another slight hijack, any one got any tips on how to keep make up from smearing when you are doing something active and can’t touch up?
Deadly Nightlight, to keep eyeshadow from slipping, put it on under your eyeshadow. The eyeshadow keeps it in place and makes it not melt all over.
thanks I will try that, what do you do for the bottom lid then?
Deadly Nightlight, you might also try a pressed powder on top of the liner, if you don’t want to wear eyeshadow. It helps it “set.” But I’ll be honest–during the summer months I just don’t wear eyeliner during the day; I go with lighter, softer eyeshadow shades that wear well in the heat. (In other words, they fade invisibly.) I’ve yet to find a foolproof method for preventing eyeliner meltdown in South Texas heat. 
As per the OP, Fisher Queen, if you don’t normally wear make-up I would start with very basic stuff and minimal color; otherwise even if it looks good to other people, it will look like “too much” to you. (My sister in law never wears lipstick–just balm–so when she tries on lipstick that looks great, she still thinks it’s “too bright” b/c she isn’t used to seeing herself in it.)
For someone who isn’t used to make up, I would recommend as a “starter kit”:
Pressed powder
Mascara
Blush
If you have good or decent skin, you won’t need a foundation, and it will probably feel weird on your skin. Pressed powder is a subtle, easy-wearing way to get used to the feeling, and it reduces shine and evens out your skin tone. Take a friend to the drugstore or make-up counter to help you match your skin color.
Mascara is easy; my absolute favorite is Max Factor’s 2000 Calorie Mascara. I like true black mascara, but you might want to try “black brown” or “dark brown” to start out with; it’s less dramatic. I like the straight, vs. the curved, brushes.
Blush is also easy, and I’d go with a powder formula. Maybelline makes a good cheap one that’s easy to apply; take a look in the mirror the next time you’re flushed, or look at the palms of your hands, to see what color would suit you. And remember that most blushes are a lot more sheer on your face than they are in the compact.
Get a big, fluffy powder brush for the most natural-looking application; do not use the brush that comes with the blush. (It isn’t big enough to get the right coverage; it’ll give you “spots” or “stripes” of color.) Swipe the brush into the blush, smile at yourself in the mirror, and just apply the brush to the apples of your cheeks. This will ensure that you put the color just on the part of your face where you really would get some color…not in those “contouring” racing stripes that so many women still seem so fond of.
Again, I wouldn’t try anything too dramatic, like eyeliner or bright/deep/dark eyeshadow, until you grow comfortable with seeing yourself in makeup.
If you buy this stuff at the drugstore, or Wal-Mart, all of this combined shouldn’t cost you more than $20; I’d try the less expensive stuff to play with before you head to the make-up counters. And for the record, I don’t buy any make-up at the make-up counter; I tried it and I couldn’t see a difference. I calculated it once and for my “full face” makeup, the whole kit at once would cost me less than $40. (And that includes foundation, blush, mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and lipstick.)
So don’t spend a fortune b/c you don’t have to. 
I think perusing the department store make up counters is a good idea. Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors from different companies eventually. You might want to start out with a very basic set of products from just one maker until you get a feel for what you’re doing. At the very least, bring in what you have to help you, and the make up artist assemble your color pallete. You don’t want to have cool red lips clashing with warm orange blush for example (though a good artist would only steer you toward what works for you, so that in theory, if they’re doing their job, it would all go together anyway). Check out Allure magazine, they’re focused largely on products and their use. They have a nifty tear out tip sheet on something different each month, too.
MAC, Makeup Artist’s Company ? I can’t remember, darnit but something like that. They do have dramatic colors, but they have very subtle stuff too. I’ve got a quartet of eyeshadows that works really well for me. More than once I’ve had people remark that they didn’t realize I wear make up until they saw me without. They last forever, too, I can’t remember how many years ago I bought them and I use make up nearly every day. Their face brushes I can’t reccommend. I’ve had them replace a brush twice now, it sheds so much. My favorite brush is a small sable paint brush-- just got it from the art supply store and chopped off part of the long handle. For shadow and lipstick they’re good bets. I don’t like that Lipfinity stuff either. If I wear it plain it’s dry. If I put the moisture gunk on it makes lip boogery stuff on the inside edges.
For eyeliner and, foundation especially, just about all the magazines I’ve read reccommend Prescriptives. They mix the foundation up for you on the spot, so it’s a good match. Don’t be afraid to go check the color outside in the light. I don’t know many folks who bother with foundation much though, so you might want to wait before buying that. YMMV.
I think my blush is Clinique, but it’s truly ancient because a little goes a long way. I’m an 80’s blush/tire tracks witness-- big blush is a baaaad thing. I’ve never noticed one brand being better than any other, as long as you get the color right. The way I think of it, is pinch your cheeks and then match that color. Current trends are to apply blush where you normally blush, on the apples of your cheeks. A trick to keep your blush from being too strong is to apply your face powder after applying blush.
