How can you chose makeup without testers?! Help needed!

[Binglebong]

I rarely wear makeup but have a wedding layer this year where will need some. Two things in particular that an looking for.

A non shiny foundation that is strong enough to hide redness but will last all day despite tears and sweat. And I have no idea how to colour match as i look a different colouring every photos so the instant app things don't work.

My mum, who is gray haired, want a very waterproof brown mascara to highlight that she has got eyelashes but as she basically doesn't wear makeup she doesn't want to overdo it.

Both these will be used very rarely so cheap is important! Good luck with that....

All help very much appreciated.

If you know your foundation shade in a brand, you can find the best match in another with findation.com/. Foundation is not the only option and I think many tinted moisturisers look just as good and less mask like.

I have just been to space nk today and they squirted out a little tester onto a cotton bud for me to try, hygienically (she wore gloves). And gave me a hand mirror so I could go stand in the street without mask and see what it looked like. Try there!

Ah maybe not cheap though 😬

Google ‘x product dupe’ for certain things you like.

Also if you like the quality of a certain brand then it might be a safe choice to order the same brand but different products.
If you have oily skin and redness use a mattifying primer under your foundation. You can also use a translucent powder on top, just google it. Blotting papers are also very much a life safer for photos. Not sure how much they are in the UK but I can buy a package of 250 sheets for less then £1 here so it’s a low key investment that can keep the shine at bay without buying a super matte foundation, often they are really ageing.

We bought DD some bare minerals foundation last week. The lady dispensed some powder out and gave DD a brand new travel brush to use and test the foundation out. They don't reuse the brush again, she just gave it to us. We tried about 5 foundations and tbh it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be given covid restrictions.

Bare minerals made my face itch or it would be a good call. And the blotting papers and excellent one - I'll order some now.

With regard to dupes I have no idea.it is years since i wore any foundation, of really any make up, so I can't use what I have as a starting point. I might have to go somewhere with concession stands (no where less than an hour away!) and smile sweetly at the MUAs. Thankbuoufor the ideas, I'm going to keep this thread handy.

Any suggestions for good waterproof brown mascara?

I like Revlon Colourstay Foundation - the oily/combination formula. Not super cheap, but I think under £15. It's none shiny, long wearing, and decent coverage. Testers will be available at boots/superdrug. Though if you rarely wear foundation will you feel 'right' suddenly with a higher coverage formula?

Maybeline are generally well regarded for their mascaras, again not the cheapest of the cheap, but certainly not high end. They are likely to have a brown waterproof.

Boots were doing exchange on makeup if you got the wrong shade due to no testers. Worth checking to see if they are still doing that.

I like Rimmel Extra Super Lash and Loreal Volume Million Lashes, each around a tenner and pretty fool proof, you can get versions with curved wands to which makes them even easier to use.

For foundation I maybelline matte and poreless, again cheap as chips, I've got really oily skin and tend to touch my face a lot but it lasts all day and is really comfortable....and they have loads of shades.

You are all marvellous! Thank you so much for your help with this.