Out of the Makeup Rut

When I meet someone new for the first time I invariably notice their makeup. Occupational hazard I’m afraid. If they know what I do for a living, they’ll often apologise for what they worry may be deficiencies in the products they have used or the way they have applied them, whereupon I always reassure them that I’m not the makeup police. 

However I have to admit that I love it when I see an older woman who has at the very least applied a bit of lipstick, especially if it’s in a colour that really suits her so that her whole face looks brighter and more vibrant.

In my experience the biggest challenge as we age is to be able to re-imagine yourself when you look in a mirror and be brave enough to experiment with different looks. Because you’re busy and probably not that bothered, it’s all too easy to get stuck in a massive makeup rut. Which brings me to two makeup makeovers which Sally did this week on recent acquaintances of mine, Julie and Annie,  who are both members of the Bridge Club that I have been going to since February this year. 

When I told Julie all about Look Fabulous Forever at one of our beginners’ practice sessions, she immediately asked me if we ever needed models because she’d love to learn more about makeup in general and LFF makeup in particular. Annie I first met online at our fortnightly LFF Film Club and then discovered that she lives near me in south west London. She was keen to learn Bridge, so I sent her an invitation to a taster session at my Bridge club and she enjoyed it so much that she joined and I now see her in person every week when we both play on a Wednesday afternoon. 

Julie: What’s in my makeup bag.

“My approach to everyday makeup is lipstick and blusher only. I’d say that my makeup bag is very small because it just contains lip balm, lipstick and perfume (along with tweezers, paracetamol and Compeed foot plasters!)

I have always worn lipstick, But I haven’t worn eye makeup for years because of my glasses, which I like to make a significant part of my ‘look’. On special occasions I might wear a bit of foundation but I really have no clue about makeup techniques. I’d definitely say that my favourite makeup is lipstick because it definitely brightens up my face and actually does give me a bit more confidence as well”. 

Julie’s Makeover - A Simple Everyday Look

Face makeup: Sally started Julie’s makeover with our wonderful smoothing face primer to create a smooth base and then applied Light Look Beauty Balm in 0.5. Concealer 02 was used around the eyes to reduce any blue toned darker areas in order to cover them up. 

 Instant Bright Highlighter added a touch of dewiness to the top of Julie’s cheekbones, and the final touch for the face makeup was our blusher in Peach Cream. A light touch of Translucent Powder all over the face gave a finishing touch to help ‘set’ the face makeup. 

Eye Makeup: After applying the eye primer, Sally chose the Soft Neutrals eye shadow palette in cream, taupe and rose gold. She used this by adding a wash of the cream colour all over the eyelid, followed by a touch of Rose Gold into the socket line using our number 9 small eye shadow brush. Taupe was the final colour used at the outer edge of the eyelid to add extra shape. Sally brought definition back to Julie’s eyebrows with Bring Back Brow Shape in Blonde, and then the final touch before applying the black waterproof mascara was a subtle line of grey eyeliner, softened with a touch of Taupe eye shadow on top. 

Lip Makeup: Lip primer was used first to stop any feathering and bleeding of the lipstick colour and then Sally applied a lip liner in damson. She then topped it with Lustrous Lipstick in True Rose to complete the look.

Julie’s reaction at the end when she saw herself in the mirror was brilliant. “Oh my goodness! I am amazed and shocked but in a good way! I would never dream of wearing eye makeup but I love it because it adds definition and has made me realise that I can wear eye makeup even though I am wearing glasses”.

Annie:  My Approach to Makeup

“I do wear makeup everyday as without it I look tired and pale.  I use it to bring back definition, brighten things up and also because I think it sends a positive message. My makeup bag is heavy on eyeshadows, pencils and lipsticks. I get bored if I don’t ring the changes colour wise, so I have a range of  LFF eye shadows, eye liners, blusher, lip pencils and lipsticks.  

I’ve worn makeup of one sort or another since my dodgy teenage experimental years.  At 16 years old I had a holiday job working in a chemist which sold Mary Quant (beyond my budget) and Miners (much more my budget) and made the most of my staff discount!  Then on to my Biba period with plenty of heavy purple eyeshadow and deathly pale lips. Then the Laura Ashley milkmaid style as I drifted around in maxi skirts, smocks and clogs.

My favourite makeup item is definitely lipstick. Forty years ago I hesitated entering my manager’s office as I could see she was reapplying her lipstick. A very elegant woman in her late 50’s / early 60’s.  She laughingly waved me in, saying “the older you get, you’ll find the more you need to add colour to your face!”  I now realise how right she was”.

Annie’s Makeover - An Evening Look

Face Makeup: Face Primer to begin because it ensures that your makeup will still look perfect at the end of the evening, no matter how much time you spend dancing! Sally then applied Continuous Cover Foundation in 02 with Concealer in 01 added into the corner’s of Annie’s eyes which helped to cover the purple discoloration we often get in that area. Translucent powder on top of the concealer ensured that it was set and would stay put. Instant Bright Highlighter is an essential party-look product as, applied to the tops of the cheekbones, it will create a soft, shimmery contouring effect. The final touch which lit up the whole face was an application of Real Radiance Blush in Rosy Glow.

Eye Makeup: Eye primer first (always!) Sally then used the Soft Greys eye shadow palette to apply the Soft Grey over the eyelids, with the mid-tone Pewter colour to add shape and definition into the eye socket and then Charcoal used to darken the outer area and down onto the eyelashes. She  also added the Charcoal Soft Eyeliner to the top lash line and then used the Soft Grey eyeliner along the lower lashes. Sally then used a light touch of Pearl Soft Eye Shadow Stick to create a pop of light in the centre of the eyelid and then added a touch of Smoke soft eye shadow stick to the outer corner. The final touch was Lithe Lash Mascara in black waterproof.

Lip Makeup: Lip Prime is essential if you are wearing a bolder evening lipstick colour and likely to be eating and drinking during the evening. It will ensure that the colour doesn’t migrate away from your lips! Sally then applied Plumberry Lip Liner to the edges first and then filled in the rest of the lips to form a base of colour. The final ‘coup de graçe’ was Fuschia Lipstick which supplied the ‘wow’ factor to complete Annie’s look with a pop of Clear Lip Gloss.

Annie was delighted with her new party look, although she wasn’t too sure that she could carry off the very bright vibrant lip colour (she’s used to wearing the much softer Tulip Pink or Soft Plum.) However we all reassured her that she looked like a top model and absolutely fabulous!

It was such an enjoyable afternoon and so delightful to see the magic that Sally conjured for both Julie and Annie. We all agreed that the effect of the makeup on them both was to enhance their natural good looks and to bring their whole face to life. 

I hope these photographs and the videos that we made of Sally’s makeovers which you will be able to watch on YouTube from Monday 26th August (Annie) and Monday 2nd September (Julie) will inspire you to shake up your makeup routine and be a little bolder and more daring. I promise you it will be worth the effort.

Tricia x

Watch Julie's Makeover here

Watch Annie's Makeover here

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