Make up overhaul

[Daydreamsinglorioustechnicolor]

Now I'm getting older I need to overhaul my make up, but don't have a lot of money to spend. I don't mind paying more for things that work but can't really afford expensive mistakes!
Are department store make up places a good place to go? For a free consultation type of thing? Obviously this will have to wait for a while.
Any recommendations?

I like Nars & Laura Mercier (though I am in my twenties).

I used to be head over heels for Charlotte Tilbury, and still like alot of their products, but their more recent releases have been uninspiring and money grabs in my opinion.

In general though, my problem with make-up counters is that the staff work for that one brand, so although they are talented and will make genuine recommendations within their brand, if you go to Nars and an Armani foundation would be better for you then you wouldn't know. So what about booking an appointment with a makeup artist, they use a wide variety of brands and products in their kit so should be able to give you unbiased advice. A decent starting point could be looking at wedding makeup artists, as they often do mother of the bride they will be familiar with working on women of all ages.

In general though, my problem with make-up counters is that the staff work for that one brand, so although they are talented and will make genuine recommendations within their brand, if you go to Nars and an Armani foundation would be better for you then you wouldn't know.

Yes this is an issue isn't it.
You're suggestion of a make up artist could work. I'll look into it.

I'm 47 this year and only wear bb cream now , I invested in some Trinny London and love the cream blusher and bronzer but prefer my rimmel bb cream to her BFF de stress. It's ok but I won't buy it again for the money . Cream blusher and bronzer is very kind to older skin though

How old are you? It makes a difference make up wise. I mix all of my foundations with revlon rose glow liquid. It gives my skin a subtle sheen. Bb creams and tinted moisturisers don't give me enough coverage. I also like the trinny pots of eyeshadow. Easy to apply, long lasting and subtle.

I'm 48 and have never spent less on my make-up and look better than I ever used to! I used to get sucked into Chanel this, CT that but honestly, there 's no difference and in some cases, cheaper products are better.
Excellent cheap products I use every day:
W7 Camera Ready Primer. Better than Smashboxand £4
MUA pink diamond highlighter - £3 and better than Becca
Primark False Lash mascara - better than Benefit
NYX soft matte lip cream - fantastic nude shades and long lasting
Essence do fab lip liners which are MAC dupes and £1
Collection eyebrow gel plumped x-ray better than Anastasia BH
Love Revolution eyeshadow palettes and their hydrate and conceal primer (dupe for UD

As I get older, my beauty budget goes I to skincare and electronic devices so my make-up needs to be cheap - all of the above are outstanding.

Sorry that should say hydrate and conceal concealer from Revolution

Good tips everyone. I'm 39.
Tbh I barely wear any make up. Eyebrow pencil, brown eyeliner, mascara. That is it.
I saw the Trinny London cream blush and thought that was the kind of thing I wanted. Also some everyday colour for lips.
I'm also (deliberately) going grey so want to look finished and not just like I've given up 😂.
I do wear bold lip colours for going out, which I'd like to expand as well.
@JMAngel1 I'll look up some of your suggestions thanks.
I may be deluded but I think my skin is ok, so I don't want to cover it as such, just add a bit of colour to cheeks and brighten it a bit.

I'm much, much older than you, and wear just enough make up to look a bit pulled together. Currently it's concealer over the age spots/sun damage, plus MAC skinfinish powder on my nose only, a cream blusher (Stila Peony), and mascara with a thin tight line of olive brown eyeshadow, brow pencil. Plus lip balm under a mask, or lippy in a light clear red for Zoom events.

I’ve done an overhaul on my make-up. I have bought a few items of Bobbi Brown - creamy eye pencils which double as soft eye liner for example. I’ve also ventured into Glossier products. I find the formulations really light and natural looking. I’m loving the boy brow, the cloud paint which is a natural cheek colour, a skin tint and a concealer. I was less enamoured with the mascara. They do nice tinted lip balms which are great for a look which is pulled together but understated.

Sounds like the kind of thing I'm after. Wish we could go to the shops 😕

I would generally say go to a few make up counters abs try a few things out but probably not at the moment due to covid.

Depending on what your skin and colouring is like there are some good starter sets you can get online eg bare minerals or QVC does some good sets from different brands.

I've just got Trinny London BFF and one of the lip2cheek pots. I really like both.

QVC is a good place to look actually @Daydreamsinglorioustechnicolor, one of my guilty pleasures in life is sitting down with a cup of tea and watching their beauty shows 😁 it's helping seeing the demonstrations of all the products and how they work on various skin tones etc, and they also have fab deals. Also you can return it if you don't like it!

They sell bare minerals which i always think it'll a lovely light foundation for those who don't want anything too heavy. They have a really good range so may be worth a look.

Wow I would never have thought of QVC.
I'm starting a list and may start shopping online or may save it until we are allowed to shop again.

Essence is pretty good. I got a waterproof eyeliner and it doesn't smudge or wear off.

Elf is good and really inexpensive.
I like their brow pencils (with a brush in the other end), Pen eyeliner, gel highlighter and lip gloss.

This is on QVC at the moment

www.qvcuk.com/.product.242614.html?source=cht&cm_mmc=Email--TPRE--LauraGeller_20210126_TPRE_CAMP20967-1_2111835789_20210126-_-CELL195779

I do like Laura Geller face products

They also have some good deals Benefit on mascara etc