Lately, I’ve been learning something new, and it’s reminded me so much of the women who come to me for makeup lessons.
I’ve been on a weight-loss journey, buying new clothes and trying to understand what suits me now. Along the way, I’ve been watching personal stylist Melissa Murrell, learning about body shape, proportions and putting outfits together.
And honestly? It feels liberating.
Getting dressed in the morning feels exciting again. I’ve got a spring in my step around getting ready, and I’m enjoying that part of my life again.
Before this, I felt I was making lots of expensive mistakes. I’d buy clothes, put them on and never quite feel good in them. The frustrating thing was that I didn’t understand why.
I could recognise when an outfit wasn’t working. I just didn’t know how to make it work.
That’s a feeling I hear about so often in my makeup lessons.
“I used to find this easier”
When I was younger, before menopause and the changes in my body, I didn’t think about clothes nearly as much. I felt comfortable in my shape, and getting dressed seemed straightforward.
As my body changed, I found myself having to think about things I’d never really needed to understand before.
Some of my makeup clients describe a similar experience.
They’ve worn makeup for years, perhaps using the same products and techniques quite happily. Then gradually, their familiar routine stops feeling quite right.
Their foundation might look heavier than they remember. Eye makeup becomes trickier to place. They want a little more colour or definition, but they’re unsure how to add it without feeling overdone.
Other women have never felt they had that knack with makeup. Nobody really showed them, and they’ve spent years trying to work it out for themselves.
You can arrive at that same uncertainty from either direction.
The little things nobody has explained
One of the tips I’ve picked up from Melissa is wearing a light-coloured top underneath another layer to break up and freshen an outfit that might otherwise feel dull.
Such a small thing, but now I understand what it adds.
I’m also learning which trouser and jean lengths work with different shoes, and which tops suit my body shape.
These are practical things I can use when I open my wardrobe in the morning. Understanding them helps me make decisions, instead of putting something on and wondering why it doesn’t look how I imagined.
That’s what I want makeup lessons to give you, too.
Knowing where to place your blusher. Understanding how much bronzer to use and where it adds warmth. Finding an eye makeup technique that works with your eyes, rather than struggling to copy someone whose features are completely different.
Once someone explains it and helps you practise, you have something you can use again.
Makeup that fits your everyday life
What appeals to me about Melissa’s approach is that she considers the life a woman actually leads, alongside her shape and budget. Her styling advice is grounded in clothes women will wear.
That matters just as much with makeup.
If your days involve work, walking the dog, school runs or meeting a friend for coffee, you might want an easy routine that helps you feel fresh and put together.
You still deserve to enjoy getting ready, even if there isn’t a special occasion in the diary.
And if you love a more glamorous look, we can explore that too. I’ll listen to what you enjoy, what feels comfortable and how much time you want to spend on your makeup.
Understanding your face now
As we get older, we may want to adapt our makeup to changes in our skin and the way our features look.
A little soft definition might help. That could mean gently shaping the brows, adjusting eye makeup placement or exploring subtle contouring. Blusher can bring a welcome touch of colour, while carefully chosen bronzer and highlighter can add warmth and light.
We don’t need to do everything. We can try things together and see what you like.
The aim is for you to feel good in your makeup and recognise yourself in the mirror.
Fewer expensive mistakes
This is another part of my clothes journey that feels familiar: buying something new doesn’t automatically solve the problem.
Sometimes you need to understand how to use what you already own.
In a makeup lesson, we go through your makeup bag together. We look at what suits you, what you’re unsure about and how you’re applying it.
Where something different would help, I can explain why and suggest options for your budget.
Catrin, one of my lesson clients, described appreciating the help understanding which of her existing products worked and why, alongside recommendations at different price points. That understanding is something I value enormously as a learner myself.
It makes the next decision feel easier.
Enjoying getting ready again
The biggest change for me is how I feel in the morning.
I’m enjoying choosing clothes again. I’m beginning to understand what works, and I feel excited to put that knowledge into practice.
That’s what I hope you take away from a makeup lesson: the confidence to open your makeup bag, know where to begin and enjoy the process.
Whether you’ve never felt confident with makeup or your familiar routine needs a little attention, you’re very welcome.
If you’d love to enjoy getting ready again, I’d love to help you find a routine that feels like you. Explore the options below to find the right guidance for you.
Mel x
