Simple to use good quality make up and skin care for mature woman who works outdoors

[Theendlesssteps765]

Could some kind person who is knowledgeable about skin care and make up please help me?

Need to replenish my make up and skin care but it’s all changed massively since I last bought any back in the dark ages, as has my skin and lifestyle, hence confusion!

I wear very little to no make up usually and favour a very natural classic look. I don’t even like the feel of foundation on my skin any more! But I need to up my game a bit!

Sixty-years old, Irish fair combination skin, prone to redness down the centre.

My budget isn’t huge and I have no head space for complexity. I’d go for Trinny London but I live in an EU country so don’t want to be bothered by potential customs charges as buying on-line within EU.

Can someone give me the name of a mid-range brand that’s good quality please or point me in the direction of a good source of information for post-menopausal skin and make up please?

Also, what on earth are bbs and ccs?

Bumping out of unanswered! So I’m in my 40s but use a primer (Aimee Connolly or glossier)and Roche posay spf (every day of the year) then clarins cc cream (colour correct I think it stands for!) which is basically a moisturiser with colour in it. I’ve tried the Clinique one too and it felt amazing on but a lot of my friends swear by garnier. I use mac prep and prime fix spray (small one in boots 17euro) after just for the refreshing moisturising feeling really! (Ireland too) Mum 77, swearing by clarins cc too so think age wise it covers us all!! Best of luck op!

Great, thank you so much for these recommendations!

I am not sure I know what a make up primer is exactly but I assume the same as for painting walls? 😁. Helps the rest go on evenly?

Can get hold of Roche Posay range easily.

I like the sound of the refreshing after spray, thanks.

Erborian cc cream and brightening cream are incredible.
They make my skin look natural, just better if that makes sense.

The Trinny range is great and I've never been charged customs fees when buying online (I'm also in EU). If you're in Ireland, they stock Trinny now in Brown Thomas. The BFF tinted serum is brilliant.

I'm 63 and outdoors most days for a couple of hours at least, fair 'combination' type skin too.
I'm not particularly knowledgeable, but the 'redness down the centre' sounds like rosacea. IME you might want something with a bit more coverage than CC cream.

If you're working outdoors with fair skin obviously the SPF is the most important thing. I've heard Roche Posay recommended but never tried it; I find the Boots Protect and Perfect factor 50 good, and they've often got 2 for 1 offers etc. They do it either white or with some colour, I find the Fair suits me. Often that's all I bother with but if I want to do more on the central zone I find clarins foundation pretty good...though they've just discontinued the one I've been using for the last few years. I'm not sure how you'd choose the right colour online for that sort of thing.

Apart from that the main thing I need now that I didn't when I was younger is a little bit of eyebrow mascara.

Watching with interest

Ultra Violette. Incredible for people who don't like the feeling of sunscreen on their face (like me). They do all sorts of skincare and makeup incorporating spf and also just plain sunscreen in different weights and finishes https://ultraviolette.co.uk/

I have used Trinny and would rate, I am currently using Laura Geller Baked (the foundation powder is used lightly and there's videos suggesting how to use the starter palette.

am not sure I know what a make up primer is exactly but I assume the same as for painting walls? 😁. Helps the rest go on evenly?

Yes, this is exactly what it is! And much like wall primer most of us skip it most of the time and feel fine but when you bother to use it you realise how much better everything looks with it!

BB/CC - I’m sure there’s a more complicated answer but I think of it as a spectrum which goes tinted moisturiser, BB cream, CC cream, foundation - the moisturising goes down and the coverage goes up as you go along that list. But it also varies by brand. I find Nars tinted moisturiser gives me enough coverage day to day, but I do still wear SPF and moisturiser under it.

I am not sure I know what a make up primer is exactly but I assume the same as for painting walls? 😁. Helps the rest go on evenly?

yes, exact same thing but just life changing- most things look smeared on if I don’t use primer! Primer AFTER spf by the way!! Oh by the way, I use under eye concealer too, maybelline have a great one or for a treat Nars. Under them I put my eye cream- cerave which is moisturising, refreshing and serves as a primer for the concealer. I’ll shut up now! Enjoy op!!

One game-changing tip on the makeup front is tightlining your eyes, especially if you’re fair. You basically use a dark pencil on your waterline and it instantly defines your eyes. Even if you don’t use eyeshadow it makes a huge difference. If I do nothing else I always always tightline. I use a pencil by Nars in the colour Last Frontier.

Thank you to everyone who has replied. Really helpful info here!

