Girlfriend can't apply make-up very well

LegacyUser

I love my girlfriend very much, and she looks great when I wake up with her in the morning... until she applies her makeup! She really isn't very good at it. She uses a kind of yellowish looking makeup that has a matte look, and makes her skin look dry and flaky. What's more, it looks patchy and isn't blended in well (you can tell where it ends on her forehead for instance). Also, instead of concealing wrinkles, it seems to bring them out and make them more prominent.

She still looks great when we go out (with sexy eye-makeup, etc,), but day to day her makeup looks pretty bad. I wouldn't mind if she just left it off, but she doesn't and applies it every day. I can't believe after years of doing this (she's 25) she still can't do it properly.

I'm an actor, so I know a bit about makeup and have often done my own for shows (and I'm better good at applying it if I may say so, and I know when it looks "off"!!). I even taught her how to do her eyeliner when we first met, and she's getting better at it now but still gets me to do it every now and again if she's in a rush. Seems I have more of an apititude for "arty" stuff than her, and I guess this is one of the things.

The big question: How do I say this to her without causing serious offence? I love her very much, and don't want to say "by the way, you are crap at applying your make up"?? She is a beautiful looking girl without makeup, but her badly applied makeup sometimes makes her face look like the living dead! Perhaps I could get a beautician to give her some tips or something?

Nevyn

Women for the most part have to be taught how to put on make up.
I know my mother certainly didn't sit me down and there are those that have an
enough of an intrest to do a beauty class or to scoure magazines.

Why not say something to a female friend and get her do something about it, have a girls night in or you could book her a facial and a colour session somewhere as a present.

Well, telling her you think she looks beautiful and doesn't need makeup at all might be a start.
Maybe if you're both in town you could stop somewhere like BT and get her a little makeover thing. She might appreciate the pampering kind as a treat, even.

I was going to say you could feign ignorance and buy her moisturiser or a different kind of foundation and pretend you didn't know what she used, but I guess not...

Or go back to the first idea and just sit down and tell her honestly that she might want to try other kinds of makeup that would suit her better or blend with her skin better etc. My personal reaction would be "why didn't you tell me before" and then demand blunt answers from my close friends, but I'd still appreciate very much being told.

Red Hand

Interesting problem OP! You say you are an actor. Maybe both of you could role play on a night out (Lord and Lady Winterbottom:)) and you apply her make-up as part of the routine? Perhaps after she sees your work, she will start copying it?

dellas1979

You know, if I was your girlfriend, I would appreciate the honesty in telling me that something doesnt suit me. It wouldnt be telling me that would bother me, but how you tell me.

Id start with telling her she looks beautiful anyways and that she doesnt need make up, but she sounds like she likes wearing make-up (remember some women use make-up as a mask-rather like a defensive mechanism). So you need to tread carefully.

Id just say that it doesnt suit her or that its too heavy for her and it hides her beautiful face.

I think saying it outright is better. If you buy her stuff and she doesnt use it. If you bring her somewhere, but she doesnt cop on to what you are trying to do, then you will just get more annoyed and eventually have to tell her anyways. When you then tell her she'll get annoyed that you never had the heart to tell her in the first place.

b3t4

A conversation about it wouldn't do any harm and then I recommend you get her a voucher (100-200 mark) for a makeup session with some brand in BT(I'm not sure where else does this). I know that MAC (very long waiting list but very good), Georgio Armani (Dub only), Clinique and I'm sure a few others do as well.

Your girlfriend is happy with gift and gets to buy new products that suit her. You get a look at a better enhanced version of your girlfriend.
Downside being the money for the voucher

A.

r3nu4l

Hey OP, how about trying this. The 'colour me beautiful' group provide a number of services including make-up lessons.

You should get her a lesson as part of a present. The angle to approach from is to tell her that they will show her the right make-up shades and tones to use for her skin colour.

They do a range of packages including, colour analysis, styling consultations etc. The make up lesson can be bought separately or as part of a whole style and beauty package. What you get her could depend on the occassion (birthday, anniversary, graduation etc) and how much you can afford to spend.

