I've similar colouring to you (pale-skinned, medium-to-dark brunette; only difference is I have grey eyes with a shot of brown around the pupil). Yay for another Porcelain Beauty! :cheer:
Face Primer: You put this on before foundation. Basically, this just helps set up your face for your makeup and helps it last longer. The one you get depends on your skintype (normal, oily, combination, dry, sensitive). My own view on this is, if you're combination to oily, you need a primer. (If you've got dry skin, you can probably just get away with a good moisturizer.) My favourite for combination/oily skin that I've used is Smashbox Photo Finish Light. I also know the Laura Mercier Oil-Free one is well-liked (and I want to try it myself). Foundation: As with primer, the one you get is going to be very dependent on your skintype, but also on what kind of coverage you want (sheer, medium, full) and the finish you want (satin, dewy, matte). The most pale-skin-friendly brands in this regard, IMO, are Illamasqua (they even sell foundations in white!) and Bobbi Brown. I'm not sure if it's available in the UK, but Maybelline Fit Me in shade #110 may also be an option for you. Concealer: I say get two. One for your undereye area, and one for your face. For under the eyes, I like Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Peach. (Peach will counteract the blue and purple in circles. If they're more blue-green, try one of the Bisque shades.) For normal concealing, I still use Bobbi Brown, only I use the normal Creamy Concealer (my shade is Porcelain). (Collection 2000 has a good one too, from my understanding. I think it's Lasting Perfection? But I don't know if it goes light enough.) Blush: NARS Orgasm tends to be a very flattering shade for light skin tones. I also like MAC Dame. (They have a couple of other shades I want to try -- Cubic and Mocha.) Illamasqua has some pretty colours for us pale girls, too (and I want to try them, too) -- Unrequited, Chased, Katie, Lover, Nymph, Tremble. (By the way, I'm referring to powder blushes only.) Loose or Pressed Powder: To set your foundation and concealer. Honestly, it doesn't matter too much which kind you get. The main difference is that pressed powder is much more portable. Look for a translucent one. e.l.f. has a pretty good selection.
Eyes Eyeshadow Primer: This will be dependent on whether or not you find eyeshadows crease on you. If you find you need one, the more popular ones are Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion and Too Faced Shadow Insurance. You could also use a MAC Paint Pot (Painterly or Soft Ochre resemble skintone shades), though it's technically not a primer (paint pots are cream eyeshadows). Eyeshadows: I think the easiest thing to do would be to buy an eyeshadow palette. That way you can try out various colours at once. A good starting palette would be the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Twelve netural eyeshadows, a mini UDPP, and a shader brush = very worth the money. Virtually all the colours in it will make your green eyes pop. If you aren't too scared of colour, Sleek has several colourful eyeshadow palettes for excellent prices (circa £6 each, I believe!), and the colours are very pigmented. Mascara: I like Maybelline Great Lash. If you can, get the one labeled "BIG", as it has a big wand. To me, mascara is on of those things you don't need to spend money on, especially as it's supposed to be replaced every three months or so. I've also read/heard good things about Collection 2000 Big Fake Lash Effect. Eye Liner: Pencil is the easiest to work with, especially if you're starting out. Urban Decay's 24/7 liners are quite popular but, personally, I don't understand the hype; while they glide on well, they're not super pigmented, and I find they suck in the waterline. I don't know if Prestige is sold in the UK, but if it is, check out their Total Intensity eyeliner. Comes in eight colours (really, you just need a brown and a black to start), doesn't move, very pigmented. If not, Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Brows: I'll leave this to the other members as this is something I have no experience with. (I don't fill them in as I don't think I need to; I just try to keep them groomed as best I can.)
Lips Lipstick: Revlon has some good ones, as does e.l.f. Some of the choices will depend on your natural lip. I would say, to start, look for a pinky shade, and possibly a nude. Lipgloss: See above. {For some overall makeup recommendations for us pale gals, look for any of the threads in here with "Porcelain Beauties" in the subject line.}
Brushes This will make all the difference in the world to you makeup application. These types are, I think, the must-haves to start... (eyes) * Flat shader brush - Used to pack colour on to the lid. UD's Naked Palette comes with one these days. If you end up buying the palette, you'll be all set in that regard. * Stiff dome-shaped brush - Used to blend out colour in the crease. You could also apply a wash of colour to the lid with this, or buff your concealer in with this. My personal favourite is the MAC 217. * Softer dome-shaped brush - Used for softer blending of eye colours and, sometimes, to buff concealer or corrector into the skin. MAC 224 is pretty popular for that. Illamasqua sells a synthetic version of it (Blending Brush 2). * Angle brush - I use this to apply eyeshadow to the lower lashline. I prefer this to a pencil brush because I can get a more precise line with it and get much closer to the lash line. Ecotools has a great one. (face) * Blush brush - I generally use a cheap duo fiber brush that I got years ago. It gives a much softer application, IMO. If I were to buy one now, I'd get the Sigma F50 (equivalent to MAC 187). I'm not sure if Sonia Kashuk brushes are available in the UK, but if they are, there are a couple of duo fiber brushes in her brush line, too. * Foundation brush - I'm not a fan of sponges or wedges because they absorb a lot of the product (unless you use it damp, I suppose?). I prefer a brush: either a standard flat foundation brush, or a stippling/flat top kabuki brush. For a flat foundation brush, I'm currently liking one I got at Target here in the States from their own line. In the UK, I think Louise Young has one somewhat similar (big paddle - LY02). I prefer a larger paddle because you can cover more of your face at once with it. For a stippling brush, I love the Sigma F80. Very dense bristles, gives a nice finish. * Powder brush - I know some makeup gurus on Youtube much prefer applying loose or pressed powder with a powder puff or sponge, but I don't. I like a brush. I like e.l.f.'s Complexion Brush from their Studio line, as well as their Powder Brush and their Face Kabuki brush. (Actually, I own all three of these; these days I tend to reach for the kabuki brush a bit more.) (Sigma brushes are sold in the UK online via love-makeup.co.uk)
Miscellaneous Items Eyelash curler - I have a Revlon one that cost me $3 USD and is fantastic. A plethora of others swear by Shu Uemura's lash curlers. The truth is, the one that will be best for you will depend on the shape of your eyes. Yet another thing you'll have to trial-and-error. Brush cleanser - Good brush maintenance will help your brushes last longer and, besides, you do need to clean them after they've been used.
I use baby shampoo for deep cleaning. It's inexpensive, gentle, and does the job. For spot cleaning, I use Smashbox's brush cleanser. You could also use Parian Spirits, or MAC's brush cleanser, or... there are loads out there. I hope at least some of this has been helpful!
