Make up Glow up at 40 on a budget

[AIthenamesaregone]

I’m approaching 40 and having a bit of a year of sorting myself out, my current make up routine is non existent, I think my skins relatively ok so normally just wear mascara and occasionally some Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser which I like and bought with the intention of wearing everyday but fell out of the habit. Make up skills have only ever gone as far as Smokey eyeshadow…

on a tight budget so I don’t really want to go to a makeup counter and feel pressurised into spending £100s.

where does everyone learn to do basic makeup? I don’t want foundation and loads of contouring etc, just a bit of a lift!

Morning OP. There are lots of threads on this topic as it's a common one. Everyone usually ends up suggesting erborian cc cream!

I'd start with Wayne Goss on YouTube and ericataylor2347 on Instagram (she has 1.7m followers). Both give good application tips and recommendations for people that aren't in their 20s.

I agree with you tube but also I have found tik tok good as its shorter videos and holds my attention more. If you have it, put into the search bar 40s make up and you’ll get loads.

I no longer suit foundation so now use the garnier tinted sunscreen. Its lovely. If I am on a night out I will mix it with a little foundation just to give slightly more coverage. I like Nyx as a brand from boots. It’s often on 3-2. I also now only use a brown mascara. I am 54. I also don’t wear full eye shadow anymore or liner as I find it ages me. Less is definitely more.

👀

as someone who doesn’t wear much make up:

id look at getting a foundation for days when you need a bit of extra coverage. If thr look of foundation is too heavy, you can mix it with moisturiser which then becomes a tinted moisturiser.

product recommendation - primark has a dupe of Bobbi Browns face base and i mix my foundation with this, and it gives my skin a nice subtle glow, plus it makes the foundation/moisturiser sit nicely on my face.

find a ‘my lips but better’ tinted lip balm/sheer lipstick. this is my holy grail and i’ve spent years trying different ones, but i feel so put together when im wearing one of my faves. i’ll wear a tinted lip balm in the summer and go for something with a pop of colour - as they are normally sheer, you can experiment more.

done forget about skincare. make up won’t look as nice if you don’t look after your skin.

Tiktok is great for tutorials and product recommendations and you can search by either age or skin type etc. I don’t think there’s any real need to spend a fortune these days, many of the more affordable brands use high quality ingredients now.

I’m a similar age and have found that switching to a skin tint rather than foundation suits my skin better these days. Skin tint, concealer, cream blush and some mascara are my daily go to.

I would say though that good skin prep helps so I would look into creating a basic skin care routine first. Again it doesn’t have to be expensive, The Ordinary or The Inkey list are both good brands to start with.

Beyond the normal experimenting with glitter eyeshadow and various shades of orange foundation as a teenager I’ve never really worn makeup either. Hate the feeling of foundation or concealer on my skin so have always just maxed out at a lick of mascara and a bit of lipgloss.

Over the last year, like you I wanted to see if there was anything I’d be willing to build into my daily routine that would make a difference and make me feel more confident and stylish.

Eyebrows have been my big discovery. I now go and get them threaded every 6 weeks to keep them neat and well shaped and I use Maybelline Fluffy Brow mascara to give them definition and fill in any gaps. It does make a big difference and is very very quick and easy.

The other thing has been being diligent about moisturising, I haven’t found a magic moisturiser and from what I can tell so far price just determines the niceness of the pot and how much fragrance they add. My favourite is the Simple Protect & Glow gel moisturiser because it feels really refreshing and soaks in very quickly. I have pots stashed everywhere around the house and in the car so I can put it on wherever I am when I remember that I didn’t do it. Having moisturised skin keeps it looking plump, helps to smooth out some of the wrinkles, and just generally gives a healthier look.

Aldi and possibly a beauty box if you don’t mind the randomness of it all. I’m 45 and do not wear much make up but pretty much it all comes comes from Aldi or beauty box. Concealer in gold tube is a dupe for touché eclait. Bb moisturiser. Cream blush stick ( makes a surprising difference especially for teams or on photos) Eyeliner Aldi did one in a brown with a bit of shimmer and I do the top line and then sponge on other end to smudge it out. I don’t wear much eyeshadow but have cream eyeshadows. Forever getting mascaras in beauty box so I use whatever. Lips get non sticky gloss or nude lipstick.

