40 ish, what are your make up essentials?

[TonkaTruckduck]

I've just emerged from 6 years of young dc, no sleep etc and finally feel like I want to put myself tidy again, I've a bit more time and motivation.

What do I need? Lower to mid end budget, Boots No 7 rather than Chanel unfortunately.
I've large pores, brown straggly eyebrows and Hazel eyes.

Is it worth having my eyebrows dyed? What do you wear daily and add in for a more special occasion?

I'm booked in for botox to freshen up, these kids have really knackered me.

I'm loathe to just go in for a session on the makeup counter as I'm a saleswoman dream and would come out with £200 of stuff, which isn't really in budget just now.

My "look" from pre dc is probably horribly dated now, and too high maintenance.

Thanks for any help and advice

Boots number 7 hydra-luminous foundation and a good vitamin C serum OP. It gets a lot of stick around here but I really like the Trinny London makeup and find it easy to use and they show you what colours suit you.

@DarlingCoffee thank you. I just had a quick look at the Trinny stuff, I like the idea of multifunction products, will do more research later....anything of theirs you especially recommend?

Definitely get your eyebrows done - makes a world of difference, eyelash lift and tint if you can’t be arsed with mascara - Paula’s choice exfoliant has helped my pores…. A bit… I think!

No worries, I have about 14 of their little pots. Not too fussed over their foundation BFF cream -although I know some love it - but for me I like the eye colours and creamy blush lip2cheek pots. I like using the same colour on my cheeks and mouth and I think that’s a more modern look but don’t quote me!!

I'm a make up saleswoman's nightmare as I'm all about the underlying skin. I'd rather deal with the cracks than paint over them, so I prioritise trying to fix the problems rather than disguise them. So yes to the botox. No to the 'youthful' foundation, which I'd need to apply with a trowel to cover the lines botox can blitz. Yes to the peels and pore reducing serums and a little tear trough filler for my dark circles. No to the latest magic concealer that always looks cakey and heavy on me. I wear a cheap lash thickening mascara, emphasise my light natural eyebrows with a little eye shadow, some eyeliner, lipstick or clear gloss, and thats it. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I find the money I spend on dealing with the issues means I can get away with minimal make up, saving time and money and looking less 'done'. I'm religious about my (cheap) skin care though, using vitamin C, retinol (from The Ordinary, so not expensive) and day and night cream (from Aldi) Also a very clean diet (no meat, fish, dairy, processed, and mostly whole foods) and B12, D3, collagen and cod liver oil supplements.

If you pick the products carefully then I think you can spend on items which need more investment.

I think:
Good 50 SPF base
Foundation if you need it (personally I just mix a drop with the SPF)
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter a game changer
Good eyebrow pencil or pomade- any
Tight line eyes only- Stila pencils fab for that especially if you are a contact lens wearer I know it stays all day
The only Trinny product I rate (and I have tried the all) is the Eye2Eye eye ebut if I were you I would just get a neutral pallet from No7
Mascara- No 7 Stay Perfect tubing mascara
Cream blush- any
Lipstick- personally go for a L'Oreal lip stain and do also rate CT Pillowtalk but know it doesn't suit everyone

Night alternate Vitamin C serum and retinol
Good moisturiser- any but love Absolute Formula night cream

Tricky age as make up can easily make you look older not younger/fresher. I find I need a tiny amount of products especially on the eyes.

There are plenty of good low fuss tinted moisturisers like Trinny’s (v expensive), or Nars or Bare Minerals or Eborian. But agree with PP it’s better to focus on skin. Don’t forget SPF.

Maybe an eyelash growth serum.

I love blusher for brightening me up, probably put a bit much on but love it.

Cream products are more popular these days - Bobbi Brown’s pot rouges might be a good option.

I’d suggest looking at The Ordinary products- there’s quite a range and might take some trial snd error to find what works for you but I’ve found their niacinimide, acids, acid masks, oils and retinoids have really transformed my skin.

