Too much time on my hands? That's really okay.
This post is by and large taken from a comment I made on a recent post by theferrett, but with more personal anecdotes. That said, I give you...
Anne-Cara's Tips for Basic Makeup Use and Application*
The first thing about makeup is that it looks best on good skin. Some people are blessed with clear skin, others...aren't. Take the time to visit a dermatologist - I had rampant skin issues between the ages of about 12 and 15, and nothing seemed to help. When I finally did make it to a dermatologist, it turned out that, in addition to mild acne, I had a staph infection- but he prescribed me some medication for it, and it was amazing how quickly my skin cleared up. That said, read the instructions on skin creams; many are heat-sensitive, so going out and sunbathing right after you've put it on will probably cause an adverse reaction. For that matter, so will blowing your hair dry - I used to apply the cream when I'd get out of the shower, then dry my hair, and then wonder why my face was bright red for the next three hours. (Technically, blowing my hair dry does this anyway, but now it only lasts 45 minutes. ;) )
I know a lot of people see heavily made-up models and think, "I don't want to spend that much time on makeup!" Just as well; unless you're on stage or a catwalk, you probably shouldn't, because that's not your everyday wear. Some people (myself included) don't mind taking a bit more time to deal with "full" makeup - it's become almost a necessity for me; the last time I left the house without makeup I had three people ask me if I was sick because I looked so pale!! The thing is, though, even a little can go a long way.
I can't speak for other skin tones, but I'm sure that the same basic principles hold. If you tend to be pale, the right shade of lipstick can brighten your face and draw attention away from dark circles under your eyes or that unsightly pimple on your forehead. If you've already got good color in your lips, a bit of blush in a natural-looking color will draw out your cheekbones. (A note on blush application: don't just brush it on straight out; suck in your cheeks and make a fish-face, then you can feel out your cheekbones and apply the blush up the line of them.) A bit of mascara (not necessarily in dramatic black - brown is natural and has the same effect) will bring out your eyes by making them look wider.
As for those dark circles under your eyes, invest in some foundation - you don't have to slather it over your whole face if you don't want to (lucky you if your skin tone is naturally that even!), but just apply some under your eyes and it really will make a difference. Likewise, some natural (beige or skin color-approximate) eyeshadow can smooth your skin tone and brighten your face. You may not notice the difference, but I guarantee others will, and it'll especially show up in photos!
I use as an example my best friend Hannah, she of the alarmingly long hair and skin that's possibly even paler than mine. She doesn't wear makeup; she's never found it necessary and doesn't want to waste the time. That's fine, as by and large she doesn't need it. But because she's so pale, she gets these big, dark circles under her eyes even when she's getting enough sleep, and her upper lids seem to do something similar. In photographs, the result tends to be one of haggardness, black eyes, or just plain drunk. It hurts a little inside to see such unflattering pictures of such a beautiful girl.
So, once, before an orchestra concert of hers, I asked if I could do a little makeup on her - nothing extreme, no Tammy Faye spider-eyes and hot pink cheeks. With a sigh, she agreed, sitting down with a look like one headed into an interrogation room. All I did was dab some foundation under her eyes, apply a bit of beige eyeshadow, and give her cheeks a few whisks of blush. The girl doesn't need any mascara, her lashes are thick and dark enough to start, but I did end up using some clear mascara that she owns but has never used to create the same eye-widening effect. That's what mascara does; it lifts your lashes away from your eyes (in addition to darkening and/or thickening, depending on the color). Voila! I presented her with a mirror, and she looked into it and blinked. "I don't really see any difference," she said.
There wasn't much of one, really. Her eyes were a little wider and her cheeks were faintly colored, and the circles beneath her eyes were still evident, if less so, and there was an overall brighter effect to her face. But later on her mom took a picture of us together, and looking at the digital display, her mom said, "Hey, you don't look drunk in this picture," and showed it to us. It was true. Hannah was delighted; good pictures of her can be few and far between. "I wonder why that is," they mused.
Well, duh, I thought. "See? Makeup is good for something," I said.
Of course, that was a year ago or more, and she's never let me get near her with a makeup brush since, although I haven't asked. I have, at least, extracted a promise to be allowed to do her makeup for her wedding, but we'll see how well that holds up over the next five years.
What I did to her, though, took me about five minutes at the most, and if I'd been doing it for myself it would've taken less - applying makeup for another person is a tricky business, after all! But just a few little things, and her whole face looked brighter.
That's the thing about makeup - it isn't just to "hide yourself" the way many seem to think - it really is to highlight what's already there and bring out your natural beauty. Think of it like a finely cut suit - you knew your body looked good, but you never knew it could look that good.
*Any of these makeup tips can be used alone, but they can also be used in conjunction with one another, of course. :)
