New make up - need everything - any recommendations for where to go?

[DollyPartBaked]

I haven't bought new make up in years, babies plus pandemic has meant it hasn't been top priority but now I really want to because 1) I need it more than ever! and 2) I think it will help me feel a bit more like my old pre-babies, pre-pandemic self.

I haven't had much luck buying bits online so ideally i want to go to a counter / shop where they will put the make up on me and will make me buy all the stuff I need / up sell me to their heart's content. Where would you recommend?

I am happy to spend £150 or thereabouts as a Christmas present to me. I obviously don't use a lot and not great with brushes / applicators but I've never learnt or been interested enough.

Anyone got any advice or had success doing the something similar?

I've used the counters but often come home and it's too much

I like using a compact all in one foundation and powder. But at the moment I'm using Vichy Dermablend as I havent great skin

I've got semi permanent lipstick and brows.
So a bit of eyeliner and bronzer does me.

Bobbi Brown In a dept store
Space NK (I think it’s rare everything from the same brand suits, Space NK has a good range)
Trinny London if there’s a counter near you (think there’s only 2 or 3 in total but they do online consults)
Bare Minerals - not sure if elsewhere too but there is a boutique in Covent Garden, London

@Crumblinginside what do you do to your brows? This is also on my list! I'm deciding between a tint and shape and brow lamination (but not sure what that is!). I do know I found a grey hair in my eyebrows though!

Ooh will look at bare minerals as am in London and think would prefer a shop rather than John Lewis which would be my first stop.

John Lewis should really offer a personal shopper service in their makeup department. (Perhaps they do? But I've not seen one advertised.)

I bought some make up in Boots the other day, and the sales staff were really helpful.

Beauty Pie is very good. You pay a fee (either monthly or annually) but then the products are much cheaper than the high street equivalent. And you can book an online consultation with a beauty therapist to discuss what you're after, and get recommendations and advice.

I did this recently @DollyPartBaked and I went for Trinny London. It’s not cheap but it has really simplified my make up bag. I wanted to go to a counter but instead I had an online consultation with someone from Trinny London & she was really good. There’s no pressure to order the products but I ordered a few items later that week and they are spot on. The foundation colour is just perfect & far better than any I’ve purchased when I can sample the colours. The products are light & really simple to apply and you don’t feel heavily made up. There are lots of colour choices too. I now really enjoy putting on my simplified make now before work.
I think there’s currently some limited edition products that have 2 colours in one pot so it’s a good time to try it.
I’ve gone from a bulging makeup bag with products that don’t really work for me to a smaller, simpler bag and I use everything.

I've just booked myself a makeup tutorial at Charlotte Tilbury (although its within John Lewis!). Its £55 but redeemable against the products so free if you end up buying a few bits.

I had them microbladed (really natural) and lip blushing to re define the lips. Light colour.
Honestly I'm so happy with both.

Trinny London

If you don't like to use brushes or tools creams are your best friend. I use mostly Trinny London and love it. I recently got the new Rebalance tinted moisturiser from her but it was really thick feeling when I used my hands like I normally do. Paired with a damp sponge though it's bliss.

For base I use Trinny rebalance, Bff eye and also the Collection lasting perfection concealer. Blushers are Trinny, highlighters from Trinny, no7 and Beauty pie (all cream).

I don't use bronzer, don't use much powder but if I do it's normally the Charlotte Tilbury one, I've ran out but haven't repurchased yet.

I use ELF wow brow for my brows, eyes are either cream eyeshadow from Trinny or powder shadows from Vieve and Natasha Denona (I like her mini 5 pan palettes). Mascara is whatever I pick up.

Lips is the crayons from no7.

I can do my makeup in about 5-10 mins now, I'm either heading off to work or doing the school run so I like it to be super quick

Thanks for all the responses. I'd never heard of Trinny London before this thread (totally out the game!) and I also wouldn't have done an online consultation but coming around to the idea now as actually it's much easier with small kids.

Made an expensive tinted moisturiser mistake earlier in the year but that was without any guidance!

I'm a big fan of the bobbi brown counter

I like the Boot No7 range. It’s not great for everything (I’m not keen on their concealer) but I love it for foundation, tinted moisturiser etc, and for eyeshadow too.

I like no7 as well. That's what I bought the other day. The sales staff couldn't have been more helpful.

I've not used the Trinny stuff but if I was starting again and wanted something easy but effective I'd definitely try her stuff. It all looks so good and the fact it all can be applied with your fingers is a real bonus.