If you could recommend one make up brand…

[LennyBriscoe]

I’m 41 and never really fussed about wearing that much day to day make up - bronzing powder, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick. But I want to shake it up a bit.

I’m 41 and have a pathological fear of not blending in and being ‘two tone’. I’m also worried about getting the wrong shade so I’m thinking it would be best to go and see someone. Although I’m in a big city, we have no department stores now but we do have a MAC and Boots have a few different outlets so I’m thinking maybe start with one of them and then maybe move onto other brands.

Thanks!

 

[BigMavis]

Do you want to wear foundation? If your skin is good and you've never needed to you might find it hard to get used to. Mac is pretty good, they will colour match you and find you the right product to suit your needs, coverage, matte, dewy, light, heavy etc.
To be honest all beauty counters will do that. I quite like It cosmetics CC cream, its very easy to apply and looks natural. I generally use regular drug store mascara and lippie and splurge on base. Mac paint pots are nice on the eye area and my favourite face product is Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood flawless filter, you can cheat your way to a good skin day with it and her lip sticks are nice too.

 

[Cats_eyes]

Estée Lauder double wear foundation, I've wasted lots of money on different foundations. Low/high end. Estee Lauder is the best I've came across. Good coverage, lasts all day. I wear shade pebble I'm quite pale, it gives me a bit of colour without being ott.

Mac Bronzer refined golden - used this shade since I was about 15 again Ive tried all sorts low/high end. And this one last all day and not orange, kinda think it makes my skin smooth (idk weird)

Mascaras Ive tried all sorts but I don't have a favourite I don't see a massive difference tbh between cheap/high end. I'm interested in other people's replies on this one.

Lipsticks - Rimmel has my favourite Matt shades. I have a few by Mac but I think I've aged with the colours

 

[Cats_eyes]

Sorry Lenny I was in the middle of scrubbing my house when I replied I've read your post properly.. So rather then what's in my make up bag *finally I start posting and wrong thread. (I dono if you might be interested but there's a what's in your make up bag thread somewhere here)

Anyway I went to the Mac in Liverpool the girl was lovely told her I wanted to learn how to contur and that i probably hadn't changed how I did my make up since my late teens She ended up doing all my face just showing me how to use products.

This is my refined golden (bronzer) and the other is the one she was showing me how to hi-light with. They've lasted over 2 years thank you lockdown I was totally honest that I prefer Estée foundation to theirs but she was fine using theirs to show me how to do my make up and finish my face for me . I think she done my brows and eyeliner to, I ended up spending around £90 on 3/4 products, thankfully she wasn't pushy at all.
I do think 20 plus pound is a bit extravagant for a pencils so don't be afraid to say no and try other brands. I do really like soap & glory for mascaras & lip stuff & tend to stick to Rimmel waterproof mascara. Have funn

 

[DCICassieStuart]

I don't think I can pick just one brand to be honest. I vary between high end and expensive brand with everything.
For example my 'everyday' make up at the moment is:

Concealer - Boots Collection
Foundation - Primark Stay Matte - absolutely brilliant for a fiver. Supposed to be a dupe of Estee Lauder Double Wear and having used both I can honestly say it comes pretty close for about 1/6 of the price. I like Mac Studio Fix too.
Mascara - currently using one of the Essence ones from Wilkos. It's about £3. I like Benefit BadGal Bang too, but it's about £25 I think now, and cheap or expensive, all mascaras dry out after a few months. Same with nail polishes, cheap or expensive they all chip.
Eyeliner - Lancome, and this is one high end product that I definitely won't budge on. It's expensive but is quite a long pencil so it's lasts ages and it's the only one that stays on me for most of the day. I think cheaper eyeliners just don't have the same staying power. Am open to suggestions though!
Brow pencil - whatever is on offer. Currently using a Rimmel one and they do a good brow mascara too for around a fiver.
Blusher - I'm struggling with this at the moment. I don't like powder blusher, just cream but everytime I find a nice one it gets discontinued. Currently using a No 7 one, but that HAS been discontinued so don't know what I'll use next.
Lipstick - anything and everything. High end Louboutin to cheap and cheerful Primark. Current lipliner is Primark too.

I'd say if you don't want to spend too much at first if you're not quite sure about what you want then buy the high street version. You can always go for a more expensive option later. I wear red lipstick all the time now but when I started wearing it first I was a bit nervous about wearing it (thanks to a bitchy remark from my mother ) so I just bought a cheapy one from Boots. I think it was Boots 17 at the time and played around with the cheaper ones before splashing out on a more expensive one.

