What are make up bag essentials?

[Pickle]

Girly post alert, it's not really my thing, I'll be honest.

Anyhoo... About 6 months ago I opened up my makeup bag, and tossed the contents in the bin. Other than moisturiser, and occasionally foundation, I don't wear makeup, and the bits I had were all far too old to be safe to put anywhere near a face!

Now I have a few smart occasions coming up and feel like I need to make more of an effort, so I need to buy myself some makeup.

I have a nice liquid foundation (Clinique) I've used for ages and suits my skin.

What are the other basics I should buy (and do you have recommendations?).

- Mascara

- Eyeliner (scares me a bit, haven't really worn since the late 80s when a thick line of bright blue complemented my school uniform beautifully)

- concealer/brightener? No idea.

- eye shadow? Another thing I'm a bit scared of! I never know what colours I should buy (I have blue eyes, and short, blonde highlighted hair if that helps?)

- powder?

Lipstick doesn't work for me, I'm a flautist and have a tough time with my lips as they take a bit of a hammering and are always dry.

Should I go somewhere like Dr Boo? Would they treat me like a 40 year old imbecile (or see ?? signs and sell me stuff I don't need), or are they gentle with novices?

Help me family room!

[yeknomyeknom]

Don't go to Dr Boo. Go to Selfridges or somewhere with a Clinique counter. You like their foundation, they can give you a make over and recommend products.

[j9duff]

I swear by Bobbi Brown make up (a friend introduced me).

If you can get to John Lewis on Oxford Street the girls at the counter there are great. I booked a make up lesson with them (it's "free" if you spend ?20 on make up and takes about 30mins). They weren't pushy with the products, listened to what you wanted to look like and they send you away with the list of things they've used and how to use them - so you can always purchase later rather than take the hit all at once.

I love their eye concealer/brightner - it's def the product I can't live without.

Good luck.

[midivydale]

A tinted moisturiser is my best friend these days, a lovely alternative to full on foundation, becca and laura mercier do lovely ones.

For eyeliner, have you heard of tightlining? Basically you dot eyeliner underneath the eyelashes (google for better explanation). No need to do a straightline but it frames the eyes nicely. Clarins do a lovely one called 3 dot liner for this purpose.

I use bronzer (guerlain) and blusher sometimes. A stick blush (nars, bobbi brown, chanel) is easy to apply and blend.

For lips (dont get in with luosticks) I like crayons and tinted balms. Not sticky like a gloss but more toned down than lipstick and more forgiving if lips are dry. Clinique chubby sticks are good.

Selfridges have lovely makeup staff. Charlotte Tilbury and Trish Mcevoy are my favourites.

Mascara - I use a loreal tube mascara. It is good but tbh I just buy whatever masacara is on offer.

Eyeshadow I find tricky as i have got older but have settled for a bare mineral one called 5in1 or something. It is a cooling little tube with a neutral paste thing which evens out and gives the eyes abit of a lift. Takes 3 secs to blob on and rub in.

I would give dr boo a miss personally too.

[canela]

mmmmhhh....my days browsing at beauty counters are long done following a lovely comment by the girl at I can't remember which counter...."Oh you want a MUM mascara!"

[Pickle]

Thanks ladies, much appreciated.

It's difficult to get to Oxford Street, as from September I'm constrained to school nursery hours (9-12), which hardly leave time to go to Sainsburys, let alone the west end! I wonder whether Debenhams at Bromley would be any good?

Maybe I'll attempt a lone shopping trip one weekend :)

[canela]

avoid Bromley - that's where I was offered Mum Mascara.....

[Pickle]

:)

Mind you, if I'm honest that's probably what I need!

[redjam]

If I were you I'd just get down to Boots and look at their No 7 range for eyeliner and eye shadow (though their mascara's not great - try Max Factor for a cheap alternative?). It's not going to win any prizes for trendy colours or exciting formulations, but it's reasonably priced and decent quality and would allow you to experiment without breaking the bank. It's also very wearable - quite neutral colours that suit most skin tones. For blue eyes, natural warm browny tones would look good. Avoid black eyeliner and any make up with sparkly bits in as they both add ten years!