Obviously you will know best how to present it to her and how she might react. Refer to it as a make-up consultation and play on the whole 'right colours for your skin' etc. Tell her too that the reason for doing it is that it will save her buying any colours that don't suit her so she can buy fewer but better quality pieces that will be perfect for her rather than having lots of unsuitable make-up. Good luck.
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No, I don't work for colour me beautiful!

EDIT: You could also try the 'Fashion and Appearence' forum for more advice on these kind of services to see if anyone else has tried them before!

vibrant

dellas1979 wrote:

You know, if I was your girlfriend, I would appreciate the honesty in telling me that something doesnt suit me. It wouldnt be telling me that would bother me, but how you tell me.

You know, I'm the complete opposite! I'd be either mortified, or very angry. An ex of mine would give me his opinions on my clothes, and slip in his little recommendations too (he thought it was a pity I didn't "do more" with myself - like put on false tan, wear heels, tank tops and short skirts in the dead of winter, but that's a whole other thread ) It just came off as very controlling, and rather rude.

Anyway, there are some wonderful makeup books out there, OP, this one being my personal favourite --> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Faces-Kevyn-Aucoin/dp/1853753556/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b/202-6575118-6150250

It is a beautifully photographed and well written book, with lots of tips and so forth; when I first got it I was only too keen to follow the book's advice and try out different looks. Worth a try, perhaps?

vibrant

vibrant wrote:

You know, I'm the complete opposite! I'd be either mortified, or very angry. An ex of mine would give me his opinions on my clothes, and slip in his little recommendations too (he thought it was a pity I didn't "do more" with myself - like put on false tan, wear heels, tank tops and short skirts in the dead of winter, but that's a whole other thread ) It just came off as very controlling, and rather rude.

That does sound rude, but in this case he'd be telling her she's already great looking and doesn't need any extras. Partly.

Kebab

Makeupman,

does she ever give out herself that she doesn't know how to put such and such on - you say she gets you to do her eyes sometimes? I know I'm fairly crap at putting on the eye make up myself (although I hope I'm putting my foundation on correctly now!) but I would love to be given a make up lesson just to be shown how to do everything properly... could you maybe say, well I've shown you how to do your eyes, I was thinking would you like a pressie of a whole makeup lesson so you could see how the professionals do it? i.e. you do it fine, but they might be able to give you a few tips.

If my husband approached me with that suggestion (given that I've said to him already i'm crap at putting the stuff on) I would love it.

K

Capt'n Midnight

dellas1979 wrote:

You know, if I was your girlfriend, I would appreciate the honesty in telling me that something doesnt suit me. It wouldnt be telling me that would bother me, but how you tell me.

“Danger" "Danger, Will Robinson!”

Maybe you could get a mutual friend to make the suggestion for you , that way you can get a second opinion before you put both feet in it.

Also perceptions vary, take picture of her with and without makeup and ask others about the best colours and all that sort of stuff. You may be well meaning but on the wrong track.

Then again if she looks great when she's out on the town it could just be a case of lazyitis or rushing in the morning before she's fully awake.

kizzyr

www.themakeuproom.ie

Although I don't have a problem with my make up and application of it (thanks to my mum who really took the time to teach myself and my sisters how to apply it properly) I had a day there this summer for a make up lesson, massage etc and found them excellent. They also ask you to take your own make up along with you and they have a look through it to tell you whats worth keeping and what needs to be ditched. So you could get a voucher for her to go along and give it to her as a present and most girls would really enjoy a day like this anyway and the people in there are lovely, honest but tactful with it. I really think that she would learn loads from a day like this and enjoy it too.

loodles

Thats a hard one alright! Maybe buy Victoria Beckhams book.
It has tips for everything, skin, hair, make-up etc. It might get her thinking of what she is doing wrong and she can get ideas from it. I changed my make up after reading it and its so much better now. At least its a popular book and not "the dummies guide to make up" which may be a bit more insulting.

Saruman

Get in contact with a mary kay supplier.. go to marykay.co.uk and you will find someone. (in ireland)
Anyway someone will come around and try to sell her some makeup but they will also go over the basics with her and give her a sort of makeover and show her how stuff is done.. its free excluding anything you buy of course.

