Until recently, I hadn't worn makeup in almost 20 years. I stopped cold turkey in college when my boyfriend told me he thought I looked better without it.

Them was marryin' words.

I was happy to see the end of the dent cosmetics made in my budget, and after that I spent the next two decades makeup-free, except for the occasional coat of lip balm in the winter.

But here I am on the verge of 40, with a houseful of kids and a whole bunch of laugh lines. Not long ago I went looking for a good facial sunblock, regretting the years I ignored that important element of skin care. That search led me to a slew of beauty sites including this one, and before I knew it, I found myself strolling the aisles of Sephora, testing shades of eyeshadow and remembering how much FUN makeup can be. Hubby still says he thinks I'm prettier without it, but I say a little bit of color can't hurt.

My Mother's Day present to me was a selection of lip glosses, a to-die-for Stila Cherry Crush Lip and Cheek Stain, some smoky eyeliner, and a tube of mascara. It's a beginning. I spent my twenties and thirties with babies on my hip and mashed banana on my shoulder, and I have loved every minute of these chaotic, tumultuous, crazy-making years, years when I was too busy to think past the next diaper change. But now the kids are getting bigger, and it's time to polish myself up a little bit. I plan to head into my forties looking fabulous.