Updating my make up look

[crochetmonkey74]

Hello S&B
Can you help? My make up routine is stuck in the 90s (I'm 48) and I would really like to update to a more modern look. Where can I go to get this done? I've had make up counter sessions before but the lighting I'm department stores is always odd etc and they have never been quite right. I sort of need someone young to show me all the new products that I haven't kept up with and all the new ways to apply it . Has anyone been in the same position? What did you do?

Have you given YouTube a go? Or tiktok?

That's a great way to watch makeup influencers / artists use the newest things (but be aware they're often advertising them so try to check out several for the same items!) without having to pay for the makeup desk appointments.

Then when you've got a basic idea of what you might like brand wise you can book in with a counter to check things out? Or just go in and try one product yourself?

Is there any particular part of your makeup you'd like to update? Foundation / eyebrows etc?

Charlotte Tilbury is mega popular (I wear loads of it!), ELF is popular and very well priced, some classics like MAC are still popular too.

I did this a few years ago. Used a YouTuber who specifically aims at women in their late 40s and above talks through the make up mistakes etc. super helpful

The main thing I have worked out is it's all about the skin prep too. So i use the Medik 8 skin care and the Trinny BB and tinted serums etc.

I really avoid foundation now my skin is changing and opt for a more fresh, glowy look instead.

I'm 51 by the way.

It's all about skin. I don't think in my day (I'm in my 50s) we have a thought to anything beyond foundation and a bit of concealer.

Now it's moisturise, primer, concealer, highlighter, contours, light foundation, blush etc. Dewey hydrated skin is the key.

Cross post there!

I’m with you OP - I want to learn a few tricks and already watch YT and Insta videos for ideas, but I don’t want to have to waste money on a load of bits that will probably be shit in order to try them out at home.

Near me, there’s a great menopause group that organizes events every few months. One was a kind of make-over session in a local salon with hair and makeup tips, but sadly I couldn’t make it 😭 Waiting for the next one!

There might be something like this near you? If not, you can probably find a makeup artist or salon locally who does wedding or events make-up but also offers makeovers.

Trinny’s videos are good for this but all with her own products obvs

You probably won’t want the same makeup styles as a “someone young” though. You might get on better watching things like:

If you can afford to splash out a bit and not have to rely on advertising to make products affordable, I can throughly recommend Laura at Cosmetics A La Carte who make their own products at their operation centre in Battersea

The studio is just off Sloane Square and the magic is very real.

I didn't use any makeup at all during the covid years and have been thinking of starting again.

Laura made me up a very simple routine with just three make up products (plus meticulous skin care regime of double cleanse , serum and primer ) which gives me a completely natural but sooo much better than real natural look.

In my early sixties and my skin has never looked better. Enjoy.

Well as 29 year old (do I count as young?) I just updated my Mums make up routine as she was bit lost and didn't know what to use. I think for women over 50 skin needs to be your key driver, so make sure you have skin care routine that suits your skin type and concerns usually to address fine lines, pigmentation etc. then you can play with the fun stuff. For my mum I got her mostly cream products as her skin is drier as she gets older and powder tends to settle in and accentuate lines. Lighter coverage and work in layers looks more natural and less harsh then typical 90s make up. Groomed brows with brow gel, tinted spf, targeted concealer and cream blush and bronzer with a tinted lip balm/gloss. Curled lashes and mascara, top lashes only looks much fresher, maybe a little neutral shadow or brown eyeliner on the top lash line if you want more definition. Brands I love are Charlotte Tilbury, NYX, NARS, Kosas, Ultra Violette, and Bobbi Brown. Also use a damp beauty blender for your base, better than a brush!

This is all such good advice . Ok looks like the main bit is skin care then. Is this morning and night? 29 definitely is young btw!
I can and do watch YouTube videos but sometimes I find it is a bit of a shot in the dark If it would be considered a normal type of routine

What do you currently tend to use?

I've found making a switch to the wealth of cream and liquid products now available to have been a bit of a game changer - much more flattering on my skin and so easy to get a bit of a glow. I'm mid thirties and wouldn't consider myself old in the slightest, the opposite if anything but do prefer a fairly natural and classic look when it comes to makeup.

