This thread has been fun for me to read and got my mind off of over-thinking too much heavy stuff. Thanks. I like your attitude that you feel okay and presentable without makeup, but use it for the joy of seeing what it can do for you. Great way to feel. Like you, I love color.

My first job at 16 was in the make-up section of Walgreens. That exposure to "products" took me from not knowing much about makeup to building quite a collection of appearance-enhancing items. I tried everything. My mother was an immigrant and, culturally, makeup was rather foreign to her. All she had was a compact of pressed powder and a tube of red lipstick. She used them mostly when going to a doctor's appointment. The result was garish. So I learned nothing from her. Plus I had no older sisters. I had to teach myself. Magazine articles helped, and I made a study of the subject.

Makeup utterly transforms my appearance. Without it, I've always been somewhat plain. With it, I was able to turn heads, once I learned how to "get myself up."

I have unusually pale skin that has a sallow cast. That calls for a spare undercoat of a rosey-tinted moisturizer, available in good department stores. Next I apply a very light colored foundation. For years I used Estee Lauder. Lately, I've used Loreal "True Match." For some reason, cheap foundation looks horrid on me. I've found that I cannot use really cheap brands of foundation, powder or lipstick. (Maybelline and Cover Girl are out.) However in eye makeup, it pays to try any and all brands. I do have some mascaras by Maybelline and some eye shadows by Cover Girl. Face powder is essential for me and greatly improves my appearance. I have at times liked "Corn Silk" and a drug store brand called "Physician's Formula." My T-zone is oily to a fault. To look decent all day, I need to frequently blot and reapply powder. I have, at times, bought expensive face powder in department stores. I must always avoid "warm shades" and get best results with shades labeled "cool." Applying blush is essential for me. Pink shades work. I can use nothing labeled "peach." Highlighter here and there can look nice in the evening.

My favorite eye shadows are grey or lavender. Here's where I have a problem. Lavender is a blend of blue and pink. If it's pinkish, it makes me look like I've been crying. I need a lavender that leans toward blue. That is nearly impossible to find. I am on an perpetual hunt for a bluish lavender eye shadow that seems not to exist. (I'm not clever at blending shades to create what I want.)

I have a similar problem with the color, "coral." Coral is a blend of pink and orange. I absolutely cannot wear anything orangy in either makeup or clothing. But coral that has enough "pink" in it can be fine, in clothing and in lipstick. That can be hard to find, as "peachy" shades of coral are more prevalent. I love that shade on women "of color," but it can be dreadful next to pale skin that is sallowish.

I'm not skilled in applying eye liner. Being very light-complected, I cannot do dramatic things with my eyes, without appearing too heavily "made-up." I envy women who can carry off "big eyes." I just can't, especially as I get older.

Having a slight, dental overbite, I have to worry all the time about lip color getting on my upper, front teeth. I've tried all manner of products and techniques to "set" lipstick, so it stays only on lips. Nothing has worked well for that. I just have to keep checking and redoing the lips. I like understated pinks for the lips. I like lipliner. I can't use bold shades. I envy women who can.

As I age, I find "less is more."

I miss the original formulation of "Oil of Olay" that was so very light-weight. It nicely prepped facial skin to receive foundation. When going for a minimalist effect, very light-weight moisturizer, topped only by light application of powder and blush, can be nice, IMO, for daytime.

My eyebrows are scant, but I need to learn how to better shape and define them. I hate the current trend in making eyebrows that dominate the face. Strikes me as ugly.

In my role as 24/7 caregiver for a very sick man, I've almost completely abandoned the use of make up for the past few years. This makes me feel and look depressed, which I am. I've gotten to where I don't care. On the rare days when I make an attempt to do myself up a bit, it makes me feel better. Also people notice and tell me I look good. It cheers up my bf also. But, usually, I just can't be bothered. Times when he's been in the hospital, I've gotten back to putting myself together and liked the effect. But that doesn't last long. Maybe some day I'll give a dang again.

Well that's more about me than could possibly be of interest, but it was fun and diverting to remember how I used to be, when I felt like I had a life. One of these days, I'll get my life back, I suppose.