Don't take anything in them as gospel - in fact, you'll need to ignore most of what's written there - but it helps just to get exposed to the ideas. Think of it like learning a foreign language - the more time you spend hanging around, rubbing elbows with foreigners, the better your skills will get, even without you really noticing it.
Most of all, just do it, and have fun!

Details on my makeup (may or may not be helpful to you): I always use undereye concealer (otherwise I have blue zones under my eyes), eyeliner (brown or plum), mascara (black), blush, lipliner and lipstick (various shades). Sometimes I use foundation, sometimes not. Foundation is one thing where it's always worthwhile to buy at a department store so you can check the shade - if it isn't just perfect for your skin color, it's awful. Sometimes I wax or pluck my moustache - everyone says this is supposed to be horribly painful, but it isn't to me. I don't have too much facial hair anyway, although it gets worse every year (woe is me)! A tiny bit of blush on my moustache area sometimes helps, too - cancels out that bluish undertone that comes from (evil icky) hair follicles under the skin.

What can you tell me about hormones?
Putting on a dress made me an endocrinologist? I think not. If you saw how I struggled with the Krebs citric acid cycle in biochem, you'd find someone else to ask.
Speaking of someone else - may I suggest the charming Andrea?

What about herbal hormones?
You're asking a professional chemical engineer. If I knew about any plant substance with truly worthwhile hormonal effects, I'd build a factory and sell you the stuff.