New To Make Up. Need Your Help!

[Stephy]

Hey there!

I'm not totally new to make up but new to all the techniques and brands. I've been wearing some stuff (I say stuff because I can't remember brand name) from Walmart. I would like to start buying MAC products. I'd love to know what you girls reccomend and even some color choices I should go with. I'm thinking of doing a one stop shop at the MAC near work and would like to start off with some good products, some must haves. Here are some questions:

What tools (brushes, sharpeners, curlers) do I need right away?
Can you list the products I will need, from foundation to mascara.
What colors for eye shadow, foundation, eye liner, and lipsticks would you reccomend?

Here is a picture of me:

It's not a good picture but here are some basics:
brown hair, bluey green eyes, very fair complexion, chubby face (would like colors/techniques to 'thin' my face).

What tips do you give someone that is 'starting out'?

I should add that I will go up to 200 dollars in price range

 

[mitsukai]

as for foundation, im looovin' studio fix fluid. im pale too and i got nc15, but im tanning a bit so maybe an nw shade. foundation is really tricky, so i'd say go to a MAC counter and have them test you and try a few shades. get samples, wear them around. you can do them w/ sponges, brushes, etc. the MAs will also have good suggestions re: brushes. i love the 239 and 217, the 224 is really popular too (eyeshadow brushes). 187 and 190 seem to be the most popular foundation brushes.

i think you kind of look like me - i have super chubby cheeks and a small chin too hahaha and same complexion/hair/eyes. i love greens like juxt, shimmermoss, turquoisey colors.. also browny bronzes.. woodwinked, antiqued, bronze, maybe coppering? idk about coppering. ive found for my green/blue eyes that i look super hot in green/turquoise or bronze/gold. pinks are good too but a lot of purples make me look like i got punched. i have some pics up at www.crypticblue.net/makeup so you can see what i mean

for lips.. i LOVE pinks. i have really dark lips naturally.. lovelorn is amazing on me.. lustering is LE i believe but i <3 it. purples dont work on me, corals/peaches do as long as they arent too orange. reds are hit and miss - dubonnet is gorgeous tho. bronze lips are fab as well - try O? i like the chromeglasses too, for lips like mine, give it some shine

i generally don't wear a lot of black eyeliner and i wouldnt suggest it for you either but thats just my own two cents, a lot of ppl will tell you black e/l is a staple for every look.

mascara is tough, you just gotta go trial and error

i love maybelline mascaras, but ive never tried the MAC ones so no comment there.

 

[Stephy]

Thank you so much for the awsome tips.

I was told to go with purples... but I can totally understand how this would give a 'punched in the eye' looked if done wrong or over board. That'll most likely be a trial and error thing

I've always gone with bronze colors as well and so I hope to get a good quad of such that I can blend and make unique to me. I was just hoping I was choosing the right colors! Thanks for the reasurance.

I've always done black e/l hms. Do you suggest a different color? I've been told a brown would be better... or just none at all?