Help! What make-up should I be wearing?

[Zephy]

Ok, apologies in advance for this somewhat trivial and vain post.

I found this Christmas that I have totally run out of make-up. I mean totally! I had to scrape the remains of a years-old tinted moisturiser out of its tube to make myself slightly less haggard looking for Christmas Day! Not a particularly glamorous moment.

So... I clearly need some more but the trouble is I don't know where to start or which brands to try. I've barely used make-up since children -- especially since I didn't return to work after my second -- and, tbh, not really a huge amount before then. Just a touch of tinted moisturiser and mascara at best!

Seven years, three kids and two major personal traumas later my skin is not what it once was. And, with my birthday fast approaching it seems like a good moment to take stock and re-stock.

Can anyone recommend any beauty products / brands that they swear by? Which ones are best for mature skin? I honestly don't know! I have two teenage nieces and always buy MAC and Benefit for them but probably not great for me, no?

I'm 39, white and have normal to dry skin.

Again, apologies for frivolity but any advice greatly received!

[Lochie]

I bought Bourjois healthy mix foundation a few months ago - its really light and easy to apply, hard to get wrong - I've had a few comments about how 'well' I look since wearing it (I don't like heavy make up and its not heavy).

I also went to the Clinique counter in Boots recently to explain that I want something quick and easy to apply for a working mum always on the run - they recommended chubby sticks for the eyes which I have to confess I have found really easy to use, I also got a nice neutral colour for the lips. I wanted something I could apply on the train without smudging and they tick the box.

I've never been a big make up fan but like you, after 2 kids and lots of sleepless nights it really does make me feel better about myself when I face the world! Have fun :-)

[womanofdulwich]

I recommend you go to somewhere like body's hop and ask for advice. You don't have to buy everything but it's not too expensive and a good starting point. Really I would say lipstick, mascara and a tinted moisturiser /bb cream are a good start.

[HannahSE23]

I love Bare Minerals. Good for your skin, not too heavy and creates a natural complexion. You'll need a consultation to get the right colour for your skin tone but that's part of the fun!

[Bumpkin]

Another thought is to read Sali Hughes book 'pretty honest'. She's the beauty editor for the Guardian and as a not v clued up 40 something I found it v helpful and inspiring if you want a makeup / skin care refresh.

[uncleglen]

This reminded me of this

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1561701,1567867#msg-1567867

[LondonMix]

I don't wear a lot of makeup either. My staples are Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser or Studio powder by Mac for face, Dior show for mascara and lipgloss by Channel. That's it and still not everyday.

I mostly try to take care of my skin and I've found a few miracle workers. Est?e Lauder Night repair serum is amazing. Everything time I used it within 2 days I would get loads of compliments on my skin so now I've used it consistently for a year. I cleanse my face with cetaphil which is very affordable and gentle and in the morning use Oz Naturals vitamin C serum under my totally basic Olay spf moisturizer.

I hope you find products and a regimen that works for you. From everything I've mentioned I'd most strongly recommend the Est?e Lauder night repair. They have made some sort of deal with the devil, I swear it's so good!

[Pickle]

I was just going to link to my old thread, it was so helpful!

I'm loving my Clarins eyeliner and now have more Bareminerals products than I can justify. I also really like the Avon Magix face perfector, great for creating a nice base before applying makeup and also for wearing alone. It's not tinted, but does clever things with light to brighten your skin up.

[midivydale]

i think a tinted moisturiser is a good start, Nars or Laura Mercier are both excellent. I also swear by "tightlining" which was abit of a revelation for me, clarins 3 dot liner as pickle mentions above is great for this. Very natural looking. I have roseaca so suffer from redness alot which means that blusher is out for me but I use a gentle bronzer instead to warm it up abit.

The chubby sticks and any sticks for that matter is great for quick makeup. You just dab it on and go. I use a stick bronzer thingy, stick eyeshadow and a lipcrayon (a my lips but better colour) and it all takes about 3min to use.

I hope I dont come across as ridiculously shallow its just that these small things have helped me feel so much better about myself over the last (actually v hard few years).

[midivydale]

Oh and fab little thing is benefit gimme brows. Such a fab little thing and gives a really natural result.

[Zephy]

Wow! Thank you! What a wonderful response and thanks too for the link to the previous thread. I'm almost excited now!

There are brands here I've never even heard of so will make a note of everything. I too suffer from redness, despite being incredibly pale, so have previously found anything heavier than tinted moisturiser to look really unnatural. (But then again I don't have a clue about application either!)

If I can find anything to cover these bags and make me feel more like an actual person I will be incredibly happy!

[Pickle]

One product I took a punt on was "Magic Minerals" foundation - one of the terrible "as seen on tv" things that comes with a 30 min infomercial. I saw it on offer for ?10 for two compacts, and have been very pleasantly surprised!

I use it as a quick take the edge off (also known as "don't scare the kids when doing the school run") product daily, then pop it over top of a liquid foundation if I'm going out.

[MellowYellow]

My sister used to work in beauty PR and was always getting me various samples to try. Some things she raved about just didn't work for me and vice versa.

My advice is take a morning if you can and pop up to a department store - John Lewis and Harvey Nicks will both get their make up ladies to test foundations and other make up products on you and then you can feel what each product is like on your skin and get really good advice from them. You might even get a load of free samples to try and home too before deciding what to splash out on! X

[Northeastview]

Treat yourself to good skin care first. Elizabeth Arden have a nice hot cloth polish face wash. I use neals yard but with the same hot cloth method which is probably the winning ingredient. Good moisurising- whatever suits you. With this hopefully you will get the best out of whatever makeup you get, then choose what you want to hide/ exsentuate, which may well have changed over the years. I love Benefit, and use bad gal lash, brow pencil, gimme brows, porefessional and dandelion blush. I took convincing to darken my brows but it makes such a difference to my face (you may already have luxuriant dark brows). I second going to try stuff out in Selfridges or John Lewis, and only take what you feel you will have time to do at home. Good luck:)

[Northeastview]

Don't mean to offend with the face wash advice, just mean to say give yourself the best makeup base possible;)

[lisaloulou84]

Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser cannot be beat - there's a reason it has so many awards! Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue for a foundation and Benefit for the rest - Porefessional, They're Real, Brow Zings, Fake it and their boxed powders. Lipstick and eyeshadow can pretty much be from anywhere - Bourjois is a good cheaper option, made by Chanel. I worked for Benefit for 8 years and I've tried other things since I left but it's just not the same! If you want a real treat, January and February are a quiet time in beauty and Benefit often have their make up artist team out in either the Carnaby St boutique or any of the Oxford Street dept stores doing make up lessons - have a look on their facebook page. Lisa, Lauren, Lauretta, Claire, Alyson or Amy-Lou - any of them will make you feel a million bucks!

[Sazzle30]

Kiehls is great for skin care and their tinted moisturiser includes factor 50 as standard. I wear that every day no matter the weather

[dullwitch]

I agree with Northeastview that you need to have a good skin care in order to have the best canvas for your make-up.

I'd highly recommend trying Dermalogica skin care.

I love Bourgeois Healthy mix foundation and would definitely recommend it - depending on your skin tone and type.

For your information, I am a make-up artist and offer one to one lessons where I recommend the best products as well as showing you the best techniques.

Take a look at my website for more details.

www.hairandmakeup4u.com/lessons

Amanda x