Need whole new makeup kit - where to start?

[wonderstuff]

I rarely wear makeup, but like to wear some to go out, post pandemic my whole kit is old and needs a refresh, haven’t worn anything for a couple of years, family wedding coming up and want to fix.

I have previously used bare minerals foundation and bronzer, but seems to be quite cakey when I try now, not sure if it’s my skin aging or my ancient brushes not doing it anymore?

Ive ordered some Il Makiage foundation.. what next? I’ve got pale Celtic skin and very dark hair and eyes… wedding in south of France so going to be hot.

Are you looking after your skin? Cleanse and moisterise at the very least? A good serum to deal with specific issues is also a great investment.

As I have got older I have found myself moving away from powders. I can't quite define why but maybe I am subconsciously aware of them getting into lines on my face?

My basics would be:

1. Good foundation. Shop around and do this in person to get the right one for you. Light coverage is better usually. Nars does one specifically dor oily skin but I think a few others do too. I have used bobbi brown happily for years. Mac does a good range too. I recommend spending money here - a good foundation is worth the cost (also.consider a good primer - I don't use it every day but love the bobbi brown vitamin one. Lots of people I know love clarins or benefit versions).

1. Blusher and/or bronzer. I am currently using a cheap and cheerful blusher stick from Revolution. I have generally found good blushers and bronzers in the cheaper options although I do look at the guerlain and bobbi brown ones with a little drool sometimes. But I don't know if they do a cream stick

1. Mascara. Personally, I have tried a million and always come back to Maybelline for black and a Boots number 7 for brown. The expensive ones have never quite worked for me.

1. Eye shadow. Again, I don't use powder at all here. I have a eye shadow stick from Laura mercier which is lovely and also a cheep and cheerful one from Boots 17. I looked at the bobbi brown ones but the colours didn't quite work for me. I am seriously considering a victoria beckham one for more dramatic eyes when needed.

1. Eye brows if needed. Again, maybelline work best for me here.

I don't use concealer but am considering something like the Trinny blur stuff. I do feel like I need something like that now I am nearing 50.

I booked a Bobbi brown lesson. It was about £50 quid at the time 5 years ago and was redeemable against product. Best money I've ever spent. I found my perfect foundation, learnt to tight line, contour and highlight very subtly. I asked for the no make up make up look.

I keep meaning to go back for a Smokey eye lesson.

I am a big fan of Elmis Pro collagen cleanser, and have to have moisturiser at night or my skin gets super dry. Don’t need brow as mine are very dark and thick, have occasionally started using mascara as I now have a couple of white lashes!

Want my skin to look lovely and dewy and not knackered!

Yes to the importance of mascara as eyelashes get thinner and paler. I always struggled with panda eyes by the end of the day but tubing mascaras have been a revelation - can wear them with confidence through sweat and rain, and they come off with a warm wet cloth without scrubbing.
www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/fashion-beauty/make-up/best-tubing-mascara-b1907032.html

@wonderstuff If your skin leans towards dryness, I'd say you should be moisterising in the morning as well. Make up never goes on as well if the skin isn't well moisturised first. And I'd reiterate that a serum to address whatever your key concern is could be helpful (or get a general serum like the Sali Hughes one from Revolution on the cheaper end or the Clarins Double Serum on the more expensive end).

For mascara - I'm also very pale skinned but have light coloured hair. I don't like the harshness of black mascara unless it's a night out so I use a brown mascara on a day to day basis - looks very natural. that might work for you if you're not a big mascara person.

Don't go for expensive mascara or brow products. Maybelline or L'Oreal for mascara, Revolution/NYX for brows are good. I personally don't like cheap blushers or bronzers. Medium or high end ones do the job for me like Mac, Too faced. Good foundation- I love Double Wear, but I do realize it's quite heavy for some.

Had not heard of these, thank you

So John Lewis do a makeup consultation £48 redeemable against product, will look across brands, I’m booked in for Sunday! Wish my bank balance luck. Thanks so much guys for all the advice.

Great! Happy shopping 🛍

How old are you?
I've found since my skin aged in my 40's and upwards that it was less about foundation and more about tinted moisturiser (I like Clinique City Block) but if I do use foundation it's Chanel Vitalumiere.
I also use:
MAC concealor for under eyes and Rimmel Match Perfection Liquid Concealor - the latter is brilliant, I'd never have thought to have bought it before - and I've rebought it in a slightly different colour.

