Right, have decided that the time has come and I cannot get away with wearing minimal make-up anymore and am hitting dept. store tomorrow...

[notnowbernard]

But don't really know what it is I need to invest in

I have clear skin, but I tend to look a bit pale sometimes and my furrowed brow is REALLY starting to show now (you know, fine lines and wrinkles round the brow area)

I don't use foundation or primer or any sort of covering product. Is this what I need to address this problem area?

Can go to Boots or Debenhams and don't mind spending a bit if it's worth it

TIA!

woohoo new make up!
go to space NK and try out loads of different brands.
beauty flash balm is good as a primer - a primer is a must for wrinkles

My friend gave me some of her unwanted samples she'd collected at Christmas.

I especially like the Clarins moisturisers, day and night and anti-wrinkle cream (yum smell)

Also Estee Lauder mascara and Clinique something butter lipstick.

Gorgeous..

You sound just like me Bernard. Good skin but you can tell I am in my 30s now.
I don't wear it every day but I love the Chantecaille future skin (I wear Ivory).

i did this two years ago. went to the mac counter in bentalls, and asked for makeup that suited me, didnt look as if it had been learnt by an overzealous teenager in the 80's ( ie me) and suited me. they were fabulous, and didnt make me spend a fortune on crap i didnt need. i did spend a lot of money, but most of it was on brushes, and i was willing to spend then, and i havent regretted a single purchase i made then.

I did this 2 weeks ago for the first time. I went to a Bobbi Brown counter having read some of the wise advice on here. They were very kind about my 45 year old skin, didn't laugh and didn't put too much pressure on to buy. i got a concealer, foundation and blusher to go with the mascara and lipgloss which is the only makeup I have ever regularly worn. It makes me look the same but just a bit better!

Ok

So need primer then... what else?

Might go to a counter and say what vvvodka and batteryhuman said

notnow i recommend Lancome Adaptive foundation.
it's very light and lasts ages. costs about £25 a bottle i think but lasts several months and looks very natural.
i'm not sure of the case for primer and don't think it's necessary to spend lots on "designer" mascaras. the £10 variety (which i guess would be middle range) like Maybelline or Max Factor make do the job pretty well.

Thanks

Can someone tell me what the difference is between foundation and primer is? Do you use them together?

My routine is as follows:

Touche Eclat
Some blusher (using those bronzing ball things)
Occasionally a creamy eyeshadow
Mascara
Lip balm

notnow, get a fringe.

Cyb - I have a fringe already... It ain't cutting it

TBH it's more the area between my brows and just above them rather than across my entire forehead, IYGWIM

primer goes on before foundation. But I don;t bother everyday.

I think a pinky blusher is nicer and perkier than bronzing balls...do you use eyeliner? that wakes eyes up

Do you define your eyebrows, that can perk a face up too

I can't advise on primer, because I've never used it! But, I have been to the Bobbi Brown counter twice in the last year and this is now my basic make-up routine.

Corrector (for my hideous dark circles)
Concealer
Foundation
A very little powder
Benetint on cheeks
Fill in and shape eyebrows with eyeshadow
Mascara
Lip gloss

I look like me, but I look neat and groomed and awake. The eyebrow thing is a revelation and probably makes the most difference of everything.

I add a cream eyeshadow (have a dark grey, a heather and dark sand one) which I use when I have time, and then some dark eyeshadow smudged in place of eyeliner if I am dressing up or going out.

I don't use eyeliner, no (not since I was a teen and end result looked horrific) Not sure I know how to wear it properly

I don't do anything to my eyebrows but do get them threaded so they are a nice shape and are tidy

Right. I will ask for their recommendations on: primer and foundation. Shall I ask for a demo on eyeliner application?

Which counter?

I was raving about my new Shu Uemura eyeliner pencil and everyone ignored me but it IS fab , lasts all day and is veh easy to use, no sharpening

Bernard - I recommend Lancome foundation - I have got photographic luminesnece. I like Lancome - the lady was very friendly.

I have also got Le Base (Lancome again) primer however I have also got Loreal Stuido Secrets professionals primer which is half the price and twice as good.

Primer is a thick polyfilla like cream which you put on before putting your foundaton on. It really helps especially with filling in the lines!

Hi there,

You put primer on before your foundation. It tends to smooth out skin (some claims to like Clarins Beauty Flash Balm which is lovely)and gives skin a glow.

I've done my fair share of sitting on beauty counters getting a make up overhaul and I've found bobbi brown to be the best for me at this age. (32) I found Mac plied it on a bit but they do have some great stuff and depends on luck of the draw.

Clarins face stuff is fab.

get some botox and vitalumiere

Bare Minerals from Debenhams. Can't recommend it enough. So so good -has solved years of make up failures for me.

yes agree with Ronald chanel vitalumiere and beauty flash balm

Thankyou all, I really appreciate this

I am so clueless and cannot afford to be anymore...

Believe me, will consider Botox for my 40th

I've heard lots of people swear by Frownies for the between-the brow area - haven't tried them myself but might go and order some.

Oh yes to vitalumiere, I have just tried out a sample and will be binning my lancome and clinique foundations after being complimented on how well I was looking today, after 3 broken nights sleep, with PMT and work stress, its fab

I love MAC's Strobe Cream - use it on the cheekbones and it gives you that dewy freshness that sadly is now only a memory at 38.

Just make sure you apply it sparingly for day (and in good lighting) otherwise you'll look a bit too shiny-shiny.

and benefit's dandelion for the cheeks

i think we might be doing ADAVCNE level make up here with strobe cream etc tbh girls.

glad oyu liked the vitalum ducky