Oh, how we loved finger-painting when we were children. Luckily for us women, we can still play with paints, only now we use lovely brushes and we call our paints cosmetics.

Sound silly? Not at all. You are a work of art to begin with, a woman of beauty and confidence. Cosmetics are merely a tool that works to enhance the outer look of your inner beauty and intelligence.

Skin is the easiest way to tell if we’re healthy, and the quickest way to judge our age if we don’t take care of it. For instance, did you know that skin renews its outer layer every 30 days? Plus it keeps our “insides” inside and protects our “outside” from bacteria. These are more reasons why it pays to be careful in choosing your cosmetics.

Start by learning your skin type - normal, dry, oily or combination. Then set up a daily routine of cleansing, toning and moisturizing your skin. It may seem like a lot of work, but it actually only takes five minutes twice a day. Do this routine faithfully twice a day and there will a healthy “canvas” for your cosmetic art.

Just as an artists often coats a canvas with a base color, your next cosmetic choice should be a good foundation. Don’t cut corners on your foundation; you and your skin may regret it later. To choose the correct foundation shade for your skin, dab a tiny bit inside your wrist. Skin there is likely to be closest to your facial skin tone. Don’t put the sample on the back of your hand; it’s usually much more tanned than your face, so it could trick you into choosing a foundation that’s took dark.

Selecting the right shade of foundation makes most women, even experienced cosmetics buyers, anxious. That’s because shades can vary from brand to brand, and skin tone changes, depending on how much sun you’ve hand lately and whether you’re in good health.

Many beauty consultants advise women to choose cosmetics that complement with your tone and hair color. Fair-skinned blondes look good in neutrals and pastels, while “California girls” with their sun-bleached hair and deep tans can go for deeper tones. Dark-haired women with fair skin can look terrific in dramatic cosmetics (think Catherine Zeta-Jones, for instance). Women with dark skin and hair are stunning when they use cosmetics to bring out highlights.

You can choose cosmetics to match the colors of your wardrobe, or you can follow the latest fashion each season. Whatever your color choices might be, always buy the best cosmetics you can afford. You and your skin are worth it!

Cosmetics have been used by women - and men, for that matter - for thousands of years to enhance our natural beauty. How lucky we are to live in an age when we can use cosmetic products that will enhance our skin’s health as well as make us beautiful.

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