I was in a similar situation and agree Botox, but also perhaps a couple of sessions of microdermabrasion and then a hydrafacial to really jooj the skin and then in combination with the products has made a massive difference to skin texture.

For eyebrows you can dye these at home with dybrow by eyelure. Definitely get a strong spf and use every day. I keep meaning to get a tretonoin subscription that is always recommended on here, but not yet done so!

Thank you all so much for the replies.

I put some makeup on today to go for lunch and looked about 10 years older in the harsh lights in the restaurant loo as the foundation sat in my lines, the mascara flaked a bit etc.

I'm going to follow your advice about skin care and invest in some serums and cream (plus the botox), I'd love microdermabrasion as well....is it addictive? How often do you get it done?

Then maybe just get a decent mascara and eyeshadow pallet and let my skin do the talking

I'm 45. I haven't had any Botox or fillers etc

Before applying makeup I like to use serum then an spf anti ageing moisturiser.
The best serum I've found is Clinique Smart Repair- it's very concentrated so you only need a small drop & a bottle lasts for months.
I then like to use Boots No7 Intense Protect & Perfect spf15 moisturiser.
If I'm going to be out in the sun longer than half an hour after about April I wear No7 Protect & Perfect spf50 facial sun cream instead of the moisturiser.

Then as my skin is quite oily & shiny I like to use Smashbox Photo Finish Minimise Pores Primer on my tzone either on its own or under foundation or bb cream. It really works well.

I think it's important to make sure your skin is well cleansed & toned for putting on products, I recently started using Clinique Clarifying Lotion no2 as a toner and I have found it's really improved my skin.

I'm 41 and also no botox etc. Haven't yet felt like I need it.

As I've gotten older I have definitely found that less is more when it comes to makeup. I now go for the lightest liquid textures possible. My favourite products are liquid blusher, liquid highlighter, a balmy lipstick and liquid concealer (because I am pale and have had dark circles under my eyes since childhood). I rarely wear foundation anymore but when I do it is a very light textured one and only where I need it. Ditto powder. I would definitely suggest defining your brows.

Agree that good skin is the best starting point. I also rate the Ordinary serums.

I use a primer (M&S luminosity or Smashbox colour correct) and then either Garnier Bb cream or Armani Luminous Silk foundation. Nars Multiple in Orgasm for cheeks, and eyeko felt tip eyeliner with No 7 Stay Perfect mascara. Agree with PP about tightlining only, but the felt tip eyeliners are the only ones that stay put - Wunder, Stila etc all leave me with panda eyes quickly.

I am 41. I have Botox on my forehead and crows feet, and filler in one vertical line above my top lip.
The things that make me look younger are:
Estée Lauder double wear light (or hydra or something) liquid foundation
Creamy highlighter stick on top of cheekbones and brow bones
Dark brown tight liner on top lids
Generous sweep of super black mascara
Sheer pink lipstick which I also use as a creamy blush on the apples of my cheeks

Placemarking as I’m 42 and still in the little kids/ toddler/ lack of sleep phase but really need to do something with myself. I look about 110 but also spotty

I’m 43 and use no7 hydraluminous really nice glowy medium coverage foundation also bare minerals complexion rescue. I avoid any heavy coverage or matte foundations that I used to wear. Cream blush bobbi brown pot rouge as mentioned,
Mascara, nars concealer, nude lipstick or balm. Eyebrows tinted and good bronzer.
Also echo others rec re skincare vitamin C retinol at night etc. good luck! Post lockdown makeup definitely more sheer and glowy.

I’m 42 and I need all these tips! Currently losing some weight which is going well but my skin has suffered the last couple of years.

Those of you having Botox and fillers - what are the pros and cons? Is it a case of once you start you can’t stop? Are you good to go straight after an appointment or do you have to hide away for a while?!? I have no clue about all this.

Definitely recommend a retinol!! Medik8 is the one I use but lots out there to choose from

W7 poreless primer and Maybelline Great Lash mascara. If I've got those I'm good...

I've just turned 50 and my skin has never been better.

