How to make my face look OK with no/little make up

[TiredyMcTired]

I’d really like to improve my skin, but not sure what to do. I’ve worn make up every day since I was 14. I have dark brunette hair and hazel eyes, and really pale skin. If I don’t wear make up I look like I’m not well, and I’m not confident to go without. I’m 55, and I have got a bit of sagging around my jawline, no really deep wrinkles yet, some crows feet and the start of marionette lines at the side of my mouth. Inside corners of my eyes are a bit dark which just makes me look tired. On the plus side, my eyelashes aren’t too bad 😂

At the moment my skin care routine is gentle face wash in the morning, Olay Regenerist eye and day cream, simple face wipes to take make up off at night, followed by simple toner and Olay Regenerist eye cream and night cream. Used spf daily for years. I take supplements, including Collagen which has done wonders for my hair and nails 😃. I drink plenty of water and exercise regularly. I tried using a product with retinol in once but ended up with a sore red rash.

Make up is light foundation, No.7 flawless finishing powder, blusher, bit of bronzer, eyeliner, eyebrow powder and mascara. (this is scaled down from what I used to wear!)

Am I missing a magic product that would give me a glow? Should I change up my make up? Thought about going to a product counter in a store, but there are so many I’m not sure which one would be best for me.

Any advice/ideas/recommendations?

I’m 55 and rarely wear make up on my skin. I use a serum, Zelens tea shot urban decay - gives me a glow. Espa tanning serum for face every other day or so and an espa moisturiser daily.

I always brush dark brown shadow through my brows and put a light neutral powder on my lids with mascara (my lashes are decent - long with a curl). Takes about 3 mins.

I use a face mask most weeks. Espa or Clarins cleanser and eye make up remover.

Some of it is just getting used to seeing your face without makeup and not seeing it as unfinished or needing tweaks. It's just your face. I only wear make up occasionally, my makeup free face is my default face.

I use a vit c serum from oskia and Spf then Erborian CC cream and a lip balm.

Ps make up wipes are crap, use a balm or oil ☺️

I think the trick is to very lightly emphasise skin, eyes, brows and lips, in whatever way feels comfortable. I use a tinted brow gel, glowy BB cream, tubing mascara and a light lipstick/tinted balm. Sometimes I lightly dab lipstick on my cheeks too. It all takes 3 minutes and I look groomed.
Also take excellent care of your skin. I'm currently using Skin&Me customised lotion and my skin does feel good.

I'm trying to use less powder, I use eborian cc cream but when I use cream blusher I find it doesn't stay on very long 2/3 hours and I have to apply more, where the powder blusher stayed on most of the day, is there a way to make cream blusher last longer.

Just purely anecdotal personal experience, I find that my skin looks the best when I have been in the Sun, slept well, and has plenty of fluids other than alcohol (which is the worst thing for my skin), and have eaten sensible and healthy food, rather than processed crap. I hate to say it, but what you eat is what you become!

Ooo, I’ve been seeing ads for the Victoria Beckham liners, they seem to be much softer. Do you only have the glittery ones or plainer colours, and are they easy to blend to look less like a ‘line’?

I love all of them 😂 I have 7 different colours, both glittery and 'normal'. They blend beautifully. So soft that you can use them across your entire eyelid if you like. I'm very impressed with them. I bought one as a gift for a friend and she loved it too. They're not the cheapest but they go on beautifully and they last.

So true

And technology and screens don't help

If you can stretch to it get your eyebrows microbladed (natural look) and LVL eyelashes.
@MrJi that's so nice of you.

I use Tan Luxe drops.

I've tried others but these are the best for me.

I’m almost 52. My gamechangers recently:-

mix moisturiser in with foundation
blusher is Dior hologlam, I didn’t get on as well with crème or Daniel Sandler watercolour and this is shimmery.
Benefit brow brush gel (I think). Works well on my lashes.
light reflecting concealer (ysl touché eclat) in a deep v around eye area.
sometimes I do bronzer and I got a nice Illamasqua crème one. Powder ones not overly keen on but I do have them.
eyelner, Bobbi brown espresso (makes blue eyes brighter) or a Maybelline tattoo eyeliner in a sort of terracotta shade (metallic).
Chanel peach or apricot or a nude eyeliner in inner rims
Tubing Mascara, someone recommended one jere
Clinique chubby stick for lips
or a nice lipstick but whichever suits you.

It sounds a lot but isn’t.

I use nip+fab glycolic fix serum as a day moisturiser. It's great in its own, but also a good base for anything else.

I'm currently using Clinique even better tinted moisturiser but I don't love it. It's still a bit heavy I really like the texture and the appearance of the classic L'Oréal Bb cream but unfortunately it breaks me out (I have always struggled with cystic acne, and though it's reduced as I've got older sadly it hasn't buggered off)

Someone recommended me the Bare Minerals BB cream which I'm planning to try next

But should add many days I don't wear any base anymore apart from concealer as it just doesn't suit me

@YukoandHiro thank you for your reply and honesty!
I struggle with tinted moisturisers and bb creams, the ones I’ve tried have been too greasy, sort of sit on my skin then slide off by the end of the day, don’t provide the coverage I’d like or are too dark/orange. I find it to be a bit of a minefield!
Im currently just using a concealer but that can sit in lines so I’d like a smoother, non-greasy, decent coverage, even skin tone, accurate colour matched product 😂
I might look into Eborian which I hear a lot about and the bare minerals one too.

St Tropez gradual face tan & for skin care, Paula’s Choice

I think the trick is to apply the things that make a massive difference to your face. For me, that's mascara and brow colour as I am very pale. Without them my eyes look really small. If you already have dark lashes and brows, that may not be so important, but you might look much better with a rich glossy lipstick, or a tinted moisturiser to even out skin tone. Look for the two things that make the most difference. You can usually apply a couple of things in two minutes.

Can I ask do you add tanning drops to your moisturiser everyday? Or are you supposed to do it once a week? I’ve got some tan luxe ones but scared to use them! I’m very pale and don’t want to turn orange

If you use tan drops be careful and wash hands after. I’ve got self tanning Clarins drops and they stained hands if I don’t wash off and sometimes stay on even if I do.

I used Clinique city block and even Laura mercier tinted moisturiser but never loved them. I now mix moisturiser in with eg Estée Lauder double wear or double wear light and that’s much better.

I also use Chanel vitalumiere but can be a bit oily sometimes.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns ahh EL Double Wear Light was my holy grail and they’ve discontinued it 😩

@GonnaGetGoingReturns do you do the drops daily or weekly?lol I’ll lake sure to wash my hands

Eyelash extensions. I wake up feeling a lot more made up and glamorous with them. I go for cat eye hybrids. I barely feel the need for make up with them. Just a bit of moisturiser and in good to go.

Try tretinoin! It's fantastic to reduce aging and gives a tret glow to your skin. I started two years ago and my skin change had been incredible. My mum started after she saw my results and she is 66 and her skin has a lovely sheen.

It's prescription only but you can get a monthly prescription from dermatica.co.uk or skin and me. Lots of support groups on Facebook for more info

My suggestions would be:

• cleanser with a balm or wash- off cleansing oil and a wet cloth;
• use a moisturising sheet mask weekly ( TK Maxx sell good Korean ones);
• moisturise well;
• use light tan drops, such as Isle of Paradise, in your moisturiser from time to time;
• use a fairly light coverage foundation that matches your skin exactly, but don't use it all over your face, just tapped under your eyes, like concealer, and on your nose and anywhere else that has uneven pigmentation. Leave the sides of your face free of foundation;
• use only blusher and mascara on your upper lashes.

Can you get tret without a monthly prescription?