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Style & beauty

What makeup to get wife?

(38 Posts)
ArthurMann Fri 26-Sept-25 13:11:45

It's my wife's birthday next week; she turns 68. I want to get her some new makeup and she doesn't know. I don't want to be obvious. She loves blue and wants to feel young again. Any recommendations?

Babs03 Fri 26-Sept-25 13:18:08

Have you grown daughters or daughters in law who could help with this?
Make up is such a personal gift 🎁
Can you take a look at her make up bag to see which kinds of make up she prefers?
Could be tricky but well done you for being up for a challenge.

ArthurMann Fri 26-Sept-25 13:20:10

Babs03

Have you grown daughters or daughters in law who could help with this?
Make up is such a personal gift 🎁
Can you take a look at her make up bag to see which kinds of make up she prefers?
Could be tricky but well done you for being up for a challenge.

I have 1 daughter. She hates makeup, but no use there lol.
I might look in her makeup bag like you said, kind of tricky though.

petra Fri 26-Sept-25 13:27:54

If your near enough to a large shopping outlet buy her a voucher for one of the beauty counters who will be far more able to advice you not even knowing what your wife looks like.

Delila Fri 26-Sept-25 13:30:32

What a nice idea, but you’ll be taking quite a risk. I think many women have a few favourite items of makeup and tend to stick to them, perhaps varying colours but not making drastic changes. Unless you’re very good at asking the right questions without being too obvious when you’ve managed to subtly steer your wife to the makeup counter, I’d think of an alternative idea for her birthday.

TerriBull Fri 26-Sept-25 13:35:40

Nice thought, you're very brave, my husband wouldn't have a clue, I might say what I've bought sometimes, and even what I might use the product for, but it registers in the same way with him, as him recounting how his golf went went with megrinSorry not a lot of help, do look in her make up bag find out her favoured brands, although she may be looking for a makeover, I'd veer towards a voucher specific to makeup if all else fails.

Good luck it's certainly a gift that's very personal.

GoodAfternoonTea Fri 26-Sept-25 13:38:33

If this were my husband I would love to receive a £??? voucher for a really good local department store where they have several leading brands. Boots? It would give me the choice to buy my favourite perfume, lippy, or something else. Choosing for your wife as chosen by another woman is never to the taste of the individual. For me, I would want some Jo Malone scent. Another woman may like Christian Dior lipstick or eye make-up. We are all different.

butterandjam Fri 26-Sept-25 13:40:00

ArthurMann

It's my wife's birthday next week; she turns 68. I want to get her some new makeup and she doesn't know. I don't want to be obvious. She loves blue and wants to feel young again. Any recommendations?

Buy her a luxury token so she can choose what she likes.

I know ONE woman whose husband had wonderful taste in ladies stuff and used to surprise her with gorgeous clothes that fit and she loved. ONLY ONE.

V3ra Fri 26-Sept-25 13:45:53

How about a makeover session at a local beauty salon?
They could advise your wife about current trends in makeup and show her how to use the different products.

Lovely idea of yours ArthurMann 🥰

Astitchintime Fri 26-Sept-25 13:46:22

Get yourself down to that big shop that rhymes with HOOTS..,,…ask one of their beauticians who will be delighted to point you in the right direction I’m sure. And you’ll get points for shopping there too!

Delila Fri 26-Sept-25 13:48:28

V3ra

How about a makeover session at a local beauty salon?
They could advise your wife about current trends in makeup and show her how to use the different products.

Lovely idea of yours ArthurMann 🥰

Excellent suggestion!

eddiecat78 Fri 26-Sept-25 14:28:43

I'm apparently the only one who would be offended if OH bought me makeup. My feeling would be that he must think I don't look very nice.
I might be happier if he gave me a voucher for a relaxing facial followed by a makeover, but otherwise NO!

hollysteers Fri 26-Sept-25 14:45:22

If she has an expensive scent she likes, I’d plump for that to be on the safe side.
Personally, I’d absolutely hate a makeover session. Can’t think of anything worse and I love makeup.
My sister once gave me a spa/beauty voucher for a birthday and I never used it.

Grandmadinosaur Fri 26-Sept-25 14:52:14

What a lovely husband you sound ArthurMann it’s something I’d love to be given as a gift. I agree with vouchers.
It’s my birthday tomorrow - you’re not my husband in disguise are you 🤣

Luckygirl3 Fri 26-Sept-25 14:58:53

I never wear makeup - if my OH had bought me some I would have headed for the nearest charity shop with it!

No amount of slap will make her feel young again! Sometimes it makes women look older as it collects in the wrinkles - spooky! Use the money to go out somewhere nice together. And while you are there tell her how beautiful she is!

kittylester Fri 26-Sept-25 15:13:18

Why do you think she wants to feel young again, Lucky.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 26-Sept-25 15:17:20

Vouchers I agree. Maybe buy one item to wrap to show you were willing to try!

Oreo Fri 26-Sept-25 15:19:15

How does loving blue have to do with make up? Blue eye shadow and liner went out of fashion a long time ago.
Buy her a Boots voucher.

Aveline Fri 26-Sept-25 15:23:53

Why not buy her some lovely hand cream? Buying her make up might be seen as an insult!

V3ra Fri 26-Sept-25 15:52:45

kittylester

Why do you think she wants to feel young again, Lucky.

She loves blue and wants to feel young again.

ArthurMann said so in his original post, so presumably this is something his wife has said she feels 😊

DaisyAnneReturns Fri 26-Sept-25 15:59:33

ArthurMann at John Lewis (if you have one near enough) you can book a 60 minute free in-store makeup consultation in which they:

Review current makeup routine
New product recommendations
Help with techniques and tools
Samples to try

You could book this and give her a voucher to buy some of the items she most likes.

M0nica Fri 26-Sept-25 16:00:18

Delila

V3ra

How about a makeover session at a local beauty salon?
They could advise your wife about current trends in makeup and show her how to use the different products.

Lovely idea of yours ArthurMann 🥰

Excellent suggestion!

I was just about to make the same suggestion.

That is three of us with the same idea, so it suggests that it is something that appeals to older women.

DaisyAnneReturns Fri 26-Sept-25 16:05:07

Could this be something we would enjoy Monica!

Sago Fri 26-Sept-25 16:47:37

A voucher, for the love of God a voucher.

Esmay Fri 26-Sept-25 16:56:09

How sweet!
I agree with the others -buying someone make up is really difficult.
In the past I bought my mother some make up as she lost her make up bag on the way to a hotel and felt too unwell to go out .
But my skin tones and hair colour were similar to her so it wasn't too difficult for me.
Her skin had more yellow tones and her hair was more red .
My poor father was sent out to buy her some clothes and it was a disaster.
What am I she said staring at the bright yellow jumper - a canary ?

I was going to suggest buying her an eyeshadow palette in blues , but the others have made far better suggestions .