I use a cream cleanser or a balm ( depends what I've got ) only a fairly cheap one as it's just taking the makeup off. Then I use a fairly low key toner in the evening and I use an acid toner usually in the morning.

I follow with a retinol balm from dermatica ( only £20 per month ) in the evening, and then I use a cheap but rich moisturiser from Aldi.

I am putting a pic up of my face as honestly I think it's probably the retinol but my skin is really nice and clear and has a good glow!

Makeup wise I use a tinted moisturiser from nars, collection 2000 concealer, cream blush from glossier and a cream highlighter from beauty pie. Bit of mascara and eyeshadow and it's a lovely natural glowy look.

For full disclosure I do use Botox regularly and have fillers, I have my tear troughs done so I look a lot less knackered too. I know that's not for everyone but it all helps hold everything up so to speak.

The skincare routine works on the actual skin surface but the Botox and fillers keep everything in place that was once a bit droopier iyswim?

Pleas excuse the rash on my neck, I had a reaction to some bubble bath 🤣

Microdermabrasion isn’t addictive in my experience as I only had a few sessions (3 or 4) and then had a course of 4 hydrafacials and then just the occasional one every few months ever since. These combined has made a huge impact in terms of pores and generally just sloughing off the years of relative neglect to kick off the whole process.

A bonus about getting your skin healthy is that treatments such as Botox will work better and have a greater result overall when the skin is in good condition, so if you’ve decided to go this route or even if you decide not to, it’ll benefit you either way.

I would say the results from treatments such as microdermabrasion and hydrafacials etc definitely are addictive and so it’s easy to be sucked into the skincare rabbit hole once you start seeing results which can end up being as expensive as you want, but if you remain objective and realistic then once you’re up to a good point or dramatically improved, it’s more about consistent maintenance with the occasional stronger professional treatment, like a spring clean of the skin.

Agree a good primer can really help with pores too, I currently use this one

deciem.com/en-gb/hylamide/mas-finisher-ha-blur.html?dwvar_mas-finisher-ha-blur_size=30ml&quantity=1

I find if I use a thin layer of that with sheseido BB cream 50spf it gives a really smooth finish and just dust loose powder on top of this with bronzer and blusher.

www.allbeauty.com/gb/en/1212647-shiseido-sports-bb-spf50-quick-dry-dark-30ml

Mixing your existing foundation with moisturiser can also give a lighter and adjustable consistency so if you are happy with your existing shade etc then you could always experiment with different levels of dilution in moisturiser then you can work out if you need another product before thats finished.

Finally (& sorry this has morphed into a long post!!) I’d recommend lash primer under mascara such as Lancôme or I’ve just tried the maybelline one which is very little difference imo- the trick is leaving it to dry long enough but not too long, maybe 2-3 minutes, then mascara.

www.boots.com/maybelline-lash-sensational-mascara-primer-10233855?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare--Beauty_Maybelline-_-UK_Smart_Shopping_Beauty_Maybelline&gclid=CjwKCAiAprGRBhBgEiwANJEY7NFXUuFG275jvZUm6Xjn3ziolTA2VJLzQg0HJe8L9xktiXAmKRHj2hoCokYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@Notoironing hardly any downtime for Botox and fillers!

Fillers have an immediate effect and it's amazing how the difference is straight away.

Botox might leave little tiny bee sting type holes where the needle has gone in but I find after about half an hour they are much less noticeable.

You also may get faint bruising in the following days but I find a tiny bit of concealer covers it up. Most of the time I don't bruise though.

Origins vitazing instead of foundation, a nice natural blusher, eyebrows shaped, tubing mascara, brightening under eye concealer. If I'm going out I'll use a cream shimmer eyeshadow on the inner corners of my eyes and under brows to highlight.

Placemarking

Are you sure you need Botox op?
In my opinion it gives an unnatural tight (yet puffy!) shiny look that can be spotted a mile off.

I have a light touch botox, otherwise known as baby botox, which is really subtle (I can still move my eyebrows) and it's very rejuvenating, so would recommend that.

No shiny forehead, though!