I look like a kid playing with makeup :(

[TheLongRains]

Help!

I come from a family where makeup really wasn't a thing. My mum and sisters don't use any, and never have. So I never learnt what's what, really.

I, however, need/like a bit of makeup. Not heavy, but enough to make me look fresh in the mornings (broken nights with a baby...).

I currently have a foundation that is probably not the right colour, a powder that I don't really know what to do with, a moisturiser that I use morning and night, an eyeliner pencil and a mascara.

I have no idea what I'm really doing! And should I be using a primer? A setting powder? Concealer? Highlighter? Blusher??? Lip gloss, lip liner...etc etc!!

I'm overwhelmed. I feel like if I apply all this stuff, my face will be an inch thicker than normal.

I went to a makeup counter once and came away looking like a clown. I don't want to look like a clown, I want to look like me, but fresher!

Also, where the heck do I start with choosing brands and colours? There's so much out there! And brushes, sponges, finger tips... What do I use?!

If anyone can help me look like the grown-up that I am, I'd be so grateful :) or even point me in the direction of a good website for beginners who don't want to look made-up, but do want to use makeup...

Thank you!

Thank you so so much for all these tips! I went out and bought a few bits and pieces last week, but was too afraid of the heavily made up make up counter people (!), so just bought some simple and relatively cheap bits to try out. I'm planning on braving going and getting a foundation that is (hopefully) an exact match to my skin next week, and will happily pay more for a good one, so it's good to have your recommendations of which brands/counters to head for.

Will they be really pushy? I'm the sort of person who buys those hats with an umbrella on top because I feel so bad for the person who just spent their time trying to convince me to...so I really don't want to end up being pressured into buying something that isn't what I want! Would it look rude to go to a few different counters in the same store? Is there such a person as someone who just floats around to point you in the direction of a good counter for what you're after?! (or is this a gap in the market, for one of you knowledgeable people to fill?).

If you're just starting out. Stay away from colours, until you find out what suits you. You can practice at home. No one will ever know that you tried on blue eye shadow that looked awful.
For everyday wear light brown eye shadow is very sophisticated.
Mascara
Lip gloss.
Light weight foundation. I use Elizabeth Arden. You can get a skin colour match done in Boots.
You do need primer as it works like a base coat, and powder that works like a top coat. To keep your make up in place.

Gosh she uses a lot of stuff for a natural look!

I use 3 things for my skin and 3 things for my eyes

CC cream, concealer and then a coloured powder
eye shadow, pencil and mascara

I don't wear lipstick, but always Vaseline.

Awww to be honest light brown eyeshadow doesn't suit everyone.

I'd go for Shroom and Taupe by MAC, or a Dior neutrals quad (personally I love Dior quads).

If you want to invest in a coloured eyeshadow to bring out eyes - eg gold/reddy Browns for blue eyes, mauve/lilac for green eyes etc then just buy a single, or a cheaper one.

A nude eyeliner for rim of eyes (helps with wide awake look) ilamasqua do a lovely one. Nice eyeliner pencils can help pull a look together too. I prefer colored ones or darker ones by urban decay. You can get some stunning ones Smoke I think I'd one, a navy blue with a touch of glitter etc. Hunter by bobbi brown is a dark Green/black liner which I love. The black winged look I don't like on me.

I've rarely worn foundation but my skin tone is getting uneven. After recommendations tried Estée Lauder double wear, way too heavy for me. Found a Clinique advisor in Boots and bought the biy drops ( think that's what they're called) what's great is you just 1 drop to your moisturiser and it's a tinted moisturiser but if you want heavier coverage say for a night add 2 or 3 but I've never used 3 to date. I like rimmel eyeliner that's like a felt tip, apply it as close to the eyelashes as possible. Once you get the base right then you can experiment, make up revolution in Superdrug have reasonably priced palettes to play about with and some are dupes for the more expensive brands.

I don't think you need to have learn from your mother or sister. My mum wore makeup, but never taught me anything. It wasn't encouraged for me growing up, though not prohibited either. I used to watch videos and read women's magazines - I remember a free Cindy Crawfor video (VHS in those days) coming with a magazine.

My problem is that I've stuck with the teenager at school type of makeup i.e. I'm wearing foundation, mascara, nude lipstick or none at all and I seem to have some guilt issues about wearing very visible or colourful makeup - I think I absorbed that it was 'tarty' when I was growing up.

10 years ago I had it done professionally when I was a bridesmaid and I think I did look better with some blusher and stronger eye shadow. I should probably go and get it done by Mac or something, but I find those experiences quite embarrassing.

I posted a question here once about facials and came to the conclusion that having my makeup done would be more useful.

Super you have posted what I was going too.
TheLongRains The woman that did my colour match was lovely she matched me with my colour put some foundation on me so I could see how it looked and that was it, she asked me if I needed anymore help, I told her no thank you and thanked her for all her help and that was it, I did buy the foundation she put on me, but there was no pressuring from her at all which was nice for a change.

I think long term it's cheaper to get a make up artist in for a lesson than to wing it.

They were novices once as well.

I'd thoroughly recommend booking a free lesson at Bobbi Brown. You can book them online. They are not at all pushy, I recently bought just an eyeshadow pencil and a blush. I have done a few lessons and become really confident at doing my makeup. I had a black tie dinner last night and did a super quick makeup job yet was really happy with how it looked in the photos.

