If you work in an office, chances are you spend more hours there than almost anywhere else. How you look can affect your career as well as how you feel.

Your makeup should always be dictated by three things:

1. What kind of light you will be seen in (is your office located deep inside four walls with few or no windows, or do you sit in a storefront with bright sun?);
2. What impression do you want to make (do you work for a conservative employer in business or do you deal with a public that is younger and less inhibited?); and
3. What colors work well for you (this is always the bottom line. Never wear something just because it’s fashionable).

Most offices, even those with plenty of windows, rely mostly on artificial light to illuminate the workplace.

It’s important to make up in light similar to that in which you will be seen, and remember always that natural sunlight will show any mistakes in your makeup, make thick foundation look clownish and generally show every flaw (makes you appreciate your dim corner of the office a little more, doesn’t it?).

Basic rules:

* Foundation - enough to cover blemishes and even skin tone but try to keep it light and as sheer as possible. Try a concealer for noticeable blemishes or dark spots and blend foundation lightly over it. Dilute foundation with a little water or, after application, gently wipe with a damp tissue.

* Eyeliner - a must to open eyes but try to apply just between lashes to fill in and smudge a bit for an effect that is natural. Avoid thick lines and never line the bottom lid.

* Eyeshadow - neutral shades, natural shades, pinky browns, plums, greys. Avoid bright “club colors”.

* Mascara - always. Mascara is the single most important makeup in your bag.

* Lipstick - again, go with natural shades but it’s okay to add a little gloss and shine. Office environments are dry so this will also keep lips from chapping and splitting. The more subtle your eye makeup, the more color you can use on your lips and vice versa. Just don’t try to make both too colorful at the same time.

*Blush - powder, well blended in a natural shade, peach, plum or rose. I don’t recommend cream blush for a long day at the office because some will seep into pores and rub off until you have what appears to be spotty skin. If you have flawless skin, you can wear a cream blush. Generally, I don’t think blush is necessary for daytime.

As a general rule, remember that this is a professional environment. Keep your look professional too. Your makeup can be taken up a notch when you are out of the office and on the town for the evening.

Some time back I did a post on free samples available on the net and I told you that I signed up to receive some. One of the samples I received was a small (.24 oz) tube of Olay Definity.

Definity is a new product in Olay’s anti-aging line. The product is touted as being able to penetrate 10 layers of skin to fade discolorations and even out skin tones, diminish fine lines and wrinkles and make skin more “luminous”.

The cream has a lovely scent and it feels wonderful after you put it on, leaving skin feeling smooth and soft. The morning after my first application, I didn’t see any difference, except that my skin did seem more hydrated. I resolved that I would use it daily until the sample tube was gone. While I didn’t expect my face to light up or glow in the dark, I was hoping to see some difference after several days. For the next week, I carefully watched some freckle-type spots and the fine lines near the eyes and was unable to perceive any difference.

When I told a friend at work that I was trying Definity and asked if she saw any changes in my skin, she offered to give me the full-size product she had recently purchased. She had tried it and was not impressed by any difference in her skin. She also felt it was too expensive to continue to buy without seeing results. I declined her offer as I had meanwhile carefully read the product packaging and realized it says that it takes 8 weeks for you to notice your luminosity. I also read that it will make your skin “more flawless” - a strange claim, since if your skin was already flawless, it would be foolish to apply any product and risk disrupting that state.

Perhaps if I invested the 8 weeks, I would experience more results. I suspect that most women will abandon any product that doesn’t provide some results within a few days. I have read good things about this product and find that some women are experiencing the type of skin-tone changes that it claims to effect.

I believe that every woman’s skin is different and no product is for every woman. If your experience with this product is different from mine, please let me know.

Color for eyes has never been more popular. Dramatic blues, greens, purples and pinks are back in style. Eyeshadow is no longer trying to hide and blend.

L’oreal has just introduced a loose powder, luminous eye shadow that creates a shimmering, glimmering look. The powder can be applied lightly in some areas and layered in others to create dramatic color and highlights. Use more than one shade to enhance the look. Some of the shades employ a metallic shimmer. Beam is an earth shade with a hint of silver and my favorite, Limelight, combines green with gold. The colors are iridescent and all about being noticed.