I'm a newbie and decided to just jump right in with my before/afters. I cheated just a bit since I don't have any of the AL eyeshadows yet so I used my own. The first pic is me sans makeup of any kind (and hair not done), the second pic is just Voile 2yl, the third pic is Voile 2yl plus Corset rouge, and the last pic is Voile 2yl, Corset rouge, tried Verve rouge combined w/ lip balm on my lips (the effect is a little pale for my taste), and my own eyeshadow (champagne tone from lashes to brow and taupe brown in the crease and vee). This is my pretty much my everyday look, including how I wear my hair. P.S. The photos were taken in filtered natural sunlight and it washed me out just a bit.

You are so beautiful! I love, love, love your blond hair!

What did you use to curl your hair?

Very nice I hope I am this gorgeous at 41!

You are gorgeous! Before and after! In the after pic you remind me of one of the James Bond gals, don't remember which one. Maybe Barbara Bach. Love your eyes and lashes too.

Loida

you are gorgeous! that hair! those eyes!

if you like lip balm but want a little more color, try the color cremes. they are great for quickness and easiness (great for moms!),moisturising, and sheer color.

You are stunning without a speck of makeup, and gorgeous with it! I'm glad you are here, and so brave, too!

-b.

Gorgeous!!

That's quite a stunning everyday look!

You look like a model! You sort of remind me of Ellen K. She's a DJ in Los Angeles who used to be on the morning show with Rick Dees. I think she's still on KIIS FM with Ryan Seacrest weekday mornings. I love 2yl on you! Looks like you and I have extremely similar coloring so that makes me feel better about using 2yl! Also, I wish I could get my hair to be long and have curls like that, too. How do you do it?

holy smokes! you're so pretty!

Those are really nice pics! I love how your makeup just subtly enhances your features and doesn't overpower. Gorgeous! Thanks for posting.

You are gorgeous with and without makeup and your final look is STUNNING!! I love your hair!

Just beautiful!!! Welcome to the family!

First, I want to thank you all for your generous compliments. Whenever I need an ego boost, I know where to come.

Melissa: I have very wavy hair so first I blow dry it (see before pics), then I use a 1" barrel shiny metal curling iron (Conair from Target) and curl it all over. I just pick out little sections with my fingers and curl them with the iron held vertically -- no exact science to it. Then I finger-comb it, spray it and voila! It really doesn't take very long. My entire get ready routine takes only 1 hour (shower, make-up, hair, dressed).

Bridget: Thank you for the "stunning without makeup" comment. Your $20 is in the mail.

P.S. I couldn't stand looking at myself that closeup anymore so I reduced the size of the photos I posted. I was actually a little disappointed that the lighting wasn't better for the pics. I was hoping the first before pic would show more of my flaws (redness, spots, etc.) and not just how tired I look without makeup so you could see the big difference in my skin tone. Well, I'll just have to post more pics in the future of different products that I try. I'll experiment with lighting while I am it.

Hugs to you all for making me feel so good!

Hi & welcome! You're beautiful! Aaaaaamazing hair, oh my goodness, you should be a hair model! You could definitely get away with no makeup! You look glamorous in your afters. I love Corset on you. Thanks for sharing your b/a with us. See you around.

Kittcat: I Googled Ellen K. and found a pic of her from 2004. You're right, our hair is very similar.

Ellen K. hairdo from 2004

Did you see my earlier reply about how I get it to look like that? It's a very easy tousled look. You could totally do it even if your hair is shorter. In 2006, mine was just above my shoulders and I styled it the same way. Kind of like Cristina Applegate in "Samantha Who?".

Samantha Who? Hairdo

Take care and thanks again for the lovely compliments.

Thanks, girl1der! I will try to do my hair like that. It's really fine, and sometimes doesn't hold the curl as long as I want it to. I will take small sections and hold the iron vertically. I think my mistake has been taking too large of a section (because I'm impatient) and also, not holding the iron vertically.
Thanks for the links!

Great before and after photos. Thanks for sharing and joining us. You are a beauty! Before and after!

Lovely photos and thanks for the transitional shots as well as your before and after. You have great face structure and lovely skin -- and AL just enhances that. It's definitely a you-but-better look!!!

I love your hair,too -- but I just cut mine all off, so it may be a decade or so before it gets long enough to try that look....if I grow it back...