Feel like a teenager - learning to do makeup

[InfoSecInTheCity]

I looked in the mirror at the weekend and realised I look tired. I mean I am tired so it’s accurate, but I’d rather be able to hide it than walk around everywhere advertising it.

So after staring into my random bag of old makeup and pots of goop I’ve bought on sale/impulse at various points over the last 10 years I accepted that I have fuck all idea what I’m doing and my grab bag of expired products probably wasn’t going to help.

I tried finding videos and articles but turns out much like everything else everyone has an opinion and they’re alll different, in the end I took a photo, uploaded it to copilot and asked for a shopping list and a 10 minute daily routine that would make me look better, then I went to Boots and bought everything.

My question to you lovely ladies is, has anyone successfully implemented a skincare care regime and learned how to do basic makeup in your 40s and if so what were your ‘will do it forever, this is great’ things and what were your ‘yeah that’s not gonna stick, waste of time and money’ things?

I already drink all the water, eat healthy, get as much sleep as is realistic at this point and reducing stress would mean ditching the job and finding something else which probably wouldn’t pay as well or be as flexible so it really is all about products and methods for me right now.

I don’t think not having done makeup before matters, as in my experience how I do my makeup in my 40s is totally different to how I did my makeup in my 20s.

What products did you buy?

And on the skincare front, I was very into makeup but not skincare until recently. My skin has never looked better. I don’t know why I didn’t care for it better before!

Skincare I now do:

morning

• COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Essence
• Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF
• CeraVe Moisturising Cream
• CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser

Night

• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc
• CeraVe Moisturising cream

The snail mucin does actually seem to be magical, as soon as I put it on my skin looked healthier and more glowy.

Makeup I hate the feel of foundation or tinted moisturiser so am just doing

• colour corrector for my red cheeks and nose
• concealor to hide eye bags and along sides of nose
• a bit of blush high up to ‘lift my face’ apparently
• mascara
• eye brow gel to fill in the gaps caused by living through the 90s

Snail mucin 😱😱😱

I think I need to Google this.

I'm imagining the slime that snails leave behind.

I just googled. Oh my 🤢

It is in fact the slime that snails leave behind…..yeah….i try not to think about it although did check that it’s ethically harvested and snails are not hurt in the production of my face goo.

Its funny because before I got the recommendation to use it I’d seen it in Sainsburys and pointed it out to my daughter saying “they really should give that a different name it makes it look like you slap snail snot on your face” and now here I am slapping snail snot on my face and liking it.

😂

I just asked ChatGPT whether slug mucin would have a similar effect and it said no, it's too thick. It also pointed out there would be a bit of a marketing problem.

Coincidentally I have just been in Sainsbury's for skincare. Am about to try my first retinol serum.

Retinol has done wonders for my skin. I have never work makeup other than mascara and so occasionally try but dislike how it feels and I look odd.

The retinol however and a decent eyebrow shape have done wonders for how much better I look and feel.

Which one do you use @FeelingSadToday1 ?

I agree about eyebrows. Way too late I've discovered what eyebrows can do!

As a teen, I never left the house without a full face on, then life took over and I whilst I had dabbled now and again over the years, I never felt comfortable

Started wearing it again about 3 years ago - not often, but if we are having lunch out whilst running arenas, or away to the pub, I wear some , not a lot, just enough to brighten me and even out the skin tone

I go to work early - 5.30am so for me I like a foaming hydrating face wash and then a serum . Evenings after shower its Hyaluronic acid and moisturiser . If Ive worn make up Ill double cleanse using micellar water

Make up wise, I also hate the feel of foundation , but Ive fallen in love with Laura Gellar balance and brighten, Just swirl it on with a brush. There's very little coverage so I dab some of her double take on the rosey cheeks, bit of blush high and a wee touch of highlighter right on top of the cheek bones , towards the outer of my eyes

That's it - done and dusted. I no longer do eyes or lips, just a wee bit of tinted balm on the lips

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood filter and magic wand. Makes you look fresh and glowy.

