I sympathize completely—I’m a beauty editor and even I still get so overwhelmed that I want to bolt (or just sit down in a corner and weep). my advice: start with the basics. find the perfect concealer and/or foundation (perhaps the former. your skin looks pretty amazing from your profile pic) for your skintone. that’s something worth splurging on. mascara (I’d opt for drugstore for this one, since you have to switch it up every few months). a great lipstain or gloss—I like grapey plums or raspberries would be pretty on you! then, blush (Maybelline’s new Dream Bouncy Blush is foolproof and easy to apply)! that’s makeup 101 for a natural, pretty look

first of all, let me just say that anti-aging is as much about what you don’t do than what you do. as in: don’t smoke, don’t fake-bake/lay out, don’t eat junk food (too often), don’t skimp on sleep. but mostly don’t smoke and tan—those are two major, major things that will have you looking 35 when you’re just 25—eek. the dos: wash your face every night no matter how tired you are, use sunscreen generously (every day, rain or shine), incorporate a retinoid (over the counter or prescription) at least twice a week, and use serums under your moisturizer (like base coat for your skin—it just makes skin happy). you don’t have to use fancy products—but you do need to set up a regular routine—skin thrives on it

even though I use an average of nine products a night (youtube video on that ridiculousness to come), I tend to stagger “treatment” products. for instance, I’ll never scrub the same night I use Renova, or use a peel the same night I use Clarisonic. keeping skin happy and relaxed is tantamount—it’s not about blasting it with harsh ingredients or too much too often