You look good. It has to be true -- your mother tells you so all the time. But her completely unbiased opinion aside, who's to say that you couldn't look even better?

There are many ways to improve your "look." You can get a new dress, new shoes, new nose, lose weight, gain weight, or visit a monk and get your soul cleansed. But these methods all involve time, money, or delayed gratification. You want to look prettier NOW, and for FREE, dammit! Well, that may be a tad unrealistic, but there is a way to improve your general appearance in a couple of minutes and at a relatively low cost: improve the way you slap on that makeup.

With powder puff in hand, we're here to guide you through the sometimes glamorous, sometimes complicated world of makeup. We'll show you what to buy, how to put it on, and even how to take it all off when the day is done. And we've included some cool makeup tips for all you already makeup-savvy gals, too.

But before we get down to business: you should take what you're about to learn from this SYW and use it to wear makeup as an accessory, not a mask. Yes, it's corny, and we're sorry, but we just had to tell you one more time (because your mom kept bugging us): Makeup will make your face look nice, but it's inner beauty that counts the most.

Now let's do something about that heinous face of yours!

Just to make sure you don't leave the house looking like you should be part of a circus clown act, check out this video on how to apply the right amount of rouge and more.

WATCH THIS HOW-TO VIDEO

1. LEARN WHAT MAKEUP SUITS YOU BEST

Part of the fun of putting on makeup is mixing and matching various colors and shades for different looks and effects. But it's important that when you choose a color, it must suit your skin type, skin color, and eye color. If you have dark skin tones, bright red blush won't blend into your skin, no matter how hard you try to rub it in. And if you're pale, black eyeshadow won't win you any admirers - instead, people will be asking you who won the fight (or maybe they'll just think you're goth). So be realistic and keep reminding yourself that certain colors and ingredients look better in their packaging and on other people.

Now onto the nitty-gritty details of what to look for in each makeup product:

Facial makeup
Eye makeup
Lip makeup
Blush

Facial makeup

Facial makeup (concealer, foundation, and powder) was invented to make your skin look flawless. Nobody has flawless skin all the time, and if you do, we suggest that you skip this facial makeup section and click here. As for the remaining 99.99% of you, the chart below explains what kind of facial makeup you need:

Skin TypeFacial Makeup Type Dry Liquid or Cream Normal to Dry Liquid or Cream Normal to Oily Oil-free liquid or Powder Oily Oil-free liquid with a matte finish Combination Liquid, Cream, or Powder (whatever balances your face)

When picking out a facial makeup, you have no choice: you have to get the color that's closest to your own skin color. If you fail to obey this rule, you'll end up looking as if you got a really weird tan, or like a female Michael Jackson (neither of which is desirable). Don't test facial makeup on your hand or arm; apply it to your neck or face for a more accurate match. Here are the different types of facial makeup, dissected:

  • Concealer. Concealer (a.k.a. "cover stick") goes under foundation and is used for spot treatments. It's great at hiding baggy eyes, pimples, and other blemishes. It comes in liquid bottles and tubes (which are thinner and good for drier skin), and sticks and compacts (which are thicker and good for oilier skin). Choose a concealer that is slightly lighter than your regular skin color - the foundation that you apply over it will even it out.

  • Foundation. Foundation goes on all over your face to make it looks uniform and smooth. It comes in three types: liquid, cream, and powder. Make sure that your foundation is oil-based for dry skin, oil-free for oily skin, and water-based for combination skin.

  • Powder. Powder can be applied over foundation to help "set" it, but its main purpose is to help keep your face looking fresh as the day wears on. For that reason, powder usually goes in portable, easy-to-use packaging. While lots of people like loose powder, we prefer pressed powder - it's just neater and it seems to last longer.

We plan to tell you how to put all this stuff on later; feel free to skip ahead if you just can't wait.

Eye makeup

Eye makeup (eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara) is arguably the most fun type of makeup. With a quick sweep of a sponge-tipped applicator or cute little brush, you can go from girl-next-door innocent to positively trampy. Here's a handy little chart to help you figure out what colors would best suit your eye color:

  • Brown eyes: Shades of slate blue, gray, and plum will help brown eyes stand out.

  • Green eyes: Shades of pink, salmon, mauve, and brownish-pink will help green eyes look even greener.

  • Blue eyes: Shades of brown, camel, and taupe will help blue eyes appear even bluer.

