Where I have just finished working, it wasnt that smart - smart but not that much and in this new job I want to change that.

I have lost shit loads of weight and nothing fits me, which I think looks quite scruffy so I am getting some new clothes - suit stuff and thought a bit of make up as well.

I might go into the beauty section of Myers or somewhere and see what the girls recommend, I dont want to wear full make up, I hate it but I am sure I can get something that will make me look better and hopefully they may be able to teach me how to apply it as I have never been into make up.

I had my eyelashes and brows tinted once - that looked pretty good actually, so might be an option. It didnt last long in the summer but I was thinking of having a facial next week to brighten my skin up so perhaps I shall get that done as well.

Thanks Hebe, I shall check out that stuff.

I don't wear make up unless it is a very special occasion, but even then it is mascara and subtle bronze/pale gold/pink (choice of 3)eyeshadow and of course mascara. I use an eye brightener to help hide the dark circles under my eyes- think it is a l'Oreal or Clinique one, and these days I may also have to fill in my ever thinning brows. Lips are a blue-toned red/pink. Nothing with a yellow base as it makes me look really ill. Occasionally a light touch of bronzer if I'm exceptionally pasty.

Used to have to wear lots on stage, so never bother in real life.
Skin is still reasonable at 50- I do use moisturiser with a 30 spf though.

Ladies, make sure you apply sunblock to your decalletage and also hands- they are a dead giveaway as you age. Just got the first liver spots coming on my arms, but chest is still pristine, probably due to always being covered in the UK.

Yes I am paranoid about sunblock although even though it is applied to my neck I get a rash on my neck and across my cheeks and nose when I am out in the sun, even with total sunblock - I seem to react badly to that now. Although the rash isnt long lasting.

I dont think my skin is too bad for 43, but I refuse to go out without sunblock - winter or summer and apart from the rash I get when I am out in the sun, I am still very pale - something I am quite proud of.

My skin doctor said sunblock is the number one beauty product.

I wear full makeup every day and i love it. It's part of my routine in the morning, it makes me feel like I'm presenting the best me to the world every day (and minimising the risk of scaring small children... ) and I certainly don't feel like i have a face full of gunk on! Products have changed so much that foundations now have the lightest of textures and you don't have to suffocate your skin to look good. I shipped two full boxes of makeup to Oz (and i miss it now haha!), i love all the different shades, textures, palettes...LOVE it!

Tx

There's a girl who gets on the train in Clarkson, gets out her makeup bag and starts trowelling it on. First this ghastly dark green stuff goes all over her face, then about 1/4 bottle of very heavy foundation (I'm not exaggerating), more green stuff, more foundation, eye shadow, all over powder, mascara, lip gloss then a final touch up before getting off the train in Perth. 36 minutes it takes her to do her makeup!

Me? 5 minutes to slap on some tinted moisturiser, eye shadow, mascara and I'm done. I've always got lippy in my bag and usually wear it - mostly because without it my lips get really dry and cracked.

Thats what I am thinking - tinted moisturiser is the way to go for me I reckon. I just need to find a colour/tone for my skin I guess.

Cant imagine not being able to leave the house without that kind of routine - bloody shocking.

I used to wear a Oil of Olay tinted moisturiser every day but struggle to find it here so am experimenting with others. I always thought it was much better to use it than go bare skinned every day because of the sun protection (and I don't mean just since I moved to Australia).

I wouldn't leave the house without and probably some eyeliner, takes a few minutes every day.

[
Can anyone recommend a good make of mascara and eyeliner and I am wondering if a tinted moisturiser with a SPF protection in it would be the way to go to give my skin a bit of even tone, I have dark circles/bags under my eyes from being on steroids, so whilst that will disappear, in the event it hasnt when I start my new job, is there something you can put under the eyes to make them look a bit better?

The best concealer of under eye circles is Christian Dior Diorskin sculpt. It is the same size as a lipstick,so easy to pop in your bag. (having said that I bought mine in uk, think they are a bit bigger here) It is pretty expensive, but lasts for ages,so well worth it I think.
Good luck with the new job

Dior sounds expensive - god I am showing my age, havent bought stuff like that before, might see if there is a cheaper option.

I am currently on the M&S website for clothes, wish I hadn't, I have already added a smart work dress, jacket and shoes to my basket, not that I can afford them nor will buy them but I prefer their quality to stuff here and when I do a M&S order, the stuff always turns up and fits and looks good.

Trouble is with the sizing, I bought a size 16 jacket from M&S which now hangs off me, so I reckon a 14 would be the way to go and possibly a 12 in the dress, but due to being big in the past, I reckon if I plumb for a 14 dress, knowing my luck it wont fit right and I dont know how much hassle it is to return stuff, that puts me off.

No need to be so sensitive I just don't like wearing make up, never have and I'm pretty sure I never will. I was just stating something that everyone tells me, especially my mother. Whenever the whole make up thing comes up, which isn't often, people are always telling me "ah, but you're young... you'll definitely want make up when you're older!"

I don't really ever see that happening, but I won't rule it out. It's not a matter of vanity, like I think I look so good now it's more that I hate the feel of it. In fact I'm probably in the need of make up now but it just doesn't suit me. I'm more the tomboy sort.

[Yes, Dior is expensive, but for a cheaper, much cheaper option try L'oreal Touche magique concealer pen. I order most of my make up from boots,as its much cheaper there. Its about 6 pounds or so there, not sure about here, but whatever it wont be that much.
I love browsing M&S website, and Debenhams. Luckily my mum is very good at buying what I ask her, and sending it on. Dont do it too much ,but if I see something I love I will ask,they are coming over at Xmas, so getting my list ready

I think some of you ladies look lovely in full make up. Keep it up girls.

OMG, it is getting worse - I am now on a jacket, dress, shoes, and 3 scarves and a smart coat. I love the quality of M&S stuff and people always ask me where I have bought stuff.

I wonder what the exchange rate is? Oh right, just checked what I would like to spend is 218 UK pounds converts to $335. That seems so much money. Mind you, the tat you get from Myer these days doesnt match and is not cheap in itself.

I wonder if I should go for the 12 or 14 in the dress - no someone slap me and get me off the site now, I have been awake since 4am and this internet shopping is a hazard the bank balance and my mental torture of body image.

(If I get a size 12, it will be an incentive to keep the weight off)

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(If I get a size 12, it will be an incentive to keep the weight off)[/QUOTE]

Or, you could end up like me, and have a fair few jeans etc, that are just a tad on the tight side,

I just wear tinted moisturiser with an SPF, a tiny bit of cream blusher, concealer and mascara. Sometimes I remember to put on lip balm, more often than not I don't. I only put heavier make up on if I am going out for the evening.

I would recommend trying Bloom products. They have a mineral powder, foundation and tinted moisturiser which are pretty good. I have very fair skin with a cool colouring and have always had trouble finding foundations and things because they usually seem too yellow/orange coloured, but the Bloom ones aren't too bad. They aren't hugely expensive either. The best concealer i have found is MAC. They matched it to my skin and it seems to hold well all day. I sometimes get eczema on my face, so I have a little bit of scarring, and the MAC concealer covers it well.

The best foundation I ever had was a Prescriptives one, but I can't find that over here. It was expensive but lasted for ages and was the perfect colour.