Makeup help for someone who doesn't wear makeup

[Hoolahoophop]

I hardly ever wear any makeup at all. But recently, my glowing complexion is no more and the dark circles are getting out of control. I need to ramp up the hydration and healthy eating, but need something to kick start me into caring what I look like.

I keep seeing tutorials by Beauty and the Boutique on Facebook. In a recent one she did a no make up makeup thing. She used three products, a concealer, a liquid blush (which she also used for lips and as an eyeshadow) and some mascara and transformed her look.

A routine that simple I may be able to stick to. I didn't recognize any of the brands she used, and couldn't find them in Boots!

Has anyone got any recommendations for products that would work for a simple routine easy for a beginner. Minimum cover, minimum products but a boost to my looks. If it helps I'm early 40s have a mid range budget.

Thank you

A 3 in 1 product is amazing. I use Nars multiple and tons of good quality moisturiser.

I use my lipstick ( a nudey sort of colour) as blush, which takes out one product I need to worry about.

Tinted moisturiser,
Liostick/ blush
Mascara
One of those e.l.f eye crayons in brown or beige.

Done!

Will these products manage to disguise dark circles under the eye?

Any tips on a mascara, I'm a dreadful eye rubber so need something indestructible (in the past I have dyed my lashes and used a clear mascara to avoid panda eyes!)

Also, how often are you having to replace products, if I were budgeting and bought a new makeup bag worth of products, when would they need replacing?

Thanks

You'll need a fairly industrial strength concealer for dark circles. I don't suffer from them so can't advise you but the Revolution Conceal and Define concealer is full coverage and not a bad price. A similar tube that I use lasts about 5 months. I wear make up about 4-5 times a week.

Mascara should be replaced every 6 months, which if you're using it every day is roughly when you'll need to replace it anyway. I usually go about 4 months between mascaras. I use a Collection one for about a fiver but I'm not an eye rubber so couldn't tell you how it would hold up. Waterproof formulations might be a better bet? ( and then use an oily eye make up remover).

A foundation or tinted moisturiser might be more tricky as only you will know what sort of formula you're after.

If I was starting a complete make up bag from scratch in a budget I'd probably do the following:

Foundation- L'Oréal True Match £9.99
Concealer - Revolution £4.99
Blush/ Lipstick -L'Oréal Les Nus no. 177 £9.99
Mascara- Collection Next level lash surge £6.49
Eyeshadow/ liner -e.l.f No budge shadow stick in 'Magnetic Pull' which is an inoffensive putty colour £5.00

All in just over £35.

I'm an eye rubber as well- get a tubular mascara. There are some great options now.

Basic concealer- I think the maybeline ones are good if you are on a budget.

I'm going through the same dilemma, my once clear skin now looks dull with uneven skin tone.
(I'm 49 In peri menopause)

I've purchased the Erborian CC crème which is frankly fantastic! Goes on white and matches your skin tone (there are guide shades, mines Clair) it's also buildable so you can use perhaps as a concealer too.
I've not worn foundation in years but have totally fallen for a primark dupe of an Armani one, it's the illuminating one and again it's brilliant. Subtle glowiness to it.

I'll wear the CC crème daily and the foundation if im going anywhere other than the school run/supermarket/work - so not very often 🤣

Also I've just got onto the tubing mascara train, the No 7 stay perfect, doesn't budge or smudge unless you wipe off with very warm water.

As a "beginner" you want something relatively inexpensive to see how you get on; you can always upgrade later on. A trip to Boots should do it.

I'm similar age but have always worn makeup, hopefully that doesn't mean I'm underestimating what "simple" means:

Mascara- as PPs have suggested, definitely No7 Stay Perfect. A tubing formula, stays in place when on but once removed you won't wake next day with panda eyes.

I like the No7 BB cream for your skin, you've not said anything about colouring but I think "fair" suits most white people and goes on easily with fingers.

Rimmel Maxi Blush is fine, you'll want a brush too, I love a travel one I got for £2 in Wilko's.

A brow pencil is good especially if you're fair, all the micro ones perform similarly: Rimmel Brow Pro Micro is good.

Beauty Pie do the best under-eye colour corrector but on the high street, I'd just buy a cheap concealer and see what you think- Collection ones are good.

I'd use all of that until it runs out, or if it began to smell or look weird (this is rare), with the exception of mascara, which should go at 6 months.

Is your skincare ok- as a basic face wash, a serum, and moisturiser with SPF (or specific facial SPF) for daytime?

The best routine is always the one you'll actually follow!

Thanks for all the suggestions, ill definitely be trying a few.

As far as coloring goes I'm white with very thick, very dark, very curly hair (at the moment it seems to be greying at an alarming rate!) I'd like to have olive skin to match the hair, but unfortunately not quite. Not a porcelain skin tone either.

Skincare routine (after recommendations on here) The Ordinary serum, moisturizer and face wash and a separate sunscreen for the face.

As part of my overhaul I'm thinking about cutting my mid back length curls into a stylish curly inverted bob. Its time for a change to perk me up.

The key with foundation I think is finding the closest match to your skin tone (including undertones), otherwise it never looks right.

For a long time I just used tinted moisturisers and even during and after lockdown went without and just had sunscreen and a bit of powder, kind of back to basics. But I realised I didn't like the redness that still showed through, and it didn't give great coverage or a nice finish.

So I tried Georgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation recently, after seeing it recommended by a makeup artist on youtube - and have to say I really love it. Because the shade matches my skintone really well, when I wear it I really don't think it looks like I'm wearing foundation, my skin just looks a bit more even - this also makes it easy and quick to blend because it matches so well. It's really hard to get it wrong basically.

So maybe getting a good light foundation that actually matches your skin really well would give you the look you want. You could try a few swatches (on your face, not the back of your hand) to get the right one.

I love my Milk cheek and lip colour.

Larger boots stores often offer a colour matching service for no. 7 make up so you get the right foundation and they give a little card with suggestions of which blush/lipstick etc would compliment it.

Just wanted to say, thanks for the No. 7 Stay perfect tubing mascara recommendation. I picked some up Saturday and its amazing. Loving it!