Make up - easy or difficult?

[Rock_chick]

I'm just interested, i seem to have taken to it like a duck to water and even get compliments from female friends at work...and that's really without being shown how to do anything.

Has anyone else found it ridiculously easy to learn how to do make up or did you struggle before finding the right balance?

[Colleen Ireland]

I seem to have a knack for gravitating towards good colors.  My first makeup purchase was lipstick - the thing I did wrong was buy it at a drugstore... $20!!  For ONE lipstick!!  But the color worked really well (I forget the number, but it's Gosh, and the color name is "Exotic".  It's sort of a medium-pink).  One thing I've learned about foundation - if you have a dark beard (which I do), then two coats of foundation is pretty much necessary where the beard is.  Followed by powder (I only recently learned about powder).

As for eyeshadow, I'm still floundering in the dark, and haven't tried eyeliner yet, but I do have mascara!  Still need to get some nail polish, tho...

[Janet_Girl]

I found makeup to be a challenge in the beginning.  But I have learned so much more over the years.  Now it is a snap.

BTW Helena, cute Avatar.

[V M]

When I was doing music we would wear make up so I was kind of use to it

The challenge for me was learning to do women's make up styles... There is allot more to it... Plus learning how to do a new look can be a bit of a challenge... I've tried a few looks that just don't work for me and was mad at myself for buying "that crap" 

But I've learned allot and it's become much easier 

[Rock_chick]

Thanks Janet

Eyeliner is easy, just take your time and rest your elbow on something...if you mess up, put a dab of mousteriser on a cotton bud and just get rid of the offending mistake. Eyeshadow...just avoid bold shades like blue and green, unless you can absolutely positively get away with it...i.e. you're a teenager and out at a party...he he. Subtle is usually good, unless you really want to make a bold statement, which isn't a bad thing, but by their very nature bold statements are bold and tend to get noticed.

Speed and accuracy is the thing I'm perfecting at the moment...I can do everything in about half an hour now, it used to be a lot longer.

[JustAnotherDreamer]

I always found doing my make up surprisingly easy.

[Epigania]

I had a hard time finding the right colors.   I have fair skin with pink undertones and red hair, so it's hard to find colors that worked.   I went to MAC and we fixed that though.

My challenge was always eye liner, but I've gotten good with it.  It only takes me 10 - 15 minutes to put all my make up on these days.  And that's if I use foundation.

[Kaelleria]

It wasn't difficult to learn... it just took time to learn. Plenty of guides in many different medias to help out as well.

[Suzy]

Just try youtube for makeup tips, it is really not hard.

I started with a bunch of stuff from a dollar store.  That way, I figures that I would not need to worry if I got the wrong thing.  Then I progressed to better stuff.

After I had been doing it for a bit I went to a professional, who matched my skin colors, etc. and allowed me to ask lots of questions.  It was a very affirming and educational time for me.  I would highly recommend a makeover.  It usually costs a bit, but will be a great help in the future, and will save you from buying the wrong things.

[Kay]

It's been the same way for me Helena, I've found it pretty easy too.
Though, I tend to keep it pretty basic for regular everyday wear. 
(foundation, powder, lip tinter/moisturizer, eyeliner (pencil.  liquid usually
looks a bit heavy), and mascera...that's all.  Depending on the clothing it's either
black or brown around the eyes, so not too much variation.) 
I rarely use shadow.  Usually the pink of my naked eyelids is enough
contrast for people to think I'm wearing it anyway. (I still should learn
about blush I suppose, though it hasn't seemed necessary so far.)
.
I usually don't use lipstick or shadow unless I'm going for a gothic look that day.
(I guess I'll have to find something that works for me other than blood red, bordeaux, or black.) 
Though, I have found that white powder and foundation can be a royal pain to get out of
black lace.    Still...even if I don't do it as often as I would like, I love the gothic victorian
style, and the rather different makeup styles that can be used with it. 
.
BTW:  Looking good Helena, HRT has been kind to you.   (though a bit more gothic styling couldn't hurt     )

[Debra]

For me I suppose there was a balance of practice and natural ease. I also had a few makeovers at MAC and they showed me how but I also watched youtube tutorial videos sometimes.

I did recently try a few different looks and I ended up just figuring out that I looked the best with either purple or grey light smokey eye so that's what I stick to for the most part.

[Sadie]

I am just starting. Not too bad so far but I need a lot more practice with the eyes, the rest is easy.  I haven't got the courage up to actually go talk to a makeup counter yet to get my skin matched to a foundation.  I also want to try some gel eyeliners (I don't care for the pencils or at least the ones I have) and I need some good brushes too because the applicators that come with makeup are crap.

[Keroppi]

My everyday is just foundation, powder & blush and they're okay. Haven't done eyeliner, eye shadow, or mascara for a while. Not every good with those. The main thing I definitely still need to learn first is how to take off or put on items of clothing without getting makeup all over it!

[Vanessa_yhvh]

I found it intimidating at first, particularly dealing with eyelashes & a few other fiddly details. But I've worked out some approaches that suit me just fine, so it's not too bad.

[dyslexi]

it came pretty easily to me. In fact i helped the daughter of a friend with her makeup. She was awful at it. lol For us, earth tones work well if you want to blend in and not as said above want to make a bold statement.
My bff and I are going to the big city to get professional make overs so we get the perfect makeup and tools for the job. I adore brushes.

[bethw]

I'm with you Helena. I found it surprisingly easy.  it took some practice but all-in-all was really easy.
Hugs
Beth

[Emmanuelle]

I always loved playing with crayons, pencils and colors. And once I figured out that less is more, it became easypeasy

Love,
Emma

[VampireKitten]

I had some problems in the beginning, but it wasn't that hard. Now I usually just use eyeliner and mascara. Even though I probably need to use more.

[Aidan_]

Ridiculously easy, given the proper colors. As far as time...yeah I guess I see how my mother used to take an hour to get ready, as 30 minutes of it was dedicated to makeup.

Only thing I'm not cool with though is lipstick. Every time I use some it looks odd, so I just use lip gloss instead.

[Epigania]

Only thing I'm not cool with though is lipstick. Every time I use some it looks odd, so I just use lip gloss instead.

I've always sort of disliked lipstick too.  It doesn't look very natural and it gets everywhere and you have to re-apply all the time.

I found that Loreal sells something called Infallible Lip Color which is sort of like lip gloss in how you apply it, but it's actually a stain that will stay all day and not come off on stuff.  It comes with a lip gloss to keep your lips nice and soft too. 

You should check that out, it might be a good one for you.