I second the comments about getting good foundation. It's worth it, and even though it can be expensive, it will last for a long time. I use Estee-Lauder, it matches my skin tone really well, costs about $30 each for liquid foundation and pressed powder. Bought it back in April or some such, still have plenty of liquid left, and am only now starting to run low-ish on powder. And I wear it very often (pretty much every day now).
Good places for foundation include Sephora, which you mentioned, but you might also try make up counters at various department stores. You can usually get small samples to take home and use for a few days to see how you like it. MAC is also a good place to get make up, if you have one nearby.
Ditto the comments on mascara. Not worth the money to buy the uber-expensive Chanel. Tried it, and it's worse than my cheap Cover Girl drugstore brand. It clumps, and rubs off too easily.
I usually use just plain old soap and water to remove foundation. It's a good idea to wash your face every night, so that's exactly what I do, make up comes off in the process. Mascara and other waterproofs are the only things that are problems, so I use Pond's cold cream on those. Smear it on, rub around, wipe off with a tissue. The cold cream lasts forever, and regularly washing with soap and water means one less product I have to buy all the time.
Oh, and Sephora is great. The people are nice, etc. A bit pricey, but good stuff always is. Their brushes are significantly cheaper than MAC. With the holidays coming up, MAC has some good little brush packages put together, and I'm sure Sephora does as well. Good way to get several high quality items for less than the brushes would cost individually.
