DEAR ABBY: I am 26 years old and, aside from my wedding day, I have never worn makeup. Several people have told me that "every woman needs makeup." I have pretty good skin, so I just brush them off and continue going without.
Lately, however, I have noticed that my cheeks and forehead are a bit more red than the rest of my face, and I would like to try some foundation or something to help even out my complexion. I'm not looking to go from zero to 60; I just want to start with the basics. I'm just not sure where to start.
I am wary of beauty consultants who will try to sell me overpriced stuff that I don't need. Also, I am afraid my husband, who has been fine with my "au naturel" appearance, will wonder why I'm all of a sudden interested in makeup. We have a great marriage, but he has mentioned in the past how glad he is that I don't wear makeup because it is messy and time-consuming. Can you give me some advice? -- MAKEUP-CHALLENGED IN TEXAS
DEAR MAKEUP-CHALLENGED: I'll gladly share some important beauty advice with you. It's something I learned in my 20s.
When it comes to your skin, your best friend is a good dermatologist. He or she can determine whether this change in your complexion is "cosmetic" or a symptom of an underlying medical problem. It could be something as simple as an allergy to the soap you are using, but you need to find out what is causing the irritation rather than trying to cover it up.