Novice makeup artist lays it on too thick

DEAR AMY: My girlfriend, a natural beauty, has recently started doing her makeup (and other people's makeup) as a hobby. She is 24 and really doesn't have a clear direction about what she wants to do in life, aside from raising our amazing son, who just turned 2.

She has shown some initiative in pursuing the idea of going to beauty school. The catch is . . . she is horrible at it. In recent weeks, she spends hours just caking it on. She has easily spent over $200 in the last month on new makeup. There have been nights when she spends over an hour putting on makeup in the late evening, just to take it off an hour later before bed. I have nicely hinted that she may be using a little too much. I have even flat out told her it is caked on. Other people are polite about it, but you can see them scramble for words to be nice when commenting on it. She is taking the beautiful face I fell in love with and masking it with layer upon layer of facial product. Please help me find the words to get through to her while encouraging her to get better without making a spectacle of herself.

--Makeup or Breakup

DEAR MAKEUP: Maybe your girlfriend has developed a rare cake-it-on compulsion -- or maybe she is just a young woman who is perhaps a little bored and stuck at home with a toddler, trying something new.

You should assume, kindly, that -- like an amateur musician learning to play a new instrument or someone learning woodworking -- she will improve. Be completely supportive and urge her to translate her interest into professional training. There are some amazing YouTube channels showing makeup techniques; research this and send her links.

Tell her, "You know me -- I will always think that less is more, especially with you. I want our son to see mom's natural gorgeousness. But I also understand you are practicing."