What are your must have basic make up products?

[Monr0e]

And how do you use / apply them?

I am in need of help. My 40 something skin is looking tired and pasty. I have never been particularly girly and have muddled through adult life using basic foundation, powder and mascara. I feel the need to update myself and would love some advice on what products work best and also how to apply them. And all in a budget please if possible (not asking much I know )

Thank you

@LentilBaby you're not cheeky at all! My skin is like yours and I find Urban Decay foundation naked skin (NOT THE ALL NIGHTER WHICH IS THE NEW VERSION AND I HATE IT) and make-up forever ultRA HD foundation to work wonders. Actually these are the only 2 foundations I use and swear by!

Thanks misscheery My skin was very oily when I was a teen though tends towards dryness since I've had DD and it's the past couple of years that I've noticed make up sinking into wrinkles. I tend to shower, use Nip&Fab Dragon's blood serum, then moisturiser with SPF then Chanel Vitalumiere. Without the primer the foundation spreads out into wrinkles under my eyes and across my forehead.

@LentilBaby I recommend you try go for a session at Urban Decay, I used to work for them pt ages ago when I was at uni and we got good training. Also happy about the brand itself, cruelty free 100% and with a lot of vegan products if you value that

@Monr0e you were asking about foundation brands. My mom also uses the one from Urban Decay so I honestly recommend you too if you could go to an Urban Decay counter you'd love it, I'm sure

Fuck, Urban Decay still needs to pay me, don't they?😂😂😂

@misscheery Thank you so much Will check them out! I love Urban Decay anyway. Do you put powder on top?

@LentilBaby yes! The powder is use is from Paese and it's called bamboo powder. It mattifies greatly! I no longer live in the UK, not sure you can find the brand there, but I am pretty sure you do! If not, MAKE UP FOREVER HD powder does the trick as well!

@ApplesTheHare very well done for the SPF. Happy to hear people use this product, I find it really important and I think it has an impact on long term

Changed my username! Still me, misscheery. Found something more suitable, lol!

Every foundation looks like stage makeup on me (weird texture ). Even tinted moisturiser - I'm quite pale and cheap to expensive, it looks rubbish!

OP I'd always invest in foundation/tinted moisturiser as it's all over your face . That said I posted before about the Bourjous Healthy Mix one (I'd left my usual at home by accident and had to get one for a week away with work and didn't want to spend a fortune). I was pretty impressed with it - in terms of value for money I'd rate it highly.

Same goes with powder - same reason and more expensive brands are far more finely milled. The Hourglass ones are amazing and give a very subtle "glow" - they aren't shimmery but they do lift your skin.

I think light reflective concealers for under the eye (they are not to cover imperfections!!!!) are worth the money - the Clinique one I've found to be good which is more mid range if you don't want to spend mega bucks.

I never spend much on mascara - every time I have I've been disappointed. I go through it quickly and I've yet to find a premium brand that really delivers on value for money - the L'Oréal paradise one is my current favourite.

I would buy a decent cream eyeshadow as they tend to be apply and wear better. The B.B. one I mentioned is foolproof- you whack it on, blend with your finger (you get about 60 seconds play time - which is more than enough) and then it sets and lasts for ages.

I would recommend the Stilla blush simply as it's foolproof to apply, looks lovely on the skin and is long lasting. The pot also lasts for ages so you get a lot of "wears" for your money.

Lipstick - I love premium lipstick as much for the packaging as anything else but TBH you can get very decent lipsticks and liners from brands like Rimmel/Number 7/Sleek etc so no need to bust the bank here.

I've tried to pm you but it won't let me attach a picture.

If it helps, my skin can be quite dry, cool and pink undertones. I'm a natural red head but my brows are quite dark. No wrinkles really under my eyes but unfortunately they can look quite tired looking.

I'm taking notes! Decent foundation, concealer and powder. I've never used cream eyeshadow before or blusher but will certainly look into it. I always struggle knowing what colours suit and am wary of make up counters. I often feel I'm wasting their time if I can't afford to spend on all the products.

