Makeup for a swanky do!

[peeweep]

I am off to a swanky evening event soon, and really want to do some nice evening makeup.

I am 56, wear glasses, and all I ever do these days is use a BB cream, concealer on blemishes, swipe of pale glittery eye pencil, little bit of powder blush and sometimes a small bit of mascara and, rarely, lipstick. I have started trying lip liner a bit too as my lips have got thinner and undefined.

I have brown hair and brown eyes. I feel very out of the loop make up wise and would like to be a bit more glam.

What would you go for?

Would you recommend anywhere for a makeup consultation?

OP I feel once over 40 (I'm 52) less is more on the make up front. I would go carefully otherwise by the end /middle.of the night you might look a bit overdone. What you are doing now sounds good. Maybe some eyeliner and lipgloss. Concentrate on skin care.

If you can get to London I’d suggest:

Cosmetics a la Carte

Alternatively book a session with a Beauty Concierge at Selfridges. (Most branches, I think.) It’s done in the salon, not on the shop floor, and they find a variety of products to suit you. The cost is redeemable against purchases.

I would definitely want to get some expert advice on updating my face if I were going anywhere unusually swanky!

your usual makeup routine sounds like an excellent foundation to build on. If I was you I wouldn’t change too much suddenly or else you may end up feeling comfortable or with something that doesn’t wear well for an entire evening / night.

To build on that routine I’d start with looking at the women around you (especially those roughly your age) and - if that’s something that might interest you - also “celebrities”, YouTubers etc. (<= but be conscious of filters, lighting etc and keep in mind that this doesn’t just go for photos but for videos as well).

what do you like? What appeals to you?

is it a bold lip? Strong eyemakeup? A natural, smooth look?

I’d would recommend doing some experimentation (on the basis of your usual routine) based on that.

Makeup artists can be fantastic if you know what you want (or at least what you don’t like).

Thank you all! Your replies have made me realise I’m already on the right track so I might just elevate what I already do a little.

If you have brown eyes then a purple eyeliner looks good. I have brown/hazel eyes and love one by BarryM which is soft metallic but not in a scary 1980s way .
When I smudge a bit of colour a long my lashline I love my eyes.
Don't forget eyelash curlers , make a huge difference.

If you go for a make up counter for a demo you can get samples .