How to look better without make up

[Awakened]

I've worn make up daily since I was a young teen. I've perfected the fresh face look so never look overdone but everything is done, if that makes sense?
I've always known I look drastically different without make up but it was never really an issue.
Now I'm wfh and don't put on make up unless I'm going out, it's really hit me. I would be close to unrecognisable at the moment.

The issues are my skin texture, pores and redness. My eyebrows that don't really exist. My eyes, which look quite striking and lovely with make up on (I know self praise is no praise, sue me) are kind of beady and unappealing without.
I also have a chubby face which is why make up enhances eyes, contours a little (though I don't actually contour)

Can anyone walk me through what I can do to become slightly better looking without make up?

My skin care routine is quite good.

I have given up trying to look ok without make up. I accept that without a little concealer, mascara and eye liner (as an absolute minimum) I look like I’ve been exhumed and life is to short to walk around looking like that. So pass me my make-up bag! 😃

Definitely grow your eyelashes and brows. No need for 2 products, one for both will work. Makes a big difference if you commit to doing it every day for a while. Get the ones with best Amazon reviews.

Pull your skin into shape with proper active ingredient serums- retinol & vit c. Just be careful with the intense versions, read up first so you don’t shock your skin into a reaction!

@Nitpickpicnic how do you grow your eyebrows and lashes?

@doadeer

What about trying something like Erborian CC cream, that's all I wear and it's great at providing a little coverage but still no makeup look

Echo this, absolute miracle cream. Even my husband commented that I looked ten years younger when I put it (and no other make up) on, and he doesn't notice anything.

I don't look any different wearing makeup

I have the Erborian cc cream in the lightest shade but it's too dark for me, it is a great cc cream, I wonder if there's a way I could lighten it.

Also another vote for revitalash lash serum. I think my skin has looked more dull recently though...! Happy to see the ideas on this thread. I use a Mac serum foundation but not sure it’s quite doing the trick. Which Erborian CC cream have you used? And is there a rule around dewy vs matte for more ageing skin?

I'm taking a break from alcohol at the moment and have noticed my skin has improved a lot. Not sure if that's helpful!

Also, I sound similar to you, in terms of colouring and features. I just don't wear makeup. Do I look striking and gorgeous? Nope! Do I look like a troll? No. I just look like a woman with no make up on! It's fine. It's natural etc, etc. I do wear it sometimes, but I used to refuse to leave home without eyeliner on fgs. Now I just do it and nothing terrible has happened.

Isn't it weird how men don't wear make up and no one complains or notices?

I think it’s the contrast between what you look like with and without makeup that people notice? There are times when I wish I had never started with makeup, then me and the wider world would be used to my natural face.

Fake tan, although I suppose it's another kind of makeup.

Acids will make a massive difference to skin texture - Paula's Choice BHA is a good starter one, use twice per day.

Get eyebrows tattooed on if they are too sparse, or otherwise dyed and shaped. Lashes dyed as well. Not the same as mascara, but if your lashes are fair, makes a difference.

Drink lots of water and give up refined sugar and booze!

I’ve given up and just accepted I need make up in some form particularly now I have hit 50, eyebrows get thinner, eyelashes sparser, and for me in particular broken veins are my bugbear, so long as I have some foundation on as a minimum I can face the world.

@CeibaTree

Drink lots of water and give up refined sugar and booze!

Oh dear. 5 minutes a day putting makeup on is much less hassle than that!

@Gwenhwyfar Ha! Yes I agree, but I was just answering the OP's question :)

I just wanted to thank you all and update you.

So I've started upping my water intake.
Using retinol (the inky list, if anyone has better suggestions please let me know as I understand the % is quite low in this)
Using a retinol eye cream.
And I've totally pared back how much make up I wear which has actually been the best thú g for "adjusting" to my normal face!

Now I just wear a foundation with a hyaluronic acid, mascara, a "my own lips but better" lipstick and a little bit of pencil in brows.
This probably sounds like loads to most of you but I used to have my eyes quite "done" and more bits and bobs on my face.

I actually look more youthful with less and it's less frightening when I take it off

Thanks again everyone