Q&A with professional makeup artist, Donna May - Ask your questions to Donna May and she will share her tips and tricks

[BexleyMumsnet]

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Q&A thread with Donna May!

This thread is now closed for questions, and Donna is busy answering all of your questions! She will be posting her answers for you this Friday 10 December.

Thanks!

From lipstick to lifestyle, clothes to contouring, Donna May’s taste is perfection - but never elitist. As a professional makeup artist and the head of makeup and hair for ITV, Donna really knows what she’s talking about when it comes to makeup.

We are excited to welcome Donna May to this special Q&A where she will answer all your makeup and beauty questions. You have from today, Wednesday 24th November until Monday 6th December to post any makeup or beauty related question that you would like Donna May’s to answer!

Donna May will then get to answering all of your questions, and on Friday 10th December she will start to reply to your posts.

And for everyone who has posted a question or viewed this thread, do not forget about our exclusive deal for Mumsnet members, where you can get 20% off of selected Donna May London products, including the award-winning lay-flat makeup bag! Simply go to our deals page and follow the instructions, then you can enjoy your savings!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Can you recommend techniques to reduce the appearance of under eye bags? Not shadows, but huge bags, genetic rather than lifestyle related. I've been told the only solution is surgery but I would so much rather take a non-surgical option!

I'd like some help with tight lining on my upper lashes. It doesn't seem to matter if I use expensive (NARS) or bog standard (Rimmel) eye liner, it always smudges onto my lower lids. What am I doing wrong?

Please could you reccomend a range/ brand/shade of foundation that could replicate No7 serum foundation in Soft Rose ( that shade now sadly discontinued)? It wasn't so much the texture ( though that was nice) but a cool toned foundation with pink undertones? Not too pale but still fair ( Irish complexion, green eyes, very dark hair). Happy to pay up to 35- 40 pounds

Another one for hooded wrinkly eyelids please! I had another go recently and the eyeshadow revealed a whole load of tiny wrinkles and gave a marbled effect.

Hi Donna.
Please what can you recommend for discolouration around the nose and mouth ( I’m dark skinned and I use colour corrector but it doesn’t seem to work) also what’s the best face make up products for dry skin, what’s the best way to apply false eyelashes, I can never do it myself. What’s the product you must have in your makeup bag. Thank you

What is the best product to use for covering dark circles under the eyes - I'm never sure whether to use colour corrector, concealer or foundation. Also, like others I'd like to know how to stop it accentuating fine lines under the eyes.

I'm nearly 50. What can I do about by hooded, crepey eyes, my tear troughs and dark bags.

TLDR: What can I do about my aging peepers?👀

Is less really best for over 65s? What can I do about lines above lips?

Another request for tips for oily eyelids and under eye areas and mascara smudges and make up for glasses wearers -eyelids and cheeks. Thank you

Under eye bags - not just dark shadows but properly soft baggy skin as well, which means that concealers always look rubbish. Would like some way of not always looking like I've been on a 48 hour bender!!!!

I’m pushing 50 and have enormous pores that make my foundation look spotty when I apply as it just sits in them. What would you recommend to shrink them back?

@FloatOn

I am 39 and have a ridiculously wrinkly forehead, recently I've just had a blunt fringe to hide it, but is there any way to disguise it using make up?

A fringe is a great idea! The only think you can try that isn't permanent like Botox is Skincare products like Clarins Instant Smooth Or a product like My Perfect Facial from My Perfect Cosmetics - they have products that really do temporarily remove lines!

@yorkshiremum2022

What is the right way to apply concealer? And should it be lighter/darker than your foundation?

Great Question, Go for one shade lighter, any more then that it will become a highlighter and you don't want to 'highlight' your problem areas. Stay away from any that have any illumionsity as this will also bring attention to those areas. And always apply AFTER your foundation, not before x

@CatNamedEaster

How do I make small round eyes look a bit wider (across, not wider open )? And what's the best mascara for that shape eye - lengthening or thickening?

Easy! add some sparkly to the corner of your eye and also to the centre of the eyelid ( close to the lashes) this will elongate your eyes. My Fave thickening/lengthening mascara is Bad Gal by Benefit.

@Ifrozethehoumous

What is the best moisturiser for more mature skin?

I always suggest a SPF rather than a moisturiser...put this on under your makeup . I'm using Medik8 which is fab.

@Strictlydusting

All the primers I have tried just make my pores look huge as they sit in them rather than gliding over them. I end up looking like a leopard when I add foundation on top. Am I applying it wrong?

