Make up help please!

[Cutie101]

I'm early 40s and I need make up help. I'm completely clueless with what to use and how to apply. I'm pale and I have bags under my eyes, I have lines (not so fine) on my forehead and my cheeks are a little on the podgy side. I'd love advice of some basic things to use and how to use them, just to make me a little less washed out and a little more even. Any miracles out there?!

Hello, are you looking for everyday make up? What is your skin like - dry, oily? I have bags that have lessened a bit with iron tablets and I use a Becca under brightening cream (think it’s discontinued now but think there are dupes) I just use a bit of brow gel, mascara and a brightening primer for work, sometimes a bit of lipstick in a rose or peach. Bit of cream blusher. What colour are your eyes and hair?

A face oil, SPF then a brightening serum. Everyone looks good with a slight glow

I love a light dusting of bronzer. It really makes my eyes pop. Then blusher high on my cheeks. Mascara and nude lipstick with a lighter topper.
Keep your under eyes well hydrated. And I like a thin layer of elf camo hydrating concealer, patted in with a damp finger.

Thank you all. Do I not need a foundation for every day? I'm pale and uneven, but want to look as natural as possible, just a little more polished. I have brown hair and green/grey eyes.

I’d always recommend a tinted moisturiser over foundation, eg Bare Minerals complexion rescue, Nars radiant, Trinny London BFF. There are cheaper drugstore options, think L’Oréal do a good one. Just apply with fingers, pretty foolproof.

Then under eye concealer, Nars creamy is my favourite. I use Bobbi Brown eye base to try and stop it collecting in fine lines but the creamy formula means that’s not such an issue. Then maybe some mascara and a lip to cheek product like Stila convertible or Bobbi Brown pot rouge. Eyebrow pencil if they need filling in.

I think if you’re not a habitual makeup user and you are not into the faff… you may find a tinted moisturizer or a skin tint give you better results than a foundation. They tend to be much more flattering for women d’un certain age also as they are nourishing, don’t cling and offer a more luminous look. We also don’t tend to have the same amount of acne, etc that need the full-cover that foundations offer. They’re easier to smash all over your face with fingers, brushes or sponges and are in general, much more forgiving. Great tinted moisturizers available from Kosas, Nars, Bobbi Brown and a new one from iT Cosmetics. Skin tints offer less coverage. They just even out pigmentation for “my skin but better” days. Kosas & Glossier are my faves.

Ooh, also Sneaky Balm by Salt NY, but not great value for money and I’m unconvinced on the hygiene.

Can't help a lot with makeup but recently I've started using Hyaluronic acid cream and a Retinol serum and they have made a huge difference

I forgot, Laura Mercier has a bloody lovely one and Fenty Ease Drops is gorgeous and has a wonderful range also.

If you want to avoid irritation with retinol (I have used tretinoin for 30 yrs but still find retinol irritating af on my neck & décolleté area, which needs help. I live in Aus, so despite religious sunscreen usage, it gets the sun sometimes if I miss.) Try retinol oil (neutrogena) and a really good ceramide cream (I preferJapanese & Korean ones because they are cheaper and the formulations are more effective and more pleasant to use. Curel is available at Boots or Superdrug there and is divine. A little goes a long way. Get the cream, not the moisturiser.) (The mist is outstanding, btw. Wish we could get it here.) Also Illiyoon Ato Concentrate Cream. Better value for money. Better formulation. Giant tube. (So big you can justify using it as body lotion as well.) You can buy it from Olive Young Global Site (best and fastest website, but the website is slow to load), YesStyle or Stylevana. They take ages to process and post, but you will get it eventually.
(*ceramides soothe, plump and help transport the “actives” like retinol (or vitamin c, niacinamide, etc) deeper into your cells.)

It depends on how uneven your skin tone is as to whether you can get away with a tinted moisturiser or a serum foundation or whether you need something with more coverage. Regardless, you're not going to go a deeper colour than your natural shade or you're going to struggle with your neck and chest being a different colour.

So much information to take in, thank you all!

I just got a L'Oréal BB cream (c'est magic or something?) That seems to be quite forgiving on my late 30s skin and perks up my complexion without being a full foundation.

For everyday I like a BB cream or tinted moisturiser. The M&S one was perfect but they’ve changed the tones now so I don’t know which one to get! I would recommend a trip to M&S and Superdrug for some good value cruelty free make up.

I like using creams as I have dry skin - both blusher and eye shadow.

Eyebrows are also important to frame your face.