Now here's a little about each eye makeup member; you'll learn about applying them in step 5 (or watch a quick video now and learn how to get that smokey eye look):

  • Eyeliner. Eyeliner belongs on the base of your lids, and its purpose is to enhance the size and shape of your eyes. Some people also like to line the bottom of their eyes, which really has a dramatic effect. Eyeliner comes in many different colors and forms, including pencil and powder (ideal for a "natural" look), and cake and liquid (for a more "dramatic" look).

  • Eyeshadow. Eyeshadow goes on each entire lid and sometimes in the space between your lids and your eyebrows. It comes in a variety of colors and also several different forms, including cream (good for dry skin), matte (good for oily skin), and pencil (good for all types of skin).

  • Mascara. Mascara only used to be available in black, but nowadays you can find it in all sorts of colors. So while black mascara was used for the sole purpose of making your eyelashes stand out without calling attention to the fact that you have mascara on, colored mascara is now used to make a bold statement. If you choose a colored mascara, we recommend that you stick to darker colors like navy blue or plum, as opposed to light blue or green. The latter is just too bizarre and unnatural for our tastes. Mascara comes in a wand with a tube; there are straight wands, and there are curved wands. The shape of the wand is a matter of preference so you have our permission to experiment with both.

Lip makeup

Experts argue over whether you should apply lipstick or lipliner first, and we've translated this to mean that you should just try it both ways and see what turns out better on you. The makeup masters all agree on this fact though: your lipstick and lipliner should match and blend together. NEVER apply a liner that's darker to your lipstick in an effort to make the liner stand out. That was an awful, awful '90s fad, and everyone was glad to see it pass. More about applying lip makeup in step 6.

  • Lipstick. Even girls who don't usually wear makeup have been known to slap on some lipstick from time to time. There's gloss lipstick (which comes in a little pot or tube with a wand), and frost, matte, and cream lipsticks (which come in the famous lipstick stick). Try out all the different kinds of lipsticks to find out the ones you are most comfortable wearing (they are all quite different in texture). If you don't have any money, buy a cherry popsicle and give it a suck before going out the door (if you like that "6-year-old returning from camp" look).

  • Lipliner. Lipliner goes around the perimeter of your lips and is used to define them and keep lipstick in place. (Lipstick clings to the lipliner and is therefore less likely to rub off or "bleed"). Lipliners typically come in pencil form.

Blush

Blush should go on after all of your other makeup because it is the final touch and should match the rest of your makeup, not vice versa. Choose a blush color that resembles the color on your cheeks after you've exercised. Anything darker than that will look fake. Blush is the one thing you should not have to blend, because if you do, it means it's too bright for your skin. Blush comes in powder and gel/cream forms. Powder is easiest for beginners to use because it's easy to brush on and it doesn't get streaky. Gel or cream makes good daywear because it gives off a fresh and dewy look. Learn more about applying blush in step 6.

2. BUY SOME MAKEUP

Here's the thing about shopping for makeup: all the colors and choices that exist out there will tempt you and you will want to buy them all if you are, indeed, a girl. But makeup is not a cheap accessory. Buy only one or two lipsticks, eyeliners, (or any type of makeup) in one trip, and don't make more than one trip per month. You really won't need more than that, even if you're Ru Paul.

Online makeup shopping

An alternative to making that excruciating trip down to your local drugstore (where they've probably run out of the good stuff anyway) is to visit online makeup stores. The thing about online makeup stores is that you have no way of knowing if the product you see on your screen will actually look good on your skin. But if there's a product you can't go wrong with (or you already know you like), online stores often boast sweet discounts and better-stocked shelves. Nevertheless, you should always look into the company's return policy before making your purchase.

Here are some stores to visit:

If you already know what brand you like and want to just stick with it, here are the sites for some of the most popular ones:

Almay
Anna Sui
Avon
Bobbi Brown
Clinique
Cover Girl
Estee Lauder
Elizabeth Arden
Iman Beauty(good for dark skin tones)
Lancôme
L'Oreal
M.A.C.
Maybelline
Origins
Philosophy
Revlon
Shiseido (good for Asian eyes/skin tones)
Smashbox

And if you've foolishly decided not to heed our advice on limiting your makeup purchases, at least visit this site to compare makeup prices.

One last (admittedly preachy) note: Even if you're not an animal lover, take a look at the PETA homepage to make sure your brand of choice doesn't participate in animal testing. No human beautification process is worth the suffering of our furry friends.

