Essential beauty items - what are they?

[tiredandgrumpy]

Sure it's been done before, but had the idea that I could give these as a Christmas present to my sis. She's early mid 30s and has pretty normal skin. She's also a mum of 2. What are your top makeup and beauty items? Guess Touche Eclat and the YLS mascara would be on there, but what else?

Mac grey utility eyeliner
does paracetemol count

nars make up primer, eyelash curlers the body shop lip cheek tint is good,MAC lip liner in Spice

eve lom cleanser
hypnose mascara
laura mercier tinted moisturiser
clarins beauty flash balm
chanel vitalumiere foundation

benefits rush hour

Carmex

Some Chanel nail varnish

Mac shale eyeshadow

Benefit Dandelion

guerlain bronzer

what a fab present!

Have you used that ggirl? Is it glittery?

An eyelash curler, I use mine every day.

cornsilk-no it's not glittery..it is fantastic stuff,very natural looking and last eons

Thank you for all of these. Obviously I'm going to have to be selective, but this gives me a good range to choose from.

I personally love Benefit's Bluffdust and Thrrrob, largely because I have never got into the full foundation malarky but these make my skin look far better.

Mac eyeshadow in tempting or woodwinked
Armani fluid sheer in sand
nars blusher in angelika which is the best shimmery pink
Dior show mascara - think its better then the YSL one

I agree with all of the above. Would add that Liz Earle cleanser is a very good alternative to Eve Lom.

Bobbi Brown does a lovely stick blusher in Pale Pink which looks a bit candyflossy in the stick but is perfect on (if you have quite pale colouring).

How about some Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream? It's out in a limited edition retro pot at the moment.

Oh, and Laura Mercier does lovely eyeshadows. A make-up artist recommended the Margaux shade to me (a favourite of Trinny & Susannah, apparently!) and at first I was appalled because it's mauvey. But when you put it on it goes a lovely pale smokey colour. Really flattering when you're feeling tired.

Don't mention the 8 hour cream in those cute retro jars. I bid far too much on ebay for one a few days ago. DP pointed out that it was over the 'Buy it Now' price

How did that happen

Actually the best investment i have made is good make brushes - they really have made a massive difference - i got a few from MAC and Bobbi Brown - it was like going up to the next level and I couldn't believe the difference.

Pots of MAC pigment, especially the melon one which is a lovely gold

Benefit Badgirl eyeliner. You can't go wrong with Benefit, except that they put a bit too much perfume in some of their products which gives me spots.