I think I missed the day of middle school where everyone learned to apply makeup, because by the time I hit high school, it seemed like every girl had it down and I was totally lost. So, I pretty much stuck to liquid foundation and translucent powder my entire high school career and my first two years of college because I knew I'd end up looking like Mimi from "The Drew Carey Show" if I attempted to add color to any part of my face.

Ironically, I get this job at TotalBeauty.com, and I'm still clueless -- but surrounded by mountains of makeup and women who are like modern-day Rembrandts with it. So I screwed up the courage to ask for a makeup virgin makeover. Claire and I scavenged around the beauty closet for a handful of random products that make sense for me -- nothing too fancy or involved, no falsies or vampy eye shadow. I'm looking for the bare minimum in beauty products and some solid how-to advice for applying it. Here's the before pic -- click to see how my first makeup tutorial went.

Claire started my virgin makeup tutorial by applying Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer all over my face. This is actually one of the few makeup products I own and use. I love that it's a moisturizer with SPF, and the light tint offers good coverage but isn't heavy like a true foundation.

Makeup Virgin Lesson #1: When applying a tinted moisturizer, I should start in the center of my cheek and work outward until face is covered evenly.

This foundation definitely lives up to its name. It isn't heavy like some liquid foundations are -- I didn't even notice it was on my face.

Makeup Virgin Lesson #2: When using foundation, I should be sure to smooth it on past the jawline so the tone covers evenly.

Claire swept this over my cheekbones with a powder brush, and I learned my first new beauty word: contouring. Yes, it's a bronzing base, but Claire told me this powder actually works great over foundation to create "face contouring," which means it adds definition to my cheekbones (which means instead of looking flat like a pancake, the bronzer actually highlighted the shape and dimension of my face).

Makeup Virgin Lesson #3: If I'm afraid of overdoing it with blush, I can sweep a tiny bit of bronzer over my cheekbones for a more subtle glow.

This sheer, translucent powder added a polished glow to my face. I love translucent powder because it takes away any shine and softens any imperfections in my skin without looking cakey.

Makeup Virgin Lesson #4: Tools matter. Claire used a crazy-soft Sephora powder brush, and it was like angel wings fluttering against my face.