I do own a little bit of makeup, I just can’t be bothered with plastering my entire face… sometimes for special occasions I’ll use an eyeshadow pencil and put on a teensy bit of lipstick. I found a lipstick that doesn’t actually taste horrible, and has a bit of staying power.
I second whoever suggested starting light…
I’d start with lip tint (I like Aveda, but its pricey) - not even lipstick.
Maybe mascara.
Liptint is easy to use. Mascara is a little trickier. Buy a color that won’t make you look like a racoon. Start by applying one thin coat to the top lashes - don’t do the bottom unless you want a more made up look. And you may want a lash brush to seperate out your lashes - if they clump, you’ve used to much.
I never needed a foundation at 20 - was lucky and had good skin. My belief is that you add blush to your makeup case before foundation - foundation to me looks silly without blush (your face looks all one color) but some people benefit from blush without foundation. I prefer a pressed powder instead of liquid foundation - this is one of those “make an appointment at several makeup counters for makeovers” things…some people like a tinted moisterizer, some a liquid foundation, some a pressed powder. Besides, an appointment or two at a department store will help you get the right color - the worst thing you can do with makeup is pick the wrong foundation color. (The second worse thing is wearing blue eyeshadow and thinking it looks “natural.” Blue eyeshadow is fine when you want that “blue eyeshadow” look). Blush is another thing that if you get the color wrong you are screwed (and have a compact of blush that makes you look like a member of the circus), so blush and foundation should be bought after the department store makeup folks play with you. If you need concealer, this is the time to think about that as well - most people shouldn’t do concealer without planning on wearing foundation - most people end up looking “spotted.” Concealer is the hardest thing to master - because you are trying to hide something without looking like you are trying to hide something. Often you just end up looking worse.
About this time, you can add “real” lipstick.
Add eyeliner and eyeshadow. Start with neutral eyeshadow colors (browns).
Finally, you’ll reach the nail polish, color your hair stage.
This method lets you spend $8 at Target each week/month slowly, adding products as you feel comfortable. If you get a lipstick you hate - its $8.
I don’t wear daily makeup. I’m nearing forty though, so I’ve had years of occational practice.
I get it, skeptic_ev – something about brussels sprouts during seances, yes? 
I second (or third?) the idea to go to the department store makeup counters and get a makeover. Chances are great that you won’t like the overall effect, but then you can choose aspects that you do like, and start from there. For example, I did that before my wedding, and I found some sheer foundation and some eye stuff that I love. Watching her while she puts your face on will also let you learn how to apply makeup.
Also, I know that around here most of the drug stores let you return makeup you don’t like. So go nuts trying stuff at home and in natural light (fluorescent lights do weird things to colors) and keep your receipts.
Don’t expect to find one lipstick and one eye color that works for everything. I’ve found that a certain lipstick looks great on me unless I’m wearing a red top. Those days, I have to switch shades.
For eye color: in general, don’t get eyeshadows that match your eyes. Blue eyeshadow on blue eyes just looks muddy. Get a neutral or contrasting tone, and your eyes will pop. For instance, I have hazel eyes, and the eyeshadow or eyeliner that looks va-va-va-voom on me is a pale purple. I know it sounds weird, but it really makes my eyes look great (it’s not some purple out of the eighties, trust me).
If you have cable, I recommend watching TLC’s What Not to Wear. They do makeup toward the end of the show, and most of the women that get done-over don’t wear makeup to begin with. So some of the tips the makeup chick gives them would probably help you out.
Good luck! And post before-and-after pics. 
I didn’t see this tip above, but forgive me if it is.
I use Max Factor’s Facefinity foundation most days. I put a thin stripe on the tip of my index finger, and then right next to it a dollop of Oil of Olay. Mix in the palm of my other hand and then apply all over face, making sure that there are no lines and that my jawline is well blended. I then use a nice big brush with a pressed powder and sweep that all over my face to set the foundation. When applied well, the cosmetics feel like nothing, and look really natural. I use a pressed powder instead of loose because I have noticed that loose leaves way to much on my skin and feels like a mask.
Also both of the products I mentioned have spf 15 sunscreen in them, which makes me very happy due to my magic ablility of acheiving a sun burn while driving to work, for instance.
After that I use a bit of mascara (I like L’oreal, it dosen’t seem to clump as easily as others), maybe brown eyeliner if I am feeling ambitious, and LipSmacker in pink lemonade. It’s cheap, tastes yummy, and my lips feel good.
I hate having to constantly re-apply lipstick and my SO dosent like the way it tastes so I don’t wear it much anymore. I have never worn blush, due to fairly ruddy coloring to begin with.
If anyone really thinks that I need a bit more color tell me something dirty and I’ll show you blush 
Also, one of the main mistakes that I have seen people make while selecting a foundation…there are two base colors for foundation, pink and yellow. Most people (including white) have yellow based skin, however they tend to choose the pink based foundation.
Ack. I have never seen a better way to achieve a ‘mask’ look.
During my brief stint as a Mary Kay lady I outright gave a woman in my office a bottle of concealer that was in the right color for her. She asked me for help, so I brought in a few of the tubes of color and matched her up. Needless to say she looked alot better and was thrilled.
A good way to make sure that you are choosing the best shade of base…select a few colors in your range, then make lines of color with your fingertip or a cotton bud (I love that, I am adopting it) along your jawline. Blend each line in gently. The one that dissapears is the winner.