Be careful with the glorified AI google/copilot/chatGPT searches. It is exactly the same as if you search the info yourself, but instead of you knowing that, for example, ‘this article about skincare is sponsored by ‘Snail goo brand’ so is going to say ‘yay, Snail goo brand is amazing,’ regardless of any validity, AI will give you the impression that it has done the work for you and the data it has scraped and collated has been verified in some way. Remember you can still do things like: check Trust pilot, speak to a human at a makeup counter who can give you personalised advice although they may receive commission to push certain brands. You will probably get better advice on here in fairness.

I’ve started using retinol this year and it’s been very helpful. I’m also saving up to get my eyebrows micro bladed as I too obliterated them in the noughties.

Beauty balm from Jones Road has worked for me - I have a highlighter shade and blush shade. Also sheer lip colours from beauty pie - lipstick has never worked for me, but these add subtle colour and make me feel dressed up.

I generally hold a healthy scepticism when it comes to AI but I just needed something else to do the thinking for me on this one and I spend all day talking to people at work so prefer to avoid dealing with humans in the wild wherever possible.

As much as I joke about the snail goo, honestly I’ve never tried a cream before and thought holy hell this actually works so even if Microsoft does get a commission I’d say on this one it’s fair.

It did suggest retinol but I’ve seen lots of horror stories about sensitive skin and my skin does tend to go red very very easily, does anyone else have sensitive skin and has found a good retinol to use once or twice a week?

@InfoSecInTheCity Medik8 retinol is the best in my experience. You start out on a low strength and work your way up.

I just had a similar epiphany! I’m 43, didn’t have a clue. Still don’t really, but I’ve done a bit of research and found some products I like and are staying.
a toner that is good at shrinking pores - it contains sactylactic acid (no idea of spelling) which is exfoliating
Day moisturiser which is SPF50
night cream that contains peptides
hylauronic acid serum (this is a real game changer)

Make up I like a tinted moisturiser, collagen infused concealer for under the eyes, cream blush for cheekbones, bronzer stick for under cheekbones and jawline, highlighter (found a non- glittery one) for under brows, nose, top of forehead, then blend it all and top with powder to dull the shine a bit.
Then just mascara and Victoria Beckham cocoa eyeliner.

Oh I also started getting my eyebrows microbladed a few years ago and it looks SO much better.
I can’t stand retinol - makes me break out in spots

Please can someone recommend a good concealer for under my eyes as an older woman. Have never worn much make up but have ghost like bags under my eyes and really need to disguise them

Clarins has a good one. Go to a counter to get help with matching your skin tone.

My advice is to book in for a consultation at a beauty salon. I was in exactly the same position at 40 and had no idea what I was doing. I explained I wanted a really natural daytime look, mainly to even out skin tone rather than look ‘made up’ as such. They showed me what to use and how to use it. Best £50 I ever spent!

What is the name of that toner please?

The one I’m trying is maybelline age eraser the shade is called ‘neutraliser’ and it’s a very pale pink, I always thought I should go for a more yellow one but this does seem to do the job of minimising the bags and dark circles. I put a teeny bit just in the inner corner of my eye then sort of blend it out under my eye with a little pointy mini sized egg shaped sponge that was labelled ‘concealer blender’ on the shelf.

**point to note if you aren’t the kind of pale that burns under a strong moonlight then my guidance about the pale pink shade of concealer may not be suited for you.

Thank you

Have a look at erica Taylor on Instagram, I've learned lots from her and she does high end and drug store x

Having tried multiple products this is my favourite. Don't be put off by the price you can buy online from Tesco for £14.99
erthskinlondon.com/products/rose-blossom-glow-facial-oil-30ml?srsltid=AfmBOoozjkonPE3BeI9zDaJ_bEu51HI6xowxC7IiO8cQXwJJpf1eeL3C