Applying make-up

Over the years my once largish eyes seemed to have disappeared back into my head.

Now I may be telling you something you already know, but this is something I have only just discovered.

To try to emphasize my eyes I started to use pencil liner. I did my research to find ones that are waterproof, smudge proof etc. nevertheless I would always seem to end up with black smudges under my eyes after a while.

Anyway I decided to have a go at drawing the line under my lashes on my top lashes and on the `water line` inside my eye underneath.

To my amazement this all stays in place far better than when I used to try to apply as near to my lashes on the lid as possible, but after a few hours of blinking black lines would appear on my lids and often underneath making me look like a slapper who had been up all night.

They say little things please little minds and I am quite excited about my discovery.

As I say others of you may have been doing this for year.

Revlon have a lip primer which can be used with or without lipstick. It keeps the lips soft in cold weather and helps to stop lipstick seeping into the fine lines beyond the lips.

Thanks Eloethan. I do use Chanel vitalumiere foundation, so perhaps that is the problem. I'll try their base mascara as well. I have been using Lancôme definicil mascara because I like a more natural look, but I'll give Clinique a try as well.

I use Chanel base mascara, with Clinique gloss mascara on top. It never smudges. Do you put too much on? Do you use concealer or foundation? If so, perhaps the mascara is building up on the foundation - a light dusting of powder in the under eye area might help.

I do only buy waterproof mascara, but I still have the same problem - smudges!

Fletchmum, I only ever buy waterproof mascara as it doesn't smudge. Most ranges have this option. It does, however, come off easily with remover pads.

Does anyone know how to stop mascara from smudging? No matter what mascara I buy (cheap or expensive) I always end up with panda eyes. And as I have fair eyelashes I would like to be able to wear mascara sometimes. Well all the time, really.

I used to use one of those; got a feeling that I started to find that lip pencils dried my lips out [not sure if it was all lip pencils or just one].

The Bodyshop used to do a transparent pen for drawing round the outside of your lips to stop the lipstick spreading. They probably still do it. I found it quite effective but couldn't be bothered faffing around and gave it up.

My lips became very dry and cracked when it was really cold, even though I'd been using lip salve. I forget sometimes that I read once to put your moisturiser on your lips as well and sometimes scrub your lips [not too hard] with a toothbrush to exfoliate a bit. I hardly wear make up these days but feel so much better when I do.

Hi Yamyam you won't believe this but I buy it from Home and Bargain,it was one of those impulse buys when out with DD,and wait for it the cost is £1.99 the cheapest thing in my make-up box but I have made sure I have stocked up on it as knowing my luck they may discontinue it,I buy the medium shade which suits me as I am very blonde (out of a bottle)and tend to use pinky shades of lipstick's so it suit's my colouring.I haven't tried the L'Oreal cream I tend to stay with what I have used for a long time now which is Liz Earle it's expensive but goes a long way and now that I've found it I find it's better than trying all differant ones that get pushed to the bottom of the basket a bit of false economy really.

And thanks for tip re. lipstick

Which BB cream do you use GLAMMANANA? i bought the Superdrug one (read an article recommending it) but there are only 2 colours, light and medium. light was too light so i bought medium which turned out a bit too dark. Had to give it away. Have you tried the new L'Oreal moisturising cream with serum in gold pot that seems to be getting v. good reviews for the older skin? Think it's about £20.

Yamyam Lipsalve will make the lipstick "slide off" so I always use a pencil (always now in a colour as near as possible) not a colour that defines the lip's too much as you used to see a few yrs ago.There are a lot of new lipsticks on the market that claim to have staying power and they are a good choice to.I've been using a BB cream for the past year and found it great for everyday wear and it leaves the skin nice and dewy not expensive and no shine over the lip's when applying work's well at keeping lipstick in place.

Thanks Tegan. Read somewhere that if you should put lipsalve on before pencil then lipstick, but that doesn't work for me. I'll try your way.

Foundation, powder, lip pencil, lipstick applied with a brush and then blotted with tissue,I think. It's what I used to do but these days I just smear it on.

Murphymycat- I did buy some Touche Eclat when feeling flush but have found Garnier under-eye roll on- has a cute little metal ball on the end to apply it. Much cheaper (superdrug)
I use one or other most days as I have always had dark shadows under my eyes, getting worse with age. Facture 15 moisturiser ALWAYS. Boots tinted moisturiser some days, bit of brown crayon eyeliner, smudged, and lipstick to brighten up my face.
I find I feel better about myself on the days when I do it.

Anybody have a tip to stop lipstick bleeding?

You do have to be careful with makeup on ebay. There are quite a lot of fakes out there and some of them can be quite dangerous on your skin. I got caught with some Benefit stuff which was completely different from the real thing. Tesco's Barbara Daly make up range includes a Touche Eclat type concealer which I found quite good although I've now gone over to a concealer pencil by Benefit.

Good brands of make-up can be bought on Ebay for a fraction of their normal retail price. These may be discontinued lines or colours. I have recently received a Clarins lipstick for half its RRP and free postage. Just the colour I wanted. Have also had Arden and Mac from the same source.

Cheap alternatives are no good; I've bought them and wasted my money. But, if you're just using it for under your eyes can I just say it lasts forever. I'm on my second one now and can't remember how long ago I bought the first one [although I don't wear make up every day nowadays]. It was recommended to me by a friend whose son works in the theatre and she told me all the stars use it. It makes me feel a good few years younger when I put it on!

I have started using Avon for skin care - they have frequent sales and I bought their fabulous Anew Ultimate night cream for £5. I must admit I don't use make up any more but would to try some of the premium ranges but I live in the back of beyond and our little Department Store hasn't heard of such things as Mac or Bobbi Brown. I would like to use Touche Éclat but it's a bit outside my budget for regular use, can anyone recommend a cheap alternative?

Amazon - where else!

crimson I saw some in the States but haven't seen it here for ages. I liked it too!

Where can I get Almay from? Thought they'd gone out of business.

I've had some good make-up bargains on Ebay. For example, I have a Clarins tinted lip balm, unused (of course), and boxed for a fraction of its its list price. It's always worth a look.