Entirely new makeup collection - advice needed!

[Thingiebob]

I haven't worn much make-up for years but now I'm at a certain age where I think a bit could do wonders for my confidence. I've thrown out all my old cracked eye shadows and dried up tubes and need to start again, but I don't understand half the new products on the market!
Strobing?
Contour cream?
Highlighter??

I don't have much money so I need to buy the right items.

I have fair/pinky skin, blue eyes, reasonable clear skin with some faint lines and wrinkles appearing. I wear glasses and have open pores if you look closely at my nose and chin. I'm a dark blonde.

Any experts able to give me advice on where to start?

If your skin is pretty good to start with and you don't need tons of coverage then you can do worse than starting with a brand like L'Oreal as they have a good inclusive skin tone range and lots of different finishes in lips/eyes/cheeks.
If you have more skincare concerns and want pigmentation/ dark circles covering up and don't want to have to touch up your make up much then go as high end as you can afford with primer and foundation and then go cheap on lipsticks as you'll reapply those anyway and you can have more fun with colour.
Mascara is one of those things that is different for everyone so it's difficult to recommend but I'd suggest 2000 calorie by Max Factor, Hypnose by Lancôme or Maybelline big lash as they all have a lot of fans.
If you want good, reliable basics in neutral colours you can do worse than Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier - both of who have great counters with non pushy staff ( in my opinion) who can talk you through the basics.
God I love makeup!

Thank you very much. This is helpful. I'm a bit rubbish at make-up so need as much advice as I can get!

I have exactly the same colouring and skin as you (and wear glasses too!)

For light 'day' make up, I use:
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation,
Max Factor mascara (Masterpiece IIRC),
maybelline colour tattoo cream eyeshadow in a browny colour,
Bobbi brown cream lip&cheek (pot rouge in powder pink)

Tinted and shaped eyebrows make a huge difference to my face (not HD style) if you don't already do this

Also recommend Urban Decay Naked palette if you prefer powder eyeshadow

Oh and Colllection Lasting Perfection concealer...saw it recommended on MN, it's so cheap and I prefer it to my Bobbi brown one which always creased

Just go to a department store and sit at one of the counters and let them show you all their products then ask for samples to take home because you would like to see how weel its wears over a day before committing to a big purchase. I did this with Lancome, Dior, Chanel and Este Lauder foundation, then when they told me the right numbers gave me samples. I then went into all the other department stores and asked for samples in the numbers and have free foundation for 2 months and it gave me the chance to try it on for different occassions and see how long they lasted all day. I ended up going for Dior in the end its a bit pricey at around £36 but its lasted me 4 months and still have a fair bit left and I use it every day.

Also did the same with face cram, I love Lancome's face creams they are soo good. Also they are always happy to hand out samples hehe I always say I had sensitive skin so need a sample to check for reactions before committing to a big buy.

NARS sheer glow foundation is just LOVELY and well worth the ££

Bobbi Brown I agree with - colours are natural and flattering

Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious in Very Very black, is amazing too

Mac black liner pencil is brilliant and sticks like glue (in a good way)

Charlotte Tilbury Matt Revolution Lipsticks are brill.

oh - and do your eyebrows. Makes the world of difference. Use powder with a fine angled brush.

Enjoy!!

I have your colouring too. I went into Boots today wanting to look at that Protect and perfect stuff and ended up having a foundation match done - walked away with No 7 Lift and Luminate in warm Ivory.I'm hoping it will look ok.
Before I had Bourjois 123 Perfect shade 51. I like Bourjous.

My 14 year old dd is the expert in makeup - she knows all the latest trends and puts in on really well, saves up and has lots of it.
Super drug do their own range of eye shadows called Revolution based on a more expensive brand,

I'm struggling to get something for my eyebrows at the moment which are really sparse and fair - I have been using some Rimmel brow brush but could do with something better. I'm also after a decent kohl eyeliner.

I recently tried Primark foundation, and was surprisingly pleased with it. And only £3! It was similar colour to my NARS sheer glow foundation. I am v pale so got the palest shade (porcelain).

I also really like the Rosie for Autograph at m&s range. The eyeshadows in a stick are really good and simple to use. I also sometimes use her highlighting cream under my foundation, it gives a nice glow.

Oh, there was a thread recently about Primark makeup, and one of the posters had done a YouTube video which was quite good, where she tried loads of products and gave her views on them. She also showed how to use them, which might be good for you if you haven't worn much makeup recently.

Thread

The Lisa Eldridge website is amazing - everything you could ever want to know about make up and more .