What make-up do I need?

[ThePlantsitter]

I have lost all my make-up. It was time for me to have a rethink anyway; I've never been the most confident make up applier. I'm 45 My skin is ok (apart from the facial hair which I wax) but something light to even out out would be good. I can't get away with loads of eyeliner now without looking like I've got little piggy eyes and I have never known how to put eyeshadow on - now my eyelids are more creased it is even worse.

Where do I start? I don't mind going to a breath counter except I don't want to look like I'm caked in make-up, and honestly I feel a bit weird about beautifying myself. I've always been overweight and it feels a bit like putting lipstick on nanny out of count duckula, so I often feel like beauty professionals are being really judgemental and think I'm a freak. I realise this is most likely me not them . Any advice/brands to try? What basic makeup do you use?

As I’ve got older I’ve pared it down but:-

Chanel vitalumiere foundation
Blusher - I go between Daniel sandler watercolour and boots natural collection ones
Nude or apricot/peach inner eye eyeliner - mine are Illamasqua and Chanel
I’ve got green/grey and a glimmery copper eyeliner for under eyes - Stila and Rimmel and both discontinued.
Bronzer - any from Bobbi brown to Mac
Lips - I veer from lipsticks to lip crayons but always a nice pink or mauve pink
Oh and benefit boing concealer

Oh if you do want eyeshadow benefit kitten is universally flattering

This is v useful thanks.

I'd go to Space NK and tell them most of that. And they will help you.

Don't buy it all at once though.

Maybe buy the thing you like best, I suppose it is traditional to buy something to justify their time, but wear the rest of it for the day and maybe go back in a day or two after also visiting the Bobbi Brown counter and any other that takes your fancy. Get samples. Take selfies. Be honest about your ability , time and motivation to replicate the same make up on the daily.

Maybe now would be a good time to change direction entirely rather than seek to copy your old look? Maybe some of your old look was in fact working for you? Maybe you need fewer products than you did and can pare down your routine? (Cream shadow and smudgy eye crayon instead of eye shadow palette and eyeliner?) Maybe you need to add a step? ( Highlighter, bronzer or primer perhaps?)

Have an open mind, enjoy this opportunity, but also, don't buy the purple eyeliner and tinted lip balm when you know you only feel really comfortable in brown shades of eyeliner and you need an untinted lip balm. It's their job to sell you stuff, but you get ultimate veto over which stuff.

I'm sorry you've lost your make up, but I'm a bit envious. I love a clean slate.

Gonnagetgoing do you have a link for the illamasqua inner eye liner or similar? Like the sound of that, but Chanel may be out of my budget.

Agree with @PrincessNutNuts, except that I find Space NK really hit and miss, especially in London. I would go to Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier - both brands that don't recoil in horror from customers over 35 (looking at you, MAC..).

I have a core 😂 makeup of:

Trinny tinted moisturiser
Foundation EL double wear
Beauty Pie Wonder Powder
Guerlain bronzer
Clinique pop blushers in peach and pink
Trinny cream blush/lip combo in coral, pink and peach
4 Highlighters palette by Charlotte Tilbury
Benefit waterproof eye pencils in black, navy, brown & plum
EL double wear eye pencil in grey
NYX mascara
Mac eyelashcurlers
Lip pencil - swirl by MAC and muted pink by Huda
Lipsticks in rose pink, nude, red, coral and fuscia
Peach lip gloss - MAC
Pink lip gloss - MAC
Lots of brushes and sponges to blend, blend, blend

My basic makeup kit is

Primer
Concealer
Foundation or bb cream
Powder
Blush in a flattering tone (consult a makeup counter advice on this as it can be difficult)
A lipstick or gloss
Mascara
Eyebrow powder or pencil

Avon do glimmer sticks which are really nice to use and go on well, in loads of colours - I have a silvery grey and brown.

I am fairly low key and pared down. I also don’t faff around with eyeshadows, concealers, contouring etc because I don’t have the time and am pretty rubbish at it:

1. Dior BB cream
2. MAC eyebrow pencil
3. Marc Jacob’s eyeliner
4. Benefit mascara
5. Fenty cheek cream
6. Light lipstick for day/dark for night (or)
7. MAC clear lipgloss

Loads of info, thanks! I think I will brave the Space NK or Bobbi Brown counters next week.