My day to day 'routine' is some under eye corrector, curl eyelashes, tightline my upper lasline with a brown pencil and take it out a little as a wing, blend that. Serum mixed with a foundation for base, or a BB cream type affair, conceal any blemishes and the eye area, cream blush and a bit of highlight high up on the cheeks, microfine eyebrow pencil to shape the brows, brush out and set with a gel. On the eyes if I want something I'll usually do a cream eyeshadow stick and blend out with a little under the eye or otherwise just line and blend the upper lashline with a brown eyeliner. If I'm tired i'll go into the inner corner with an ivory/cream eye pencil and take it across the lower waterline. Lip liner in a similar shade to my lips (all over the lip) then a tinted balm or lip oil on top. Set it all with a hydrating spray and job done.

This is so helpful.
My current routine: Facewash on little face brush in shower , after that Aldi face cream SPF20. At night, I wipe my face with a wet wipe and put the same moisturiser on
Then - Mac Studio Fix powder foundation, an eye colour (Another MAc one that really suits me sort of a shimmery light plum) then a darker shadow on bottom lash line and on top lash line and blend. Mascara.

I don't know anything about newer products so I am a bit lost, in my next post I will write down my proposed routine from what I have seen online / advice given here

PROPOSED ROUTINE SKINCARE - please anyone chip in with anything I have missed or get rid of anything I have got wrong
Night time - double cleanse (oil based one first) then foamy one. Use a muslin cloth. Then serum then night cream. Is there a toner between cleanse and serum?
Morning - facewash on brush in shower - Same Aldi moisturiser?

MAKE UP
I am really stuck with what goes first and what to buy - everything seems very wet and shiny- I think it goes: primer, BB cream (does this go all over like foundation?) Concealer. I have never used cheek colour but I want to try - so cream cheek colour, then highlighter at the top of the cheek. Then cream eyeshadow, and eye pencil at the corner. Is there any powder? if yes, what type?
I'm fine with lips and brows I think

Where is a good skincare brand? Would No 7 be good? I'm so clueless I have no idea where to start. Also, make up wise I was thinking of either Trinny London or Charlotte Tilbury?

Thanks for any help and advice

double cleanse (oil based one first) then foamy one

Sorry to chime in late, I honestly wouldn't use anything g that foams on my face, it would simultaneously dry my skin and encourage my skin to produce more oil.

Double cleanse always a good idea, I use either a balm followed by a creme or microcullar water to remove eye makeup and lipstick followed by the creme and wipe off with a very gently exfoliating cloth.

OP go onto YouTube and look up Nadine Baggott and watch her videos (she’s also got a Facebook page and there’s also a Nadine Baggott community Facebook page). She’s 60 so gives really good advice for more mature skincare and makeup.
Every few weeks she writes article’s in the Saturday Times. She’s really good …. plain speaking and gives sound advice

You can use toner - the classic routine is cleanse, tone, moisturise - then you can add serums in (between tone and moisturise) or other bits and bobs.

SPF first
Primer (REFY roll on primer, Charlotte tilbury spf 50 primer)
I then pop tiny bits of concealer on before anything else (and sometimes on its own with no other foundation or anything - Charlotte tilbury beautiful skin concealer, NARS creamy radiant glow concealer, Charlotte tilbury colour corrector for under the eyes are my three go to ones)
Then BB cream / foundation (rarely, but Charlotte tilbury beautiful skin foundation or airbrush flawless)
Then highlight (Charlotte tilbury flawless filter, hourglass ambient light)
Then powder - I do this after highlight because I don't powder my entire face, just the chin and t zone (REFY powder skin finish, Charlotte tilbury powder, hourglass powder)
Brows (REFY brow sculpt or mac brow pencil)
Mascara (anything not too brand loyal with this, currently an hourglass one)
Setting spray (Charlotte tilbury magic setting spray)

NARS do a fabulous liquid blush that's pigmented but blends really well.

Skincare brands - depends what your skin is like, I tend to stick to Liz Earle / Elemis for the cleanser (Elemis collagen balm first, then liz Earle cleanse and polish) then the ordinary glycolic acid, then skincare of choice - I've found beauty pie really for for serums / creams. The Ordinary is a really good skincare brand that's no fuss, they do regime builders online which will tell you what to buy and when to use it which is a good starting point (even if you don't buy it from them it can give you an idea!).

