Is it just me? Make-up woes

Snuggles

ali-t wrote: »

This should go in your favour as being short sighted makes your eyes look smaller behind glasses (unless you are wearing contacts?) so any mistakes shouldn't be too noticeable.

I am also fair but found that I am allergic to eyelash tint so only get it on special occassions like for going on holiday as my eyes swell up and get really sore.

Unlike yourself I am a total makeup junkie but have struggled over the years to find the right makeup to go with my colouring.

My tips for you are:
if you feel self conscious about mascara go for one that isn't volumising, you want to add a bit of colour not too much definition - give it a year and you will be looking for big fat lashes once you get more confident

find a neutral pallette of colours e.g. fawns/browns or greys and use these sparingly to build up your confidence. A light brown can be used like eyeliner on a cotton bud or brush to add definition.

If you don't like lipstick (I don't either) there are loads of glossy lip balms that you can start with that add to the groomed look without adding too much drama.

Reading between the lines I think you may also be anxious about other people's reactions to seeing you in makeup. If you do it gradually they will get used to seeing you with a bit and you can build it up with amounts and colours as you get braver. The compliments will come flooding in about your new improved look which should give you confidence to go a bit braver

I would also recommend going to different places to get makeovers e.g. makeup counters, body shop at home party, college training days etc This will let you see how different styles look on you.

Good luck

Thank you Ali, that's really useful! And you are right, I am a bit anxious about suddenly going out in make up, I think I would feel very self conscious. I'm probably trying to do too much all at once, and should just do it gradually as you suggested.

ali-t

Snuggles wrote: »

Thank you Ali, that's really useful! And you are right, I am a bit anxious about suddenly going out in make up, I think I would feel very self conscious. I'm probably trying to do too much all at once, and should just do it gradually as you suggested.

You go girl, start slowly and before long you will be refusing to leave the house without it - your husband to be will soon regret his comments about you wearing makeup

When I do get my lashes tinted I go for blue black as I like them as dark as they can go but you can get brown tint which would be a shade braver than you are now but not too noticeable

Another tip for you is to take a picture of yourself on your phone wearing makeup and this will give you an indication of what others see. The majority of the population won't double take at you and think coco the clown but some may double take and go - she's looking fab today, whats different?

fleagle21

A couple of fab, neutral products to start you off - Body Shop Colourglide Lip colour, shade 42 Dusk Pink (feels like vaseline on your lips so very wearable, and as you get more confident with the feel of having it on, maybe go darker) and for eyeshadow, Ruby and Millie Beige 840P eye colour, which is a nice greyish brown with a bit of shimmer. I love both of these

Make-it-3

Firstly, I wonder if its the colours you are using, if you can do foundation you can do eyeshadow, I think its just getting used to colour, so start pale.

For eyeliner/mascara don't go for black - blue/brown is much more forgiving.

With mascara if you just want a bit of colour rather than a big build up, make sure you wipe a lot of the excess mascara off onto the side of the bottle or on a tissue before applying.

With eyeliner you say you are applying it to high, do you mean on your eyelid or below? I have never been able to get a good line on my eyelid - the skin is just too loose. I don't get on with pencils, preferring liquid liner - again wipe off excess, dot on then join the dots.

As others have suggested if you can't get on with eyeliner/mascara go to a beauticians for tinting.

Similar applies with lipsticks try colours close to your own lipcolour to start - there's lots of formulations on the market so I'm sure if you experiment a bit you'll find something you are comfortable with.

Agree make-up counters are very intimidating I give them a wide birth.

carolinejane_2

go into a large Boots and ask for advice from the girls on the make up stands

they will do makeovers with lots of advice for about £10 and you get that back off any products you buy on the day

squashy

I too hate eyeliner, never wear it. On my eyes I use a taupe colour first then dab a little bit of darker colour near my lash line and tap/blend. I never use brushes or sponges, but apply with my ring ringer. I also prefer lighter mascara not the whizzy extension ones as they look too gloopy.

I am a fan of the maybelline mousse range for blush as its light and easy to apply (again with my finger). They also do foundations, concealers etc in the range.

ciderwithrosie_2

I think make-up always goes on better if you've primed your face for it first. If I'm going out for an evening, I exfoliate beforehand, moisturise with L'Oreal double lifting serum and leave that to settle in for a bit. Then I use Avon face primer and a mineral foundation powder, sweeping it over my eyelids too, so that any eyeshadow goes on smoothly and blends easily.

