My mother bought me some age appropriate make-up and showed me how to wear it so it looked natural when I was in the 7th grade. My lips are naturally white. I look anemic when I'm not, so I wear lipstick all the time, even when I garden. I think she encouraged me to wear make-up because she was tired of people asking her if I was sick because I looked so pale and wan, which was just my natural coloring.

I'm also a natural redhead. I would prefer to not wear foundation, but it protects my skin from the sun. My face looks years younger than the skin on my chest that was exposed through V-necks and open shirt collars on a regular basis for years. I've also had a skin cancer removed from my chest and the dermatologist says I have severe sun damage on that area and very little sign of sun exposure on my face.

As a result, I never leave the house without foundation. Sunscreen makes my face breakout. I wear sunscreen all year round on the rest of me now. So foundation and lipstick are my staples. I don't mind leaving the house without eye make-up or blush. But most days I do the whole nine-yards of make-up, hair, body lotions -- the works. It takes at least a half-hour, sometimes longer if I'm dawdling. But I don't have to do it and if I don't have time I just do what's necessary to prevent more skin cancer.