I need some really basic makeup advice

[MrsGrindah]

Not really bothered for make up but I need to look presentable ! Can you please tell me
A) Minimum items I need for a good day look
B) a good online tutorial that’s not a young vlogger ( I’m nearly 50)
C) What I’m doing wrong... I use a BB cream as foundation, slap on a foundation and powder thingy, colour eyelids with eyeshadow pencil, eyeliner on inner rim, mascara. I look v clowny and uneven.

All advice gratefully received! I want to be able to touch my face without feeling caked in it too

Take a look at Lisa Eldridge for some great tutorials.

Gollee!

I would not try and put a foundation/powder thingie on top of a BB cream, I think it would go streaky.

Here's what I would advise (I'm 55):

Either BB cream or cream/powder thingie - not both.
Under-eye concealer.
Blusher (I use it to subtly highlight my browbone as well) - actually I just use a rose-pink lippie for this and on my lips.
I usually don't bother with eyeshadow, but if I do use one I avoid dark colours on my lids.
Eyeline outside the lashes, not on inner rim, starting about a quarter-way from the inner corner and extended slightly outwards and upwards on the top lid so eyes look bigger. I line my lower rim with a white pencil.
Curl lashes and mascara.
Anything too dramatic makes me look like a man in drag.

And before all this I would make sure my skin was well moisturised or primed.

Hope this helps, OP.

Thanks. You are right I do look streaky. I need a good base. Do you put base on your upper brows. Think I need to do that to even out my colour

The thing that makes me look most up together and presentable is foundation.
I found the holy grail of a good level of coverage, plus luminescence. It’s Dior Forever skin glow. If you put it on with a brush it’s pretty much invisible.
I don’t wear any other make up wWith it in the daytime and several people have commented my skin is radiant. I’m 53 with sun damage and redness on my cheeks.

Check out Caroline Barnes speed beauty on YouTube too. She's 50 ish I think and uses very natural looking products.
Trinny Woodall BFF cream is a great base, very light & just evens out skin tone.
Bobbi brown cream blush pots are lovely & Laura Mercier shadow sticks are the easiest thing ever to apply.

Take a look at the tutorials on www.beautyandtheboutique.com - the make up artist is brilliant and only uses a few products at a time.

Thanks. Will try the Dior sounds fab

Thanks everyone. Will go shopping tomorrow and try the tutorials at the weekend. As long as I lose the Ronald McDonald look I’ll be chuffed!

I would strongly recommend going for a makeup lesson. Bobbi brown is wonderful for older women, I took my mum for a tutorial and she absolutely loved the result. They were not pushy and the look they put together was really natural and classy, plus they explained step by step what they were doing. Most counters will offer makeovers or lessons for a fee that is redeemable on purchase of product.

Under eye concealer, regular concealer on any blemishes. Foundation that is well colour matched to your skin, bit of powder if your prone to shine. Bit of blusher on your cheekbones (peachy rather pink if you tend to look clowney). Nude shadow on lids, not too much. Mascara. Nude moisturising lipstick.

Sounds like a lot but I can slap that on and look decent in about 5 mins.

Make sure you have a good skin care routine tho (good cleanse and moisturise as basic).

I'd avoid putting eyeliner on the bottom inner rim of your eyes, it's very harsh, dated and ageing. I'd also use a pressed eyeshadow rather than a pencil and use a light brown shade or a pale khaki with cream on inner lid. But only lightly. Make sure you use a good foundation and get it properly colour matched.

This is just what I use on a normal day and I'm not expert but I think it works ok! I'm mid 30's but my mum is 60's and virtually does the same.

1. Moisturise (let it 'sink in' for a minute or two),
2. Primer (small pea size, smooth it all over it helps to smooth everything out)
3. foundation, sometimes a bit of concealer under eyes
4. sometimes buff a bit off loose powder under eyes/over cheeks/forehead (makes it look smoother/more finished)
5. I use a blonde powder to lightly fill in eyebrows, comb eyebrows
6. a bit of mascara on the top and bottom
7. bit of rosey blush on apple of cheeks
8. a dust of highlighter on cheek bones and top of nose.
9. A bit of pinky nude lippy (blot on a tissue)

10. Finally spray lightly with a setting spray.

It's all very quick and basic but looks put together.

I would go to a No7 counter and say you want a very natural look. They can match your skin with a machine thingy and also the same with lipstick. Buy a mascara and get used to wearing those three things for a month or so then you can start experimenting with eyeliner, eyeshadow etc of you want to.

I was coming on to say Lisa Eldridge too so definitely second what a pp said :)

I spent a pretty penny on a Dior foundation after going for a consultation and it looked bloody amazing in the shop, I'm 41 and it was 2 years ago. I walked out and was all pleased with myself and when I got home and looked properly in the mirror it was horrible on me. I should have taken it back but then there was nothing "wrong" with it.
It's now a pretty ornament in my make up bag. It was called Dior Star.

I would love if anyone has a recommendation for a mid range foundation that gives the elusive "dewy" look. I see so many people look nice but I can't seem to get foundation right.

Thanks for the thread op.

Honey plop...10 items! I think I need to start smaller..

Ysl touché eclat bb cream. It’s amazing! Read the reviews. Ill never run out of it now.

Put your foundation on with a damp Beauty Blender sponge - goes on much better

Oh & I agree with a PP about a setting spray. Really makes a difference to how long it lasts. I use one from ELF & it’s about £5. It has brilliant reviews

This probably won’t be massively helpful..

I can’t do make up, somehow i always manage to look ridiculous no matter how many books I read and YouTube tutorials I watch.

So, I just fill in my eyebrows a bit as they are very sparse, little swish of blush and a nice matte lipstick and call it a day.

👍

I think I look perfectly ‘presentable’ tbh.

I have discovered YouTube tutorials by a Houston TV news presenter named Dominique Sachse. I think she is early 50s.

Most of her looks are way too glam for what you’re looking for (in that very “American” way - I’m American myself so I can say that 😉😉) but she has one “get-me-out-the-door-so-I’m-not ashamed-on-the-school-run” look that literally takes 2 minutes to apply (the timer is going as she puts it on) and looks very presentable. This is what she uses:

CC cream or powder (depending on season)
Undereye concealer
Liquid eyeliner pen
Mascara
Bronzer
Lipgloss

She doesn’t do her eyebrows as she has them tattooed but doing them yourself is worth doing and would add seconds to this routine.

It should go without saying that for a minimal look like this to not totally wash you out you need a good skin base. I use a retinol every night plus a vitamin C and a hyaluronic acid serum every day, plus a high SPF (even if my CC cream has one) and since I’ve been doing this it has made such a difference and I don’t feel naked without more makeup.

Have fun!

Lisa Eldridge basic easy daytime looks are what you need

Just an update.. haven’t been shopping yet or checked videos bit tried some tips.... eyeliner below rim went everywhere ! Pure panda! And just using bb cream without powder doesn’t make me look much different and made my face feel too tacky.

In other news.. I regularly have my eyebrows threaded but this time they have torn really badly...luck of the drawer or should I go elsewhere in future?

Go elsewhere!