My wife used to do it but it was too expensive ordering stock etc and trying to sell it. If you build up a customer base though you can make a fortune and do it full time though.

One thing i can advise buying is a thing called satin hands.. its great stuff and she will love it. And there is some other microdermabrasion face cream stuff that is supposed to be excellent too.

Anyway like i said its a free makeover with tutorial and its not a hard sell or anything.

Anti

Thaedydal wrote:

Women for the most part have to be taught how to put on make up.
I know my mother certainly didn't sit me down and there are those that have an
enough of an intrest to do a beauty class or to scoure magazines.

Why not say something to a female friend and get her do something about it, have a girls night in or you could book her a facial and a colour session somewhere as a present.

This is perfect advice OP.

Just book a pampering weekend for her and a friend.


But what ever you do, DO NOT tell her that you think she looks a bit of a mess with makeup on. That will just cause grief, and really upset her.

LegacyUser

'

Anti wrote:

This is perfect advice OP.

Just book a pampering weekend for her and a friend.

Hahah, have you any idea how much that would cost??? Not much change out of €1000 for two women to go on a pampering weekend in Ireland.

OP - it's valentines day in a few weeks, get her a voucher for a makeup lesson *AND* something like a manicure as well, so it's not too obvious.

If she still doesn't get the message, tell her she is making herself look terrible. I know I would want my boyfriend to tell me if I was making myself look like am oompa loompa! Yes i'd be a bit hurt at first but i'd rather he told me, than keep it from me and have other people thinking my makeup looked ridiculous.'

GAA widow

Buy her a 25 euro voucher for MAC (in BTs), this entitles her to a free makeup lesson, whereby the makeup artist will do her make up, give her some recommendations and tips and she gets to spend the 25 euro on whatever she likes there. It's a nice thing to do if you want to get your makeup professionally done for a night out, a ball or going to a wedding. Anything like that coming up soon?

Buy it as part of a present for her as a treat for some occasion or other, because otherwise it might hurt her feelings if she suspects you have issues with her appearance.

Sangre

Just tell her she looks better without make-up, you prefer her natural look. If you wan't you can waffle how she doesn't have a face for make-up blah, blah like her cheeks are alraedy prominent and her cheeks rosy red.

After a while of non-makeup maybe mention, oh but I did like just eyeliner..maybe just try eyeliner on its own etc.,

Although seems a lot of effort.

You could claim you've been asked to do the make-up of a few of your female co-stars on short notice and ask her if you could practice on her. While apply the make-up do a running commentary on what your doing (as if talking to yourself). If she comments just say it helps you think. If the results are much better she'll notice herself and probably try and follow what you did or ask you to do it more often. Each time you do it she'll learn because you'll be explaining it.

snickerpuss

If that was me i'd rather be told.

Its not a big deal, its only applying make up, not a major character flaw. I think she'd rather know. I would anyway!

dudara

A gift of a make-up session at a MAC counter would be a great way of (A) treating her and (B) getting good make-up tips. I always visit the MAC counter when looking for new ways of applying colour and fashion trends. They are really good and friendly. Word of warning though, there is a long waiting list to get an appointment at a weekend.

King of Kings

as some of the other posters have said teh voucher for mac is a good idea.
My ex used to go to get her make-up done in Pout in BT and also go to product launches - think it was 40euro and you get made up and free product.
For both of them they gave tips on the hows and whys

custardcreams

as i scanned over this obiturary i picked up on honesty and such like termage most fould.

no honesty should replace well heeled experience advice ..an abundance you can pick.

your reality - her reality. either fork out for special course and hope it sorts it out, move on, bang of a frying pan and rant for a few minutes about how its running your life. You are probably starting to realise again why people hate you...;)

honestly though are you a kbjockey. its retoricallicalaion ..and like this painter (showing in dublin until jan 31st) give the illusion you were there when your not..with some splash of 'imaginative' online thrust.

Quote:

"i want u to be u"

Black Swan

Thaedydal wrote:

Why not say something to a female friend and get her do something about it, have a girls night in or you could book her a facial and a colour session somewhere as a present.