I use a mix of Bobbi Brown & Bare Minerals. Everyday for me is sunscreen primer, foundation, under eye concealer, powder, bronzer, blush, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow pencil and mascara - a 5 minute job. I have a couple of extra eye shadow pencils for nights out but it's a very small bag all told!!! If I didn't have rosacea, I'd cut down on foundation products.

Bobbi Brown has wonderful foolproof eyeshadow pencils that I learnt to use watching Hannah Martin videos as recommended upthread. They double as eyeliner for the cack handed (me!). Kiko does cheaper versions. These are what make me look properly alive/made up.

Can I embarrass myself with some stupid questions? So I went to one place and the woman clearly couldn't believe that I had no idea what I was looking for and couldn't wait to get rid of me
Second place I was still reeling and feeling like an utter idiot so I just told the woman I'd go back later.
Third place I found, there was someone who didn't laugh, and who explained to me what was what and let me try some. Unfortunately, they didn't have the right tone for me so I have come away with mascara and concealer and am hoping they'll have the right shade for me to try next time I make it back.
So, for the stupid questions. Are you supposed to keep re-applying during the day? I always (feel like I) end up looking like I have a ridiulous moustache.
What sort of brush do I need to apply it? Can you get supermarket versions rather than boutique (?) versions. I didn't have time to ask about brushes as I had to run for the bus.
How do you take it all off at the end of the day? Until now, I just splash water on my face in the evenings. So, the liquid eyemakeup remover is to get rid of the mascara? For the rest, just scrub off with soap and water? Should you also wash off the eye make up remover (so if I just wear mascara one day, remove it, then should I wash normally or is that enough) ?

Like most things in life, just take one step at a time. I've learnt loads by just reading S&B on MN.
Each of your questions will have more than one answer because they depend on your budget and skin type, however...
I would probably go to Boots No7 as a starter rather than Bobbi B and the like, they are cheaper for one, often have offers, their foundations are quite well rated and their skin match thing is great.
I don't know many people who do anything other than reapply their lippy or put extra powder or foundation on their noses during the day.
Real techniques (and Wilkos) brushes are highly rated but you can apply foundation with your finger and start with any brushes that come with the kits.
There are loads of make up removers out there. This really will depend on your skin type. I remove make up in the evenings with whatever cleanser I'm using but just wash my face with soap / water in the morning.

It's all trial and error (and fun).

I think, in general, lots of people over apply foundation
I think getting none that matches and mixing it with your primer 50:50 is a great way to look alive.
I think getting a highlighter for cheekbones, concealer and a decent pencil eyeliner are the most important.
Also an eyelash curler so you don't overuse the mascara.

Sew

I use Clinique take the day off balm morning and evening, it cuts through all make up & im only halfway through the tub after three months.

You have to throughly remove cosmetics.

Sewmuchtolearn

The only thing I reapply during the day is lipstick, if I'm doing something where I get hot and sweaty or something I'll use a wide brush and reapply some powder.

To take it all off I use baby wipes. Cheap ones work well, Wilko baby wipes are fab for removing make up and not harsh on my skin, as are Tesco own brand.

If you've got a Poundland near you, that's where I get all my make up brushes from (and some of my makeup) they're not professional grade but they do the trick for me.

My go-to everyday 'makeup' is a nice vibrant red lippy.

Brightens me up a treat!

I was the same - youtube is your friend! Natural makeup tutorials. I guess the biggest thing I've learnt is to use more than one colour of stuff, so you put your foundation on, but then brighten some areas with another product so it looks less like a mask. Eyes, you use two or three different colours to lighten some areas too (all in the tutorials) and a lip liner and lipstick buffed together give you 3d lips etc etc. So like, don't be afraid of multiple colours and products even if you want a natural look - more is less, lol

Thanks so much for this, OP. I feel exactly the same. I am growing my hair out to grey so feel I need to compensate a bit. I am 43!

I have a question about sunscreen. I am currently using a combined sunscreen moisturiser, but if I put it on my whole face, it can start stinging later in the day I guess if some sweat drips into my eye, or I rub my eye. I know there are separate eye products, but do they contain UV protection?

Do you put any sunscreen in the eye area? I would have thought it needed it.

Yes Lisa Eldridge and Pixi woo are both good places to start for tutorials

Hi OP-Are you on Facebook? If yes, join Mrs Gloss and the Goss, it is a very friendly advice page on all things skincare and make-up. Lots of honest, great advice and constant review of products/methods etc...

I was about to recommend Mrs Gloss as well (although be warned you will suddenly need a lot of stuff. I am a 32 year old make up newbie and have learned so much from there, especially the Facebook live videos that members do on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Also reading S&B on here and Lisa Eldridge tutorials have been very educational. I wouldn't say my make up game is strong yet but I feel a bit more confident at least.

Taladi you have a fair point though I cannot attribute blame squarely onto Mrs Gloss, I had a serious imajunkieforallthingscosmetic

I had a serious imajunkieforallthingscosmetic problem for years before ever coming across the lovely Julia...

Like a PP I had a make up lesson - she gave me so many tips and recommendations. As a result, foundation is the only thing I shell out ££££ for, the rest is mostly Superdrug and Boots mainstream counters.

I really rate body shop for brushes and lipsticks that last.

My goal is to look like a better/alive version of me. Mostly it works.

There is so much advice and support out there and I would recommend joining a makeup and beauty specific beauty group. There are several on facebook, my favourite is one called the beauty collective. You can post any kind of makeup question etc on there and within minutes lots of helpful members will answer your questions or point you in the directions of products etc. They also have live makeup tutorials once or twice a week. YouTube is also fab and I love watching Jacklyn hill xx