This is a really fantastic explanation about the spectrum of moisturiser&tint thank you Letschasetrees, I finally get it 😃

BB/CC - I’m sure there’s a more complicated answer but I think of it as a spectrum which goes tinted moisturiser, BB cream, CC cream, foundation - the moisturising goes down and the coverage goes up as you go along that list. But it also varies by brand. I find Nars tinted moisturiser gives me enough coverage day to day, but I do still wear SPF and moisturiser under it.

And thanks for confirming that Primer goes on AFTER spf stayathomer
as that is exactly the sort of thing I am not sure about.

Will Google tight lining thank you Mommybunny

Thanks ErrolTheDragon
I will look at Roche Posay as that's more available where I am. And having Googled I don't think the redness is at rosacea levels, it's more that my skin is prone to redness on nose and cheeks when out in wind and rain and if I get hot indoors. Yup my eyebrows are fading fast 😃

I haven't heard of Erborian thanks will investigate ToBeOrNotToBee

Thanks to the posters who recommended Trinny. I may revisit if they have an EU warehouse and there are no extra postal charges or customs duties involved. The only thing with them is I can't try in the store where I am and my colour matching is all over the place because my hair is an uneven dark grey now but my eyes are green. So don't know whether to go for warm or cooler palette. Grey hair changes everything! Used to have dark mouse hair and eyebrows and autumn palette suited me. But now it makes me a bit faded looking. So should I dye the hair? Argh! Was trying to avoid that!

I went down a bit of a a rabbit hole last night looking at recommendations of individual products in the Guardian. Some good information there. And now don't know whether to go for one brand like Trinny for ease, or individual products. Or skin care from one brand and make up from another.

Still, it's a nice problem to have to work this all out ... don't want to spend silly money or over complicate ... also going down cruelty free, pure ingredient, eco-packaging rabbit holes too.

Thanks again

I'm 60 too.
I use Cerave skincare & the oil face wash. The ordinary Nicanamide on top of moisturiser for reducing redness & Rosehip Oil at night, or to supplement my moisturiser during winter.

For make up - Clinique even better foundation applied with a brush over Clinique City Block. With chubby sticks blush, contour & lips. Clinique eyebrow pencil with Eyeko Brow mascara & Mascara. Clinique Cleansing Oil or balm to remove make up.

I agree with this!

I'm 55 and have just thrown out all my makeup as I have never worn much and replaced it all with Elf brand. It's on Amazon and was recommended by a friend who is a makeup artist. Wore it for the first time today and husband and hairdresser were blown away by how good it looks. So many compliments 😍. It's fairly cheap, £100 for everything. There is a tutorial on YouTube boujie on a budget I used for application. Had it on since 8am and still looks great.

I am similar colouring to you and found going grey - mine is actually quite silver - means I lose contrast. So, I mostly use eyebrow pencil, liner, mascara and maybe blush. I also tend to go more natural.

I tend to only use serum (vary which one, currently The Ordinary niamicide, but retinol at night), moisturiser, spf 50 - have used various ones over the years, agree Roche Posay products v good and a shout out to their waterproof mascara for sensitive eyes.

I used to use Touche Éclat, but actually stopped and just sometimes use a little elf creme blush. I do a lot of walking outside and find it generally gives me good skin as you are helping the circulation when you're active.

Thanks very much for these latest pointers. Much appreciated!

Funnily enough I’ve just discovered ELF Doggymummar

One of the Guardian articles recommended Elf halo glow liquid filter skin tint and their melting make up cleansing balm

And they are reasonable enough price wise that you can take a punt!

My skin is very dry on forehead but oily around nose so not all tinted moisturiser or foundation sits well.

Yes that’s exactly it about losing contrast quirkychick

Lots of mentions of Ceravie and The Ordinary in the Guardian too!

Another vote for Erborian noted!

I used to love Touché Eclat back in the day but it doesn’t do much for me now
There’s a fine line between dewy and shiny!

I’ve already picked out some Elf Blish cream that looks a lovely shade thank you 😃

Cantonet
Thanks for the recommendations in your first paragraph. Anything to reduce redness is appreciated. The Ordinary Nicanamide sounds good!

I’ve always found Clinique a bit harsh for my skin and was devoted to Clarins back in the day! That was years and years ago though so will try them again. Going to a big department store with a list to try out a few things next week.

Thanks all.

I've recently bought L'Oréal magic anti redness CC and I love it. No made up, foundation look but just evens everything out , so easy to put on as well. Fool proof and under a tenner !

Ooh sounds perfect thank you!