if you were starting your make up bag from scratch...

[mckenzie]

... what would you put in it?

I have never possessed a make up bag having only worn make up on my wedding day. I have now decided though that I need make up, I like me with make up on (I've had two small make overs now, the Estee lauder counter on wednesday and the Benefit counter today) and so I need to buy some.

What would you recommend? I liked both the looks that the Estee Lauder and Benefit ladies gave me, very subtle, very neutral. I hear good things about Mac products too. I don't want to suddenly have loads of the stuff and no idea and no time to put it on but I would like something for my skin in general and some eye make up. I'm not sure about mascara though. I have it on now (from the Benefit lady) and although it looks nice my eyes feel a tad strange. I also have deep lines either side of my mouth that I really dont like and would LOVE to cover up a tad but have no idea how!!

Any help or advice gratefully received.
TIA

What's your skin type? and your colouring?

The lines on the side of your mouth can be lightened/erased with an illuminating concealer such as Touch Eclate- YSL- or Clinique and Boots No 7 also do them.

I'd say your basics should be, depending on your age and skin type:

a light foundation- I like Clinique but Estee Lauder have plenty of choice too
possibly loose powder
under eye concealer- my fave is Bobbi Brown - 13 shades to choose from
powder or cream blusher
eye pencil/eye liner
eye make up- choose a palette perhaps with some neutral shades in- good ones are No 7, Dior, Bobbi Brown, Clinique
eyebrow powder if you have skimpy or pale brows
lippie and lipgloss
mascara

according to the Benefit lady the under layer of my skin is well hydrated (I drink lots of water), I think I have fairly normal skin with a little greasiness on the forehead (although that's lessening with age it seems).
My colouring - not fair but not dark either, I tan quite easily but dont go very dark. I have some redness on my cheeks, nose and middle of my chin. My hair is light-mid brown with some very gentle golden highlights.

I've always meant to buy one of those skin priming base whatsits to go on under foundation, they're supposed to really help the makeup do its job properly instead of sinking into/sliding off your skin and looking patchy.

I'd just have one of those matt mousse foundations, a pinkish blusher (in the same kind of mousse if they still do that these days) black mascara, a few neutral toned eyeshadows going from light creamy colour for brow bone to a darker brown for the eye crease, eyebrow pencil, black eyeliner, lipstick, eyelash curlers and a few brushes/applicators.

I don't know much about brands other than maybelline mascara (the pink and green one) is good.

If you want the absolute basics to begin with, I'd recommend a foundation, concealer, eye pencil, mascara, blusher and lip gloss.
No one can tell you what colours as you need to try them out at the counter.

thanks guys. What you've listed PP is pretty much what the Benefit lady used on me today (she's written it all down for me). I'm going to have my eyebrows waxed tomorrow JamesAnd.. and my eyelashes tinted - I think if I'm honest, applying all the face stuff and the eye shadow will be enough for me to be getting on with so I'm going to leave eye liner and mascara alone for now.

Do you think I should try and few more counters and try out some other 'faces' before I buy or will I get given pretty much the same look whichever counter i go to as I'm obviously giving them the same facts?

Once your eyelashes are dyed you will look different again.

I'd suggest Boots illuminating pen for under eye circles and blemishes, rimmel translucent powder, ultra sparing sweep of bronzer over forehead and cheekbones, quick sweep of eyeliner, mascara on eyes and clear gel on eyebrows - that's all you will need.

No need to clag on the foundation, I don't think most women need it? I know I have never ever worn it, I have far from perfect skin but my colouring shows through my (very sparing) make up, and I actually look like me and not an Estee Lauder clown clone!

I hate hate hate foundation normally but I have found I look 10 x better if I put a bit of chanel vitalimiere (SP?) on the red bits of my face (cheeks, forehead, chin and side bits of my nose) and under my eyes. I managed to find a shade that is my perfect colour match and it really does make my skin look flawless without having to cake my whole face.

Reading that it sounds I put loads on but it really is just the tiniest bit.

