In my 50' need a revamp . What Make up/skin care what would you not do without ?

[cleo333]

Hi I'm interested in the products people swear by , as feeling I need a revamp

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5051799-50-what-do-you-do?reply=134654837

Any use?

I have just had my hair grey blended which was a change and I am feel so much better not having a white stripe anymore. I have a blond that blends - it has been 3 weeks and no shocking regrowth. I also just sat at a Trinny make up counter and started over with make up. I needed it because my hair is a different colour and I had been doing my make-up the same for 15 years and it wasn’t working anymore. I have started lifting weights instead of long cardio sessions. I feel much so much better after a long winter funk. I am nearly 50.

I keep booking Botox and the appointments fall through for all sorts of reasons and I wonder if the universe is telling me not to Botox.

Skinsceuticals Eye Creme
Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel
Alumier MD Retinol
(I’m a moisturiser & serum user every day x 2 but switch up depending on skin needs)
Revitalash lash serum
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye
Nars colour corrector in peach
Nyx Eyebrow pencil
Any old eyebrow gel (tinted)
Chanel Cream Bronzer
Nars concealers
By Terry loose powder
Mac Teddy and Costa Riche eyeliners
Mac Paintpot in Groundwork
Various foundations depending on skin needs / time of year / time available / day or night etc. Ditto various mascaras depending on desired look
L’Oreal root spray when I’m a week or 2 away from the hairdressers.
6 weekly facials and Profhilo twice a year.
New discovery: Elf putty blush in a corally pink and a L’Oreal fixing spray that is basically hairspray for your face but keeps everything in place for hours.

I actually have quite a natural look!

I double cleanse - so a micellar water to get the make up off and then an oil based or creamy cleanser for cleaning the skin. If I don't do the second cleanse for a few days I really see the difference in how dull my skin looks.

A glycolic toner ( Superdrug cheapo one is great)

A good Vitamin C serum ( I use Medik8)

I swear by both No7 Hydraluminous -which is always on offer with a voucher- or Suqqu foundation which is sublime.

Cream formulations of everything as my skin has become drier post menopause and I no longer need powder - although I do still use Hourglass Radiant Light to jzush things up once all my make up is on.

No to matte lipstick- it's too unforgiving even on young people but they have fashion on their side. I always use creamy/ slightly shiny ( but not glossy) colours.

Eyeshadow cream sticks ( Fenty/Kiko/e.l.f/ Laura Mercier/ByTerry) are a game changer

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser and bronzer
Hourglass Radiant Light pressed powder
Hourglass cream highlighter
Nars Afterglow liquid blush
Mascara and eyebrow gel

Thanks , it's been interesting to read but now I'm thinking of seeing a consultant to revamp buy as I don't know where to start now , any recommendations ?

Trinny counter is a good shout. I went to bobbi brown counter once. The makeup artist looked at me quizzically after doing half my face- realised my neck is way paler than my face. A bit of bronzer on my neck changed my whole look. I'd never 'seen' it before.
Best ever consultation was at Dior, I learnt so much.

For skincare, watch Nadine Baggott's 5 ingredients video.

Skin needs to be clean- you need a cleanser. It goes down the sink or in the bin on a pad in 30 seconds. No cleanser is worth spending on.

Skin needs to be hydrated. Moisturizers can have fancy stuff in, but don't need to. Look for glycerine, squalane, niacinamide as top ingredients. Anything below the first 5 ingredients won't probably be in enough of a concentration to do anything other than let the company call itself a "retinol cream".

Skin needs to be protected from the sun. Always. Even on a cloudy day. SPF 50 and it should be separate from your skincare or makeup because you don't apply enough.

Those are the non negotiables and you just use whatever you like because none of them are going to do anything other than what's in their job description.

A vitamin C serum in the morning. Will make a huge difference in terms of glow. Again, doesn't need to be spendy. Geek and Gorgeous has the exact same formulation as Skinceuticals but costs about £80 less. Skinceuticals is the gold standard, but the formulation has now trickled down to the high street.

A retinoid at night.
Start slowly. OTC retinols are about 0.3% which is a good entry grade. Check the type of retinoid. Granactive, for example, is not yet proven by the industry as doing a great deal other than helping along other ingredients yet on packaging can often make it look as through a product has a high percentage of retinol. Build up slowly and remember, retinoids are a long game thing.
I started on entry grade for a year, moved to 1%, then up to Tret, and have now come back down to retinAl which I prefer.

Currently using:

CeraVe oil cleanser
Superdrug vitamin E hot cloth cleanser

Sali Hughes vitamin C (will repurchase if I can't get hold of Geek and Gorgeous)

La Roche Posay Toleriane moisturizer

ELF retinal

I alternate between Toleriane and Astral/Nivea at night.

For makeup, I always go back to N7 Hydraluminous and Dior Pump and Volume mascara. Revolution Pro CC finishing powder is translucent, finely milled, and the best I've ever used. Clinique quickliner for eyes and Mac paint pot in groundwork and I'm done. (I'm going to try the ELF dupes for the Mac when that finished)

Re: make up counters, not sure about Bobbi Brown now that Bobbi isn't involved. I went with a friend years ago and they were so good, but they've totally remarketed towards more make up and a much younger demographic now.

Estée Lauder sent me back to work orange.

Clarins was good. Very natural. As was Clinique.

I tried the Sunday riley vitamin C the other day. It was in a oack called thge jewel box. Anyway, I really like it. Most vit C's are very sticky on me but this was lovely.

I think department store cosmetics counters are so hit and miss depending on the particular sales assistant you get. I think if you get one that looks fake and overly made-up then that's what they will do to you too in my experience.

The Trinny consult was brilliant. I feel so much better with the make up she did. She asked a lot of questions about what I wanted, explained everything clearly and sent me home with a face diagram of what colours to put where. It was pricey, but worth it for me. I already liked the products because it is the only retinol I get on with.

Agree re Bobbi Brown. A friend of mine is a drag queen & he works at one of their counters, in full face. It’s not the look I’d go for!