I usually wear

Collection lasting perfection concealer
Benefit GALifornia dream blusher
Mac highlighter
Maybelline sky high mascara
A brown/beige eyeshadow
NYX dewy finish setting spray

I had make up done at Clinique counter. Told the guy I only had minimal time in morning. He was great- so good that I bought the eye liner, shadow and lip crayon. Most unlike me.
Currently I use maybelline concealer, mascara and L’Oréal eye liner.

@napody

Gonnagetgoing do you have a link for the illamasqua inner eye liner or similar? Like the sound of that, but Chanel may be out of my budget.

I think illamasqua have discontinued that eyeliner but I use this too:-

www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Eye-Makeup/Eyeliner/Rimmel-Scandal%27Eyes-Waterproof-Kohl-Eyeliner,-Nude,-1-3g/p/743214?gclid=CjwKCAjwk6-LBhBZEiwAOUUDp_LJCi_x3EnoAEcf3m2gVrl1mBSSbVbp8DlR57cwWINALCkTogLaLxoCoJsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@ThePlantsitter

Loads of info, thanks! I think I will brave the Space NK or Bobbi Brown counters next week.

Enjoy it. In my experience make up artists want to use their skills and earn some commission and they are only too pleased to have customers to work their magic on.

Oh I forgot. Dior waterproof mascara or Rimmel snapscara for eyelashes

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

Agree with *@PrincessNutNuts*, except that I find Space NK really hit and miss, especially in London. I would go to Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier - both brands that don't recoil in horror from customers over 35 (looking at you, MAC..).

Agreed with you re Space NK. I used to go there a lot but got a bit fed up that they only stocked some brands and some very expensive ones if you like that.

Bobbi brown did do a makeup bag refresh for something like £15 which you can then spend on their products. I like their bronzers, foundation etc.

I used to like Laura Mercier but found most of what I liked got discontinued and I don’t like their pen cream eyeshadows.

I second the Avon Glimmersticks - the black is a great eyeliner.

Oooh, I am just about to throw my (2 drawers worth) make up away, I’m having a mid life rethink! Moving house, so everything must go!

I will enjoy this thread, thank you!

The only things I am keeping are:

• double wear foundation (which I dilute with moisturiser)
• ester Lauder tinted moisturiser - used daily with a bit of the above round the nose
• Boots tea tree concealer for spots
• touche eclat under eye ( but Clarins is just as good)
• double wear mascara
• Charlotte tilbury eye liners & also those fat sticks which are meant to be eye crayons but I use as eyeliner as they stay put
• gimme brow benefit eyebrow tamer
• Mac lipstick in a rose-brown shade
• double wear blusher in a rose-brown ( this is a recent game changer! Makes a massive difference)

I really rate glossier foundation. It's the first thing I have had that makes me look like I have good skin rather than good make up.

I also use the Charlotte Tilbury cream eyeshadows which are lovely and don't crease like other cream shadows I've tried.

I also have bare minerals SPF 25 foundation stick for a bit more coverage which gives a nice dewy finish.

What’s your colouring, you don’t say?
This is what I use every day, have a few extras for fun but these are my basics. I’m very pale.
Liquid foundation to exactly match my skin ( not easy when you make a ghost look tanned . Using Tarte stick in fair, sticks are really easy, just swipe it on forehead, nose, chin, each cheek then blend it in.
Dusted over with a bit of translucent compact powder.
A very pale pink powder blush, can’t end up like Aunt Sally with a very pale one.
Matt pale cream eyeshadow Boots No7 dusted over lids to even out colour. Bit of matt pale taupe powder shadow in socket( using a brush like a windscreen wiper), any brand, currently Boots.
Rimmel brown automatic eyeliner pencil, Exaggerate one, softer than black & no sharpening. Dusted over with a brown eyeshadow on a very small brush to set it.
Lots of mascara.
Max Factor Lipfinity in Whisper, pale pink. Pale pink pencil lipliner as my lips have lost definition as I’ve got older, non sharpening one eg Rimmel or Revlon or No7.
Lipstick in a colour that suits your colouring, pink or coral for me.
Above all enjoy it, a bit of quiet you time.