> I'm not sure if this question is appropriate for DLV; if not, then
> please just delete it.
First of all, this forum here is indeed the correct place to ask such questions. Ask for advice and you will receive it, in abundance!
> and practice as much as I can. Fortunately, I can devote most of my
> waking hours to this endeavor.
If you're starting out from scratch learning how to do a basic face, practicing is the best thing to do. It's the only way you'll become comfortable and proficient with it.
> 1.- Does anyone really use 10-20 different types of brushes?
Some do, most don't.
2.- Is Dermablend really the best foundation to cover the beard area?
Dermablend is considered the gold standard for beard coverage. There are other similar products, but whenever the topic of beard coverage comes up, Dermablend is the one to which all other solutions are compared.
One thing I will strongly suggest is that if you're a beginner, you do NOT try such things as the "cheap red lipstick" trick until you're comfortable with such things as color correction. One issue is that it can look just fine under one kind of light, but hideous under others.
> 3.- Is eye makeup dangerous to people with eye problems? (such as a cornea
> transplant)
As long as you don't actually get it in your eye, probably not. I'm not a MD, so my advice on this topic is strictly peer to peer here.
I do know that sharing eye makeup and tools (brushes, eye pencils, etc.) with others is a common way to spread infections and result in conjunctivitis, which you definitely don't want!
> Any advice regarding these questions and a million or so others I haven't
> asked would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any other specific questions, please ask.
Let me go a bit further here. I'm gonna recommend a book for you. (Books, those things we used to read before the web.)
A book titled _Making_Faces_ by the late Kevin Aucoin. Most any library or bookstore should have it. It's the standard reference for both stage and street makeup. It even covers some cross-gender topics.
During DLV there will be many opportunities to visit various firms which specialize in cosmetics and are TG-Friendly, both TG-specific specialty shops and "civilian" shops which value our business.
If you need advice or products in advance of DLV, there are many vendors on our Big List which will welcome your business:
http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/vendors/Hope this helps.