I normally day to day just do brows, mascara, concealer and a small bit of powder. Tend to skip eyeshadow / liner unless I'm actually going somewhere but stick to the brands above. Cream based is really popular as the glowy skin is very on trend right now!

For skincare you don’t need too much, but definitely a vitamin c and spf in the morning. I like, as suggested by Nadine Baggott, the L’Oréal vitamin c serum followed by their SPF. I find that I don’t need a moisturiser with this SPF but you might. Night time after cleansing i use a retinol. The one I like is the Khiels micro dose retinol (I gradually introduced it over a few weeks, but have never had a problem with peeling skin or dryness) I then put moisturiser over it. Vit C and retinol are the only things that are going to make a difference to your skin, in my opinion.
Makeup wise I find the Erobian BB and CC creams good. I can have some redness occasionally so I use the CC red correct and if I want a bit more colour some of the BB cream on top. It’s expensive, but really good, although it has a limited colour selection. As for the rest of my makeup….I’m still working on it!

I find it all a bit confusing - I have just had a browse in the local supermarket (Sainsburys) to see what is roughly around (I won't be buying form there but wanted to see) and I struggled to see the first cleanse stuff- the oil based one- what will that be called?

I will definitely check out Nadine Baggott

In the morning I use a cleansing milk (Avene) and a good hydrating moisturiser such as Fresh Deep Hydrating Rose cream. Then makeup. At the end of the day I cleanse makeup off with micellar water first then cleansing milk and moisturiser. I’m 48 and definitely finding powder face products are starting to look to dry for me. Sainsburys do a cream blush in a little tube in their own Boutique range which I like.

The only thing I do differently is use a bit of highlighter now and am a bit better at taking my makeup off at bedtime than I was in my 20s. I can't be bothered with all the stuff DDs do from learning from professionals on YouTube which I'm sure looks great but seems to take about half an hour at least. I look fine as I am, either without make up or with a five to ten minute make up job.

I think it’s a combo of what suits you etc.

You don’t have to eg go down the cream eyeshadow or cream blusher at a certain age. I don’t (have tried various) and piercers are fine for me. But I do use light reflecting shimmer ones, so Dior hologlam blusher, an eyeshadow similar to Stila kitten but by MAC etc.

I don’t even bother with primer actually. My makeup still applies well and lasts all
day.

I also, shock horror, don’t use double cleanse method.

As for products I use La Roche Posay stuff - hydraphase moisturiser and toner micellar water, Elf eye cream, Neal's Yard avocado & vitamin E at night time.

Make up is Rimmel concealer, Max Factor pressed powder, (I don't tend to bother with foundation or primer) Rimmel bronzer, Victoria Beckham highlighter, Bourjois eyeshadow & blush, Victoria Beckham eyeliner and L'Oreal telescopic mascara. I don't really wear lipstick very often, just a bit of tinted lip balm.

Sainsburys Una Brennan vit C face oil is amazing and so is sainsburys detox face wash.

This is a really interesting thread, thanks OP.
I'm mid 50s and feel a bit lost too, although as another poster said, I've no interest in the time consuming make-up routines that younger women seem to favour, although they do look very polished.
Reading with interest, and I suspect I'm going to be spending on some of the products recommended here.

I do a quick & easy make up at 59.
Basic Cerave skin care plus the ordinary Rose Hip oil at night & The Ordinary Azelaic for daytime. Clinique primer if make up has to last or Cityblock if sunny.
Clinique Even better Foundation applied with a brush & Clinique Chubby Stick blusher on top of cheekbones & under eyebrows - blend with brush. No 7 bronzer on cheeks, temples, jawline & bridge of nose. No I7 eyebrow gel & Eyeko Mascara. Clinique Chubby Sticks in strawberry for lips. Or Mac Lip Primer & Mac lipstick in Sheer Exhilaration, Runway Hit or Twig.
Takes 5 minutes & I look presentable.
Bronzer is the thing that makes the most difference. That & some eyebrow definition.
I do pick up tips from Instagram but really dislike heavy make up. I've definitely found less is more as I've got older.
The latest tip I've picked up is to dot concealer in the corners of the eyes & blend to brighten the eye area. Not underneath as it creases.