Really Lovely Makeup?!

[TokyoSushi]

I have lots of L'Oreal and Maybelline and the like in my Makeup bag, but have about £75-£100 to treat myself to a couple of really lovely bits of makeup. I've seen things like Victoria Beckham kjal eyeliner and hourglass ambient lighting powder which look nice.

Probably not foundation, as that would take up quite a lot of the budget. But maybe something for my eyes & something for my cheeks perhaps?

I'm mid 40's, very blonde, blue eyes but not overly pale if that helps?

What would you recommend?

I would look at a lot of research if this is a large treat for you as sometimes the more expensive stuff is just a bit meh!

I know you’ve said not foundation but I spend more on that because if the rest of your make up has a decent base then it looks much better!

What do you wear most? Full face? Do you spend a lot of time on brows? Do you wear blusher/bronzer/eyeshadow/eyeliner/mascara/lipstick/liner ? Liquid or pencil eyeliner?

Just wanted to get an idea before I give suggestions

Yes, true, the last thing I want is for it to be Meh!

Full face, but think more Kate Middleton than an instagram influencer lips/brows type of thing!

Foundation, currently powder eyeshadow, pencil liner, wunderbrow on my brows, then just a bit of bronzer and lipstick. All fairly natural, but 'done' natural if you know what I mean!

Oh and mascara obvs, a Clinique one that I got out of the M&S advent calendar!

I'm a big fan of all things Laura Mercier, particularly their tinted moisturisers.

I've got a VB eyeliner and it transfers to my kids quite badly.
I like Bobbi Brown for eyeliner and mascara.
Trinny London tinted serum is good.

That's lids, not kids!

Look at AYU makeup on line,Irish brand and perfect for us pale beings. Really lovely make up,I've replaced most of my old stuff with it.

https://ayu.ie/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwla-hBhD7ARIsAM9tQKvFoYZxp8mEPz1iWsiXE-Vh0393c8ZUOyKE05Tz-2RiNLHq1034w_IaAi2pEALw_wcB

3 for 2 ATM too

Sorry I wandered off to the park for 4 hours 😒
The best products I would recommend to start researching would be;

nars bronzer/blusher (particularly Laguna bronzer and orgasm blush- I think boots do a set with both for under £20!)

eyebrow I really like the benefit ones; precisely my brow and gimme brow make a good duo of defined but full brows

eyeshadows I’ve never managed to find something nicer and well pigmented as urban decay - their palettes are about £40 for full size but they do a naked basics (2) which has some good core nudes for about £20

I like two faced better than sex mascara but that’s just personal preference I suppose! Mac do a good one, and Lancôme hypnose gets good reviews. Clinique moves around too much for me. If you need something particularly hardwearing then benefit they’re real magnet eyes is great!

I find kajal eyeliner mostly similar. I have an old max factor one still going strong but I use a felt pen type one usually (two faces better than sex again!)

Brill, thank you!

I've tried all sorts of brands of eyeshadow and ime you can't beat the new Dior quints. They can be subtle or vibrant depending on your mood and obviously application. They are very build able. I don't actually rate Urban Decay, I think there is alot of glitter fall out and they don't blend very well. But with saying that I'm very much into silky, well blended eyeshadows. I don't know if you've watched The Fall with Gillian Anderson but she's wearing a Dior palette in Taupe (I looked it up as I loved her makeup!). That's my type of eyeshadow look.

By silky well blended, I mean sheer and buildable. I like to blend it all out and build up a nice colour. I don't like eyeshadows that are really really pigmented and hard to move about. Channel quads are lovy too.

I love the Trinny eyeshadows. They are creamy so you don't end up with pigment all over your face

My son got married a couple of years ago & I did LOADS of testing of products - here’s my resulting list, in the order I use them!

• Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
• Lancome Ultra Wear Camouflage concealer (pigmentation)
• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (or Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser for a ‘lighter’ look)
• Clinique Airbrush concealer (under eyes)
• Tarte Shape Tape concealer (blemishes)
• Giorgio Armani setting powder
• Guerlain Terracotta bronzer
• Charlotte Tilbury Spotlight highlighter (or Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow)
• NARS eyeshadow base
• Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palettes (or Mac/Bobbi Brown singles)
• Stila Stay All Day eyeliner
• Lancome Monsieur Big waterproof mascara
• Clarins clear waterproof fix
• Charlotte Tilbury fixing spray
• Mac/Rimmel/Charlotte Tilbury/Bobbi Brown lipsticks

Hope that helps!

Pat McGrath eyeshadow is incredible as are her lip colours.

I'd be tempted to go for a brilliant foundation- for me that's what makes the difference. The best I find is bobbi brown intensive serum foundation, and maybe a liquid eyeliner that really won't smudge or shift, MAC 24 hr. NARS blusher or ELF jelly highlighter.

If you like Benefit, get the new app. Benefit Loves. Every Friday they do a Friday thing where a product is 1/2 price and also Boots £10 Tuesday. Just to stretch your quids a bit.

I would buy a nice base, maybe the Nars tinted moisturiser and a Charlotte Tilbury Instant palette. https://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/product/instant-look-in-a-palette-beauty-glow. I have two of them and I think they're excellent value for money. There are 3 eyeshadows, 2 blushers,a bronzer and a highlighter.

I love:

Lumene watercolour blush which is a very easy liquid.
Hourglass tubing mascara
Charlotte Tilbury light wonder foundation which is very lightweight

I recently bought the Retro Glam eyeshadow palette by Natasha Denona - it was pricey, around £65 but I absolutely love it. My make up was always good for something neutral, but I was a bit bored and wanted to add more colour to my face every now and then. Great range of shades and really pigmented so the colors really pop on your eyelids.

I also love Georgia Armani Luminous Silk foundation, it is so good. Charlotte Tilbury film star glow bronzer and highlight palette is also very nice.

So much lovely stuff, thank you!

VB kayals are excellent - I have 3 and they’re the base of my makeup. I’d also recommend CTilbury Blush Wand - looks amazing on skin .

Wayne Goss just opened UK store - I have his eyeshadows and in my opinion they’re much better than UD or CT I’ve been using before. A new discovery for me was also MAC Magic Extension mascara.

Pat mcgrath or natasha denona eyeshadow
The Victoria beckham liners are a dream - get the sharpener that comes with it.

I'd look at you tube for reviews of products from someone a similar age/skin tone to you

Rare Beauty has space nk has some nice things too for a natural look. Love the liquid blush although it is VERY pigmented as I learned to my cost on first application (aunt sally!). The bronzer is nice too and the liquid highlighters are lovely as is the optimist illuminating primer. Erborian BB cream is excellent and very natural. Not a fabulous range of shades though. Sounds like nude or Clair would be the shades to look at for your colouring. Chanel soleil Les beiges bronzer isn’t cheap but it lasts for ages and blends seamlessly in to the skin. Don’t let it dry out though! Hourglass is lovely, hit and miss with the blushes though but the ambient lighting palette is great for finish. Sometimes the limited edition multi palettes are heavily discounted in Space NK sales.

Lisa Eldridge has the most beautiful make-up, both in terms of performance and packaging. Lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes, liquid eye colours, foundations - all gorgeous. Not the cheapest but definitely not the most expensive either, and it all works.