3. PREPARE YOUR FACE FOR APPLICATION

Before we move on to the actual application process…

Cleanse and moisturize your face.
(Don't skip this step OR ELSE!)

If you apply makeup without making sure that your skin is clean and smooth first, two things will happen:

  1. The makeup will trap nasty, oily dirt against your skin and you'll break out. Not attractive.

  2. Depending on your skin type, the oil or flakes on your skin will cause your makeup to run or flake off soon after you put it on. Again, not attractive.

Bottom line: wash and moisturize your face before you apply makeup. To find out what type of cleanser is best for your type of skin, click here. After you're done washing, click here to learn how to moisturize properly. Better yet, read our entire article on skin care, "SYW improve your complexion?" Your skin will thank you for it (as will our Webmaster).

Makeup secrets!

There are two secrets to smooth and natural-looking makeup that we shall now divulge to you because we suck at keeping secrets:

  • Blend. If the makeup you put on looks as if it was put on, you're in trouble. So you must blend, blend, and blend some more to achieve an unforced color or effect. Even dark makeup like navy eyeshadow can look completely natural if you blend it along your eye or into your other eye makeup well enough.

  • Match the colors. When it comes to colors, all the makeup you have on your face at the same time should match. That means that earthy shades should go together and pastel-y shades should go together. So don't try to match lavender eyeshadow with jungle green lipstick because it doesn't. (In fact, don't ever put on jungle green lipstick, unless your main goal is to rebel against your parents.)

Okay, the time has come to take a step towards a more glamorous new you! It's up to you to decide if you want to use one, two, or all of the following types of makeup, but make sure you adhere to the order in which the following types of makeup are presented. Applying the foundation after you've put on blush will simply not look right… in fact, people will run from you screaming.

4. APPLY FACIAL MAKEUP

When applying facial makeup, remember to go in order and to go slow. After all, it's easier to put more on than it is to take some off. So put a little on, check how it looks, put a little more on, check, and so forth.

Concealer

  1. Apply small dots of concealer at a time.

  2. Touch the concealer directly onto the blemish and blend well at the edges. Don't apply more than two coats of concealer at a time, or it will look obvious that you're trying to hide a blazing zit. Foundation should further hide the blemish.

Foundation

  1. For liquid foundation, you will need disposable cosmetic sponges and cotton swabs.

  2. Dip a cotton swab into the bottle once and hold it over the bottle top to let the excess drain off. Then use the coated cotton swab like a crayon to draw a thin line across your forehead, down the center of your nose, across each cheek in a zigzag pattern, and across your chin. Dab a smidgen of foundation on your eyelids.

  3. With a sponge in hand, smooth each line towards your hairline to gently blend the foundation into your skin. Make sure you get some on your jawline and neck, so it won't appear as if you have a mask on.

  4. With cream or powder foundation, use the puff or sponge that comes with it and gently smooth the makeup over your skin (including your jawline and neck) in even strokes towards your hairline.

  5. Don't apply more than two layers of foundation at once (or don't blame us if you "melt" as the day goes on).

Powder

  1. After you put on foundation, lightly apply powder over your face to set it.

  2. Carry a small powder compact with you during the day for shine emergencies, to touch up on your makeup, and to extract yourself from boring party conversations with the ever plausible, "Excuse me - I need to go powder my nose."

5. APPLY EYE MAKEUP

Eyeshadow

  1. Decide ahead if you want to use one, two, or three different eyeshadow colors at once. The colors should get progressively lighter as they are stacked above your eyes.

  2. Choose a primary color (the color you want to stand out the most) and use short strokes to cover your whole eyelid. Apply just enough pressure to lay the color down without caking it onto your lids. Be especially careful not get too close to the crease or your eyebrows.

  3. Sparingly apply a lighter eyeshadow color above your primary color and below your eyebrow. You should be able to cover the entire area in one sweep.

  4. To give your eyes a "smoky" look, choose a dark blue, gray, or black eyeshadow and brush it around the outer corners of your eyes and blend it into your primary eyeliner. Don't stray further than a quarter inch away from your eyes.

Eyeliner

  1. Draw a thin line as close to the base of your eyelids as possible. Start at the inside corner of your eye and work your way out.

  2. If you're not comfortable with drawing one long line all at once, do it in short strokes.

  3. Experiment with lining the bottom of your eyes the same way for a more dramatic look. When lining your bottom lids, go in the opposite direction: start at the outside corner, and work your way in.

