I'm curious as to how everyone learned how to do their make up. I really can't remember my mom teaching me, mainly because she didn't wear a lot of make up herself. So for me it was just always the basic darker color on eye lid, lighter color above with some eyeliner and mascara. I did base and blush for a while then got away from that too. Lately I've been experimenting more with using those color sets that come with three or four colors.

Does anyone know any sites they get good make up tips from? Or have some good tips of your own? Who taught you to do your make up?

How do you decide what color blush you want? I know it is based on skin tones, but what color goes with what skin tone?

Any one have any good tips for keeping eye shadow (I use powder) in place and not getting oily? I put powder on before I do my eye shadow up but it still seems to get oily (best word I can think of) after a couple of hours.

I have dark under eye circles. Best way to cover those up? Also my eye make up tends to 'run' under my eyes and make them appear even darker?

What is everyone's favorite mascara for giving you fuller longer lashes? Most days I wish mine looked like those women in the commercials, but I've decided that they have to be wearing fake eyelashes!

Does anyone else have trouble getting those all day lipsticks to stick all day? Lipstick just doesn't stay on me for long periods of times.

I've thought about finding somewhere to go to get make up tips, but I have no idea where to even begin to look for that. Plus I want realistic tips and not a sales routine to get me to by their make up when what I have may already work fine.

So I thought I'd try here, and ask if anyone had any great make up tips they want to share?

DARK UNDER-EYE CIRCLES: Bare Escentuals (Bare Minerals) Well Rested
I do not use their entire product line, although I have tried it. This particular item is great! It runs about $18.00, and can be purchased/ordered through Sephora (among other places, I'm sure).

BLUSH (for me, anyway): I tend to have beige/almost olive skin. I use blushes in earth/brownish tones. I seem to need to stay away from pinks.

* Can't wait to see what others have to share!

I always loved playing with make-up, still do!! I do remember in high school my friend and I going to have a "make-over" at Merle Normans, they actually taught us a few tricks.

Go to one of the dept. stores like Macy's or Dillard's and get a makeover. They will show you what would look good on you (to compliment your skin color/eyes, etc) and you are not obligated to buy your make-up there, although it might be nice to buy something.

I taught myself how to apply makeup, but I've honed my skills and learned new tricks from watching reality makeover shows...mostly What Not to Wear. I've gotten a ton of great tips off that show.

My secret for under eye circles is to use a shimmery white eyeshadow under my bottom lashline and in the inner corners. It reflects the light so it gives the illusion that there are no circles.

I find that regular eyeliner is too harsh since I'm so pale, so I use an angular eyeshadow brush, dipped in water, and then use dark gray eyeshadow to line my eyes. I do use a bronze eyeliner sometimes. If you line your bottom lashline from the outer corner to the middle of your eye, it supposedly makes your eyes appear larger. Not sure if that's true, but it I line my eyes like that sometimes and I like the way it looks.

I like the mineral foundation and concealers. I am very fair and have golden undertones and find that peach toned blushes look best on me.

The best tip for me is to pick one feature to focus on. If you want glam eye makeup, go neutral with the blush and the lipstick. If you want killer red lips, go light on the eye makeup.

I used to sell a cosmetic skin care line (no, not the pink stuff) and was top in sales all the time for my region.

You really need to go to Merle Norman, a Mary Kay consultant or other skin care consultant (Aloette is another). Skin tone and skin type (dry, oily, mixed) will make a difference in what product you use. In the line I sold, we had a base makeup for the eyes that helped keep the eyeshadow in place; there are lots of good products for undereye circles; learning how to apply blush with a contour shade and the proper place to put blush (sorry, but the pink/red spot on the high part of the cheek is not where it goes) ... and your bone structure will determine the best way to apply it.

So you need to get with someone who will happily help show you how it's done. Call a Mary Kay or Aloette person and tell her you want to have a show in your home! You get a free consultation and make over, and the hostess usually earns lots of free product based on the sales at her show, so it's a good way to get started with some premium skin care products.

Didnt' mean to sound like a commercial .... but I believe in good skin care (I won a beauty pageant at the age of 32, so SOMETHING was helping me along!)

Yeah Mary Kay is good. I sell it. They finally got the mineral foundation too. Go to one of the spa days (you'll have to talk to a consultant to find out when they're having one), you get a little mini-makeover and sometimes some free products.

I love Sephora, it's like the mecca for makeup. If you have one near you, check it out. They have people who will help you with makeup and do mini makeovers for you. There are so many different lines and products there.

It's pricey but a really good mascara is Dior Diorshow. Gives my wimpy lashes volume. You can try it at Sephora.