That can happen. All primers will 'fill' the pores, they are meant to level out the skin so that foundation doesn't 'fill' the pores. But need to get one specifically for pores, like Benefits 'Pore' or Smashbox have one called ''Minimize Pores - these fill the pores and glide over the top.

@SylviaTrench

I'd like advice on the best technique for applying foundation please, so that you get a decent coverage, without it looking too caked-on.

Also, a recent thread on the S&B board here discussed if putting eyeliner on the lower lash line is dated and/or ageing. I've been wearing it like that for about 35 years so it's a hard habit to drop. I'd be interested to hear your opinion, thanks!

Using a foundation brush will give you more coverage, hands will give less so. Maybe the foundation you are using is to heavy, why not try one step down? or a nice tinted moisturiser like Bareminerals Complexion rescue? Using eyeliner in black or dark brown on the lower lash line can definitely look ageing and quite harsh, if you can't give it up, try a mid brown or a grey I know old habits are hard to break!

@GiantCheeseMonster

How do you do batwing eyeliner? I can never get them the same and I always get a really wobbly line.

This is a never ending question...it all depends on your eye shape and what you are using. I'd suggest you use a pencil rather than a liquid liner if you have wobbly hands - this way it's easy to correct mistakes. Draw the line right ON the lash line, touching the actual lashes, and then use a small tight brush to drag the colour outwards, this can be easier than trying to get a super neat line.

@Faevern

How do I use concealer on shadows under eye, whatever I have tried they look the same and sometimes make the skin look dry.

Firstly always use a wet concealer ( not a solid one that comes in a pot), the key is not to cover the whole eye area in concealer, but to place it just underneath the shadows - this will then lift the darkest part. I love Bareminerals Bareskin concealer. Also always use after your foundation, not before.

@Newchallenge

Is there any very simple hack you can recommend for foundation (or whatever you are supposed to use these days?) I can't get on with contouring etc.

No! Just slap it on like you always have!! - Contouring is literally using your bronzer or blusher to add some definition to your cheekbones, forget all this Instagram makeup unless you are under 18! one tip, is use your bronzer along your jawline, it give you a sharp jaw and hides any jowls!

@Westerman

Hi Donna.

I use eyeliner on my upper lash line only. No matter what type of product I try, however, it always ends up under my eyes! I don't think my eyelids are especially oily and I always leave plenty of time after applying my moisturisers; is there anything I can do, or any product I can use, to keep the eyeliner where I put it?

Thank you.

Ummm you sound like you know what you are doing... Have you tried putting a light powder on the lids, over the lashes, and under the lower lash line? Your lashes may have moisturiser on them.... use a super light weight one like Laura Mercier Translucent setting powder. Also try a waterproof liner like the Stila Stay All Day Liner x

@BreadInCaptivity

Best foundations/tinted moisturisers for dry mature skin.

In context:

I suffer from eczema.

I use Hyaluronic serum to ensure against skin dehydration and have a good skincare regimen.

I still find so many formulations really drying/ageing.

They look good when you initially apply but over the day they don't cut it and powder/crease.

The two brands that work for me are a) Suquu which is brilliant but very price heavy and sometimes too heavy coverage and b) Trinny De-Stress which is also pricy but too light coverage at times.

Is there a happy medium you can recommend?

Ohh a fab one I think you should try is ITCosmetics - it's in between Suquu and Trinny , a good price and lovely texture. Make sure its the pink one ( they have blue and grey too) which is illuminating it called Your Skin But Better CC+ and they have 25% off now!

@CimCardashian

Best eye make up look for hooded eyes please?

A cream shadow stick is great for hooded / wrinkle eyes. Powder can crease too much. Try either RMS Eye polish or Kiko so some fab Cream eyeshadow sticks for around £5. don't use a colour too dark, try a soft brown/heather colour which suits all eye colours.

@Rina66

What's the best mascara for holding a curl after using eyelash curlers on super straight lashes?

I can only tell you the ones I love, I really love Studio 10 mascara as it has 2 wands, a teeny one free getting to the root and lifting and a larger one for the bulk of the lash. The Other is Benefit Bad Gal Bang - Great wand and great coverage. xx

@Lndnmummy

Idiot proof way of applying a cream or stick blush please?

Use My Cream Blusher brush (oops we have just sold out!) Mac have a brush number 188S, the hair is not so dense so you don't end up looking like Aunt sally! OR you could use your ring finger and tap it on the apple of your cheek moving outwards.