Try to work out if you're cool toned or warm toned - look at whether you suit gold (warm) vs silver(cool) or whether your veins are more bluey/purple (cool) vs green (warm)
This has quite a bit impact in whether foundation looks nicely groomed or tango tess, and the counter girls sometimes get it very wrong! I'm very pale and cool and I've had way too many oompa loompa moments!!
If you've got dark under eyes I'd look at a colour corrector - probably a peach toned one. I've got a good palette from Stila (available on Beauty Bay) which has several shades, other good ones are this by Urban decay in peach and Becca do one too. You'll also want a good concealer for afterwards, best I've found for pale skin are Nars Radiant Creamy (I use Vanilla) and Urban Decay Naked Concealer.
Blusher I think is really important to get right for a polished look, especially if you're pale as once you add foundation you can easily go to full on ghost mode. Nars tend to do some nice ones ( I like Desire), as do MAC who have a great shade range.
Foundation - it doesn't sound like you need very heavy coverage, although if you are wearing it for work you'll need it to last fairly well. Without going to mega heavy coverage one of my favourite foundations is Lancome Tient Idole 24hr, comes in a good range of shades and lasts very well without being heavy, and seems to be good for lots of skin tones. I'd also recommend getting a good setting spray - like Urban Decay all nighter - to help keep your make up in place as nothing looks less polished than your makeup skidding down your face by mid afternoon!
Eyeshadows - I probably would look at a Naked palette as they're great for a glossy look. I don't have the new matte one but I have the others (yes all of them, oops). I'd say Naked 1 if you are warm toned, Naked 2 if you are cool toned - Naked 3 is rose golds, beautiful but more subtle bridal, and the Smokey palette is lovely but a bit heavier. Another lovely option (online only) is the Anastasia Beverley Hills Modern Renaissance palette. It looks like some interesting colours but it's incredibly flattering and easy to apply.
You want a good mascara which doesn't budge...I like Estee Lauder Doublewear, MAC False Lash and the new Clinique variable one (name escapes me but you can click the lid to get different intensities).
Eyeliner - the easiest liquid eyeliners I've found are Clinique Pretty Easy and Urban Decay Razor Sharp.
Lipsticks - really personal choice, matte lipsticks are quite popular just now. MAC do a great range, but I'm really keen on the new Urban Decay Vice range of lipsticks.
I wouldn't worry too much about contouring and highlighting initially, it's something you can add in later as you get more confident.