 bottles of wine a week and have never really smoked.As I burn easily I am very careful in the sun)
're facials I've had them at our local college and they have been excellent They often ask if they can try something else on you which you get for free e.g. the electric current type toning .I actually think the main benefit for me, as well as the exfoliation, is the gentle massage which I think is supposed to drain the lymph glands ?The rest of what they anoint me with is just pleasant IMO .And I always feel really relaxed after, which makes me look less tired .
I agree about regular but very gentle exfoliation at home And the thing to spend money on is a decent foundation Having said that ,I am a devotee of Max Factor but they've stopped doing my favourite in the lightest shade (I'm very fair too) Good eyebrows and no facial hair also key.As you get older less is definitely more as far as make up goes
I used to have to look very polished/groomed for work and the habit hangs on even in retirement. I rarely leave the house without mascara at the very least though I am fortunate both brows and lashes still dark.

Key to looking polished is Hair, Skin and Teeth. Good, easily managed cut; good skin care routine; and full set of clean (not white) teeth. This should do the trick. The rest comes from fixing in your head that you're actually permanently walking along a red carpet or some such, putting shoulders back, standing tall, moving slower than normal, and the attitude comes through ;-) (Polished people rarely rush!) :-)

Debra that last bit may be where I'm going wrong, I often look extremely rushed and flappy!

I am older than you with similar colouring and not much clue about makeup. I have wasted lots of money trying to pick my own foundation etc, or going to Boots or the Body Shop for advice. Then I had a free makeup session with Bobbi Brown in a department store, a general one, not pushing a particular look, and they gave me really great advice which I have stuck with for 3 years, except for switching from foundation to BB cream, just using foundation to cover my red cheeks.
Bb cream is different from foundation, you use a tiny amount which contains a huge amount of pigment, as much as a much larger amount of foundation, so only the colour is left on your skin, not all the other gunk from the foundation. It makes a huge difference to your appearance, this would be my number one recommendation. I use L'Oréal lightest shade which is fine in summer, a bit too dark in winter. My daughter bought a cheaper one, it was horrible and we had to bin it.
Then I use a light grey compressed powder and fine brush on the outside of my eyebrows, and eye brightener under my eyes. Both Bobbi Brown, expensive but last a long time and at least I am actually using them. That's my basic everyday look and it definitely makes me look better. If I want more I add a touch of blusher, neutral eyeshadow (Bobbi Brown again), and a fine line of compressed powder along my upper eye - nothing below the eye, and no harsh pencil - as recommend by Bobbi Brown - this opens and brightens my eyes amazingly. And a touch of Mac lipstick, a shade darker than my natural shade.
As for skincare - avoid the sun, don't smoke, cleanse, moisturise. No need for expensive products or treatments.
And if you want a bit of fun during your free makeup session, remarks such as ' I don't have a skincare routine' or 'I don't use eye cream' will have them all gasping in horror.
Good luck!

I was going to say what nomorechickens said! I went to Bobbi Brown, had a 45 min tutorial, bought £500 worth of stuff (everything he used on me in the session) and haven't looked back. With practice, it now takes me 20 mins to do the whole face from start to finish and I look very polished when I do that. It lasts all day and isn't too heavy/made up.

I did it because I had never really worn make up/foundation - and didn't know where to start, but had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and knew I was going to start looking quite ill (with chemo) so wanted to finally learn how to look pretty without being over the top.

So I would recommend going to Covent Garden or similar and doing the same - you will be amazed!

Oh and Shellac nails.

Shellac nails, yes - bio sculpture is good. They don't chip.

I think Kate Middleton was said to be using it 2-3 years ago

That's not an advert!! Her skin is very old for her age.

I'm a believer in investing in a good base. It's hard to beat Bobbi Brown's serum foundation. Her colour corrector is also great.
I'm pale and I embrace that. Trying to bronze when ur as pale as me has always seemed like a waste of time & effort. The results are not worth it. Blush /rouge and lipgloss are my best friend. It makes me look alive on the many days I'm feeling off.
Im not fortunate enough to pull off polished without the help of good skincare (id recommend Liz Earle) & make up. I have tried the no make up look but don't have the even colour to pull it off. Good luck!

