Make up essentials?

[clayspaniel]

I am hoping to throw away my old make up (including lots of clinique and magazine free gifts) and start from scratch as have not changed makeup style for about 20 years. What would be the basics for everyday wear, and what makes are good? Am in forties, small eyes, short lashes, occasional spots round nose/chin and thin lips. All suggestions welcome!

That is such a big question - it all depends so much on your personal style. I would try a makeover before making decisions. You will probably find that by using some of your old staples in a slightly different way will refresh your look and they will introduce you to some new products and colours too.

Go to one of the younger shops or counters. E.g. Bobbi BRown or Mac or Uban Decay rather than one aimed at us older women, so not Estée Lauder or Clinique etc.

If I were to start again I'd buy Clinique CC cream for Day wear, DiorStar foundation for evenings or bad skin days. Dior SkinFlash highlighter for dark circles. Some cream blush Max Factor and Max Factor cream buff blush (powder) I'd buy Benefit They're real lash primer. Great for stubby lashes and Benefit Roller Lash mascara. I'd get a eyebrow powder set, some Clinique chubby sticks for eyes, a mocha one and a beige gold one for a quick fat time look, I'd also get a Dior eyeshadow quad for evenings, beware not all the Diors have good pigment, or Chanel Mystic eyes. I'd get a Smashbox Matt lippy and some L'Oréal lippys for Day wear. Oh and a nice primer. Maybe the clear Smashbox one. Phew. That was a long one!!!

Fat time look???? Day time look, who wants a fat time look....lol.

Rimmel for eye and lip liners!

Thanks for the ideas! I've not heard of lash primer - what does it do? Not entirely sure of the purpose of general primer...? How can you tell what colour lip liner to get e.g. darker / lighter than the actual lipstick, or can you get general ones for all lipsticks?

The benefit lash primer makes your lashes longer and just generally wonderful, it's a brown colour so you can wear it in its own for a super natural look or pop another on top for a full lashed look. I like to layer up when the previous coat is still wet as I find my lashes look less spikey that way. You can get a nude lip liner to wear with all lipsticks or one to match exactly the lipstick you are wearing.

A primer is applied after moisturizer and before foundation. It will make all your make up stay in longer. I also apply it under my eyes and on my eye lids to make my concealer and eye shadow last longer and prevent creasing. If you moisturize always give it 5-10 minutes to sink in before applying make up. If you have thinner lips it's probably best to stick to natural colours and glossy finishes, a dab of gloss on your lower lip will also give the illusion of fuller lips.