What if No One's Watching?

This pains me to admit, but I've really started to love makeup lately.

Seriously. Almost 30 years old and finally I've come to appreciate the joy of makeup.

The trouble is that there is SO much to choose from! And such a range of price points. So it's a definite trial-by-error process deciding what I like. And not a cheap one.

In the hope that my trials and errors might help somebody else, I thought maybe I'd share what I've liked so far, as well as what hasn't worked so well.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer: ($36) This stuff is expensive, and at first seemed redundant (what, exactly, does it do?). However, it is a miracle. It takes me from looking like I have makeup on to looking like I just have really nice skin. It somehow magically fills in all the little imperfections before you put on anything else, so there is no unevenness or makeup stuck in little lines and marks. Love it.

Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener: ($18) I can't see that this does a damn thing. Fail.

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Crystal: ($18) This is really nice lip gloss. It is just the right amount of shiny, stays on, and isn't tacky or sweet tasting. It does smell kind of weird, though.

Physician's Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Tinted Moisturizer: ($12) I don't love this stuff. I do love tinted moisturizer conceptually, and this is wearable, but the color doesn't quite work for me, and it's a little greasier than I'd like. I'm going to be trying something else.

Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Face Powder: ($13) Again, not crazy about it. Same complaints as the tinted moisturizer really--not quite the right color, a little heavy.

Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Matte Finishing Veil: ($13) Hate it. Makes me look dead.

Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Blush in Pink Glow: ($12) For something that is supposed to be pink and glowy, this stuff looks awfully orange on. And it just feels heavy.

Physician's Formula Magic Cube Concealer in Light: ($6) This sort of works--it comes out liquidish and goes on powderish, which is cool--but the color is too light on me. My skin is apparently darker than I think it is.

Almay Truly Lasting Color Lipstick in Roseberry: ($8) I love the color, I love the separate gloss coat so you can choose your own level of glossiness, but I hate that it leaves my lips looking stained all day. It does stay on, but it doesn't stay nice.

Almay Hydracolor Lipstick in Dusk: ($8) I feel like this would be pretty nice lipstick in another color. However, this color is just beige. There may be someone out there on whom beige lipstick looks good, but it's sure as hell not me.

Almay Nearly Naked Touch Pad Liquid Blush in Revealing Raisin: I think has been discontinued, because I can't find it anywhere. I bought mine for $3 at Big Lots. I really like it, too, so I am going to go and get some more while they are still there. It's this very light blush you put on with your fingers. Doesn't work over or under powder, really, but it's great for when you just want a little tiny bit of color.

L'Oreal Bare Naturale Mineral Blush in Pinched Pink: ($15) I don't know if I'd like this in a different color, but I hate it in this one. It makes me look clownish. And I don't like the applicator (reminds me of a shaving brush) or the container, either. It sort of works if I put on a really, really tiny amount.

Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Concealer in Fair: ($13) Again, I may just have the wrong color, but I don't like this stuff. It's hard to blend in effectively, and once it is blended, I don't think it conceals much.

Maybelline Mineral Power Naturally Luminous Blush in Original Rose: ($9) Once again, a horrible, clown-like color. Also, "naturally luminous" apparently means "shiny." Ew.

Neutrogena Weightless Volume Wax-Free Mascara in Rich Black: ($7) This is nice mascara--really light and not annoying to have on. But it doesn't do anything miraculous to my lashes. They look better, but not as fantastic as I'd like.

That's about all I've tried so far. I'm going to be trying some more high end stuff (Nars blush, Clinique powder, Buxom lip gloss), so I'll let you know how it goes.