Sounds like reasonable approaches.

hunnymonster

I'm another woman who would rather just be told but I understand not everyone would feel that way and the voucher appears to be a good approach.

darkflower

Bear with it. If you can't then tell her! Right away.:mad:

dvega

Aw man do something quick,theres nothing worse than a girl who puts on too much makeup,if they put it on wrong it looks even worse.

Get her a voucher for a beautician that way you can spare her feelings and she can pick up tips.

daiixi

There's a girl at work who cannot apply fake tan or makeup correctly to save her life. Other girls tell her she looks fab and as far as I can tell they're not being bitchy to her because they hang out with her outside of work. I just want to walk up to her and scream "BLEND" in her face. At the end of the day honesty is the best policy. There's plenty of good advise above and valentines day is the perfect time to get her a makeover and take her out for a romantic dinner.

vibrant

Just a word of warning - after the MAC makeover, she may be vaguely orange. My sister went there to get her makeup done before a family event and she was the f'ing laughing stock when she arrived (we're so kind, hehe).

spinandscribble

mac can do nice eye makeup but they are "crap" for lack of a better word for picking skin tones. im pale and i left a mac counter in 3 different countries looking tango'd. go with her when she gets it done and treat her to whatever she likes and make sure to give your personal opinion on the tone they use. ham up your makeup exprience and make sure they get it right. if you give her loads of compilments after she'll make a better effort on her own. go like "oh it much nicer when you cant tell where the makeup starts, its fresher and makes you look so natural and pretty. its more you"

LegacyUser

'

MakeUpMan wrote:

her skin looks dry and flaky. What's more, it looks patchy and isn't blended in well (you can tell where it ends on her forehead for instance). Also, instead of concealing wrinkles, it seems to bring them out and make them more prominent.

She should use a face moisturiser on her face before applying the foundation. it will even out her skin tone, if her skin is looking dry and flaky, the moisturiser should sort that out after everyday use. You need to let the moisturiser soak in though for about 5 minutes or else the makeup will 'slide' off her face. Also is she taking her makeup off properly at night, that could be the reason her face is dry. you don't notice a dry face without makeup because the makeup clings to the dryness making it patchy and more obvious. Just like fake tan, foundation clings to dry skin so maybe a gentle exfoliant once a week in the shower. St. Ive's Peach scrub is amazing! Make sure to moisturise afterwards though.

If you decide to go to MAC to get her makeup done, see if you can call ahead and let the makeup artist know what the problem is so she/he gives more advice than they would give another person. she would probably go into mac with no makeup so they wouldn't see how bad her makeup is.

Sometimes even people who are good at putting on make-up miss a bit around the chin and stuff, sometimes you just don't see it and don't blend correctly. I'd like someone to tell me if I've got a tide-line on my face, I wouldn't be offended, I'd be glad and happy I wasn't walking around with a mask effect!!'

RainyDay

Maybe you could steer her towards not feeling that she has to wear make-up every single day - Make sure she knows that she looks fabulous without any make-up at all.

daiixi

OP: There's a place called Nue Blue Eriu in Dublin - can't for the life of me remember the street but they've a website. They're not the cheapest but they do massages, facials, waxing etc and can also give your girlfriend a makeover. They're really friendly and their products are fantastic.
I think the problem with the people at MAC is those lights in BT's. You can't match any colours under them. I always try to get a sample that I can take home and try out in normal light.

~Leanne~

If it was me i would like to be told! It sounds like all she needs is a different type of foundation or different colour, thats nothing major!!

If you are getting her a make-over voucher i would stay well clear of MAC. I find thier artists very pushy and all make-overs feel rushed. Also the MAC counter in BT is so cramped and people passing just gawk and stare at you!
Mac foundations are crap also.
There are plenty of other make up counters to choose from. (ive tried Benefit, Clinique & Bobbi Brown, all were excellent!)

Miss Fluff

I'm a qualified make up artist (although I don't work as one) and I'd recommend treating your girlfriend to an INDIVIDUAL one-hour lesson with a qualified professional who can devote time to seeing what different looks suit your girlfriend. They won't have an ulterior motive of trying to push a product on you either so you will get honest advice. Some of the best people in the industry work here, if at all possible try and get Lynn from MAC

http://www.lamakeupacademy.com/main.htm