I used to sell Mary Kay - and still use the cleanser, moisturizer and waterproof mascara, however the makeup is just not that great for me. I do LOVE LOVE LOVE MAC makeup though. It is a little more expensive - but not that much and lasts much longer. The foundation and concealers are definately worth it.

The MAC website has some great tips on how to apply a complete makeup look. You don't need to run out and buy everything they list! The website has their most current but in store there is a whole binder of 'looks'.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/looks/look_category.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY28149

I used all MAC for my wedding and did it myself - didn't have to touch up ANYTHING all day, even though there were many tears.

For eyeshadow issues - use the MAC eye primer, eye shadow does not slide! Their eyeshadows are really what I find expesive there, however, for the few key shades that you will wear everyday/weekly it is worth it.

I use the Select MoistureCover Concealer under my eyes. Be sure to brush powder on over top to help set. MY absolute favorite from MAC is the Studio Fix Foundation/Powder. It is great for younger skin that just needs to be evened out, doesn't clog my pores and is super light.

One of the best things you can buy yourself is decent brushes. Mine are Mary Kay and pretty good. Angle brushes are wonderful inventions.

In prep for my wedding my best friend and I had a 'makeup specialist' come in and teach us a few tricks so that we could do it ourself. While she did paint me orange I did learn a few things. One was to shade in the lid using a medium color then use the angle brush to draw a darker shadow line in the outer half of the crease and along the lash line then blend them towards each other.

Lipstick - MAC pro longwear - seriously stays on just touch up the gloss.

Mascara - Still love L'oreal Voluminous Waterproof in Black Brown. If you have lighter colored hair Black Brown makes such a difference for day time, a softer natural look.

Blush - depending on the season! You just need to find the right shade - make sure you try it on before you buy. A very pinky color could look crazy in the container but if you don't put much on its fine.

My friends and I have had nothing but bad experiences with getting makeup advice at Merle Norman (solid gold up to the eyebrows) and Sephora (glittery copper and gold all at once AND pink/purple up to the eyebrows on a red head). Sephora does carry some great brands though. Some MAC girls are really snobby, others are amazing! If you can find a counter in a department store they often give you a lot more time (the Bay in Canada carries MAC.)

If you got to your local bookstore, there are several books out there on makeup application.

I think the Clinique counter would be a good place for you to start. Their sales people are very well trained, and not high pressure sales, and their products are quality and a good value.

Mary Kay's skincare products are good, but I'm not in love with their makeup.

I used to be a color analyst and beauty consultant. I think the number 1 thing you should do is find out if your coloring is warm or cool. Find out if you have blue or yellow undertones. Everything else, as far a color goes, is determined by that. I was the only one in my family with warm undertones. If I ever used my sister's makeup (she has cool undertones) I ended up looking like a call girl! Even though I applied the makeup in the exact same way, the colors looked hideous on me!

Once for a demonstration, I applied different make up to each side of my sister's face. On one side I used the proper colors for her, and on the other I used the wrong colors. It was amazing to compare the differences side by side! The side with the wrong colors made her look old, tired, and all you could see was the makeup. If you do your makeup properly you shouldn't notice the makeup itself. Makeup should enhance your features but still look pretty natural.

Using proper colors also applies to what clothes look best on you....but that's another topic for another day.

HTH

Thank you everyone for your replies!

I've used Merle Norman products in the past. I haven't tried recently but I know the base from them I tried before just always felt very thick to me. I may have to look into them again.

Both Dillards and Merle Norman were places I thought about going, but I really don't want to be given the sales pitch or told something just so I'll buy from them. I'm not trying to be cheap, I'd rather pay for the make over/tips and not have to buy anything than to get it free and be expected to buy so much. I hadn't thought of Macy's since I haven't ever been to ours.

I looked up Sephora and Bare Escentuals but we don't have a store for either here that sales it. Nearest one is two hours away. MAC is sold at my local Dillards, so I guess I might have to make a trip to the mall. Haven't been there in years. And I just found that Clinique is also sold at the local Dillards and Macy's.

I'm not sure about Mary Kay, my one experience with a Mary Kay consultant wasn't postive. She was very pushy about meeting with me to show me all the 'cool stuff' and wouldn't understand the, "I don't have any money right now." I didn't her wasting her time when I knew I wasn't going to buy anything. I'm not saying everyone is like her, in fact I'm sure they aren't. But that experince has stuck with me.

I'm making a list of all the products mentioned here and will have to look into them more. Please feel free to add any more, if you think of them.

I love the tips. Some of them I do, like not outling my bottom lid completley and I do use the brushes over the little foam applicators on my eye make up. Any little one helps!

What are the worst make up applications everyone has seen? Sometimes I think we can learn from the bad as well as the good.

Okay, jjkarm, is there a easy way to tell if your coloring is warm or cool or if you have the blue or yellow undertones? Inquring minds want to know. HeHe