Beginner in makeup

[TheRealBoswell]

Just started to get into wearing makeup. Where do I start? How do I get my eyelashes to look less clumpy mascara? Is there something I’m doing wrong or is it the mascara? Currently using the colossal mascara. And my gel eyeliner, the pot seems to look dry even with the lid on. Is it supposed to do that?

TIA

Hi The Real Boswell. I think most of the gel eyeliners in pots do dry up. I tend to get the gel pencils myself.

Is it particularly mascara you need help with or everything? If everything it might be worth getting your make up done in a store. Either that or if it is just mascara you have trouble with, maybe getting a real cheapie to practice with. Make sure the brush is not overloaded and take your time.

Everything 🙈

Is there anything you’d recommend? Like I’ve been told there are different shades of red lips for different skin tones. I always thought there was just red lipstick Is it better to get a gel pencil? If so, what’s best? And can I still use a dry gel pot or undry it somehow? 😬

The bodyshop eyeliner pen is very good. Thin nip tip and really easy to use. I'm not skilled enough for a pot and brush situation

I don't do lipstick after an ex told me it made him think of blow jobs ...some lovely lip gloss out there which needs less precision. The MAC pale shimmer one is gorgeous for any skin shade

Black grape by Clinique also good for most skin tones

Are you near a city with a proper mac or Bobbi brown store / counter (john lewis, Selfridge's etc)?

If so, you could book a make up lesson with them. You can book online with both companies and a makeup artist will do you make up and talk you through the application at the same time. I'm not sure about Bobbi brown, but Mac do a whole face lesson for £50, which is then redeemable against any of their products. Good value, imo. It might be much easier to improve with someone face to face?

Sorry should have mentioned that the Mac's whole face lesson is 90mins, but they have shorter options to focus on a single feature if you prefer

As for the mascara, I found the colossal quite difficult. it's the combination of big brush and quite thick formula. To start with have a look for something with a thinner less fibrous brush. You won't get such a dramatic effect, but will be easier to practice.

As pp said, don't put too much on the brush and slowly pull through the lashes from root to tip. Don't go over the same area repeatedly, twice max. Have you searched YouTube for a tutorial video?

I always use a eyelash comb to separate & remove any clumps. I use a basic plastic one like this. It doesn't work for tubing mascara though, only the normal kind.

If you are totally not sure about what colours suit - then why not go to the Boots No7 counter and get your foundation and lipstick (and I think they do blusher now?) colours done. You don't need to buy a foundation if you don't want - just get a lipstick. They give you a card with the colours of which lipsticks suit. Obviously only in No7 range but you can get an idea.

For instance I was told I was a warm Ivory (I knew this already). I am fiarskinned but a warm tone. If your veins look more blue you have cool colouring, if they look like they have a greenish tinge you are warm. Cool foundations tend towards pink, whilst warm ones tend towards yellow.

So, onto lipsticks - rusts, orange and yellow toned reds are warm, whilst blue toned (think burgundy) are cool.

I think Estee Lauder also does a foundation colour testing thingy but any good make up house will be able to tell you your colouring.

Sometimes there are clues - cool Ivory, rose being (rose being cool).

Anyway, a make up lesson would be a good start.

I have blue and purple veins but I tan very easily so I can’t be cool toned ? And I don’t think silver really suits me. I went to no. 7 counter a while back and they suggested a red lipstick and nude one. They looked ok on me but when I came back from holiday, the red lipstick and nude one looked weird because of my tan and so I gave up on the lipstick Currently living abroad so nowhere near a Boots or a Sephora. Going to London in May so I wanted to get some tips and get some recommendations so I don’t feel so lost 🙈 Will have to check out Mac but if I come back in May with a tan, then I’ll have to go back with no tan, right?

Op you need to get colour matched for a foundation, or buy a tinted moisturizer in the nearest shade. Do the lipsticks really not look good on you anymore or do you just think they don't? I'm cool ivory at boots and I wear reds, pinks, purples, peaches and corals. Nothing too orange. If you are warm then I'm guessing you'd suit orange red, nudes, brick reds and browns. Loads of the famous Mac lipsticks like Trig and Mehr. It's all about experimenting. I do own Orange reds etc as I do wear what I want to a degree and I e often found lipsticks that don't sound right on paper look amazing on (imo). Just have fun with it.

Just watched a video by Lisa Eldridge and it had her recommendations for mascaras and eyeliners for 2013 I wouldn’t mind using the hourglass script precision liquid liner as it looks easy to use. Is there anywhere where I can get it from? Or am I few years too late? 🙈 Searched on Amazon and Boots. Are there any similar alternatives? Just adding things to my wishlist so I can buy them in May.

Do you feel that you need a foundation? I don't wear one, I only use eye make up. My skin is pretty good so I just moisturise and then light powder. If you can avoid foundation, you avoid the need to match your changing skintones.

I think eye liner wise you are better off with a soft pencil that you can smudge. I don't use pens or liquids as I find them very hard and I consider myself very capable at make up!