The only bad experience I've had with high end products has been with Charlotte Tilbury. Their foundation was absolutely terrible and the eyeshadow quad broke the first time I went to use it. I returned both products. Oddly enough the same thing happened to my friend with the eyeshadow quad but that was about a year later so I doubt they were just from the same 'bad batch'. Put me off buying CT again.

Don't discount the cheaper options either. Some of the stuff is quite good. Essence in Wilkos (and I've seen it in a few pharmacys too) is quite good. The nail polishes especially. I like the consistency and coverage of their foundation but I find even the lightest shade to be that bit orange. Then again I'm quite pale skinned so that might just be me. The mascara is good too and the lipliners.
Primark have some great own brand stuff. The foundation that I mentioned and their lipsticks are absolutely excellent for between £1-£1.50.

 

[Libbyaugust737]

IT Cosmetics CC cream is amazing. Like really amazing. It's spf also and they have different coverage I use a maybeline mascara, a blue one that dead good. The thing is though, as long as you do your skincare and use a good primer you'll be fine with blending in
The ordinary do a really good foundation. A serum one. And Too Faced born this way is good

BUT maybe Google the best makeup for your skin type. Changed my life haha.

 

[BigMavis]

Primark do have some great makeup, skincare and haircare. They dupe a lot of brands, their lip liners are marvellous, I no longer pay money for those as primark do them for £1/1.50, so crazy. They do a lovely balm cleanser and their face cloths are excellent quality, they have an overnight lip plumping mask and Andrew fitzsimons hair care range.
What sort of look do you want OP? I would just love a beauty thread

 

[Red hair]

I’m 41 and never really fussed about wearing that much day to day make up - bronzing powder, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick. But I want to shake it up a bit.

I’m 41 and have a pathological fear of not blending in and being ‘two tone’. I’m also worried about getting the wrong shade so I’m thinking it would be best to go and see someone. Although I’m in a big city, we have no department stores now but we do have a MAC and Boots have a few different outlets so I’m thinking maybe start with one of them and then maybe move onto other brands.

Thanks!

I would recommend Bare Minerals. Thy do a complexion rescue tinted moisturiser which is very flattering. Very natural, the products last. They have a very good website too, their foundation finder is fabulous.
urban decay for quality eyeshadow with great colour pay off.
Tarte is another brand I love. Excellent mascara.
I tend to order online, but do check online swatches - most beauty reviewers do them and you can find your skin tone.

 

[Custard cream]

I don't think I can pick just one brand to be honest. I vary between high end and expensive brand with everything.
For example my 'everyday' make up at the moment is:

Concealer - Boots Collection
Foundation - Primark Stay Matte - absolutely brilliant for a fiver. Supposed to be a dupe of Estee Lauder Double Wear and having used both I can honestly say it comes pretty close for about 1/6 of the price. I like Mac Studio Fix too.
Mascara - currently using one of the Essence ones from Wilkos. It's about £3. I like Benefit BadGal Bang too, but it's about £25 I think now, and cheap or expensive, all mascaras dry out after a few months. Same with nail polishes, cheap or expensive they all chip.
Eyeliner - Lancome, and this is one high end product that I definitely won't budge on. It's expensive but is quite a long pencil so it's lasts ages and it's the only one that stays on me for most of the day. I think cheaper eyeliners just don't have the same staying power. Am open to suggestions though!
Brow pencil - whatever is on offer. Currently using a Rimmel one and they do a good brow mascara too for around a fiver.
Blusher - I'm struggling with this at the moment. I don't like powder blusher, just cream but everytime I find a nice one it gets discontinued. Currently using a No 7 one, but that HAS been discontinued so don't know what I'll use next.
Lipstick - anything and everything. High end Louboutin to cheap and cheerful Primark. Current lipliner is Primark too.

I'd say if you don't want to spend too much at first if you're not quite sure about what you want then buy the high street version. You can always go for a more expensive option later. I wear red lipstick all the time now but when I started wearing it first I was a bit nervous about wearing it (thanks to a bitchy remark from my mother ) so I just bought a cheapy one from Boots. I think it was Boots 17 at the time and played around with the cheaper ones before splashing out on a more expensive one.

The only bad experience I've had with high end products has been with Charlotte Tilbury. Their foundation was absolutely terrible and the eyeshadow quad broke the first time I went to use it. I returned both products. Oddly enough the same thing happened to my friend with the eyeshadow quad but that was about a year later so I doubt they were just from the same 'bad batch'. Put me off buying CT again.

