Hello and welcome to my second sojourn into HubPages' tender underbelly, the Idea Bank. I see 7 other hubbers have already answered this question but it's still there, so what the heck, I'll give it a whirl, because I like makeup and other women are always asking me how to do it, what I use, and complimenting me on it, or asking me to help them do theirs when a party or special occasion is approaching, so I will answer this challenge and dispense some of my own tried and true makeup tips.

Begin at the beginning.

You need to start with good skin. The best way to have good skin is to drink lots of water and avoid bad foods like lots of chocolate or greasy foods, because your skin will tell on you when you have been indulging.

You can't build a house with a bad foundation, and even if the most skilled architects and laborers built a fabulous mansion with the finest materials, if the structure sat on a bad foundation, it wouldn't take it long to crumble. I honestly can't remember the last time I had potato chips, a donut, or a candy bar. After a while, you just don't miss 'em.

In addition to a reasonably healthful diet, you need to invest in a really good skin-care regimen. I myself use Clinique. I have been using it since I got my first job at 16 and could buy stuff for myself. Why? because it is so comfortable on my face, and has no scents or perfumes. Just use a good mild astringent to clear your pores and refresh your skin once a week, and a good moisturizer to hydrate your skin every day (morning and at bedtime). Every two weeks, I use their scrubby cleanser, which is a non-greasy cream with tiny abrasive particles in it. This sloughs off dead skin cells and makes your face feel great!

You don't have to use Clinique though - Any good quality brand that you prefer will do; Just use it faithfully and take care of your skin.

Foundation: Liquid or powder?

Many women are confused about what type of foundation they should use.

What's foundation, you ask? Foundation is the base makeup that you blend into your face to cover minor imperfections and even out your skin tone. Some women like powder foundations like Bare Minerals, Bare Escentuals, Sheer Cover, and others, which are in a powder form and are applied with a few strokes of a makeup brush.

Liquid foundation is just that - Liquid. It comes in many colors and is more readily available (and cheaper) than mineral foundations. I use liquid makeup, and I use Cover Girl because it is very sheer and matches my skin tone perfectly.

How do I choose?

It's actually pretty straightforward - if you have fair skin, choose foundation for fair skin. I have fair skin so I look for shades with the word "Ivory" in them. The second most important word to look for on the makeup bottle or container is "sheer". If you have problem skin, you don't need to wear heavy makeup. A little sheer foundation and a small amount of powder go a long way to disguising imperfections and making your skin glow. Avoid foundations, especially liquid ones, that look orangey in the bottle. if it looks orange in the bottle, it will look orange on your face. If you've never worn makeup before, take advantage of department stores' free makeup sessions, which can be very educational. Makeup technicians can teach you how to choose just the right shade for your face and apply it for you. You don't have to buy any of the makeup they demo for you, and you can go to the drugstore with your new-found knowledge and select the perfect (and cheaper) makeup just for you.

Don't Forget the Concealer

Concealer is what women put under their eyes when they have not been getting a lot of sleep to hide dark circles under their eyes. They also use it to hide things like freckles or *gasp* a blemish from when they sneaked that Reese's Peanut Butter Cup out of their kid's Halloween bag.

Concealer comes in two forms: Tube and stick. I like the stick because I can just easily swipe it under my eyes then just blend it with my pinky finger. Concealer is the first bit of makeup you should apply to your face, then you can put on your foundation.

So, now that you have chosen your foundation, you can begin.

1. Cleanse and moisturize your face.
2. Dab a little concealer under your eyes to brighten them and conceal any dark circles.
3. Working quickly, apply foundation.

• If applying mineral powder, dip your brush into the powder and tap extra powder into the lid of the container, then just brush it all over your face in with short, even strokes
• If applying liquid foundation, just put a little on your middle finger and dab it onto your face, beginning with the largest parts, your cheeks and blend with your middle and ring finger. Remember, less is more.

To set your foundation (if using liquid), apply a thin film of powder directly onto your face on top of the liquid foundation. This will keep it from "melting off" as you go about your busy day and ensure that your skin looks fresh and not shiny.

A rose is a rose...

Now you are ready to apply a little color. Nothing looks worse than blush that has been applied with a heavy hand, or that is too dark or bright for your face. When looking for a blush, purchase a powder blush. Liquid or creams just end up making your skin look greasy and shiny and it tends to make your finishing powder cake on, which is very uncool. You do not want to look like Lily Munster or anything resembling a clown. You want to look fresh and blooming like the first rose of spring. When considering blush, think of things like cherry blossoms or peaches on the tree with that sun-kissed blush on them. You want to look as natural as possible, so choose shades that are pale if you have fair skin and deeper tones if you have darker skin. Many stores have testers that allow you to sample them on your skin. Test them on the inside of your wrist, as your hands and arms are usually tanned from the sun. If it looks natural and with just the hint of a blush, get it.

