Make up Help 31 year old never wear it WHAT DO I DO?

Question

Ok this is embarrsing I am 31 years old and have no idea how to put make up on, I mean I do know where stuff goes and how to put blush on with a brush and eye shadow with the little wand etc but can someone give me tips on how to wear it so I look good and not way over done? I have very rarely worn make up and never on a daily basis, not as a teen or adult, I am married I figured already have my man so who cares, he likes me without anyway, but does like it too when I wear it on occasion.

I have blonde hair, green eyes, fair complextion. My eyes are a bit on the small side, my eyelashes are of average length, and are thank god not blonde but brown I don't like a weighted down feel and I have 3 kids so I have little time to do it.

I have NO make up in the house, except a sheer pink lip gloss so tell me what to get and what to do. HELP! I need daytime and night time tips, as i plan on going on vacation next spring and will need night time tips

I should add I don't do malls and big stores, I try to limit my time in any store and chose smaller stores CVS etc or order online because I have a daughter who is special needs and I try to limit contact with large groups so I don't get sick, that way I can take care of her with out making her sick. I might consider going but I don't have any of those stores near me, we do have Dillards, but I know for a mini-makeover/help they charge $50, my mom just went.

Answer 1

At Kmart buy a Studio Basics Makeup Brush set (it comes in a clear plastic case with its own mirror). At Walgreens buy a Perfection Foundation and Concealer brush (it's double ended).

Use tinted moisturizer to avoid the mask effect; apply it with your brush going no further than your jawline. If you need to go further it means you got the wrong shade. Put concealer on the inner corners of your eyes and on undereye circles (get the concealer all the way up to your lashes); also apply it around the little folds between your nose and cheek and on other imperfections. Set your makeup with pressed powder. Use the powder brush that comes with the set, not the puff in the compact (you'll avoid the mask-like look).

As for products, I recommend you get started with mascara (Maybelline's Lash Stylist), bronzer, blush, three shades of sheer, shimmery pressed powder eyeshadow, and a berry-colored lip gloss or sheer lipstick.

First, go to a salon and spend $15-$20 on getting your eyebrows professionally shaped to flatter your face. Tell them you want them plucked, not waxed (trust me on this). Let your eyebrows grow back all the way so that the stylist can see what the best shape is for you before you go to the salon. Invest in a good pair of Tweezerman tweezers (at Walgreens) to keep the new shape at home. Go to the salon a few times a year to refresh your style.

Always start the color application with your eyes. Put a champagne shadow on the inner corners of your eyes to make you look more alert and to widen your eyes; use it also on your brow bone. Put a soft beige on the lids (the skin that is directly over the eyeball), let it stray a bit higher but just a bit. Use the same color on the lower lash line. Now use a darker shade of beige or maybe a pale brown eyeshadow to line both upper and lower lids; make sure the lines conect at the outer corner of your eyes. Curl your lashes and put on mascara. Always curl your lashes, you'll look more alert. With your powder brush with a little powder on it, dust off any shadow on your cheeks. With your mascara, brush your eyebrows into place and fill in the sparse spots. Do this very lightly.

Now apply bronzer lightly on your forehead, temples, the bridge of your nose and cheeks (around your eyesockets). You may put some on your jawline to define it. Smile and put blush on the apples of your cheeks and go up to your temples; apply almost on your eyesockets to give you a higher cheekbone effect.

Finish with lipgloss or a sheer lipstick in a berry color.

For when you only have about 5 minutes:

Put concealer on the worst imperfections, under your eyes and on the inner corners and in the crease between your nose and cheeks. Powder your face. Put the beige shadow on the lids and the lower lash line. Curl your eyelashes and put on mascara on lashes and brows. Dust some bronzer on your cheeks (always high on them, close to your eyesockets) and the bridge of the nose. Finish with lipgloss.

Remember, always, always, always wash your brushes; the ones in the set one or twice a week with some shampoo and warm water (lay them flat to dry); and the foundation/concelaler brush every night. Don't use makeup wedges; you won't wash them and tossing one every time you do your makeup is just environmentally irresponsible.

If you're wondering where the eyeliner is in this answer, let me tell you why I didn't recommend it. It needs a bit of a steady hand to apply a nice thin line as close to the lashes as possible so it can become a pain to use. A harsh line can make your eyes seem smaller and older. If you must use pencil use a well sharpened one and smudge the line with your pinky. Always line the top and bottom lashes and make the lines conect at the outer corner of your eye. This will make your eye look bigger. Never, ever line your lower lash line alone. This will make your eyes and face look droopy, tired, sleepy; in one word: AWFUL!

Answer 2

OK, I think the best advice is to go get some makeovers. You can go to the make-up counters, or people from Mary Kay, Avon and other companies will come to your home and do a makeover for you.

You need to steel your soul and lock away your pocketbook, and make clear: this is to give me some ideas! I'm not buying anything until I have a chance to think about it for a week or so. If the salesperson is too high pressured, get up and leave, or ask them to leave. But they should respect this, hoping they might get a future sale.

The makeover ladies have some training to help you find the best colors for you, and they know the tricks to bring out the best in your face. They will also know what's the fashion right now.

Go to one once a week (or more often if your schedule allows), and wear the makeup for the whole day. It may be overdone, but try and bear with it. Take notes in a special notebook about colors used and products used, how you felt about them, and how your skin was the next day. Do it as they put it on -- they should be happy to accomodate you, in the interest of future sales.

