Decide which colors are likely to be the most flattering with your eye, skin, and hair colors and look for single shadows or even palettes within that color family. You’ll want to make sure you have a variety of finishes unless you’re planning to wear all satin or matte finishes. Frosty, shimmery colors have their place and look great on the lid, inner corner, and sometimes even the brow bone, but colors low on shimmer are best for the crease and lash line. If you're buying a palette, a dark shade you can use as a liner with an angled brush wouldn’t hurt, either, but it’s not necessary. Liner choice will depend on your skill level. Shadow is great for beginners, but pencils are easy to manage. The gel is the next step up (with a thin angled or tapered brush), and liquid is the most challenging. As far as liner color goes, keep it simple with brown, charcoal grey, or black at first. From there, you can find liners that offer contrast against your eyeliner or complement the shadow palette you’re using. Kohls and gel pencils will glide the most easily across the skin, minimizing the tugging you may get with some pencils. Mascara will take some trial and error because different brushes work for different people. Black is a safe choice, but if you think that’s too dramatic for your coloring and/or comfort levels (for example, a fair-skinned redhead new to makeup), brown or auburn will work well. Choose a washable formula instead of a waterproof one unless you really need waterproof because it'll be easier to remove and more gentle on your lashes. Mascara has to be replaced every three to six months, so there will always be an opportunity to try something new.