What are your must have make-up items?

[runwithme]

I have been given a bit of money for my birthday and would like it to overhaul my make up bag.
I am 44, NC42, and have a dry hairline but the rest of my face is a mix- its dry when I wash but then it feels fine once I put skincare products on it.
So, what I am after is :
Primer
Foundation - nothing too heavy but with decent coverage
Setting powder
Bronzer and/or blush
Highlighter - I think. Everyone seems to wear this but do I need to? At the moment I wear foundation and bronzer but I feel a bit bland. Saying that, this is mainly for day wear so it needs to be subtle
Concealer (dark undereyes with lines)

My budget is around £120 so I can't go top end on everything but I don't mind splashing out on something if I can get decent budget items as well. I have lipstick and eye shadow sorted.
I am aiming for a dewy look, but not a sweaty mess!

I use Revolution London for under eye concealer, blush, bronzer, setting powder and highlight. It's inexpensive and I actually prefer it to high end brands. I'd go high end for foundation and mascara though.

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
Huda Faux Filter Foundation
theBalm Mary Lou Manizer Highlighters

I don’t believe in primers - don’t seem to make any difference to me at all. As for setting powders, anything. I’ve found there’s no difference between Charlotte Tilbury and what you can pick up in a cheap makeup shop. Just use it sparingly.

Primer - I dont generslly
Foundation -Estee Lauder Double Wear Light
Powder - Hourglass Dim Light
Bronzer - I dont
Blush - Nars Orgasm (has enough glow to miss out highlighter)
Concealer - Maybeline eraser (if for dark circles a corrector underneath makes a massive difference such as Bobbi Brown)

I really think a primer is essential - a good one can retexturise skin so that a foundation isn't needed.
My absolute fave ( and I have used CT, Smashbox, UD) is a 3.99 one from W7 - it's a dupe of Smashbox but better than it.
I don't use foundation or concealer anymore but when I did, EL Doublewear (the teeniest amount) and Benefit Boing Undereye corrector were good.
I love a hybrid blush/highlighter - NYX do a gorgeous one called Sweet Cheeks.
Bronzer is a must for me - I love Chanel Bronze Universale - creamy, undetectable coverage. I whisk it over eye lids too as I think the older we get, the less we suit done eyeshadow.
I don't wear setting powder.
A fantastic highlighter to rival Becca, is MUA - lots of shades but my favourite is Peach Diamond which would look gorgeous on NC 42. It's 3.99!

Mascara - Collection Lash Surge - fantastic and £4.99 - as good as Lancome Hypnose.

Sack the primer - tried loads and have found a consistent skincare routine and letting my moisturiser soak in for 10 mins before applying my make up is best. Your skin may be different to mine but I found it a waste.

Foundation - Revlon Colorstay. About £10 a bottle on offer. Good range of shades. Medium coverage but can build up. It's a good dupe for Estée Lauder Double Wear.

Concealer - collection concealer is £5 and is decent and doesn't crease. I prefer urban decay but that's about £20 so more of a treat for me.

Bronzer/Blush/Highlight - I got a set from John Lewis which was a palette of 6 shades of bronzer, blush and highlight. Was about £40 but that covers 3 products. The bronzers are nice and natural with a darker and lighter shade, the coralista blush by Benefit is nice, one highlight is beautiful and subtle, the other a bit too glittery. Alternatively, mac blush is lovely and £15 - ask them to help you with a shade.

Mascara - you didn't mention this but Maybelline Lash Sensational is insane so felt it was worth a mention. So affordable at £10 and really buildable for natural or glam.

Everything above should cost no more than £70 if you go for the cheaper concealer.

Hi JMAngle1 which primer from W7 do you recommend?

It's so tricky as everyone's skin reacts differently to different types and formulations to recommend anything g with any accuracy for you. I have dryish skin but find I need setting powder or I look ( to my eyes) too shiny.

Personally I need a primer. I'm 50 and it just smooths everything out a bit. I like the blue L'Oreal prep and set essence as its non sticky and dries quickly. But it does seem to make my foundation look fresh all day. NYX do a really good range of primers

Foundation ( I'm NC25) I haven't had huge success with drugstore brands as they sit a bit flat on my skin. That said, No7 Hydraluminous has been very good. NARS Sheer glow works well for me and I also use Chantecaille Future Skin. Although that would be half your budget in one go ( it's not THAT good!)

Concealer - if you have really dark shadows then you probably need something more powerful than I use which is normally the Revolution one that is supposed to be a dupe for NARS.

Powder -since MAC discontinued their select sheer powder I have been bereft! Still haven't found a decent match for it but I make do with Laura Mercier.

Brow pencil - anything that has a greyish/brown cast to it works for me. A lot of them are far too warm. Rimmel do a great one for about a fiver.

Eyeshadow - I often don't bother but sometimes a taupe in the socket and a tiny bit of shimmer on my lids.

Mascara - never found any better than Lancôme Hypnose.

What I've found over the past year is that at my age, investing in skincare has reduced my overall need for too much make up. Facials, retinol, vitamin C and sunscreen have absolutely transformed my skin and I wish I had done it years ago. Make up is a great quick fix and lovely to play with, but if you can improve the canvas you're halfway there.