I'm not really a fan of beauty counters in John Lewis/Selfridges or wherever - the couple of times I've gone there for a 'free' makeover I've ended up looking like a cross between Pat Butcher and Grimaldi and felt quite pressurised by the sales pitch to boot (and I speak as someone who normally quite happily trowels on the slap so I'm not exactly a stranger to wasting money on lipsticks). Better - and more fun - to buy a palette of neutral colours and experiment in the privacy of your own home. That way you'll only scare your kids if it goes wrong, not the whole of Oxford Street.

[EDmummy]

I'm definitely a Bobbi Brown and Nars fan but if you can't get to a big department store then I wouldn't suggest buying online. I've not used it much but there's a Big Mac counter at Morleys in Brixton which is definitely doable inbetween nursery time. I also buy the most wonderful mascara from Dr Boo (?20 - same as online price) that'd waterproof and comes off with warm water (Blink) and they also have Stilla which does great neutral eye shadows. I don't go for brighters anymore but would highly recommend Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick bronzer.

[nina_maniana]

Touche ?clat for under your eyes. Instantly brightens your whole face, even with no other make up on. Total essential - must be the YSL version, the cheaper imitations from boots are not as good.

MAC for any blushers.

If you want any make up tips, there are a bunch of youtube tutorials by a lady called Lisa Eldridge. She's in her 40s and is a famous make up artist. She does the make up on her own face and recommends brands so you can see how they look on. My husand laughed at me watching makeup tutorials online but seriously, they are really good.

[Yak]

I would check out Sali Hughes's website and columns in the Guardian for some good tips. Buy some super cheap stuff from superdrug (MUA is good) and experiment, experiment, experiment and practice, practice, practice using her videos.

I say this as a confirmed non-make up wearer of many years, with a need to occasionally look very smart. I now can do smokey eyes without looking like a panda and have even wore lipstick for the first time in ages (as a fellow wind player I know you know that is A Big Deal). Brands I now wear are Bare Minerals (eyeshadow, face powder), Clinique (Mascara) and then random stuff for the other bits and bobs.

[melbourne groover]

Charlotte Tilbury's stuff is brilliant and really straight forward. I also really like Benefit's The big easy foundation. It gives a lovely finish, nicer even than the BB Cream.

[yeknomyeknom]

Why don't you try a BB cream. It performs several functions in one if you are a slap it on and go kinda gal. Alternatively you could sign up to 2-3 maths of a subscription make up box. I did this and needed up with loads of sakes to try before I invested in the real deal. Feel unique and Little French Box were the best. I tried quite a few.

[sanity girl]

Agree with Yak. Sali Hughes' column and website/forum are a great source of advice and info. My staples are NARS tinted moisturiser, blusher (I favour MAC, but Sleek found in Superdrug do very good blushes at a lower price), a chunky eyeshadow/liner stick (Kiko who have a shop by Oxford Circus do brilliant ones), and mascara. I also like Bare Minerals ready eyeshadow duos. For blue eyes browns and bronzes usually bring out the colour nicely. Maybe concealer if you need it for under the eyes/redness/spots - I am currently using a creamy one by Becca from Space NK which is excellent. Clarins instant light concealer is really good for under the eyes. Have fun experimenting!

[LouLouMoving]

I second Bare Minerals and have had a very positive experience with them in Selfridges. I rarely wear make-up and its lightweight enough that you can still see your natural skin's glow through the liquid foundation whilst providing even coverage with literally a dot or two.

Think you can also order offline from QVC and return if you're not happy with the product.

