"Casual" make up

[DarrellRiversIsMyHero]

I'm 43 and look around that age, possibly I can pull off a bit younger. I like to wear make up but find that when ever I do my face looks very "formal". Like I'm off to work or all dressed up to go out. Even if it's just concealer, bronzer and blusher.

Some women manage to look beautifully natural and girlish and un-made up, probably wearing far more make up than me. How do you they do it? What products make me look casual for the weekend instead of like I'm being interviewed over Teams?
Thank you x

I'm a bit older and found that I started to look a lot more "done" in my makeup at a similar age. For me its the blusher that did it. Now if I want a no-make up look I just use tinted moisturiser/concealer (with or without a primer depending on how my skin looks) a tinted lipbalm and a neutral eye. No blusher/bronzer/highlighter and no lipstick.

I use Nars tinted moisturiser, tiny bit of concealer, eyebrow gel, small amount of mascara for my “no make up” look.

Tinted moisturiser
Cream blush or bronzer
Brown mascara
And i usually put what ever I've used on my cheeks, on my lips with a bit of lip balm over it

I am 59.
Less is definitely more as you age.
I always use a tinted moisturiser. I choose lips or eyes. I bright lipstick lifts me so I use as eyebrow mascara and a swish neutral eyeshadow. And yes, a tiny smidge of my lippy as a blusher.

I have never used or really heard of "tinted moisturiser" but clearly I need to get with the game - thank you! It's very warming to hear that, as you get older, less-is-more is accepted wisdom - I swear that I used to pile it on as a teenager but if I did that now I'd look bizarre. Also, eyebrows! I've never thought about eyebrow make up but it makes so much sense.

Great ideas, thank you so much for sharing. I'm off to buy more make up to make me look less made up!

xxx

I think cream formulas are the key here...
I don't know what you're using obviously, but if it's powder blush and bronzer it does tend to look more 'done'.
I love eborian CC cream, (subtle) fluffy brows and a dewy cream blush.
Check out Merit and Glossier.

ha ha, I use bare minerals so as powdery as powder can be! To be fair, I've been using it for (counts on fingers...) 15 years without changing so maybe now is the time to update. Thank you for the recommendations xx

I stopped using bare minerals. Rarely use anything powdery apart from eyeshadow.

Concentrate on your skin more than your make up.

YY to tinted moisturiser tinted lip balms,

Well, this is a revelation! I haven't bought a tinted moisturiser, but I had a practically unused bottle of MAC liquid foundation I'd bought for a works do. I then diluted it with some left-over Child's Farm nappy cream for a home made tinted moisturiser (this was a Google tip) and added a swipe of old Lansinoh lanolin on my lips. AMAZING - I get it! Less is more. I looked younger and healthier and far less "done". I cannot thank you all enough xxx

excellent

Bobbi brown and laura mercier counters are great for 5 min weekend make up routines should you want to experiment further

If you do ever want a tinted moisturiser Laura Mercier is top, Stila do great cream blushers

And for eyebrow pencils - a cool time. Warm ones always look weirdly wiggy

Bare Minerals was great when I was younger but at a certain age it just stopped working for me.

You can make a tinted moisturizer by simply mixing an ordinary liquid foundation with moisturiser.

For a very natural foundation I really like No 7 Essentially Natural foundation.

The bare minerals complexion rescue gel crème is a nice tinted moisturiser if you like the brand.

I moisturise really thoroughly (haven't found anything to beat Nivea Soft) and then use a light to medium cover foundation, that is an exact match for my skin, but I put it only where I have uneven pigmentation, and pat it out so there is no edge where the foundation stops. For me, I just need it on under eye dark circles and my nose. It is almost impossible to see that I have any makeup on, because there is none on the sides of my face, but my skin looks better.

That, plus mascara and a "my lips but better" lipstick which I also use sparingly as a cream blusher, looks fine.

Is the No7 foundation long lasting? I am looking for something natural and not top price as the foundation I use has gone up almost double.

I was looking at makeup today, and remembered this thread!

I reckon an essential here is a cream blush and if you get one that looks a little 'dry' or powdery, add a little subtle highlighter on top. Honestly, a dewy glow on the top of your cheekbones is a real lift. I am oily, so I put a very light powder on my t-zone. No 7 is a good one.

Ruby Hammer and possibly Jones Road makeup might be what you're looking for product wise.

I'm 62 and a big fan of Jones Road Miracle Balms. They add colour and reflect light but are very sheer so don't 'mask' the face which gives a natural look. I use brown eyeliner and mascara to add definition without looking harsh.

Finally - SBP 50 sunscreen every day, bright red lipstick and Botox 3/4 times a year.

Some of my HG makeup products are as follows:

• Lancome Hypnose because it looks natural without being too much and doesn't smudge.
• Nars tinted moisturiser because it gives coverage, some SPF (don't rely on it) and a great dewy base without being too shiny.
• Nars concealer in the tube - just the best!
• Merit bronzer - absolutely screw up proof
• Blushers i use a number of different ones. I like bobbi brown powder blush but perhaps you would want to try a cream and there are endless options for this but merits are very nice, for a cheaper option the Rose.Inc blushers are brilliant.
• Tinted lip balm is great like NARS, but there are a ton of different tinted sheer balm options out there - cheap and expensive.
• Nars loose powder is great and lasts forever.
• I love either no eyeshadow or a nice cream one - revlon do one in a tub which is budge proof, sheer and has a bit of shimmer without looking too much.

Colours also matter as well, so I am dark haired, pale skinned and tend to go for pinks and sheer pinks or peaches. I either dress up lips or eyes but never both. I think skin is the key to a look and Lisa Eldridge is a FABULOUS youtube channel for inspiration and tutorials on how to look fab and what colours to use.

Enjoy x