Last minute help for a non makeup wearing mother of the groom !

[StillMedusa]

I'm currently in Australia where my DS1 is marrying his lovely Aussie partner on Saturday.
I am not a dress up person..live in skinnies and long shirts generally, and I do not wear make up.. last time I had a full face on was June 1990 and even then I'd washed it off before my wedding reception

However I'd like to look reasonable . I have a genuinely lovely light grey spotted Ralph Lauren dress which fits me beautifully (and my DD2 picked for me!), some pretty wedges that I can manage to walk in, and the weather will be nice..about 24 degrees.

I'd like a TINY degree of makeup.. I can pop to the shops tomorrow. I'm thinking I can manage a mascara, but what else for an absolutely-no-idea about makeup person?
ANy suggestions gratefully received!

Is there a Priceline where you are? (Aus version of boots) They will help you choose and in some store will show you how to apply. Good luck.

I think for a special occasion such as a wedding you could wear an illuminating foundation and some lipstick and you will look polished and fine. YSL is a good one but there are lots of others which would be suitable.

Could you go to David Jones and get to the Bobbi Brown counter on the day? They would do it for you. May charge a fee which could be redeemable against a product which you could keep or give to your DD.

I wouldn’t personally wear illuminating anything as it causes a flash back in photos. You could end up looking like a corpse.

If you can find Clinique try their ‘ dramatically different moisturizing BB-gel’ it has a very light coverage but matches your skin tone to even it out. Gives your skin a bit of glow. Great for a non makeup wearer.

Max Factor Miracle Pure Skin Improving Foundation and the blusher in the same range are great. They give you a nice glow rather than looking made up.
It was cheap in Tesco last week.

If you're happy with your skin and don't want to use foundation (which I hate wearing too), I'd say

get a hydrating mask for the morning of the wedding after your shower, also an eye mask if you have time,
concealer for any under eye shadows or blemishes (you only need a tiny amount blended in well),
a translucent face powder applied lightly with a brush,
a brown or black kohl eye liner applied lightly under lower lashes to give your eyes a bit of definition, you can blend in with a cotton bud,
and a lipstick in a dusky pink or a slightly coloured lipgloss.

Then mascara.

Natural looking and not too much effort.

I would do only mascara and a tiny sheer wash of blush and a non-glittery highlighter for a healthy glow on photos? Maybe buy a mascara (maybelline is great no need to splurge) and then could one of your daughters help you with the rest?

You might like to consider a light eyebrow tidyup & tint if you can get one booked in today. Eyelash tint too.

It might be just the lift you need without makeup.

Exactly what I was going to say. Smudge of mascara, a blush stick that rubs in well and just gives a little bit of colour, and a highlighter

Tiny bit of makeup for someone who doesn’t normally wear it, I’d suggest a tinted moisturiser (can be called BB cream)
lipgloss
mascara.

A bit of black eyeliner smudged lightly into eyelash roots to give more oomph to your eyes if you can manage it.

If you want to go further then cream blush tapped on cheekbones with your fingers for some glow, and eyebrows filled in a bit to polish off 🤩

Have fun!

I only wear make up a handful of times a year now.

I go with a tinted moisturiser (or you can buy tint to add to your usual moisturiser), brown/black mascara and an almost natural lipstick.

When I do this and if it goes on well people comment on how nice it looks.

Thank you all for your suggestions (I'm still confused as hell however )
I literally have no idea about makeup. None.
So might my best idea be to go to a decent makeup counter and say 'HELLLP!'?
I definitely don't want foundation... I can't bear the feel of stuff on my face, but I am nearly 55 and while slim and body wise in quite decent nick, my face is like a haggard bag of spanners... I have plenty of lines, a jawline going south and look fairly knackered. If I can just smooth out the many tones in my face a little and make my eyes visible, I'll be happy. No lipstick but I might manage a lip gloss?

I’d go to a friendly make up counter, maybe with your daughter so you have another person with you to keep them from going overboard? I’d recommend a tinted moisturiser if you want to even out your skin tone, a light powder, a mascara, a cream blush and maybe a tinted balm? I wear a lot of make up and find gloss more uncomfortable to wear than lipstick!

hope you have a wonderful day!

Can you get a professional make up artist but you have left it a bit late.

A neutral lip gloss and a grey or teal eyeliner just on the outer of the top lid, plus the mascara.

I have sensory issues with makeup and I don’t like most moisturisers or foundation. What I have found more bearable for the odd occasions I need makeup is Bare Minerals- it’s a powder base that is sort of massaged into the skin with a brush.

Again, I’d advise going to a counter and getting them to help you with colours. Even if you go with a different brand, their primer is unbeatable and makes your skin silky smooth so that foundation glides in.

Could your daughter go to a store with you - she could video the consultant making you up, then help you replicate it on the day.

I always wear a very small amount of barely there make up - either a BB/CC cream or a very light foundation - plus a natural colour moisturising lipstick. And sometimes a bit of concealer.

I would just be aware if you don't normally wear eye make up that it's possible you may rub your eyes without thinking and smear it. Perhaps that's just me though!

Lipstick. Just buy a colour that looks good on you..hold it up against your face. If you don't want it to look too full on put some lip balm on before you apply it.

You can get your eyelashes dyed, as well as getting your brows shaped and dyed, and then use a bit of cream blusher and lipstick/gloss. If you use a longlasting lipstick ( Maybelline Inkstain) you won't need to keep reapplying it all day. You could use a bit of brown or black pencil liner - but try it out before the day, as it can smudge, especially if it is hot! I'd keep that on the eyelid, not underneath your eyes.
You could try a lips/cheeks all in one product, but tbh if you have daughters they should have something they can lend you and help you with.

Rather than eyeliner, I'd go for something like the Laura Mercier caviar sticks for your eyes. They are pretty foolproof and you can just keep blending and smudging until it looks right. Something fairly light and shimmery might work and with a coat of mascara.
Would you feel more comfort with a tinted lip balm than a lipstick? Still a bit of brightness and colour without feeling too done.
I'm a bit stumped for suggestions about how to even your skin without some sort of foundation or bb cream though. Do you use moisturer? If so you might feel ok with a blurring primer. And a tiny bit of blusher on top.