I love Chantecaille Just Skin tinted moisturiser. It's not cheap - about £55 - but, as someone who hates wearing foundation, I'm totally sold on this. I can't feel it when I'm wearing it and it looks amazing - takes years off me.

Other brands I like are Benefit, Mac, Ruby & Millie and YSL Touche Eclat. I don't wear eyeliner these days as it sinks into my wrinkles, instead I use a thin brush and some black eyeshadow to line my eyes.

Mascara is a must - it really opens up the eyes. It's the only thing I wear every day.

I use almost all Benefit products, but I tried Kiehl's mineral mascara recently and really liked it.

Won't go out without mascara on, it makes such a big difference!

I only bother with foundation if I'm really going out somewhere nice. Otherwise I just use moisturiser, a brush of one of those throb/dandelion/hoola boxes from Benefit and a bit of concealer (Benefit's Get Even is good too).

Touche Eclat is also really useful (you can use it for highlighting on your cheekbones and above your eyebrows, and in a light stripe down your nose which really looks nice and sleek in photos)

Generally don't bother with lipstick, it always annoys me but occasionally I use a bit of Benetint.

I must be odd then- I have used foundation daily since I was about 15..I look so pale without it and have dark under eye cirlces.
I wouldn't leave the house without it- too scary for anyone seeing me!

If you find the right texture, it looks very natural- or use s tinted mosituriser such as Clarins, Laura mercier, Clinique do an almost-there make up etc etc.

Hi

Just to add if you have moving into makeup make sure you get the following as well which will help keep your skin in tip top condition - worth going around a few counters to try out there skin care products like Bobbi Brown, Clinque, Clarins and boots own etc.

Eye Make Up Remover
Cleanser
Toner
Moisture
Cotton Wool
Cotton Buds

Make up wise

Foundation
Blushers
Lipgloss/lipstick
Eye Shadow
Good Eye Shadow Brush(s)

Why do you think you need it? I would stay natural and not get drawn in by the cosmetics industry flogging you stuff that doesn't do what it says on the tin.

thanks very much everybody - I shall come back later once the peeps are in bed and digest more thoroughly.

3inthebed, about three weeks ago i looked in the mirror and didn't really like what i saw. My skin is still pretty good for my age (apparently) but I just knew it could look better. I'm not going to cake myself in anything and I'm not expecting miracles but i do think that now, after the little makeover from the Benefit counter, that I look much better.

I've always had a fairly good cleansing routine and use good cleanser/toner/moisturiser etc but I'm just going to use a few props now to give me a boost.

I use Clarins beauty flash balm and laura mercier tinted moisturiser in the day. I use chanel vitalumiere and smashbox primer if I go out, also hypnose mascara by lancome. I use any blusher, eye shadow that I happen to have - at the moment I'm using Elizabeth Arden and don't like it much so may invest in a laura mercier set I saw at space NK. I've ordered the Laura Mercier mineral make up as well.

no 7 protect and perfect serum is nice to put on first thing, then you can add moisturizer and/or foundation.

clarins beauty flash balm, chanel original eclat, and/or YSL touche eclat are crucial for those grey skin days.

i have trouble with black mascara because of my contact lenses so i use clear mascara on lashes and brows. well-groomed brows can make a huge difference in your look. if i'm not wearing makeup i always brush my brows and put on a little lip gloss.

i also think cream blush looks better than many powders, but it's a personal preference.

powder tends to age, imo

evening all. I used No 7 eye make up removed last night to take off the Benefit mascara, eye shadow etc and my eyes felt quite sore. Could it just be that I was a tad too harsh or perhaps No 7 remover isn't right for me?

I've had my eye lashes dyed today and wow - I look so different. Thank you all so much for your comments. I found at the bottom of the drawer an unopened Prescriptives Traceless that i remember buying now about 3 years ago when i must have been having a small post second baby crisis! It's a liquid and I even bought the brush to go with it, for softening the red cheeks, red nose if i remember correctly. I've just checked the Prescriptives website and Traceless came up under Foundation - will I be okay to use that or would my skin have changed shade etc in the last 3 years?

TIA, again!