90s make up - maybe I need to update

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

I have realised that I am now that which I sneered at as young woman - middle aged women with blue eyeshadow, tiny black drawn on eyebrows, pale lips and big black hair because they were still using what they wore in the 60s.

Im in my 50s and I still have a fondness for lip gloss and a white splodge on the inside of my eye. If I'm honest, I miss body glitter.

Where does one go to update one's make up? My skin and face have changed over the last 30 years, it's time I noticed that.

A make up session at a salon? Department stores still do them don't they?

Then you will need to practice as it all goes on in a different order now; eyeshadow first and such like.

EYESHADOW FIRST?

Good grief. Ok, that's a good idea - I need a makeup-for-amateurs lesson. Thanks.

90s is back in apparently 😂

I'm the same as you, op, although I think I'm going for a natural look it's very much a 90s natural look. If you live in a city I'd recommend going for a dept store make over (my experience is that the city centre stores have really skilled saleswomen who are actual make up artists whereas in smaller stores they tend to be worse than I am) and have an open mind about what works on you, especially re modern ways to do base and eyes.

There are also lots of good people in youtube/insta and they often do looks aimed at older women.

I've still got some lipstick and eyeshadow from my wedding. I've been keeping them for good. So that's good the 90s are coming back.

eyeshadow first

I find this a head-fuck too. How can you do eyes before your base? (answer- a separate base product for your eyes 🙄)

I know the make up tech has changed, it's not greasepaint and white musk.

I tried highlighter once, I looked like I'd tried to use facepaint to turn myself into a tiger.

Base? For the eyes?! Wow.
I'm also stuck in the 90s. I also don't give a shit.

You have a point, @clarepetal - I think my make up is nice. As long as I don't have my glasses on, if I do then it seems to highlight my wrinkles and some sort of stuff settles in my jowels

I hear you. But as I only use, foundation, concealer, blusher, highlighter, powder, Mascara and lipstick, I'm hoping I'm not going far wrong!

Eyeshadows seem so powdery these days - I don't remember the ones I had in the 90s shedding all over my face. So it makes sense to do eyes first, then clean up the mess and do base.
I just use concealer on my eyes as a base - it's just so the eyeshadow has something to stick to, not sure we need specific eye products.
Stila (?) one step corrector is great as a face base - it's got all the colour correctors in a big swirl so you can just slap it on and it sorts itself out automatically without you having to know whether you need green or yellow or whatever on particular bits of your face.
I avoid the contouring that kids do now - if I'm honest I think it looks like dirt tracks and the 90s faces were nicer.

I love the Trinny London videos for how to do makeup. Never bought any of the products but there's a great advert/tutorial running at the moment with a similar age lady...and Trinny just turned 60 this week apparently.
It's all very natural looking but for a bit more glam I've learned that eyeshadow is less harsh under eyes than eyeliner, and using a 2-3 shades to help lift/open/brighten makes a world of difference!
I'm practicing with contour and highlight with a double-ended NYX crayon but I'm still on the fence and thinking embracing my chubby cheeks is fine!

Have a look at Lisa Eldridge's make up tutorials on YouTube. She's a brilliant make-up artist but doesn't trowel it on - and she demonstrates on a range of different ages, skin concerns and styles (although obvs a lot of famous beautiful people too), and includes a wide variety of products, inc high street bargains and her own extremely good line. She also seems rather kind.

Yes, I used to know to put the blusher on my cheekbones.

I can't find those any more so some days my blusher makes me look like I've been slapped.

Thanks, I'll have a look at Trinny.

I like Ali Andre too on You Tube, this video is good

OP what colour are your hair and eyes? Are you pale or do you have a darker skin tone?

I think everything just needs to be a bit softer.

So your black pencil eyebrows need to be a softer brown and not as “harsh”

You can still wear blue eyeshadow if you want to but maybe try different shades? Or if you want a complete change o would go for taupe/brown with a bronze shimmer for the corners.

Lipstick - depending on what eye shadow colour you go for a nice soft pink/nude is a fairly safe bet.

90s is in!!

Blue eyeshadow is in! https://www.instyle.com/blue-eyeshadow-looks-8553507

Trinny London is great and easy to use loads of videos of her applying

Thanks, all, this has been really helpful and goes to show that if you wait long enough you'll come back into fashion.

I'm very pale, painfully pale. dark brown hair, nearly black but greying at the temples. My skin's terrible, had dreadful acne so it's pretty marked and I have big pores and dry spots. Not many wrinkles though - that's the pale skin for you, I've stayed out of the sun becuase I just burn. eybrows are falling out but my lashes are still long and curly. I've got nice pale blue eyes and red lips and a decent tache that I mostly keep on top of.

Good God, no! Just no!

Honestly OP, look into microblading, especially if your eyebrows are very sparse. It really does frame the face and dramatically changes how you look. Mine are very natural looking, they don't have to be obviously 'done'.

I tried it.

I washed it off after more than two people asked if I was ok.

I looked like I had walked into a door or two or many.

There are skills that I don't have and now I know what my lane is and why I should stay in it.

I have googled.

It looks like you have to just figure out who\d do a decent job and then relax for 6 months?

Sounds great, and I'm sincere.

Hey lady, I'm pale and in my 50's.

Eyebrows are doing their thing.

My hair's going grey.

I use chantecaille foundation and mascara

Is that you with no lipstick on @Tetsuo ?

Good grief, I wish I looked like you 😢