How you look isn't just about clothing.  It's also about hygiene.  There are a few things you can do to improve your looks and give people the impression that you are fit and healthy.

• Dye or highlight your hair

• Use hair shine, curlers or a straightener for a polished look

• Whiten your teeth

• Use body shapers to plump up or hold in areas of your body that you are insecure about

• Manicure and paint your nails (yourself)

• Buy costume jewelry that adds sparkle

• Use a full-body moisturizer every day

• Wear perfume or a light spritzer

A few months ago, I decided to upgrade my makeup kit.  I had never really taken makeup seriously and I was ready to make an expensive investment to improve myself.  I was totally confused and overwhelmed with the options.  There were primers and foundations, make-up brushes with soft bristles, hard bristles, small bristles, firm bristles, lipsticks, eye concealer, pore concealer, moisturizers, and so much more.  I had no idea where to start and that made the expensive options I had to choose from all the more overwhelming.

So, I decided to start cheap so I could get a feel for the products that I really wanted to invest in.  And surprisingly, after a few weeks, I realized something very important!  The cheap stuff was actually really good.  

I learned that the expensive stuff only offered me one thing - extra time.  If you need makeup to last all day during a humid trek through the forest or a hot day at the pool - maybe even for a long celebration like a wedding - then you should invest in the expensive stuff.  But if you're like me and just want make-up to survive a workday at the office and you don't mind if it's faded by 5 o clock, then save yourself the money and learn the most important part - how to paint your face like a professional artist.

Trust me.  If you learn the techniques for applying color to your face, even the cheapest product can make you look like a beauty queen.  So, don't worry about a long drive to a specialty store or taking the time to hike through the small country of Walmart.  You can buy almost everything you need at Dollar General.  I've even snapped pictures of my favorite items and have used them in my makeup tutorial video! 

• Start with moisturized skin!

• A concealer will hide blemishes and scars but can be very 'heavy' and collect in wrinkles.  I use a special  under eye concealer specifically designed to brighten your eyes.  Retinol oisturizer and eye concealer are the only products I apply under my eyes.

• The light color under your eyes will hide wrinkles.

• A primer smooths out your skin and will minimize minor flaws.  It fills pores and wrinkles, but avoid applying it under your eyes.  I use a glowing primer, but I use it sparingly because otherwise, my face will look too shiny.

• Mix your foundation with a bit of moisturizer or use BB cream.  The creaminess will prevent cakiness that makes your face look dry.   If your face looks cakey or dry after application, you need to be applying more moisturizer.

•  The application of foundation is a personal decision and there doesn't seem to be a benefit to any technique so take your pick from your fingers, a brush or a sponge.  

• Your foundation should blend into the edges of your face, including your hairline and ears.  

• Use a dark blush along the side edges and along your jaw. This will make your face look more defined and youthful.

• Use a normal blush on your cheeks, forehead, nose and chin.  Blend this so you don't have stripes.

• Use highlight (light blush or sparkle) on your chin, above your lip, tip of your nose and your forehead.  This dab of shine will make your skin look healthy and young.

• Use a dark color above your eye lid.  I put mine on in the shape of a cat ear.  It will be dark and smudgy at first, but you'll blend later.

• Use a lighter shade along the top edge of the cat ear to start the blending process.  

• Add a light color or sparkle on the eye lid and at the very top of the cat ear, next to brow line.  The combination of light and dark will make your eyes look larger and will hide hooded eyes.

• Use a blender brush with a neutral color to blend everything together.  If you remove too much dark color, you can gently reapply some.

• Use an eyeliner pen and run along your lash line, sweeping up at the ends.  The upsweep will give your eyes an instant lift.

• Add mascara or fake lashes and you are good to go!

• Now you add some lipgloss and you're ready to go.  You can see that makeup really changes things.