When you have applied your foundation, apply your blush, starting at the middle of your cheek and stroking gently and quickly up and to the side of your face, taking care to blend it so that you just get a hint of color on your face. Apply a little to your chin, forehead and right under your eyebrows. That's one of my secrets. For some reason, that tiny hint of color just under your eyebrows brightens your whole face!

The eyes have it.

Now you can have a little fun and not worry so much about being all matchy-matchy with skin tones and gradations of color. You can wear pretty much any color on your eyes, as long as you apply it with precision.

First, make sure you maintain your eyebrows by keeping them plucked and free from straggly hairs here and there. Your eyebrows should follow the natural curve of your eye and be neat and well groomed, which goes a long way towards improving your overall appearance.

For everyday use for any eye color, choose basic eye shadows such as ivory (NOT white), cocoa brown and charcoal gray. Blondes typically look best in grays and brunettes in browns, although you can experiment and find what works best for you.

For added color, choose pale pinks, deep purples and olive greens. Choose a matte (flat) finish instead of sparkly eye shadows, which tend to look a little garish in office light or bright sunlight. Save these for holiday parties or evenings out.

To do your eyes, dab a little of the ivory shadow onto the applicator and swipe it all over your eyelids, including the top part immediately under your eyebrows, Next, load your applicator with your darker color and begin brushing it into the crease of your eye, from the corner of your eye just to the end of your eye, leaving a sliver of ivory color on your lid just above your eyelashes and a lot of ivory showing just under your eyebrows. Blend it with your index finger until it is smooth.

Take an eye pencil (black) and from the corner of your eye just to the end of your eye, draw a very thin line. This line should not be noticeable - It is just there to make your eyes pop and look more finished.

Finally, apply your favorite mascara. I usually pick a more pricey mascara because it is so important, so why not get one that looks the most natural? Nothing is worse than clumpy, spikey eyelashes! Revlon and Lancome Paris both make very nice mascara. Again, choose black. Other colors just don't look right and tend to draw attention to the color instead of just your eyes.

Her lips were CHERRYLICIOUS

You know what? I hate a greasy-looking mouth. I know some women like that look but I have to tell you right now, it is very UNsexy.

If you want your lips to look sexy, keep them soft and kissable with a good lip balm like Burt's Bees or Cherry Chapstick, then apply your lip color with deliberation and precision. Choose colors to enhance your appearance, not detract from it. Again, lip color should look natural and make people think of cherry blossoms, peaches, strawberries and a fresh juicy slice of watermelon that they just have to taste. ;)

If it is a special occasion, you can choose bolder, more dramatic lip color and opt for stronger tones like red, but even then, don't overdo it. Your lip color should not only bring color to your face but accessorize your outfit. If you are going to a holiday party and wearing a dramatic black dress, obviously pink lipstick wouldn't work and you would need a stronger lip color.

There's a dizzying array of lip colors to choose from. So how do you know which one is right for you?

It was said that Marilyn Monroe, one of the world's most admired bombshells, wore seven different shades of lipstick all mixed up together to create a color that she was happy with. So why not get a palette of assorted shades and mix 'em up until you find your own perfect lip color? When shopping for lipstick, choose shades that compliment your skin tone. Blondes typically look best in paler pinks, redheads in warm coral and amber tones, and brunettes in pale reds, deep pinks or corals. It just depends on you, your hair, makeup and even what you are wearing that day.

Just experiment and find one that you like. When you do, buy like ten tubes of it and store them away because nine times out of ten, when you find a color you love they take it out of production and then you have to start all over again.

Some women like lip pencils, which they use to outline their lips and fill in with color from lipstick that comes in a long tube, and that you apply with an applicator brush.

Tube or stick, pot or pencil, matte or gloss, stain or shimmer, the trick to applying lipstick correctly is to just follow the shape of your mouth and fill it in with color. I like lipstick in a tube because I can just put it in my handbag and go, and freshen my lip color whenever I need to.

Well, there's this party coming up...

OK, remember that glitter I mentioned earlier?

Now you can take it out and use some of it! Glitter makeup is typically used by teen girls, but you can use it too around the holidays, if you're subtle about it. Just a teensy bit of sparkle around your eyes, or maybe at the nape of your neck, especially if you are wearing an evening frock that's cut a little low adds to the sparkle of the season and will make other women go "Hmm, wish I'd thought of that."

Choose glitter eyeshadow, eyeliner, lip color or glitter dust in subtle shades instead of say, shocking pink or something no one over 18 should be caught dead in. Then just start out either dabbing a tiny amount on with a brush, your fingertips or the applicator, depending on the type. It's kind of like pruning a shrub...step back from the mirror every so often to make sure you're not overdoing it. Once you have just a hint of glimmer, stop.

Well, there you have it, my makeup tips. I hope you enjoyed them!

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