Make up clueless, help please!

[SunnyCoco]

Hi everyone

I'm a newbie.

I want to go somewhere where someone will help me find the foundation shade that's right for me, and perhaps a basic lesson on how best to apply make up, show me what I need to buy, how to apply it etc.
I don't have a massive budget but willing to spend up to about £25 for a foundation, for example. But I always seem to buy the wrong shade!

Could anyone please advise where I should go - department store? Boots?

Thanks for your help

What I've done in the past is go to somewhere where you can sit down and have a proper consultation with a makeup artist (MAC is usually great for this, but Boots sometimes has separate concessions such as Benefit where you can do the same), and have a look out for an MUA with similar colouring to you, ask them to recommend something that will work for you! I've found my two perfect foundations (one for summer, one for winter) this way :)

Bobbi Brown counter is usually a good start.

Comprehensive range of foundation formulas and colours.

The counter staff are properly trained and will test several colours on you after determining your skin type and thus which product will suit you best.

You just walk to the counter and ask for help. They might be able to see you straight away but will book you in for a free consultation if not - I've only had to wait an hour of so.

I took DSD there recently. Her usual (drugstore) foundation was the wrong colour and caked terribly. Drove me mad. 20 mins at the BB counter she had the perfect shade in the right formula for her skin type and it looks perfect - like her skin, just more even. You can't tell she's wearing any.

Thank you both ever so much for your advice

I like Clinique, went to Debenhams for it first time and the lady helped me with the shade, put it on me, and helped me with a blusher too, now I buy it in the make up shop in Cheshire oaks and save a fortune

sunny sorry, I didn't realise I said quite a bit that you already mentioned in your OP! But also don't be afraid to ask them to match you, and then take a minute or so to go outside or into an area with some natural light (next to a window or whatever) and check that it's still a good match in natural light! Lighting in stores can sometimes make your makeup show up very differently than it would look in natural lighting - I've bought more than one foundation in completely the wrong colour that way!

Agree with going into daylight to check the shade.

The lady who looked after DSD at BB did this to check the colour.

Thank you very much
I feel a bit embarrassed as it seems like I should know what suits me by now!

Took me until about 35 and a shed load of cash to figure it out - so I bet you are ahead of my curve!

I just did mascara, blush and lipstick....

That said I'm pretty damn sorted now

DarthMaiden - i think I'm in your DSD's situation of buying stuff from Superdrug that's the wrong shade etc - except for I'm an adult who should know better!

Thank you again it's nice to know I'm not alone 😂

Well looking at a lot of women at work you are definitely not alone....

Tide marks around the chin and foundation that's oxidised and gone orange or just the wrong colour.

Don't get me started on Instagram eyebrows....

I just avoided it all until as long as possible but now I'm a make up junkie having discovered what really good make up can do.

Spend money on foundation - it's the majority of your face. Same for face powder if you need it (oily skin - not my problem, mine is dry as I have eczema).

Good lipstick is worth the money as are quality powder eyeshadows.

However as a newbie to make up I'd buy:

• top quality foundation
• as above face powder if oily
• good quality lipstick
• drugstore mascara
• a drugstore cream eyeshadow in a taupe colour (suits pretty much everyone and you can apply with a finger)
• drugstore cream blush
• pencils (lip/eye - again drugstore)

So spend on a few key items and thrift on the rest (though I confess I haven't done this for a while now, but it worked well when I did).

I agree with much of the advice here but also think about what foundation and coverage you need/want.

Do you want a cover everything like Estée Lauder Double Wear or a similar but not as heavy coverage liquid?

cushion foundation (with sponge, Lancôme do one)

Creme foundation in pot - most brands do this, MAC, Bobbi Brown etc.

Mineral foundation - eg Bare Minerals - powder.

With Darth Maiden i agree with all she says but prefer a top quality blusher and maybe eye pencil.

collection 2000 have great cheap eyeliners, as do Body Shop. primark has fantastic lip liners, you don't need them but since I have recently I've found they help and stop bleeding from lipstick.

Also don't get sold or fall into the trap of buying neutrals. Shroom and taupe by MAC are good basics though. If you see or want a brighter lipstick or eyeshadow or eyeliner and are shown to apply these then I find they can make the difference to eg a daytime look or evening look.

Hi darthmaiden and superflyhigh

Thank you both so much for your help and all the advice! It's really useful to know what's worth spending more money on.

I really appreciate your time!

Superflyhigh - what do you mean about not buying any neutrals?

Thank you again

No I don't mean don't buy neutrals just if the urban decay saleswoman tries to sell you purely a naked neutrals pallette, well yes they're handy but certain colours (like Mac cranberry with me) make blue eyes pop! But you may love neutral eyeshadows! Nars do great eyeshadow colours as do Shu uemura and Mac.

Oh and shroom and taupe are 2 single neutral eyeshadows by Mac and you can buy a pan (holder) to decant them into.

Oh and also, double wear is said to be heaviest coverage foundation. The cushion ones I find lighter. Ask or experiment what finish you want, heavy or light, glowy or dewy etc. Some counters give samples, ask.

Agreed with Darth no Instagram eyebrows!

Benefit are a nice brand but can really pile on makeup. Look at the women on the makeup counters, if you don't like what they're wearing I'd advise not to ask them for advice!