With so many different types and colors of cosmetics, women sometimes have trouble discovering “the right look.”

Whether you decide to be a glamour girl or a natural look, what you put on your face is really a question of what you are in the mood for.

Makeup is not a secret form of war paint that only the incredibly sophisticated know how to wield. Makeup is fun and flirty, or it can be no-nonsense and simple, but it should always complement you.

“Makeup is an art and (your face) is a blank canvas,” said Jennifer Underwood, a makeup artist for three years. “No one can tell you your look is wrong unless your look is totally wrong.”

By totally wrong, she means too much makeup in one spot.

“You can do all the looks on all face, but the placement of the colors and the application is different,” Underwood said. “Anyone can wear any color, too.”

She suggests a glamour look or a natural look for a formal outfit. For the professional look, a woman can do a smoky eye for the after-work drink. “But you don’t want to do that for work,” she said.

Underwood likes greens and blues, orange and gold eye shadow, clear lip gloss, and maroon or red blush to give a striking contour to her cheeks.

“Anything dramatic, because I can pull it off, and I like the high fashion look,” Underwood said. She has a bronze complexion with high cheek bones.

Her suggestion to the insecure makeup wearer: “be open to anything. Anybody can wear any color based on application and placement.”

LOOKING YOUNGER
Maryanne Aanestad, spa director at Still Waters Medical Day Spa, made suggestions for looking young.

“Your skin tone and hair color will play into the look, but having more powerful colors at night like the charcoal (for the eyes), deep grapes and intense reds for the lips make you look younger at night,” Aanestad said.

However, wearing colors that shimmer will achieve that young look during the day.

“You know you are wearing too much when the makeup is creasing in the fine lines on your face, and a heavy line of make-up separates your face and neck.”

Beth Dyess is a licensed esthetician at Still Waters Medical Day Spa, and for blush, she suggested not applying directly to the apple.

“Use two colors and blend them,” she said. “The softer color goes higher on the cheekbone, and the darker color goes under the softer color. The colors should start from the temple to the middle of the cheek bone.”

For a younger look with the eye shadow, Dyess said to stay away from the sparklers.

“As the skin loosens around the eye, don’t put it on too heavy,” she said. “Put the darker color in the corner, and do not do it from the inside to the out side, as that will make your eyes pop out unnaturally.”

Heavy foundation on a more distinguished woman with fine lines is discouraged, as well.

“Heavy foundation settles into the lines and accentuates them,” Dyess said. “Softer is better.”

She gives the tip that if you are oily throughout the day, blot with a tissue or use oil blotters, but do not apply a second coat of foundation.

For the ivory complexion that reddens easily, Dyess suggests a Belladonna color corrector and then a foundation and a bronzer to warm the face.

“A woman’s best look depends on her activity or what she feels comfortable with and gives the protection of SPF," Dyess said. "Everyone should wear foundation because it protects and has SPF.”

WHAT TO WEAR?
“It is all about what I feel,” Kimberly Hillman said when asked how she decides what to wear on her face. “Sometimes I do not wear any at all.”

The ex-Seattle, Wash., makeup artist of 22 years suggests makeup uniformity with the outfit, however.

She prefers a natural look with peach and brown eye shadows, navy eye liner, lip gloss and a bronzer. Hillman has a beige complexion.

Hillman’s tip: To make a bigger eye, do a tight eyeliner close to the lid so the eyelash looks fuller, and the eye looks natural.

Myra Robinson has been teaching skincare and makeup artistry for 10 years through Mary Kay.

“The right face is whatever face you feel more confident in,” she said. “Some ladies like a lot of glamour, and others like a little or none. Take the time to find out the right face for you with a consultant.”

Robinson said that a consultant can even show a woman a personalized look during her color appointment that is for her face shape and skin tone.

Robinson compared cosmetics to icing on a cake.

“Some like the heavy, richer butter cream, or the light and whipped icing, or some don’t like any icing at all. It is all about taking care of your skin and meeting whatever demands of your skin.”

Robinson said it begins with the five essential steps.

“Cleanse, exfoliate, freshen, moist and protect your way to healthy skin, and you should not leave any of them out,’’ Robinson said.

“With an experienced consultant, you can learn proper application techniques for your skin type and face shape.”