Chanel Peach/apricot eyeliner for in inner eye area to make you look more awake - I did have a nude Illamasqua one but think it's been discontinued.
Illamasqua also used to do a great bronzer which was a cream.
I use bronzers now but only if I'm tanned.
Can't think of blusher - but got a Dior luminizating (glowy) pink blush - which I use everyday, looks very natural.
I'd be very careful of spending money on things like:
Bobbi brown bronzer - I got the similar highlighter (pinks) and ended up selling it on Ebay as I never used it!
Nars foundation etc - as they're subjective.
Eyeshadow palettes - again - be careful - you don't want to buy something you'll rarely use.
Dior Quads are great quality and colours.
Benefit Kitten is a great eyeshadow to make your eyes more awake and 'pop'.
I use a mixture of Glossier tubing, Maybelline Snapscara and I think a L'Oreal one

• not all at the same time - I did buy a Dior Waterproof one - but honestly it's a waste of time and money! Ditto a Dior lip crayon. The colour was the worst I've tried. Spend ages in a beauty department of a department store, go more than once if you can. Bobbi Brown are great as are MAC. Don't feel pressured into spending money. I bought this eyeliner from Ebay/Amazon over lockdown and it's amazing - gives just the right amount of colour and also glimmer/sparkle (not too much!) for older eyes, great on blue/green eyes. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174926390518?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=7101533165274578&mkcid=2&itemid=174926390518&targetid=4584826055637456&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=412354546&mkgroupid=1299623041023876&rlsatarget=pla-4584826055637456&abcId=9300541&merchantid=87779&msclkid=b85fd32e18b018d03946b1df37908d49 The Maybelline Lip Stay Ink Crayons are great too. I personally don't like primer. I'm also not a huge fan of expensive skincare, especially moisturiser - currently using a Waitrose own one but I do like Boots Vitamin C moisturiser and definitely use sunscreen over the top - I like La Roche Posay Antihelios SPF50.

I’m 43, definitely my skin now isn’t what it was a few years ago/last time I wore makeup regularly. My hair is very dark, close to black although going grey. My skin was very pale, but as I age seems to catch the sun more quickly. I’m classic Welsh colouring I think.

Bobbi Brown Serum Foundation is supposed to be good.

I personally find I can't do shades like e.g. very light, nude lips or bright red now I'm a bit older.

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks (Avon do a cheaper Glimmer stick version) are good. But I'd say to be careful with them as they can break easily.

Kitten is a great brightening eyeshadow - the only thing I'd say is to be careful how you apply it as less can be more.

stila.co.uk/products/kitten-eye-shadow-pan-in-compact?_pos=2&_sid=6c63966fa&_ss=r

I also tend to veer away from dark brown/black eyeliner/mascara - having said I love my recent black mascaras. But I find plum/forest green for e.g. eyeliner if you can get it (and similar colours) is nicer to my eyes.

www.instyle.com/beauty/makeup/eye-makeup-tips-women-over-40#:~:text=%20The%206%20Essential%20Eye%20Makeup%20Tips%20for,shorter.%20This%20will%20also%20prevent%20drawing...%20More%20

I didn't realise they made this anymore but this Clinique quad is similar to the colourful smokey eye look in the Instyle article, I've worn that before and got compliments on it.

www.bing.com/search?q=clinique+chocolate+eyeshadow+palette&cvid=b545a7739eb045408ce8020e63ad7891&aqs=edge..69i57j69i11004.10483j0j9&FORM=ANAB01&PC=U531

A PP recommended Fenty lip gloss, this is amazing - non sticky, not too shiny but the perfect lip gloss, I've got Fu$$y which is a lovely shade:

www.boots.com/gift/her/fenty-beauty-gloss-bomb-universal-lip-luminizer-10263147

Have fun looking and let SAB know how you get on!

Pray for my wallet! All the base stuff I try seems to collect in my pores. Apparently a chemical peal will help!!

Body shop liquid peel is a great exfoliater.

Go to Bobbi brown and get a makeover and colour matched etc

Will investigate!

So have bought ysl tinted moisturiser, urban decay setting spray, bobbi brown concealer, Laura Mercier blush and uoma powder. Having my free coffee in the cafe and then heading to boots/superdrug for mascara/lipgloss/shadow.

Recommend JL Southampton cafe, great views of the cruise ships 🚢

So I also bought the body shop liquid peel which was great, thanks @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor , fenty gloss in fenty glow, thanks @GonnaGetGoingReturns l’oreal air volume easy waterproof mascara, which was the list of tubing mascara that @grownup2 linked and a cheap max factor khôl in brown. Ive reapplied at home and I’m much happier, think I’ve used far less product than the advisor in JL did. I’d say the JL service was okay, there wasn’t lots of pressure to buy and she had good knowledge of the stock they had in, very limited on light shades of foundation at the moment, only a couple in my shade in stock. I wasn’t blown away with the results but gave me a decent starting point.
Thanks for everyone’s help!

Bobbi brown does a great moisturising primer that I use in the morning. It makes a big difference to how foundation applies. I also use bobbi brown serum foundation or their tinted moisturiser. It's not cakey at all. Their skin foundation is lighter than the serum one and also very good.

I use cheaper products for everything else. Rimmel lipstick is very good.