Then, after you've had a few makeovers, review your list and decide which products you liked best.

I would recommend a moisturizer and foundation that makes your skin look good, but doesn't over-do things.

Possibly a powder, because that always adds a light, but finished look.

Personally, I use a brown eye-liner pencil which I also use to darken my eyebrows a little, and I smudge it to give me some "eye shadow."

Then I use a lip-liner that I love, and stretch it with lip-gloss, chapstick or even a little vaseline. I do have some lipsticks for a special look -- they match the lip-liner, which I think is essential for a nice lip line. I can even use the lip-liner to do my cheeks, by putting a few polka-dots where I want them, then blending them in with foundation or a little moisturizer.

You may find some fantastic products that make you feel really special -- I think you should get them. But if the products don't really do anything for you, DO NOT FEEL PRESSURED TO BUY THEM. Give any makeup purchase a 24-hour wait period, unless you've used it and loved it before. That will save you money in the long run.

I think most women don't need too much. And if you have a huge number of lipliners, pencils, eyeshadows, etc. hanging around, you'll use only a little bit before you have to toss it. You should replace all your makeup (especially things that come in contact with your eyes and lips) every 6 to 12 months. So buy small, get samples when you can, and use it!

(-: I used to be a Mary Kay lady, and now I'm going back to work after many years of being a housewife, so I'm thinking about the same questions.

Answer 3

Wow. looking at your picture start with foundation and a light pink blush. Use some brown eyeliner on the top of your lids. Mascara is a must, too. Use a light glossy red for your lips if you are going out. If you are really interested go to a MAC makeup store near you (usually at the mall) at then will show you some correct techniques and what will accent your face the best.

Answer 4

OH BOY. Uh, ok.... well, get a brown mascara, with a small brush, and you need to practice a lot. Once you put it on, you need to brush your lashes out with a clean mascara wand to get rid of clumps. You don't need eye shadow, but brown or green (not bright green, so don't freak out) looks really good with green eyes. You don't need blush, but a tinted moisturizer and sheer powder is good.... make sure to use Chapstick on your lips sometimes. It's good to get a bit of copper eyeliner and apply a little just on the outside corners of your top and bottom lashes and blending. This makes eyes appear farther appart. To make eyes look bigger, maybe use an eyelash curler.

Answer 5

Go in and have your make up done at the mall or somewhere. Like at Macy's one of the make up counters or Sephora places like that. Take a friend and you'll not only have someone to see if it looks good but she can get a makeover too.
They also put make up at some hair styling academies where the girls are learning to be cosmetologists. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Skin tone is the first consideration. You want makeup colors that match your skin tone. Here's how to determine yours:

Warm skin tone:
1. Look at inner wrist - veins will appear green.
2. Gold jewelry is more flattering than silver jewelry.

Cool skin tone:
1. Look at inner wrist - veins will appear blue.
2. Silver jewelry is more flattering.

If you have a warm tone - consider navy, coffee brown, brownish reds & pinks.

If you have a cool tone- consider sapphire blue & berries (reds & pinks w/ a blue undertone).

Related links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_tone_color_matching
http://www.beautyden.com/beautycolors.shtml
http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-Lipstick

The easiest thing to do is start by wearing a tinted moisturizer w/ SPF to even out you complexion, a little bit of eyeliner or eyeshadow w/ mascara & a sheer, your lips but better lip color.

For application instructions & video demos:
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/makeup.asp?ID=345
http://www.videojug.com/tag/beauty-and-style
the beauty central area of sephora.com has lots of current looks w/ tips for achieving them & video tutorials

Some brands I recommend:
Revlon - eye shadows & Super Lustrous Lip Gloss
L'Oreal - eye shadows, mascara
Cover Girl - TruShine lip color

This site is a free membership site featuring consumer to consumer reviews of beauty products: http://www.makeupalley.com/
It's worth checking out before you spend any $. I've been a member for about 3 years.

Answer 7

go to any MAC store and set up an appointment, I think it's around 40 dollars, they give you a personal session under an hour and teach you what is right for your skin. They're very good.

Every face is different and finding the right products and shades is really important, because you want to look natural, so go to the pros and you can build on what you learn from there. Buy good makeup remover too, Loreal makes a good one, available at walmart.

Answer 8

My first piece of advice is to go to a department store and find a make-up artist whose makeup you admire. If you go to someone with gaudy makeup, that is how you will look. Most makeup counters give complimentary makeovers and let her know you are new to this and want to learn how to put on make up. If you find one of their products makes you feel beautiful, then purchase it. Then, go straight to Target and find colors in very similar shades. Since you don't wear it daily, you don't need expensive items.

You do not want to learn on your own, you need to visit a professional.

Best of luck! And don't fear a fashion magazine or two. I always recommend Vogue (the bible), Glamour and Lucky.

Answer 9

Yes it would be weird but really junvenile. You're a grown woman do grown women things and handle your goal of remaining chaste maturely. No need for that kind of attention to bring on yourself. Think about it...do people stay loyal whether any ring is worn or not? The commitment starts first in your heart and to God and then to your loved ones and finally the world. Stay strong and on the course!!

Answer 10

Yes, Bare Minerals is the best make up to use! Also so easy!

Go to the website, bareminerals.com - and order it. It comes with an instructional video that will help you (however it's not hard to use)

You can also go to a store like Sephora, or Nordstroms.