I've had a look at Urban Decay though and it seems reasonable in price. Will check out Clinique as well. Thank you all so much

@Monr0e please do try urban decay counter (usually in Debenhams) and tell me what you thought! You'll learn loads and buy lovely products!

Also, pls don't feel obliged to buy anything. You only buy what you love and you feel like you can use!

After 40 I found I couldn't get away with the cheaper products. I use Dior primer, foundation, powder and powder blush, Chanel does nice cream blush and eyeliners in soft colours that suit me. For mascara, I still find Maybelline suits my lashes best.

While they are definitely expensive, they last a long time. I bought from the makeup counters and I got excellent advice, which means I haven't thrown away any makeup for being wrong in years. I used to waste a lot of money on cheap products I realise now. These days I use every last drop of every product.

@misscheery Thank you 😘

I have to buy eye brow pencil as I have very little left. I also buy eye liner - either one of those gel pencils or a liquid if it is waterproof. How do I apply it? Badly! My eyesight is not what it was.

I only sometimes use foundation now as my eyes run continually and most make up gets crusty around the under eye and nose area when my eyes run.

Nothing to do with wearing make up, my eyes run whatever.

My must haves:

I use a B.B. creme by Dior and apply with a beauty blender . I like the B.B. creme as it is sheer, has a natural finish easy to blend . The beauty blender just makes everything soooo easy and blends beautifully with no streaks or caking ever !

Eye liner - choose a colour that complements you . I use a green Chanel / urban decay one and smudge it a bit over my eye as am rubbish with eyeshadow .

Brows - I use illamasqua brow cake or brow gel for a natural finish to fill in my brows and the illamasqua brow brush . For novices i highly recommend mac eyebrows.

Blush - either Nars or benefit . Mac blusher brush or the brush in the benefit blush box .

cakes "No idea what a seductive ounk is!"

that's the new name for a make up line right there

Creamy blush on 50+ skin.

And brow pencil or gel!

My collection is small.
A BB cream usually Lauder but occasionally just garner.
Bobbi Brown eyeliner
Lancôme mascara.
A couple of smokey eyeshadows from Bare Minerals that I’ve had for years.
A couple of ancient lipsticks.

Usually I just use moisturiser.

Thanks again

moonmaker, I don't even know what a beauty blender is! Sounds like I could do with one though. I'll also check out the eyebrow tips. I am a complete novice with them. Would love something really straight forward and easy to apply

@DarthMaiden

I've got dry / dehydrated / bumpy skin and went for a make up lesson at Bobbi Brown. I got the BB cream but if ever try and use it it instantly dire, flakes, sits in patches on my skin. It's useless.

I know I need to sort out my skincare regime and I'm about to order The Ordinary acid you use and one of their moisturisers. Does that help when you apply the BB cream? It's so expensive and I've had it for months and just never really worn it!

Real techniques or primark do beauty blenders - as do Superdrug etc
They are little firm sponges which you wet slightly and then you put some foundation on your wrist then use the sponge to put the foundation on by dabbing it on - sort of push it on - on your skin so that the application is seamless . That's what dd tells me - I'm rubbish !
Re brushes - does anyone know if the real techniques stippling brush is the one to buy to apply foundation ?

I have just started with the ordinary products
They are really really good
I have dry flakey pasty skin age 50 plus and it's really sorted
I use the hydrolic acid
The risehip oil in the day then those two with granactive retinoids at nite
If u use the latter you have to use sun cream
As makes skin photo sensitive - it loosens the connection between flakey skin and helps it shed - I spoke direct to their chemist he was fab .

The Nip and Fab dragons blood pads are great for dry flaky bumpy skin. They are salicylic acid and hyraluronic acid so clarifying/smoothing and hydrating. They have really sorted my skin out. (And much better than the glycolic version of the pads and less drying).