What sort of colours do you try and use? Anything dark will look just too different if you're not used to it. I use eyeliner pencil but I have a brown one and a smudger, and I work from the outside - in, wider pencil at the outside corner and fading to nothing before it gets to the inner corner, then I just put a tiny bit on the bottom lid on the outside corner, blending in. If you think you've put too much eyeshadow or liner on, just keep blending.

I don't like lipstick either, I can't find a shade which doesn't make my lips stand out too much (can't believe I used to wear a deep plum colour or pillar box red in the 80's), so now I just use a bit of benetint or a slick of their blue lipgloss.

regards CWR

Snuggles

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

What sort of colours do you try and use? Anything dark will look just too different if you're not used to it. I use eyeliner pencil but I have a brown one and a smudger, and I work from the outside - in, wider pencil at the outside corner and fading to nothing before it gets to the inner corner, then I just put a tiny bit on the bottom lid on the outside corner, blending in. If you think you've put too much eyeshadow or liner on, just keep blending.

Eyeliner/mascara, I usually try brown, as I'm sure black would be too much. I've tried all sorts of eyeshadow colours but just don't think anything really suits. Browns always seem to have a slightly "reddish" tone on me, and make my eyes look tired/sore. Greys seem too dark, and anything else looks garish. The only colour I actually like on my eyes is a pink borjois shadow I bought ages ago, although I probably only like it because you can barely see it!

Another issue is that I have "hooded" eyelids - my actual eyelid is barely visible, apart from the lashline, and the space under my eyebrow is quite narrow. I think because of this, the standard approach to applying eyeshadow, and where to put the darker shade etc, doesn't really work on my eyes, but I've no idea what will work!

shandyclover

Snuggles wrote: »

I know this might sound silly but this is really beginning to get me down. I am 36, and I've never been able to apply/wear eye make-up or lipstick. It never used to bother me too much, but as I'm getting older, and comparing myself to my friends and colleagues, I look so dull and drab. I'm quite pale-skinned, and have blonde hair, and very fair eyelashes and eyebrows.

I wear foundation, powder and a bit of blusher, but I just can't manage anything else. Over the years, I have tried again and again to apply eye make-up. I've watched tutorials, I've read magazines, I've had advice off friends, but no matter what I try, it looks ridiculous. I've tried different colours, different products, but to no avail. I can manage to sweep a bit of eyeshadow on, although most colours don't seem to suit me. But eye-liner and mascara I just find impossible. I've just tried again today, I used one of the "crayon" type liners that's supposed to be easy to apply. I just ended up with a disjointed, jagged line, like I always do. If I try to smudge it my eyes just look "dirty". Mascara looks ridiculous, I think my eyelashes are very fine and quite sparse, so I get that awful spidery look, which I think looks hideous.

Lipstick I just cant bear the feel of it on my lips, whenever I try to wear it, I manage about ten minutes before I have to wipe it off. Lipglosses I don't mind the feel of, but after an hour or so I always end up with a line of gloopy gloss across my lips which looks gross.

I am fed up of looking so plain, but also fed up of spending money trying different products which never look right or which I just can't apply. Does anyone else struggle with make-up? Or do you think there are some people who just don't suit it?

You definitely are not the only one!

I have 4 teen daughters who are all better with makeup than I am, and some very glam friends who always look perfectly made up. They've all lent a hand trying to teach me! I understand the theory - it just never looks right when I do it!

My main problems are sparse eyebrows, hooded 'piggy' tiny eyes, that are very sensitive and start smarting and watering about 2 minutes into applying any eye make up. Facial skin that is covered in freckles.

I've made a few discoveries recently though, that seem to make all the difference. I hate the feeling of foundtion on my skin, but I've tried a mineral foundation and get on ok with that - though I'll still only wear it for special occasions. In Spain I found a cheapo lip tint. It actually looks like a felt marker pen, goes on very easily, no mess and lasts all day. Though I haven't seen anything like it in UK/Ireland. I've never been able to apply eyeliner. Then I found a gel eyeliner in a little pot (also in Spain), and bought a ruby and millie slanted eyeliner brush - suddenly all things seemed possible, though I confess I'll still ony bother if I'm going out. A friend bought me some mineral eye shadow in neautral colours which go on so softly my eyes don't smart at all. I've started off just wearing the one colour and will build up to all the blending and highlighting of others. I've also tried some Rimmel cream eyeshadow that you just smooth on with your finger. The colour was bluey silver and given to me by my DD - I thought at first it was far to loud a colour for me though once I tried it it just brightened the eye and was barely noticeable.

As others have said - keep experimenting! I'd recommend the Bobbie Brown Makeup books. You can often find them in libraries. Her look is quite natural but lovely, with lots of hints about bringing out your best features. I couldn't afford to buy all her make up but the principals are still good.