by Wendy Brock

Created on: June 26, 2008

Applying make-up for the first time can be nerve wrecking. No one wants to end up looking like a clown. And no one wants to look like a small child who played in mommy's make-up. Wearing beautifully applied make-up that accents your natural beauty is an artform, but is easily learned through practice.

It's not a great idea to purchase every type of make-up product if you've never used any before. Begin with one item, practice applying it until you are comfortable using it, then add another cosmetic to your beauty regimen.

Start with mascara. Browse the inexpensive brands. It's not necessary to spend a lot of money, especially for a novice. Choosing the correct color is very important. Only purchase black mascara if you have dark brown to black hair or when you are experienced in applying mascara. If you have blonde, red, or light brunette colored hair, purchase brown-black mascara.

When using mascara, there is one main tip to remember: never pump the applicator in the tube. Always spin the applicator brush. The pumping action creates air bubbles inside the tube and will dry out the mascara quickly.

Start with the upper lashes over your right eye. Hold the applicator wand with the brush pointing toward your nose. Start with the lashes on the inside corner of your eye. Hold the brush close to the lashes and gently push against the lashes in an upward motion while blinking once. Insert the applicator brush into the tube, spin it around, and remove.

Next, hold the brush at the middle of your lashes. Using the same upward motion with the brush, blink your lashes against the wand. Do the same for the lashes on the outer corner.

An option for creating fuller lashes is to apply mascara on the top side of the lashes. Start with the inner corner, but gently push the applicator down while lifting your eyelashes up pressing against the brush. Do the same for the middle and outer corners, also.

Applying mascara to the bottom row of lashes can be difficult and takes practice. Start by spinning the wand in the tube and holding the brush near the bottom row of lashes. Gently brush the mascara down over the lashes.

If the mascara gets on the skin, dip your ring finger in baby oil. The ring finger is the weakest finger and won't pull the skin as much as the other fingers. Use just a dab to wipe away the mistake. Use baby oil to remove mascara at the end of the day. Do not sleep in mascara. Sleeping in mascara will age the skin around the eyes and can damage your vision.

Once you're comfortable

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