Wearing makeup is a personal decision and is hardly a mandate or the only way for women to look attractive. Nonetheless, applying makeup can be about looking and feeling more beautiful—and it can be exciting and fun. When done right, it can also express a great deal of personal power and elan. Whatever your choice, if you do want to wear makeup, applying it deftly can make the difference between looking attractive instead of strange, out of place, or sloppy.
Throughout this chapter, I try to guide you through the maze of options and help you create a beautiful makeup look for yourself that feels comfortable and fits like a glove. Although fashion statements can be taken to extremes—from following the whims of everything the fashion magazines portray or that your favorite celebrity decides to do, to holding on to looks that are long gone—ignoring fashion is a mistake. Finding your own balance between fashion, comfort, and personal style is the most logical and beautiful choice.