I find I like loose powder, btw. Coty Airspun I believe, from WalMart. I like it better than any powder I’ve ever used and I used to buy Chanel. Beware of contouring powder-- that stuff can make you look scary very quickly, it requires a deft hand to do properly. I also look askance at green or purple corrective powders. If your face is too red and you add green, the resultant color is not some shade of peachy/tan. As I teach my art students, green plus red equals brown and not a pretty brown either, poo brown. Some people swear by it, so there you go.
Mascara from the drugstore is just as good as most department stores, for me. Good old pink and green Maybeline is what a lot of pros use and is one of the most popular mascaras in the business for a good reason. That said, I don’t use it. I’m forever trying new junk, especially anything that curls my lashes with out having to use a curler thingey. Oh, don’t use a curler after you’ve applied mascara, it promotes broken eyelashes. To apply, wiggle your mascara wand side to side, from the base of your lashes to the tips. Black mascara may or may not be the way to go depending on your coloration. Consider brown or black/brown for a more subtle look, for daytime at least.
Goodness I didn’t think I’d have so much to say on something that only takes about ten minutes a day. Years of practice has gotten my act down to a science, heh! Have fun with makeup-- it’s just a little paint and powder you get to play with, after all. If you don’t like it, just wash it off and try again till you get it how you like. Don’t be afraid to return something that doesn’t work for you. Even department stores are gracious about returns if you go back right away.
MAC = Makeup Artist Cosmetics.
I’m going to second (third? fourth?) going to a counter and getting your makeup done and have the person show you what they’re doing.
Second, if you’ve never worn makeup, I would suggest something like a tinted moisturizer as a good place to start - it gives you a bit of color as well as evening out your skin tone, but it feels lighter on the skin.
Third - try Mabeline mascara in the pink tube. It’s what professionals use. It doesn’t glom together. It doesn’t give you “spider eyes”. It will last more than 3 weeks, even in high humidity. Really.
Fourth - the most important thing is skin care. You can put whatever colors you want on - if your skin is bad, your face looks bad. Period.
Fifth - get your eye brows professionaly tweezed - you can follow the shape then yourself to maintain them. Nothing bungs up a look worse than nice makeup and nasty, shrubbery-like brows.
Regarding an eyeliner that won’t smudge - try Marcel waterproof or Revlon ColorStay - they will both stay put better than most. Also, make sure you aren’t putting on any heavy eye creams before you apply your liner - that will make it smudge for sure. Finally, you will need an eyemakeup remover - with oil - to remove the waterproofs (no surprise there) - soap and rubbing will irritate your eyes.
Finally, as a basic set of steps:
Cleanse, tone, moisturize.
Tinted moisturizer (this can be the same one as above).
Mascara.
Lip gloss.
Depending on your skin tone, you may or may not need blush - for some the tinted moisturizer is enough.
For evening I like a bit of eyeshadow.
Finally, makeup is really supposed to be fun. If you dread putting it on, you really shouldn’t put it on - you’ll just be miserable and claw it off your face.
I think thats it.
Al. Trained make-up artist and cosmitician. Really.
Actually, most of the counters provide this service with a minimum purchase. Those not wanting to purchase items can choose to pay for the artist’s time.
Will they prosecute you if you refuse to pay? No.
However, you WILL get a rep. Which means you WONT get the gifts, freebies, goodies that are alwasy available for good customers.
You WONT get offered another make-over.
The artists WILL avoid you like the plague, and not give a damn about your wants/concerns/problems.
If you’re going to spend 1 hour with someone having them show you how to do your makeup - a course that would cost you mucho $$ if you were to take it at a school - common courtsey says that your then purchase your items from that person.
Really.
Try Revlon ColorStay. You wont sweat it off.
In all this, let me add in one vote for “Run Away! Run Away!”
I hate compulsory makeup - always have - and I think it only looks good when it’s playfully done, for a specific “effect.” As adornment for a given event, I think it can be interesting, but people who can’t leave the house without painting their faces make me nervous.
If you have blue eyes i would recommend not using the same colour eyeshadow - this can look nice on people with brown eyes but not always with blue or green. If they are blue a pinky brown can look good, Bourjois have a lovely one in one of their new ranges (i forget what its called)
I do, in fact, have very bright blue eyes. And naturally fantastic eyebrows. I love my eyebrows. People pay enormous sums of money for eyebrows like I’ve got. Woo, my eyebrows.
I’m going out today and try some of the simple, ‘basic’ stuff some of you are recommending, to play with and see how it looks on me.
Things to remember. Use make up to enhance what you have, not to draw yourself a new face.
Spend money on foundation as it’s the base. Cheap every else is acceptable.
Cheap foundation will always make you look orange and show up your wrinkles. I’m adding another vote for Clinique!