Any experts out there - over 40s makeup refresh

[Alifemoreordinary123]

I’m heading towards my mid 40s and really feeling it. Haven’t changed my makeup since my early 20s. I really want to feel polished, albeit in a subtle way. I have poor skin tone (pigmentation and redness from dermatitis), look pale, hooded eyes but am averagely attractive (despite my grim description). Obvs the wrinkles are setting in and heavy makeup tends to seep into them. I would love to look fresh, dewy and bright. I’m useless at contouring and I’m not sure where blush goes anymore. Where do I start wise mumsnetters? I want a set of products I can take day to night - no more than 5-10 mins application. Currently I use;

No7 city tinted moisturised
Benefit dandelion
Bare minerals loose bronzing powder
Eye brow pencil

Do I need to prep? Are there light covering products better for aging skin? Which blush is best. Lipstick seems to bleed - are there lovely natural products that finish everything off?

@wwyd2021medicine thank you.

@Michiamo yes, I’m using cerave which I think was £13. I used to spend ££££ but recently tried to economise as I’m not sure it’s the thing that makes the difference

If you're looking for cheapish make up to experiment with, I found a nice selection of colours in Kiko, for £17. Not cheap as chips, but good coverage I thought.

I’m 40 on my next birthday.

In the morning I do:

• quick wash with foaming cleanser after I brush my teeth
• glycolic toner on a cotton pad all over face
• Bioré Aqua Rich spf 50 watery essence
• La Roche Posay SPF 50 tinted moisturiser
• Benefit boing cakeless concealer - tiny bit on blemishes
• Pixi loose powder translucent
• Dab some slightly shimmery rose gold shadow over lids with finger
• Benefit Roller Curl mascara
• Maybelline Cheek heat blusher which I dab sort of between my cheekbone and apple of cheeks
• Black castor oil on brows (keeps in place and promotes growth as mine are overplucked from the 2000s!)
• slightly tinted balm or lipgloss (I have hunners of them!)

I’m a good few years older and also feel that I need a bit of a shake up.

I’m happy with my base - Nars tinted moisturiser for day to day and Estée Lauder Futurist for going out or when I want a bit more oomph. I’m also a big Dandelion fan.

I’m struggling a bit with eye makeup. I generally use a soft brown eyeliner and a bronze/brown Urban Decay eyeshadow, but I’m worried that it’s looking a bit too dark/1980s. I have no idea what to try instead though, other than for going out I sometimes replace the browns with green (also Urban Decay).

Would love to hear what people do eye-wise these days!

I agree with upping your skincare routine at this age, and then paring back on make up, maybe just using tinted moisturiser or similar. I'm 40 this year and have been using tretinoin for a few years, my skin is smooth and glowy - it will help with fine lines an texture, but it takes time to see results. And use spf50 for protection.

Now I don't need much coverage from foundation as my skin is quite good, just a bit for redness around my nose and chin. I use georgio armani luminous silk foundation, but I can no longer use it neat as it's too cakey or heavy on my skin - so I mix half and half with moisturiser to sort of create my own tinted moisturiser. I did try actual tinted moisturisers but found them too orangey, and this foundation matches my skin shade really well.

I use a bit of Laura Mercier Ultra Blur loose powder to set it. And then Hourglass do lovely powders that are shimmery but not too sparkly. I use one - I think it's called Ambient Light as a sort of light bronzer all over my face.

I don't use eye shadow anymore, just eyeliner and a bit of mascara. Also I've heard cream blush is better than powder for a more natural dewy appearance, and I use tinted lip balm rather than lipstick (although I know some people will never give up their lipstick).

I am a tret evangelist and bore everyone about it. Doesn't work for everyone but works for most if you give it enough time. It's a long game. I don't need to wear any foundation thanks to Tret.

I don't know how to put on mascara properly either. Have asked DD for some help!

Also don't forget eyebrows - these days it's all about natural looking brows, not over plucked. Mine are getting a bit sparse so I fill them in, but I'm considering getting them dyed as I have noticed a few white hairs 😱

I can't be bothered with eyelash and eyebrow lengtheners but my dd swears by castor oil and her lashes are ridiculously long. I have used one product for a while, it did work but there were bobbles/pores at the lashline that felt a bit odd after a while, so I stopped. I don't know where she gets her castor oil from but if you use it every night on lashes/brows it does seem to work.

Make sure your castor oil is organic, cold pressed and hexane free, I use the Fushi one

Thank you all - I’m on it with the Tret (dermatica incoming) and watched some of the derm expert videos someone suggested above (loved one of them which said the only things proven are no smoking, sunscreen, tret and Botox). Also going to get some Nars and airbrush primer. Interesting that others like dandelion - I do too but most people say to use cream blush!
Thanks so much - feel like I have a plan

I get my castor oil from an independent shop called Suneeta. https://www.suneetalondon.co.uk/products/black-castor-oil-for-lashes-and-brows

The other stuff on the site is gorgeous too! I love their rose and beetroot soap and lime and turmeric scrub.

Hmm. Must say I am using less and less. I do love Laura Geller though only wear it when out. I came across a Decleor BB cream I had forgotten about and am using that. Or an Erborian one. I sometimes don't even bother with mascara (use all sorts including a Max Factor one) but do think I need to get my eyebrows and eyelashes done. I use a brown eyeliner. Either Clinique or Urban Decay. Also a mMaybelline brown eye brow penciI. I like the idea of different colours but I think they age me. I have to use lip balm every day because of the a/c at work and the colder weather. Always like lipstick. Nothing too dark or light - basically cheery reds or pinks.

If you do want to try a cream blush, I quite like this one.

Haven't read the full thread but I started using Trinny London a couple of months back - the products are amazing and geared towards more mature skin/complexions. I always had problems with foundation/creams sinking into my lines but this stuff doesn't. BFF Serum is frankly the best coverage I've had since I hit my 40s!