A new look

I don't think that adding a bit if colour to your face means you look look a painted doll. My makeup is fairly basic and definitely the cheaper end of the market but it stops me looking half dead. Eyebrows - I dye them every 6-8 weeks, it takes 10 mins. If you think your eyebrows have vanished you will are likely to be surprised if you use a dye. If you worry about them looking ridiculous just leave it for 2 mins first time you use it and then increase gradually if you need to. I use an eyebrow mascara to fill the gaps daily. A tubing mascara, I use No.7, doesn't smudge so stays out all day. Long stay lipstick , I use Max Factor Lipfinity, again this doesn't smudge or bleed into lines around the mouth. It stays put all day so you don't need to worry about it. For a base on my face I use Nivea BB cream, it's tinted, it's also a moisturiser and a sunscreen. That's it, cheap as chips as makeup goes and takes less than 10 mins to put on. I doubt I spend more than £50-60 a year, so that's about £1 -£1.50 a week, less than a cup of coffee out.

I spend very little as I know what suits me and don’t spend money experimenting as I did years ago.

I was offered a choice re cataract replacement. Long distance ones were my choice. I needed to see to drive. I'm quite happy with reading glasses.

GSM - I spend too much $, always looking for better alternatives to keep myself going. (It’s a girl thing…) I would never leave the house without makeup. Who wants to see me all day looking like I do at 5:00 in the morning?

And I think people know what I meant by a painted doll. (overdone) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It can be subtle and artful. Some will think even a smidge of makeup is too much! I have girlfriends who wear NOTHING and I’m thinking “puh-leez, can’t you just put on some lipstick? How about a good moisturizer?”

Not having cataracts makes a difference, BTW.

Farmgran You don’t get offered what YOU want in a cateract op the surgeons put in what’s right for you You don’t bargin for what you think you might wish for 😀

Primrose53 spent £80 on 4 items, so yes, someone did mention what they spent.

Has anyone said what they spend?

Jeez it might be cheaper to have a face lift looking at what some of you pay to put on your faces 🙂

I see it as a self respect thing, wanting to look my best and recognising that I look far better with a little makeup (eyes only, can’t abide foundation) than without.

It's certainly cultural. In our society, it's all about youth - so a 'crime' to look old. Oh, and a marketing thing, with people spending a fortune on magic potions. How far have we come with women's lib? We've a long way to go.

GSM, I don't feel the need to improve on nature. I suppose it's a confidence thing? Why is it so overwhelmingly a female thing?

Yes, I have some Rimmel items. They are cruelty free.

None of you use Rimmel then 😳

Actually I think Gundy said that less is more, which I don’t disagree agree with, not nothing at all. Why bother? Well if you think you’re perfect, fine. I’m happy to admit that I’m not so I apply makeup carefully and sparingly to improve on nature. You can buy hypoallergenic products if you have allergies, should you ever decide that perhaps you’re not quite perfect.

GSM, well, that's what Gundy mentioned. Anyway, you can't improve on perfection, so I don't think I need any makeup. I'd probably be allergic anyway (remember my eyes swollen shut, as a teenager, having used Max Factor mascara). I'm all for equality, don't see men all 'dolled up', so why bother?

A painted doll? Is that what you think of a woman who wears makeup?

There's no chance of me looking like a painted doll. I just put on a headband, brush my teeth, wash my face with water on a microfibre face cloth - then dab on a little coconut oil - done!

When I went to put on my make up for the first time after the pandemic after a couple of years of not wearing any it looked awful. My eyelashes and eyebrows have all but disappeared and when I put eyeshadow on I realised my eyes had sagged. I’m currently going through my make up throwing lots of it out. I need an easy to apply eyeliner to give a bit of definition to my eyes. I’m pleased with the latest No7 serum and face cream that I’ve been using for a few weeks now.

👍🏻

Me too, germanshepheardsmum.
I think its sad that so many women have given up on makeup etc. Its fun and youthful and doesn't have to cost the earth!

Unfortunately where I live it’s rare to see an older woman wearing any makeup, even if out in the evening, and you don’t fit in unless you’re the same. It’s as if they have all given up, cut their hair short and put on a lot of weight. I fear I’m the exception but have no intention of joining their club. I enjoy spending a very few minutes putting on some eye makeup each morning, whether I’m going anywhere or not.

madeleine45

If new makeup floats your boat good for you. Personally I have very limited funds, and therefore keep them for what matters to me. My hair is white now and I dont colour it at all, only get it cut well. Have a few eyeshadow available and a few lipstick as I am a singer and have been in various things on stage, but other than that I am too busy thinking about music, paintings, the garden, doing courses etc to bother about make up or lines. What you see is what you get when it comes to me. As long as I am clean and my clothes are clean just carry on with my life and dont worry at all about what I look like. The friends I make and people I meet are interesting or not in what they are involved in. I dont judge people on what they look like. so any available money I have goes into the travelling around funds , never for make up.

Even with limited funds there are makeup brands out there that don’t cost the earth . Also , there are many good deals on Amazon for makeup .
I’m also busy with an array of hobbies & interests , but , I do care what I look like , as to wear an even bit of makeup it’s a feel good factor . Every morning I put on bit makeup even if I’m not going out anywhere .
When your out to one of your interest groups , look around at the women , you’ll find that the ones who have taken bit of time to put on even a small dab of makeup will look much more “ polished “ than the ones without any .

farmgran please don't be put off. I can't believe how well I'm seeing now. I'm sure that with a magnifying mirror I'll manage eye make up no bother.
I've got 3 pairs of cheap reading glasses and will get proper ones in five weeks after eyes have settled.
The problem is my poor old face which has been hiding behind specs for 60 years! The eye bags!! Now I can really see the state of my skin I've set to and it's improved already. Estée Lauder Perfectionist serum under moisturiser has plumped out my wrinkles and generally firmed up my skin. I'm quite pleased. Once I can wear eye make up again I'm optimistic that I can look much better (if I can be bothered!).

I will need my cataracts done soon and reading this thread has convinced me not to get the long distance one. The sight of all the wrinkles and sags would be too much.
I had a facial recently. Very rare for me to have one.
She told me about facial soaking. You put a wrung out hot flannel to your face three times followed by moisturiser or serum while the skin is damp. She said it takes 6 weeks to work and soften the wrinkles.
At least with my eyes the way they are I'll be able to kid myself its woking!

I should clarify - NYX eye crayon - one that you can smudge & layer. Pencils are too dry.

Go to a cosmetologist for tips. Stick to your list so they don’t oversell you with needless products. A good cosmetician will want to please you and build a good relationship for future purchases.

Experiment and have fun. You’ll find your new look. Your kids will say “Mom, is that you?” 😉