[Convex]

i recommend a lesson. i went to bobbi brown in covent garden - the stand alone stores do hour sessions which are ?30ish which is redeemable. and they focus on what you want, eg i wanted to concentrate on base.

very spenny though.

mac do the same thing i think.

i found i couldnt buy as much as i wanted, but i have slowly built up and because its such lovely stuff and stays on all day i think its worth it. im planning to try some mac products though.

[yummers]

I did a Bobbi Brown lesson before my wedding which was great. They do lots of different lessons which I think are really good and their ethos is about enhancing and looking natural which I really like from day to day. I love their make up too. Tricky to attend if you may find getting to central London difficult however. Maybe Stratford might be easier?

Sali Hughes is great.

My essentials are:

- good moisturiser

- BB cream (I use Estee Lauder)

- mascara (currently using Clinique which I like, but not wedded to any in particular)

- natural colour lippie/tinted lip balm

- eyebrow brush and eye shadow in a colour that is slightly darker than your eyebrows. This one sounds bizarre but is key. Your eyebrows frame your whole face and whenever mine are coloured in and "done" is when I look most pulled together. Was edgy as hell about it to begin with though...

Another option may be to consider a make up artist coming to your house to give you a lesson? They should be able to advise on good products for you and show you some new techniques. Would be expensive, but in the interests of then only buying what you need, plus convenience, may be worth it if it is something you can stretch to?

I'm so jealous of your blank canvas. Have fun!!

[Belle]

For what it's worth, I rate Dr Boo, but it's perhaps better for skin are than makeup (tho does stock still which I love). They stock Clarins - handy for the concealer Sanity Girl mentions.

Clinique have just brought out a new liquid eyeliner which I've indulged in and really rate (I've tried dozens).

They also do a CC cream - the moisture surge - basically a tinted moisturiser - which is excellent for every day.

I have Lanc?me mascara at the no but also not loyal to one brand - max factor good or l'oreal and think both available at Lloyds chemist.

Benefit stuff is good too.

I have some Charlotte Tilbury eye shadow crayons which are fool proof and the website is great - you could order online and follow the tutorials on the site.

I do think powder makes a difference tbh.

[Belle]

Oh forgot - blusher!! Makes a huge difference and if done right is a world away from 80s human league hell! This is where help in store cd be useful re colour matching. Dr boo used to sometimes to special in store days with makeup artists, worth asking there if you want to stay local.

[melbourne groover]

I forgot the clarins concealer, but definitely recommend. That's what I use, it lasts forever (In real terms about a year, not sure if that is good or not but you only need a tiny bit, even with dark child induced circles....) and doesn't go cakey!

[sanity girl]

Forgot to say that the bourjois cream blusters are brilliant - easy to apply, lovely finish and no need to invest in a brush - just use your fingers

[caremelblue82]

hi I'm a qualified beauty therapist and i have been introduced to an amazing product by jeunesse global that I think everyone should have in there make up bags or on there dresser.

please check out my facebook group to see the videos i have posted for you to see for yourself

:https://www.facebook.com/groups/152199158449925/

If you are interested in purchasing any of the products feel free to contact me on 07480237331 or check out my website:

www.djosephs.juenesseglobal.com

[Azalea]

Bare Minerals has their own shop in Covent Garden. I bought one of their starter boxes when in the States for a bargain price and really liked the products. It contains everything you need inc brushes. Think it's worth a trip there to make sure you get the right colour for your skin tone.

when I wore expensive mascara, I always bought Lanc?me products. Agree with the Touch? ?clat recommendations. I Never wear blush so can't recommend any. I like the Korres tinted lip glosses, they are available in chemist in Northcross RD.

[Saffron]

My friend Fiona Tanner is a London-based makeup artist, who does amazing makeup lessons. She did my wedding makeup, then I had a brilliant makeup lesson with her a couple years after my daughter was born.

You can do these as group. It makes a really fun evening. Here is her website: http://www.ftmakeuplondon.com/services_makeup.php

She gives great advice on makeup bag essentials. xx