...Although if I had to recommend a brand that I would use consistently for everything it would be Hourglass. £120 wont get you very far but I've not yet had a duff product yet ( although I haven't used their mascara so can't comment on that)

Mid range I would probably use L'Oreal for most things as I find them consistently good with a colour range that is never as 'flat' as some others.

Bobbi brown currently have 20% off

Oh you lovely lot, thanks so much! I've heard a lot about Tarte, Huda, Nars but have never used any of their products so will look into those. I think for £3.99 the W7 primer is worth a shot, but interesting to see that it doesn't work for some. I have the Ordinary silicone one but I do find it slippery (I guess it would be, given that it has silicone!)

I've been using the Ordinary skincare stuff and it has definitely improved my skin so I feel the prep is halfway done - its all about the finish, which I haven't quite mastered.

It looks like buy some decent but budget items and then I can splash out on some pricier items- win win!

I'm a similar colouring to you and I have found the best thing for under eyes is either Benefit brightening concealer (formerly erase paste) in shade 3 but it is a creamy product or the Armani corrected which is a liquid and sets so no powder needed. It's not cheap for the amount you get but you don't need much and it really covers well and naturally.

For powder I like the laura Mercier one.

Benefit Hoola bronzer is great for contouring.

Benefit Dallas is my favourite blusher and very flattering. Benefit do palettes and some have both Hoola and Dallas in them.

www.amazon.co.uk/W7-Prime-Magic-Primer-Camera/dp/B009H0OH08/ref=asc_df_B009H0OH08/?hvlocphy=9046449&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=310857075337&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-434119588071&hvrand=5853920114982277562

It's this one, 4.95 on amazon but ebay usually do it for 3.99i

I agree with @LadyOfTheCanyon in that skincare and tools/massage are the most important thing.

For bronzer, i love the Chanel Soleil tan bronzer which is very natural and can be lightly used on your whole face for a natural look on a no makeup day. It also lasts forever.

Blusher is absolutely my favourite thing, and I've tested so many over the years. My current favourite is the Glossier cloudpaint in storm. It is fabulous and lasts all day. It is a cream blush and i sort of stipple it on with a brush. When i bought this i was also looking at the Daniel sandler watercolour blushes but the Cloudpaints had marginally better reviews when i compared them.

If you prefer a powder, the best, longlasting powder blush I've tried is Milani baked blush - there are lots of colours available. Beats any other hands down, including the famous Nars ones.

Hope that helps!

I’m not sure about primer and I’ve tried a few, it just seems to gives me blocked pores and then those clumpy bumpy spots.

Foundation - I love Estée Lauder double wear, I use moisturiser mixed with it to make it less heavy - I also apply it with a buffing brush, swirling around my face until it’s imperceptible but my skin looks airbrushed. Colour is so important so you may need two so you can blend, although EL do a huge range of colours.

Concealer - Sometimes I dab a bit more double wear on in to the dark corners of my eyes with a concealer brush. I do like Tarte shape tape too, tend to use this in a lighter colour for nights out - it just lifts the under eye area and makes your face glow.

Blusher - love it, applied sparingly Bourjois rose frisson or Clinique peach one in clear pot. This step seems to make me look so much better as foundation can flatten your face, it also makes dark circles look less noticeable.

Bronzer - Guerlain always - I’ve been wearing this for years, I have in shade 2 and 3 - again this just lifts my face.

Eyes - Lashes - Eyelash curler - MAC
Set the curl with a waterproof mascara.
Love the Benefit Bad Gal waterproof 24 hour eye pencils with smudger on the end - they last all day and come in 4 colours, black, brown, navy and plum - I’ve got them all, they’re so easy to use and do last all day without smudging.

Lastly, I always use a lip pencil - MAC Swirl a pinky mauvey brown or Huda - a thin line defines your lips and means you can just use a lip balm but it makes a huge difference.

Watch Melly Sophia on Instagram - she used to be the MUA on 100% Hotter. She’s so good, MAC trained and does bridal right through to no make up make up.

Happy Birthday, enjoy treating yourself, I hope you get some great products.

Nars multiple sticks are brilliant. I use shade - Portofino

I found the Tarte STC very drying and cakey

I try to keep base products minimal, just SPF and tinted moisturiser and blotting sheets. I have problematic skin though and tend to focus on skincare.

I’m obsessed with blusher. Currently using Clinique pop but also like Nars, Glossier, Bobbi Brown and Daniel Sandler.

The best concealer imo is Nars radiant concealer but again a good eye cream can mean there is less to cover.

Foundation- revlon colour stay- my holy grail. I've tried so many and this is the best, I add max factor facefinity to finish.

Concealer- bourjoris anti fatigue.

Blush- nars

Bronzer- hourglass radiant light- absolutely beautiful.

Eyebrows- max factor brow shaper

Eyelashes - max factor 2000 - an oldie but a goodie!

Finished with setting spray. Usually L'Oréal glow.

I'd really recommend hourglass, if I could affor to I'd try more of their stuff.

Also- not sure if it's been mentioned. Boots are currently letting you return makeup if you don't like it as they aren't doing testers. 👍🏻