Don't discount the cheaper options either. Some of the stuff is quite good. Essence in Wilkos (and I've seen it in a few pharmacys too) is quite good. The nail polishes especially. I like the consistency and coverage of their foundation but I find even the lightest shade to be that bit orange. Then again I'm quite pale skinned so that might just be me. The mascara is good too and the lipliners.
Primark have some great own brand stuff. The foundation that I mentioned and their lipsticks are absolutely excellent for between £1-£1.50.

I’m not quite answering the original posters question but if you prefer cream blusher i totally recommend the Trinny London ones. I was a bit apprehensive about trying them as I wasn’t sure what they would be like but they are amazing. Lovely colours and they blend so nicely.

 

[Apple In My Pie]

If it helps, my favourite lipstick ever in terms of comfort, staying power and colour is from Ciate London so on that basis I would recommend them for other makeup too despite not trying them out. I have a glittery purple lipstick and it feels so nourishing and soft on the lips, doesn’t dry the lips out or settle into the lines of the lips in the way that I’ve found my MAC lippies do.

 

[DCICassieStuart]

I’m not quite answering the original posters question but if you prefer cream blusher i totally recommend the Trinny London ones. I was a bit apprehensive about trying them as I wasn’t sure what they would be like but they are amazing. Lovely colours and they blend so nicely.

Thank you I've seen Trinny's before but have never tried. One to look into.

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

Another IT CC fanatic, I’m pale with freckles so a fuller coverage foundation would make me look like a ghost / white dinner plate but that doesn’t. You also can’t feel it on your skin if that makes sense? I used MAC previously and always felt like my face was stiff with it. Other than that I only use glossier boy brow & maybe their moonbeam eye things if I’m feeling ~fancy~ x

 

[1001 others]

Natio ... Australian ... amazing stuff. They mainly offer neutrals pallettes, as well as skincare.

I use their primer and BB cream during the day - no foundation - and both provide sufficient coverage to achieve that "made up" look without the feeling of glugginess. The lipsticks are lovely - creamy, and long-lasting.

This said, I left my make-up kit bag at home the other day so had to pop into The Warehouse (NZ discount department store) and get something quickly, and ended up buying a Covergirl with Olay foundation in a tube ... cheap as chips and lovely coverage (illuminating, even), although I did notice towards the end of the day it started to feel a bit crumbly by my cheekbones; I also picked up a Maybelline mascara - the one that for years has been its top seller, in a lime green and hot pink tube - definitely value for money.

 

[CelesteW]

Been to boots today and there’s 20% off almost everything until closing tomorrow.
I’m a bit of a skincare and Make up snob but only because I’ve got odd skin that only likes to work with bloody expensive stuff!!
currently using Lancôme foundation and finally have a perfectmatch for my skin colour and tone. I do think that your base it the most important part for make up looking good. Skincare is the key, a good primer and foundation for your skin type.

 

[LennyBriscoe]

Primark do have some great makeup, skincare and haircare. They dupe a lot of brands, their lip liners are marvellous, I no longer pay money for those as primark do them for £1/1.50, so crazy. They do a lovely balm cleanser and their face cloths are excellent quality, they have an overnight lip plumping mask and Andrew fitzsimons hair care range.
What sort of look do you want OP? I would just love a beauty thread

Thanks Mavis, and everyone for your fab replies! So many great tips and recommendations, I’m excited to get trying!

I definitely prefer the minimal look. I love getting my make up done for special occasions but I always feel like I’ve got a weird mask on obvs I wouldn’t be doing that every day though! I would quite like a foundation I think. I’ve always really focussed on my hair rather than make up but something’s changed since I turned 40 and I would to mix it up and hopefully boost my confidence.

Thanks again, I really appreciate all your thoughtful replies

 

[mcfeez]

I don't like heavy full coverage foundation - my favourite brand for foundation would be NARS. I loved their Sheer Glow and also their tinted moisturiser.

I love Mac for lipsticks.

 

[derbyshiregirl]

Max factor - such an under rated high street brand! X

 

[Babyyoda88]

I use the soap and glory mascara, I love it.

 

[Eggsandbeans]

If you can afford it, Armani for foundation. Laura Mercier for the eye sticks. Cheap brands everything else.

 

[isabellalovescats]

I really love Clinique for foundation! Wet and Wild for lipsticks and highlighters, cheap but very pigmented.