Body Shop brushes are FANTASTIC. I have a full set. They rock.

What I'd recommend is going to the cheapy counter, buying the cheapest eye pencil, lipstick, eye powder, mascara, blush and face powder. Doesn't matter about the colour, but pick one you like if there's a choice. If you can get one of those really cheap all-in-one things with fifty colours in go for that. You'll be throwing this out within a week. Get a good make-up remover with this.

Next, get some glossy magazines. Old ones if you want. Go through and get FIVE different make-up looks you like.

Now go home and spend time trying to copy the look. It will go hideously wrong the first time. I try a new look every few months, copying from the TV usually. Sometimes it doesn't suit, sometimes it does. First time always looks a bit off. But keep practicing!

Within a week, you'll have a look, maybe not using all the different things (ie no face powder if you've got good skin or no blush if you have a natural one; lipliner is always a no-go for me) but you'll be able to apply make-up and know it suits you. I say within a week, maybe within a month if you're working around the children.

NOW you go for a make-up lesson. Learn what colours work. Learn a new way of applying: you'll be used to applying now so seeing what the consultant does very quickly won't be so hard to copy.

OR have a body shop at home party. Ask the consultant to go really slowly and maybe ask if you can film what she does. That way you get some of the stuff she'll use for free if your mates spend enough! Actually, I was a BSaH consultant just for the free make-up lesson day, the brushes that came in the kit and all the make-up that came with the kit: I needed some good stuff for my wedding. That was years ago so I no longer have all the make-up but I do still love the brushes.

Oh, btw, always buy less make-up than you think you need. One eye-shadow palette, one mascara etc. You can buy more but if you buy loads you chuck a load out because after about 10 years or so the powders do go off. Trust me. I had a 12-year-old blusher that really didn't do my skin any favours when I used it again!