I still do not really know how to buy make-up. I basically throw myself on the mercy of unattached, well-accoutered salespersons. And then I tell them my budget, and they laugh at me. But I get the *feel* of the right stuff from the free testers, and then try to by similar things in the drugs store for less money (but still more money than I would ever have thought to spend.)

Re: Clown make-up. You had white grease-paint in your make-up bag. I know this, because you told me that it was clown make-up. I recall no pictures, but it does give the appropriate feel of the age and level of expertise I had with make-up.