Glamming it up a bit - with minimal effort

[kitkat321]

I have quite a plain face so when I don't wear make up I look quite meh - my brows are quite thin - and don't have much of a curve. I have thin lips and am quite pale with smallish eyes.

I do luckily have decent skin but just alway look so bland.

I'd like to make the most of what I've got - but with minimal effort as I'm usually running after a 2 year old.

Any suggestions where to start? Maybe a brow kit (no idea how to use these and have seen some well dodgy eyebrows out there so a bit apprehensive), some eye liner or mascara?

I'm happy with just a good bb cream but need to find a way to make the most of my weak features!

Actually your brows make a huge difference. I got a brow kit which was basically a powder and filling them in makes a major difference. It's basically like eye shadow and you just kind of quickly stroke in some colour.

As does evening out skin tone. It makes a huge difference, Be it via a light bb cream or foundation. A little concealer under the eyes if you have dark circles, and I also like an eyelid primer as my eyelids can be a bit dark.

Mascara if you can be bothered removing it, some blusher if you're very pale, it makes a surprising difference in terms of making you look healthy and then , if you want to go glam, fill your lips in with nude lip liner, all of your lips, them add a sheer lipstick on top.

I also, when going out, use a kohl liner on my eye lids to fill in the bits between my upper lashes, a thin line and I use a pale gold eyeshadow, I have brown eyes.

Go someplace like a Bobbi brown counter, or mac, and ask them to do a makeover for you.

Thanks Bluntness - I've had some dodgy experience at beauty counters - been tangoed a few times when asking for a natural look but will maybe give it another go!

I'm exactly like you kitkat plus a dodgy thyroid so my eyebrows despite not being plucked for 5 years-- are really sparse. I Couldn't agree more with having defined eyebrows so a really good pencil is a
Must. I'll outline my make up regime :-

After moisturising, I apply both benefits Dandelion, then Hoola powder (lightly). It gives me a healthy and fresh look without the foundation.

Concealer (body shop chubby stick) if needed.

Eyebrows.

Aveda's Sepia eye pencil. It's light brown and creamy and defines my brown eyes without too much of a dark line.

Mascara.

IF I'm going out (rarely), I pop a bit if white definer on my inside eye area to widen them. I also wear a mink coloured No 7 eye pencil to give my eyes more depth.

That's it. Works for me.

I find tinted moisturiser,a bit of blusher or bronzer and some lipstick or lipgloss always helps, whether that is a neutral colour or something brighter.

I agree about starting with brows. And a bit of lip stuff.
I use a lord and berry magic brow pencil. It's great for beginners as it has several colours mixed together so it gives a very subtle, natural look.

I've tried make up counters 3 times and hated the results each time. They never give me what I want.

Have your brows threaded and tinted, and maybe a lash tint too, that will add some contrast to your face.

Benetint by Benefit is a cheek and lip stain that takes about 5 seconds to apply and makes you look a bit more alive. Add a stroke of mascara and you're good to go.

I'm a bland face too so know exactly what you mean.

Thanks all - never had my brows tinted but had my lashes done a few times so good suggestion.

Will go and purchase some sort of brow kit to get started!!!

Benefit's Brow Bar is fantastic and easily lasts a month - around £18. I've never had my lashes tinted though - they're dark but quite thin, is it worth it?

I think so Dinosaur , but my lashes are very pale. The dye wouldn't make them look any thicker so maybe it wouldn't have as much effect on you.

Good tip for more natural eyebrows - draw the pencil/powder backwards through the eyebrow, ie going against the grain of the hair. Then brush back into place with gel/wax.

Gives it a much more natural look, instead of a thick line.

Have you considered finding a decent red lippy? I've always been very against red lipstick but after trying loads have found one that suits my skin tone and can now look polished with just mascara & lipstick (also have a bland face!)

Perfume can make you feel glam, if you find one that suits you. Very little effort to apply!