• Get the Makeup Essentials

• Complement Your Complexion

• Keep Makeup Fresh

• Use the Right Cosmetic Tools

• Find Makeup on eBay

• Buy Makeup With Confidence

Get the Makeup Essentials

Get the Makeup Essentials

Whether you want a natural look or dramatic flair, there are certain makeup or cosmetic products every woman should have in her makeup bag.

• Foundation: Create a smooth, even surface with foundation before you apply makeup.

• Concealer: Cover dark circles under the eyes or blemishes on the face with concealer.

• Powder: Set your makeup, make it last longer, and cut down on shine with face powder.

• Blush: Accentuate bone structure and brighten up any complexion with blush.

• Bronzer: Give a sun-kissed glow by using bronzer without exposure to harmful sun rays.

• Lip liner: Prime your lips with lip liner to keep lipstick on longer.

• Lipstick: Accent your mouth with a matte, satin, or glossy finished lipstick.

• Eyeliner: Define and enlarge the appearance of your eyes using an eyeliner pencil. Use liquid eyeliner for a more dramatic effect—day or night.

• Eye shadow: Create different looks for night and day with different eye shadow colors and shades.

• Mascara: Combine mascara with other eye makeup for striking effect, or to wear alone for more subtle results.

Complement Your Complexion

Complement Your Complexion

Choosing the right makeup for you has everything to do with your age, skin type, and complexion. And while the choices can be daunting, there are a few simple guidelines you can follow.

• Teen: The best teen look is fresh, pretty, and clean. Pinpoint your best feature—your skin, lips, or eyes—and use makeup to emphasize it. The rule of thumb for teens is that you should stand out, not your makeup.

• African American: Darker skin has many complex undertones. That’s why you should get to know your skin and its specific undertones and choose shades that complement your natural color.

• Asian: Yellow-based foundations and powders work especially well for Asian skin. Avoid pink-based foundations and powders to prevent a harsh, unnatural look.

• Hispanic: Wear shades that enhance your natural, striking dark tones. Avoid bright shades that may clash with your coloring.

• Mature: While many women tend to wear more makeup as they get older, that strategy can backfire. Simplifying your makeup and coordinating with your natural tones will give you a healthier, younger appearance.

Keep Makeup Fresh

Keep Makeup Fresh

Believe it or not, your makeup has a shelf life. Makeup that's gone bad lets you know it: the color, consistency, and, most importantly, the smell changes. Using cosmetics that have expired can irritate skin, even causing breakouts or infections. And an expired product won't perform as when you first bought it.

Here's how to know when it’s time for something new:

• Foundation: Liquid formulations typically last three to six months. Powders should last a year. Not sure of when you bought your liquid foundation? One indicator that it's gone bad is an offensive smell. You’ll also see an uneven or chunky consistency.    

• Concealer: Because it's exposed to the air and bacteria, replace concealer every three to six months.

• Blush: Powders last longer than creams. Washing your blush brush often will keep the powder fresh longer. But always check for unpleasant smells or unusual consistency.

• Lipstick: Like foundation, even your favorite tube of lipstick will begin to smell when its time has come.

• Lip gloss: If you use your fingertips to apply it, toss it after six months. A lip gloss that’s applied with a wand, however, can last upwards of a year.

• Lip liner: Every time you sharpen a lip liner pencil, you’re cleaning it. So if you’re sharpening it often, a lip liner can last indefinitely.

• Mascara: You should replace your mascara most often—every three months. Why? Of all makeup products, mascara is the most prone to microbial growth. Not only can expired mascara lead to an eye infection, it also can dry out your lashes.

• Eye shadow: If it starts to break up, it's time for a replacement. But no matter what, you should toss eye shadow after six months because eyes are more vulnerable to bacteria.

• Eyeliner: Replace liquid eyeliners every three to four months. If your liner is a pencil, sharpen and replace it every six months to a year.

• Eyebrow pencils: Sharpen eyebrow pencils frequently and follow the same guidelines as with a lip liner pencil.

Use the Right Cosmetic Tools

Use the Right Cosmetic Tools

Good-quality makeup is an investment. To make the most of it, you’ll need a basic set of cosmetic tools and accessories to help you apply—and remove—your makeup.

• Blush brush: Choose a large, fluffy brush for blush and powder. Be sure to wash it often to extend the life of your blush and brush alike.

• Eye shadow brush: Used for applying color to lids and brows, you can also use it to apply a little extra color to the lash line. Look for a brush with stiff bristles.

• Eye crease brush: Choose a narrow brush for best results. If you have heavy lids, this brush will give the illusion of larger eyes.

• Lip brush: Most makeup artists agree that this is the best way to apply lipstick. Not only does the lip brush pick up less color than if applying lipstick straight from the tube, it also makes the color last longer.

• Eyelash curler: Before you apply mascara, use an eyelash curler to define and curl your lashes.

• Makeup mirror: A good makeup mirror can help you see details you’ve never seen before. Look for one that has high-strength magnification (7X) to enable you to apply makeup and tweeze brows with ease. Some mirrors are also lighted, or have adjustable light settings.

• Makeup remover: A regular skin cleanser is not appropriate for removing makeup. Instead, choose a makeup remover that lifts face makeup, eye makeup, and oil right off your skin, but without irritating or drying it out.

• Aluminum makeup artist case: To keep your new makeup and brushes orderly, consider an artist case.

Find Makeup on eBay

Find Makeup on eBay

Once you know what type of makeup you want, go to the Health & Beauty portal, click Makeup, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories:The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Foundation, Blush, Eye Shadow, Mascara, Lipstick, and more. As you dig deeper into the site, you'll also be able to narrow down your choice by brand.

• Keyword search: Search eBay title listings for specific words. For example, if you want to find lip liner pencil, type "lip liner pencil" (without the quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping at an eBay Store, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Makeup With Confidence

Buy Makeup With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.