Bb cream is different from foundation, you use a tiny amount which contains a huge amount of pigment, as much as a much larger amount of foundation, so only the colour is left on your skin, not all the other gunk from the foundation

Really? I have Bobbi Brown BB cream and hate it. It's nothing more than a tinted moisturiser in my opinion, and I have to use loads to get any coverage. But unlike foundation, the shades are limited so it's not a great match.

Facial oil has helped my skin - I have suffered from acne in the past and was skeptical about putting oil on my skin, but it's really brightened it in a way moisturiser never has. I have used the Neal's Yard ones, expensive, but goes a long way. Garlic - I should have tried your olive oil approach!

The good thing about beauty collages is that they also offer massages which are nice to have and make you feel good.

The thing I most like about having a treatment is lying down for an hour and having some me time.

OK. Am busy writing notes. This facial hair thing has always worried me. I put pull out any hairs on my top with my Tweezerman tweezers but don't know how to get rid of any other facial hair (the downie stuff). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Lisa Eldridge videos on YouTube are excellent tutorials for natural-looking makeup. Lots of other tutorials seem to be based on 'looking like Rhianna' which isn't necessarily ideal. I agree with everyone who has mentioned getting a GOOD foundation colour-match as so many cheaper foundations have a pink undertone to them which is quite rare on actual skin. Bobbi Brown's foundations have a yellow or neutral undertone PLUS once you've been colour-matched by anyone, you can go online to check the Foundation Matrix which will tell you which shade is right for other brands. I'm fair-skinned and made the mistake of thinking I was 'Ivory' or 'porcelain' for two decades...
Spend your money on a good foundation and you can get away with super-cheap everything else. You pay for pigment so if you're new or not confident with makeup that's a bonus as you really won't end up looking like you're in drag. Talking of drag, make your look either strong eye OR strong lips. Strong everything is basically drag ;)
Have fun with it all. Being able to express yourself with makeup, whether looking polished, natural, gothic, vampy and everything inbetween, should be joyous! You'll still be you; it's not a mask. You'll just be a little bit more fabulous.

OP, sounds as though you have very similar colouring to me (apart from the hair, I've gone kind of mid-brown as opposed to very grey) and with a similar approach to make up, ie. didn't really know what I was doing. I would agree with the posters who have advised going for a make-up lesson. I went for a Bobbi Brown make-up session before I got married. She really listened to me and what I needed (natural and unmade-up looking!) and gave me some excellent advice which I have basically used ever since.

I think you need to go bit by bit and as you get more confident, add other things in. I started with tinted moisturiser, which really helps smooth things out a bit, and now use a primer and a foundation, but again, not a large amount of anything.

I would also highly recommend Benefit (I know you don't have time to shop at the moment, but when you get a chance). Their packaging is a little quirky but their make-up is excellent and the best thing about it is that everything comes with a step-by-step guide as to how to put it on! Really useful if you don't have a clue (like me). Their 'world famous neutrals' nudes palette is fab. It's quite subtle but you do look as though you've made an effort!
www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_123901005899_-1

The other advantage I've found with Benefit stuff is that, although it is a bit more expensive than, say, Boots, it really does stay on all day. My eye make-up is nearly always completely in place by the evening, which I think is pretty good going.

Top priority - a good haircut. When you see someone with great hair ask her where she has it done, she'll be delighted to tell you.
Choose a makeup brand you like, ideally one that matches a foundation exactly to your face, and pop along for a free makeup lesson at your local department store. You don't have to buy anything if you don't want to.
Make an appointment at a local nail spa and have a gel varnish on your nails - mine lasts 3 weeks and my nails always look perfect. Somehow it makes them extra strong too, an unexpected bonus. Enjoy