Protip: If you look like a clown, it's too much! 

When I was in my teens and 20's, I would use just a light touch around the eyes, perhaps a little color on the cheeks in the evening, and a light, natural color for my lips. I went to a cosmetologist who worked with me to develop the most suitable palette for my skin, depending upon the time of day as well as the seasons. I have always enjoyed using makeup, and I spent many happy moments as a child and as a teen making up my face. I learned how to apply makeup properly,(blend, blend, blend!) but to work out the optimum color scheme, I learned a great deal from a professional. As I aged, my needs changed also, and I once again spent the time and money for assistance from a professional.

You can use as much or as little as you'd like. If I'm running out to the supermarket, I may only apply some lipstick, and walk out the door or I may not apply any makeup at all. If I'm going out for an evening, it will take at least half an hour to properly develop the skin tone that I'd like, apply the color around my eyes, to my lips, cheeks, etc. It depends upon the look that I'd like, if it's a natural everyday look, or an airbrushed, heavily blended more sophisticated appearance. In other words, the amount of makeup that you use is going to be decided by the look that you would like to have for what you're going to be doing and where you will be. Of course, the general rule of thumb is "less is more," and color and application is what is most important. I'm always impressed by a woman who applies her make up, and appears not to be wearing any. It's a look that I very often strive for, and to accomplish that, it takes at least half an hour.

I'm 58 years old. My skin is by far, nothing at all what it was like when I was 18. A lot more time needs to be spent on my look because of the effects of aging, but I can still present a pleasing look in under 15 minutes. It takes practice.

Something that you can do, is to visit the Mary Kay web site,  http://www.marykay.com/. There is a virtual model on the site, where you can choose a face, hair style, hair color, and then you can experiment with all of the Mary Kay makeup products. You can also choose their "makeup artist looks" and see how they look on your virtual face. This allows you, on the computer, to really experiment with many color combinations and overall looks, and of course, they will put everything together for you to purchase. You may find it to be fun. I always enjoy playing with makeup, so I'll try things out on occasion myself.

It's all a personal choice. Makeup doesn't make you a woman. 

The absolute best advice for makeup is to pay attention to what the other women your age wear in different circumstances. There is no single "right" amount.

Light makeup (or none) is most usual for summer, daytime, casual, and young and tends to become stronger with formal occasions and older ladies.

Nothing attracts more negative attention than inappropriate makeup (or clothes).

Normally, make-up should be used to enhance features, not hide flaws.  Ask your self "what is it I hope to accomplish using this product?"  I wear blush to emphasis my high cheek bones.  Eye liner makes greater contrast between skin and eyes, a feminine trait, as well as the whites of your eyes which denotes health.  Mascara lengthens lashes and changes the ratio of eyes to the rest of the face which denotes youth. 

Thanks you everyone for your replies.

I am starting to see in my face what everyone else is seing, soft scin (?sp) and a nice feminine face . I am rushing to work now, will try and reply to some of your posts later.

Alice

Amen, Christty..we older girls MUST use makeup and use it wisely!!!

It depends on what kind of look you like and how your skin is.  Me, my skin is okay, and I prefer a subtle look.  That means that I'll powder my T-zone to keep it from being shiny, put on concealer under the eyes, and a LITTLE bit of eyeliner.

The only advice I can give is maybe to just focus on eyes or lips.  Some people go over the top with both and just end up looking like a clown (extravagant eye make-up + red lips = Bozo, God rest his soul).

Lia

Sure, I use makeup, every day, but as little as possible, nothing elaborate.  Some stick smoother with a sponge to even skin tones, mascara (without it, I have no eyelashes), and lipstick.  My whole routine takes me 2 minutes total.

my mom told me if she had my eyelashes, she wouldn't need makeup. i don't have to bother with mascara or eyeliner. the only bad features about me are the moles i have. i have lots of moles. how do you make them disappear?

A dermatologist can remove then with an electric probe.  But they often will refuse unless there is some good reason.  I had one removed in my teens while I still had some beard growth, and I kept cutting it with the razor.  That was sufficient reason.  Since then I have learned to remove my own by unbending a paperclip, heating one end until it glows red and then turns white, and then jabbing it deeply into the center of the mole.  A repetition or two might be needed after it heals.

Quote from: Purple Pimp on July 28, 2008, 06:37:57 PM(extravagant eye make-up + red lips = Bozo, God rest his soul)

Well, that depends on the individual; it isn't a cast-iron rule. In my picture here, for example, I'm rockin both the lip color and the eye makeup, and as you can see it all works for me just fine. Women like me with dark Mediterranean complexions and features can accommodate more makeup than blue-eyed turned-up-button-nosed washed-out pale blondes. I've been getting a lot out of the book Latina Beauty, finally some beauty advice written for women who look like me. Latinas and Middle Eastern women customarily wear more makeup than Nordic types, although for some reason I'll never understand, the latter is taken for granted as normative in this society. It's all down to the individual's particular needs. Go get a professional makeover and refine the look that works for you.

Posted on: August 09, 2008, 01:32:42 PM

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Quote from: glendagladwitch on August 03, 2008, 07:28:29 PMunbending a paperclip, heating one end until it glows red and then turns white, and then jabbing it deeply into the center of the mole.  A repetition or two might be needed after it heals.

OOOOWWWWW! 
And I thought laser was bad. Jeez Louise! I've heard it said, "Il faut souffrir pour être belle," but that takes it into extreme-sports territory.

Quote from: Alice on July 21, 2008, 12:35:59 AM
OK ok,

I look fine when I put on makeup and people recognise I am feminine. I want to know when I go full time how much makeup do I use every day. I have noticed a lot of females do not use that much make up day to day. Some may put some makup around their eyes and that is it. If I had say 5 mins to get out of the door, can I not bother with my makeup as (for example) I am ducking down to the shops to buy something dinner.

To Help the process, here is Alice with no makeup  >.




By the way - I hope people like the dress I brought for the upcoming ball that I brought for the ball. Here is a better look at the dress.




Alice

there's different makeup tricks you can use for the features you don't like. if you use a certain color of blush, you can hide the feature.