What item of makeup really makes the difference to how you look?

[doloresclaiborne]

For me it’s blusher. Without it I look like a hag. I usually apply it last but I feel it makes me look a lot better after I’ve applied it.

I rarely wear lipstick as I have no clue what colours suit me so if I do wear it I usually go for nude colours.

Mind you if I go out without eyeshadow/mascara people ask me if I’m tired

Maybe I just need a full face of slap......

What does it for you?

Foundation, but only if it’s dabbed down with powder or it gets too shiny. I have flushed and also partially oily skin and I wear it most days.

My basics are: primer (for oil control), foundation, powder, Benefit brow pencil and a bit of peachy blusher. Mascara and a dab of highlighter if I need to look a bit neater. A liquid lip colour (but not too glossy) if I’m making an effort.

Like others, I’ve never managed to do eyeliner well and just steer clear.

Red lipstick

An eyebrow pencil from Hourglass, it’s a beautiful ash grey. It immediately lifts my face. Then bronzer. I have Roseaca so a lot of redness in my face. Bronzer seems to neautralise it somehow.
I can’t get on with lipstick, I think I’m allergic to them. They always make my lips itch and dries them out even after a few minutes. I have hundreds of lipsticks lying around as I never learn.
Mascara stings my eyes so I use a lash serum (it works!) and then I tint them.

Mascara 👁

Mascara - my lashes are blonde and stubby

I've worn foundation every day for 20 years but now over lockdown have stopped and I'm actually loving feeling fresh faced. I've been out without it now and everything and I feel great. I don't think I'll ever go back.

Strobe cream on cheekbones. Very very subtle but makes such a huge difference to me.

Foundation and powder. I don't have great skin. I have microbladed brows.

Always bronzer

I would have always said blusher but a light brush of eyebrow mascara really makes me look better. I don't want to say younger as I am only 35 ! I'm not sure I could pick between the two.

@Lndnmummy interesting about bronzer - I have rosacea too and will experiment. Would you mind recommending a lash serum please? I’m intrigued!

@StargazyDrifter I think bronzer works well for this, it just seems to balance the redness out a little bit. I use an eyelash serum called revitalash to start with and it really does work. Now I order a prescription version from India (yes I know how that sounds). I’ll dig out the name and post it.
It works for me as due to my roseaca my eyes are really sensitive too so I rather not wear mascara.

@Lndnmummy thank you so much, I’ll give it a go.

Lipstick

A quick scribble and blend of light reflecting concealer pen round my eyes.

Ooh! Love this thread.

Hmm 🤔 eyebrows do make a huge difference.

But I'd have to plump for concealer or red lipstick.

(Currently missing my red lipstick tho as feels a bit 'full on' for wfh & when out, mask-wearing (am in Ireland, so masks required) means it's wasted😢

Mac studio fix powder. I use it under my eyes and it completely eradicates my recessed tear troughs. I do need a full face of makeup with this though

Otherwise blusher, lipstick and benefit gimme brow (eyebrow mascara) are my basics

Lashes

I would have said eyebrow powder but I’ve had them microbladed now. And then I would have said red lipstick, I felt quite stylish going out with just my lovely defined eyebrows and glamorous red lips but since face masks became the order of the day the red lipstick is redundant. So for now it’s mascara.

Eyebrows filled in! They really frame your face. I could forgo face makeup.

Well I probably need the whole shebang but deffo eyebrow pencil. Someone stole mine, I swear. Where have they gone? Oh the years of shaving them off/tweezering..

Oh my goodness that Frog lipstick is £22 for a luck of the draw shade. That's crazy, isn't it??

Anyway, in answer to the OP's question, mascara for me.

I’d love to be able to wear red lipstick but I’ve never found a shade that suits me.

I heard that Baz Lurhmann song on the radio today. There’s a bit that talks about how you don’t appreciate your looks when you’re young. I think that’s true. Now I’m no Cindy Crawford but I used to use makeup to enhance my features. Now I’m older (46) I use makeup to cover up the tiredness of my skin. Which is why I think it’s blusher that makes the difference for me. I don’t look as knackered with it on.

@AnotheBloodyChinHair

Oh my goodness that Frog lipstick is £22 for a luck of the draw shade. That's crazy, isn't it??

Anyway, in answer to the OP's question, mascara for me.

See if there's a mini on eBay?

I love the ‘frog’ lipstick. I also love their Jean Queen and Medieval, but there’s something about using a green lipstick (that isn’t) that appeals to me. Makeup should be fun.

Definitely with you, OP on enhancing looks vs damage limitation. 😂 I’m increasingly doing the latter!

Eyebrow pencil and mascara. Often that's all I wear, I can rarely be bothered to do the whole foundation, concealer, powder, blusher, eyeshadow etc. I always feel OTT with lipstick on so, even with a full face of makeup, I just put a bit of lip balm on.