Hit me with you favourite foundations and mascaras!

[OnlyEatsToast]

I hate shopping for make up. Always get the wrong colour or get sucked into a sales pitch but can't avoid it anymore. Need a foundation for pale but flushed skin. I like to look natural but need a decent coverage and it needs to last!! And I need a mascara that doesn't give me panda eyes. Have been using benefit oxygen wow and Chanel imitable mascara which are ok but am looking to try something new. Please help! I need to look polished for some uber important work meetings next week! Share your favourites with me!

Chanel Le Volume mascara is fantastic, the best I've ever used.
I either use Lancome Teint Miracle foundation when I want a liquid or bareMinerals original powder foundation. Both are fairly natural looking but can be easily built up for more coverage.
A fixing spray (NYX matte spray is good and inexpensive too) will help to prolong your foundation as will a primer under the foundation.

I'm afraid I only go for budget brands, and am pale and have rosacea. Rimmel foundation gives a lovely light coverage and Boots 17 mascara stays put all day.
They're just not very exciting to buy.

Mascara = Benefit Rollerlash - best I've ever used.

I'm going to be boring and say Doublewear.

It's always the answer on these threads because it really is that good. Doublewear light would probably be better for the more natural look you're after.

I have big pores dior forever pore foundation

Mascara on a budget, lash sensational is fab. Also have a sample of the chanel one which is great too but obviously more expensive. I tried the benefit one that lots rave about and hated it.

Interested to see foundation recs, I use mac studio fix which is a powder foundation as it suits my skin better. Tried double Wear light I think it was and felt too caked

I like the Boots No7 lasting volume mascara in the gold tube. I'm getting hot flushes at the moment and it doesn't shift, flake or smudge all day. Do NOT get Revlon's ultimate all in one mascara. It's supposed to be waterproof. It's not .

I have Face Atelier from Cult Beauty
Saw it recommended in here a while ago and as I am a sucker for trying things I bought it
Is the best foundation I have ever had
Love it, will definitely repurchase as and when I need to

Chanel vitalumiere foundation

I need a good mascara too.

Love the Benefit rollerlash mascara.
Budget foundation: kiko anti age foundation, gives lovely coverage (shh I'm only 36) but I found other budget ones dried my skin out.
Splurge foundation, I absolutely love love love Esteé Lauder double wear light. Brilliant coverage, not cakey, and last hours; and I mean hours.

Bobbi brown foundations are all lovely and Sisley mascara.

Another vote for Estée Lauder double wear, it's the best foundation I've ever used. I've tried others and always go back to it.

I have tried every mascara going - I have sensitive eyes and always end up with panda eyes.

Someone here suggested Barry m lash Vegas waterproof - I LOVE it. That stuff is bomb proof.

Doublewear is expensive but I can make bottle last six months despite wearing it every day. I don't think it looks or feels heavy on the skin.

Having said that, I'm currently quite fond of Boots No 7 Beautifully Matte which has a lovely velvety look.

My all time great mascaras have all been Max Factor. Tried more expensive brands but find Max Factor Masterpiece to be the best of the best.

Personally I don't like Benefit foundation's they always seem too heavy and make my skin feel clogged

Might give the Dior foundation a shot beeny, never heard of it before.

I like Collection Lasting Perfection for budget. It comes in limited shades but Body Shop do a lighter thing.

Recently I've had several samples of Double wear and I found the original too cakey, the new cushion stick didn't last (I have oily skin) but the DW Light does stay on. However I have to use L'Oreal Blur Cream underneath as on it's own it highlights my large pores.

For mascara I can't go past Max Factor Clump Defy Extensions false lash effect

Delighted with all your replies! Thank you! I've tried double wear in the past but it was far too mask-like for me. And I think gave me breakouts IIRC. Also used Chanel vitalumier and remember liking it so might try again. Bare minerals powder was ok but I wanted something with more coverage. I have some MAC powder foundation just now but it's the wrong colour so gives me orange-face. (See! I've tried loads with no success!!)

Good shout for the fixing spray - might try that. Have tried primers (laura mercier colour correcting one and benefit) but, you guessed it - I don't see any difference.

I suspect user error may be the cause here rather than all these cosmetics..!!

Slightly different question- how should I approach the counters? Should I be asking for samples of foundations to try?! How do you do that?! I'm very daunted by the make up ladies

nanasue tell me more about face atelier! I'm intrigued!

Estée Lauder DW/DWL breaks me out

I like No 7 foundations, I have the BB cream, the tinted moisturiser, the Stay Perfect and the Beautifully Matte Light on the go. They're all good, but the Stay Perfect is probably my go-to work foundation.

Mascara-wise, I like L'Oreal Beauty Tubes for a dramatic effect and Max Factor 2000 Calorie in brown for a more natural look. Did not get on with Benefit Roller Lash at all.

Estée Lauder double wear
Benefit they're real

I have rosy cheeks so have been using Clinique redness solution foundation for 4 years now, for work I mix it with moisturiser as it is a bit thick, but without moisturiser is better for when I want to look like I've made an effort 😐
I only started using a foundation brush this year, and it's made a big difference!
If you go into debenhams or wherever you buy your make up, ask for a sample pot so you have a few days to experiment. That's also a good tip if you've ran out of foundation a few days before payday

Benefit 'they're real' is a great mascara and I have lots! I struggle with foundation because I find it too heavy but I use Lancone tinted moisturiser with Bourgois happy face primer under it, I am 47 so my skin is pretty old, but good! I find after many different combinations that this covers the cracks without exaggerating all my wrinkles

*have tried lots - wasn't trying to show off about the amount of mascara I have!!