Mascara

  1. You might want to consider investing in an eyelash curler and an eyelash comb to help your lashes look their best with the mascara. Never curl your eyelashes after applying mascara or your lashes will stick to the pad on the curler and get yanked out.

  2. Don't pump the mascara wand into the container because it'll push air into the container and dry the mascara out faster. Simply insert the wand, turn it a couple of times and pull it out, nice and civil.

  3. Put the mascara on by running the brush along your lashes - away from your face - in a quick, even stroke. Resist the urge to apply more than two coats, and let the mascara dry between coats to help lashes look thicker.

  4. After applying the mascara, use an eyelash comb to get out icky little clumps and to separate your lashes. You shouldn't, however, have a lot of problems with clumping or sticking if you're applying less than two coats.

6. APPLY LIPSTICK, EYELINER, AND BLUSH

Lipstick and lipliner

We're clumping these two lessons together because lipstick and lipliner are codependent.

  1. Condition your lips with lip balm (avoid chapstick and other waxy substances) and let it fully absorb before applying color on your lips.

  2. Now you can choose to either apply the liner along the natural shape of your lips first, then fill in the rest of your lips with lipstick, or applying the lipstick first, then topping it off with liner. If you have a problem with getting the liner to blend with the lipstick, apply the lipstick first.

  3. When lining your lips, start at one corner of your lower lip and work your way towards the center. Use short, even strokes and never line directly onto your skin - always have the line touching the edge of your lips. Then line your top lip, concentrating on the small arches at the center of your upper lip, making sure they're defined but not too pointy and freaky-looking.

  4. Use a lip brush or your pinky finger to blend lipstick and lipliner together. You should not be able to pinpoint where the two connect. Blending will also help keep the color on your lips longer.

  5. "Blot" your lips by lightly clamping them down on tissue and releasing immediately.

  6. Another tip to keep you from "eating" all your lipstick is alternately applying color and blotting it. This will create layers of color. (But don't apply more than three layers or your lips will look frighteningly thick.)

Blush

Never forget the purpose of applying blush; many women mess up on blush application because they think that redder is better - not so. Redder actually means faker, and the point of putting on blush is to look as if you are blushing, not like you're wearing blush. So always aim for a healthy, vibrant glow, not clown cheeks. If you have a hard time telling the two apart, consult a friend before making a public appearance.

  1. Powder blush generally comes in small compact cases with little brushes. We recommend that you invest in a large and poofy brush with bristles at least an inch long. The effect is a more natural look.

  2. With blush application, you have two options: daywear and nightwear. Daywear looks more natural, and you would apply the blush directly on the "apples" of your cheeks (that's the balled up part of your cheeks when you give a big, cheesy smile). Nightwear is more dramatic, and it requires sweeping the blush along the bottom of your apples, towards your temples.

  3. With both powder and gel/cream blush, one thin layer is usually enough. (Remember: clowns frighten people.) At night, you have our permission to apply a second (very thin) layer for a more dramatic look. No more than that!

  4. Here's a fun tip: for subtly sparkly cheeks, swipe a thin layer of shiny powdered pink eyeshadow over your powder blush. (Don't try this with gel/cream blush or it will come out streaky.)

7. REMOVE THE MAKEUP

It's tempting to just come home and zonk out on the couch, but we're warning you: don't ever go to bed without taking off all your makeup first. You'll be sorry when you wake up to discover a smeared and pimply version of the goddess you were the night before (and a smeared couch).

Besides, removing makeup is quick and easy. Here's how to do a thorough job of it:

  1. Get all your hair out of your face with a headband or ponytail holder (we are morally opposed to the word "scrunchee").

  2. Start by removing your eye makeup with a cotton ball that's been moistened with eye makeup remover formula. Rub each eyelid gently until all the color is gone. Don't use regular makeup remover on your eyes because it might be too harsh. Similarly, don't use eye makeup remover on the rest of your skin because it might cause you to break out.

  3. Splash your face with lukewarm water and lather on a facial cleanser that's meant to remove makeup. Concentrate on areas where you had makeup on, and add water if necessary.

  4. Spend at least a minute lathering the facial cleanser on your skin before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Then pat your face dry and apply a moisturizer.

After that, go to bed, get some rest, wake up, and start the whole damn thing all over again. And while you're going through the motions, don't forget to smile cutely and sing an upbeat rendition of "I Enjoy Being a Girl!"