Hi Gabrielle-

Welcome to the group, girl, I hope you like it here. I love your name, one of my best g-girl friends is named Gabrielle.

As Wendy said, one of the key things is to practice, practice, practice and not be afraid. None of it's permanent, after all, it all washes right off, so don't be afraid to try new things. One thing I will say with that in mind, is to buy less expensive makeup when you're just beginning. Lots of stores sell items aimed for teenage girls and so on and you can often find very good prices. Then once you find a look you like you can duplicate it with more expensive makeups. Not that more expensive is necessarily better but usually it's kinder to your skin and does a better job.

As Wendy said, there are lots and lots of places on the web for ideas, products and tips. One of my favorites is Kevyn Aucoin's site, just do a search on his name and you should find it. Here's another I like because she does a great job of showing step by step how to do it:

http://www.asiacarrera.co[...]me.html

(You can ignore the boob shot right at the beginning or not, whatever. They just make me jealous.)<lol>

And of course, you can always go to a makeup counter and get a makeover from one of the artists there. I have done it a few times, from full makeover to just my lips or my eyes. Everywhere I've gone they've been very helpful and never batted an eye. The unspoken assumption is that you will buy something while you're there but you're really under no obligation, of course.

One last thing, while I'm rambling on and on as usual, is that it's easy to get confused, there are so many products and makers out there, they all make claims for all sorts of things and it can be hard to sort them out. While makeup is magical in a way, there is no product out there that will turn in a sow's ear into a silk purse just like that. As an old sow's ear, I know what I'm talking about, believe me.

And as far as rules about makeup go, they're just guidelines, more or less or else just opinion. For everything you read you will find an opposite opinion somewhere else. "Don't use your fingers to put on foundation, always use a sponge, else you'll get streaks." "Always use your fingers to put on foundation, you can do a better job that way." Blah, blah, blah. Just find what works for you and don't be afraid to play around. It's all about having fun, after all.

Good luck, Gabrielle. Hope you have a great time when you go out.

Hugs...Joni

Hi Gabrielle-

I think your question was directed at Wendy, but I hope you don't mind if I chime in. Foundation and powder should be as nearly the same as your own skin tone as you can find, they should blend in and look as though you don't have any on at all, being neither noticably lighter or darker than your skin. You can use the back of your hand to try it on, or better still, since our hands sometimes get a bit more sun, the skin along your jawline if there's a mirror handy.

If you go to a department store cosmetics counter, the girls (or guys, for that matter) there will be happy to find a color that matches your skin tone. Lots of times they will have samples out that you can try. I don't mind trying open samples for things like concealer, foundation, blush and powders but am very careful not to put on anything for my eyes, you never know where the fingers of the last person to try it may have been. Getting an infection on your face is kind of hard unless you have an open cut or something, but your eyes can easilly get infected.

As I mentioned before, one trick my wife taught me is to buy less expensive makeups to mess around with and to try out different looks, then when you find something that works for you, you can upgrade to a more expensive product if you want. Expensive isn't always better, of course, but usually the more upscale products do a better job of going on nicely and lasting longer and not irritating your skin and so on.

Good luck and have fun.

Hugs...Joni

PS And I agree with Meredith, you are very pretty and have a lot going for you.