Make sure that you take a look at the colors outside, as florescent lighting is evil and will make the most beautiful colors look like clown make-up
<b>Stargazer</b>, I have have hazel eyes too. Would you mind sharing the brand of eyeliner and the shade name? I would love to see how that purple looks on me.
Thanks!
I’m not a female but I taught my sister how to wear makeup. It sounds like you two may be in a similar boat. Anyway, a general rule of thumb, if you don’t want to hide something don’t put it on. For example, don’t use foundation or concealer unless you have bad skin (bad acne or pockmark scars) and want to hide it. Don’t use eyeshadow unless you have the raccoon eye thing (dark circles up top as well as below… look at previous bad skin comment) and want to hide it. Don’t use jewel tones on your eyes unless you want to look like a hooker (no peacock blue, emerald green, or ruby red). Don’t add red blushes unless you want to look like you have been drinking. Bright, unnatural coloured lipsticks will make you either look very young or like a hooker generally speaking. It doesn’t sound like you have these types of problems because if you did I am sure the beauty industry would have kidnapped you long before now.
Without seeing you, I would suggest something similar to what Eve said. Use a lipstick that accentuates your skin tone. Ruby/Candy red tends to make me think of hookers though can look appropriate for some situations. The extra bright lips (aka, the baboon face lips) seem to be most appropriate in formal situations (I will never understand why though). An understatement is far more fetching for day to day use. No need to add blush or anything like that especially if you have high cheekbones.
I found that most makeups even if they claim to be hypoallergenic will clog pores eventually and make what was once a very nice complexion into a zit filled one that requires one to wear more makeup to conceal the problems starting the makeup cycle.
Oh, don’t get me started on shaving. I hate that, too, though I do it, seeing as otherwise I’d be Baboon Woman.
Hmm. Given your experience, I’m going to avoid concealer. I really don’t want to get locked into having to use the stuff.
I wear makeup so little that usually I have to go out and get new stuff every time – at least eye stuff – since what I have is ancient by the time another occasion comes along.
Well, let’s see, Papaveraceae – I have four purple eye items:
-Clinique Touch Base for Eyes, in #11 - Moon Lighting. This is the stuff I use almost every day. It’s a subtle shade of silvery-purple.
-Almay Bright Eyes, in Lilac Lustre. This is a matte purple product, and I use it when I want more purple but less silver than above. I don’t use this very often, because the silvery quality of the Clinique does more to highlight my eyes (we’re not talking glitter, or chrome – just a little more shine).
-L’Oreal Crystal Infinite Eye Shadow, in Lilac Crystal. This is a shimmery product I use for fancy occasions, usually on top of the Clinique Touch Base.
-Jane Oneliners Eyliner, in #3, Deepline. This is how I discovered that purple worked for me. I don’t use it so much anymore – I’m not a big eyeliner fan – but it might be a good way to get started.
Purple is one of those colors that can really pack a punch – a little goes a long way. Have fun! And let me know how it looks.
Not to disparage you stargazer, but purple worked for Mimi in in the Drew Carrie show too. It may look fine and everything on you (I assume you are very pale…Scandinavian perhaps…considering that the shades that you mention are all pale shades of purple) but it isn’t a shade that I would suggest to most people. Otherwise it makes most people look like they are out for the night trying to pick up johns.
Francois Nars’s book is a good one - he has it split into sections, like on that focuses on eyes, on on lips, etc., and he shows every product he uses and how/where to apply it. The Nars line is one of my favorites, but there are drugstore versions of most of the products, if you don’t want to spend a bloody fortune.
The loooks range from little more than lip/cheek tint (L’Oreal and Sonia Kashuk have good inexpensive ones, while Nars and Benetint are more pricey) to full-on “WhoTF would wear that, and whereTF would they wear it!?”
I also second the rec for the Bobbi Brown books. She has chapters for various ages and for work looks, wedding/glamour looks, easy weekend/vacation looks, etc.
The late Kevyn Aucoin’s books are great, too.
The Nov. edition of “Lucky” magazine had a nice breakdown of some fall looks for various skintones.
Tweezerman brand is what just about every makeup artist I’ve read interviews with uses/recommends. I think they’re readily available; I think I got mine at a local Beauty Brands chain.
Oh, heck,Katriona, I didn’t even realize how my post sounded. I was trying to be cute, and see what it got me? (Thanks for the recommendation, though. I’ll definitely pick up a pair.)
What I meant was, how can I find a reputable cosmetologist to tweeze my brows (the first time) as they likely won’t grow back?
dorkusmalorkusmafia – you think that worked for Mimi? :eek:
A lot – a lot of it depends on where it’s applied, and, I imagine, the shape of one’s eyes. I don’t put any eye color above the crease, so only a little purple shows. I doubt most of the people who see me notice that I have purple eye color on.
And while I am of Swedish descent and have fair skin, I’m not pale. My hair is dark red, and maybe that’s why the purple works for me.
Anyway, I figure that the worst that would come of someone else trying those products (you’re right, they are all pale shades – like I said, a little purple goes a long way) would be that they’d be out a few bucks. They can always take it off before anyone else sees it, if it looks terrible.
I’m sorry I haven’t posted sooner, and I want to thank you all for your tips and hints! They are much appreciated.
I am planning to go to one of those department store makeup counters either this weekend or next, and hopefully I’ll get someone who knows what she’s doing!
Also, several of you mentioned pictures. I would have posted some of how I look now, but I don’t know how to put them on the web…
I’ll keep you all updated! And thank you again!