Talk make up to me....

[FlatDullHairNeedsSaving]

Am in a rut ie. never wear any. Need to ease myself back into it but no idea where to start. Is it worth buying expensive stuff? What do I need?

I'm a nursery manager so it needs to be practical and not too obvious. Plus if I stray to far from natural I'd scare myself. Aiming for me, but slightly more perfect me.

O wish, groomed and polished MNers guide me in my quest to actually look my age (28) again!

One word - BeneFit

go to one of the counters and tell them you'd like to look less tired

don't buy anything the first time, go away and think about it

then bu yhe hings that made the most difference in a big Boots so you egt the points.

God god you are young.

Sooooo well, the word on the 'street' is that mineral foundations are THE WAY FORWARD. I'm yet to be convinced. I think a chat at a good make up counter and get the basics...

Foundation (can be tinted moisturiser if you are good of pore)
Concealer -my must have.
Blush- another must have, but use a big brush not the scrubby thing it may come with
Long lasting eyeliner
Massie-Maybelline are good
A natural eyeshadow, like a soft caramel colour for example.
Lip gloss/stick
Make sure eyebrows are plucked, and 'filled' in if sparse, but your'e sooo young that can't be a problem yet!

I foudn Bobbi Brown really good and worth the money.

And agree with MrsB Benefit are good, they do lovely little kits with shadow and lip gloss in.....

Agree with MrsB. Benefit stuff is really good and the packaging is gorgeous which makes it even lovlier to use.

Tell them that you want something simple and they'll sort you out.

My staple make up is: tinted moisturiser, powder foundation, eyeshadow, mascara, blusher/bronzer.

I also love YSL Touche Eclat for getting rid of my bags and Clarins Beauty Flash Balm for if I need a glow but don't want to wear much other make up.

I normally use expensive foundation, but I got a sample of a max factor one. It's called skin tone adapting make-up. It's good. Don't apply too much though, just where your skin tone is a little uneven. Blend with a foundation brush, and then apply some bronzer (sparingly) to the areas of your face where you would usually tan naturally.
Some mascara and clear or pinkish lip gloss, and you're done.

I just done the same, never worn make up but was about time! Been to loads of different counters and let them appply the make up, took a few weeks but thought better get this right as dont want to look like an orange!In the end I went for Christian Dior foundation and powder as covered my red patches best plus looked naturel.

Lipgloss and mascara is being worked on right now one day I will look the part...

Like some Benefit stuff, but you can't beat a bit of good old fashioned Boots No.7...

By the way, also invest in some cleanser and toner, decleor is fab, and a good day and night cream. Also, get some eye make up remover.

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Benefit makeup is not v good IME

but their concealer type stuff is excellent

O and pl make sure you use the make up brushes (foundation and powder) as it makes all the difference! Seems expensive at the time but they really makes a difference plus you use less make up

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I got one of those Benefit makeovers in Debenhams and they showed me how to use all the stuff. Quite good. But agree, you do need a bit of a lesson.

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Right.

I am going to brave the city on Saturday and go and be made over. If I have to pick one place where do you recommend?

maidamess I'm 28 and look at least 10 years older, would love to get that Nicky woman onto me cos she'd have a field day with my hair, make-up and wardrobe! Only thing that might just about pass is my teeth. Hair = long, straggly and in ponytail, make-up = none, wardrobe = washable on boil wash

I have good, if slightly dry, skin but am v lazy

List so far:
Foundation
Concealer
Mascara
Lip gloss (do I have to? Can't I use my nice tinted lip balm?)
Cream blusher

Thank you all soooooooo much!

Bobbi Brown. I went to John Lewis and chose that counter cos the makeup girls didn't look awful (the Chanel ones were a fright, permatan and scary eyes). They also do super (tho expensive) under eye concealer kits.

or for less £££ try the Body Shop (you may need to book at the weekend)

MAC make-up & brushes are good, i did a make-up lesson with them cost 100 euros redeemable against purchase. Very comprehensive, felt like a make-up artist afterwards! Get the MAC brushes for cheap on ebay. I wouldn't bother buying a foundation at this time of year. Get a tinted moisturiser & wait till autumn for foundation. I hate wearing foundation in heat & am darker in Summer.

My personal recommedations for Summer 2008 are:
Bronzer - Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick
Pink Blusher - Nars Orgasm
Eyeliner - Clinique Quick Liner (with smudger)
Chantecaille total concealer (use as an eyeshadow base too)
Sisley Mascara
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser
Armani Maestro Eyeshadow Shade 2
MAC bronzer/blush brush "129"
Shu Uemura eyeshadow brush "10"

Also, get yourself a really nice perfume, the new Chloe one is lovely. Guerlain l'instant is great too.

Get your hair cut - depressing to always tie it back, no?? use aveda haircare stuff to make hair more maneageable.

Estee Lauder counter near me do a eyebrow shape for 20 euros redeemable against purchase; v handy.

Hard to find the money to do it all but you only need minimum number of products. No point in buying loads of stuff. Don't be bullied into buying primers, finishing mists, eye creams, expensive moisturisers, fiddly liquid eyeliners, brightly coloured eyeshadows. Look up youtube lauren for inspiration. Her Sex & City Charlotte look would be great for work