Cream or gel blush is a lot more natural than powder and gives a normal healthy flush, mascara primer, and tubing mascara is more subtle and won't smudge, lip balm or oil. Basically your skin but better type make up. I had to buy some make up in an airport recently as my bag got lost, I had very limited options but the boots no 7 stay perfect foundation was very dewy and light and didn't settle in wrinkles. I also swear by glossier stretch concealer in the little pot really reflective and creamy, the glossier cloud paint is also really good as blush and lasts forever

Oh and get your eyebrows threaded don't wax or pluck them, you get a much more natural shape and it's cheap

Elf is good stuff and cheap. I like there charlotte tilbury glow something or other dupe. Very lightweight with a touch of color. Curled lashes and Wow mascara make an impact and doesn't smudge. Fendi gloss bomb lipsticks are obviously expensive, but smell divine and are a very natural slick of balm.

Just to point out, because I made this mistake myself, the original touche eclat pen is a highlighter, not a concealer. Although, YSL now do a concealer pen, which looks slightly different (only just though).

Might sound nuts, but Try Nivea soft. I love it. Especially the fact that it's pretty inexpensive. It soaks right in.

If there is one thing you could invest in, I would go for the Dior Forever skin perfect foundation stick. I'm late 50's and use this all the time, it's easy to chuck in my bag and gives good coverage, which can be lightened using a damp sponge, or you can just apply by hand. Its good for touch ups too. Currently 25% off at Boots online (but check which shade is best in a store first).

IT cosmetics CC cream, great foundation replacement with SPF giving light but build able cover. Wore solidly through Europe in heatwave.

NYX do a basic primer which I like

Nars have some lovely lipstick shades right now, nice and creamy. I agree the my lips but better mantra. For winter always NUXE lip balm. The rituals one is nice too. I don't bother with mascara or eyeliner anymore. For days I feel fancy a quick eyeshadow in a quartet I've had forever from Chanel or Dior.

These days there's so much alternate high quality choice you could just look at the Boots self serve selection.

If you're not a makeup lover, maybe concentrate on general skincare.

When I was pulling myself out of depression, I thought, I'll concentrate on trying to make my skin less dry.
I added a hyaluronic acid and a moisturiser to my routine. I didn't trust myself to keep up with that, or more. So I put them on the shelf by the toilet. I'd sit for a wee and I'd put the HA on, then tap a few dots of moisturiser on my face.
Wash my hands then tap it in. Its actually revolutionised how I see myself.
My skin is no longer dry which is amazing!
And over a 6 month period I've added loads of other bits, but I've made it a slow process so I'm not adding a huge routine.

If my eye bags are bad or I need a little extra, I put on the christian dior backstage concealer, dab it where its needed, and leave for a few minutes before I blend in.

Foundation if I really want to go all out- armani...I use it so rarely that I can't remember the name, but it's in a glass bottle, round. It's really light but buildable coverage

What is the primark dupe called please? Sounds good 🙂

First of all, the best glow up comes from within so make sure these free basics are taken care of, they’ll help avoid thick foundations and the need for multiple layers of makeup-

Make sure water intake is at least 2-3 litres

Plenty of good sleep

No smoking for obvious reasons

Limit alcohol as much as possible it’s dreadful for our bodies and makes a huge difference once you cut it out to your appearance

Healthy diet, no late night snacking, plenty of vegetables

Solid skincare routine, double cleanse, frequent glycolic toner use etc

Brows threaded/ waxed

Regular hair cut- then maintaining condition and style

Simple glasses frames which are clean and fit your face shape well

A neutral lip colour

Teeth whitened if you can afford

Simple earrings, clean jewellery

Another vote for Erica Taylor 👍

There’s some good advice here. If you already have a tinted moisturiser but just don’t use it then that’s a different issue to looking for new products. If you don’t want to faff around with contouring and other advanced make up techniques then that’s also not about the products or how to use them. If you don’t like or enjoy using make up and have good skin you really don’t have to. As pp said, less is more the older you get and the key is your skin.

If you are literally looking for a glow up I’m thinking a highlighting powder and maybe a new blusher. You might be able to get that in a dual product. Teeth tightening and brows are a good shout too, as is ELF for good products at reasonable prices.

I also swear by this.

For ‘glowing skin’ I would look at skincare over make up.
I like Up circle. I just use a serum and moisturiser.

I think mines is possibly the concealer tbh I just use it under eyes to brighten / lighten so maybe it is the highlighter. It’s really light though and doesn’t gather in wrinkles.

vitamin enriched face primer, it’s £4.

Thanks everyone! I will check those out. I’m not on TikTok and a bit wary of getting into it as I’m trying to cut down on social media use, but thanks for YouTube recommendations. I feel like I need an adult version of the make up tips you’d find in teen magazines of my youth! more water is definitely a must! Really hate the feel of foundation on my skin