Make-up for Teenagers

As we all know, acne can be a big problem when you're a teenager. You break out because of dirt, oil, stress, make-up, and sometimes just anything at all! While it may seem impossible to keep your skin clear, you should still keep it clean.

Step 1: Take off your make-up before you go to sleep. Leaving your make-up on can lead to clogged pores, which we all know can lead to acne. I would recommend using make-up removing wipes. They are gentle enough for the face, and can still get waterproof make-up off.

Step 2: Wash your face. A lot of the time teenagers think make-up is the only reason they break out. But, it actually has a lot to do with the amount of oil your skin produces. If you have oily skin, you are more prone to acne. Wash your face at night to remove all the dirt and oil that has built up over the day, and wash your face in the morning to remove all of the excess sebum in your pores.

Step 3: Use a toner to brighten up your skin and remove and extra dirt/make-up your cleanser may have missed. I recomend using this mainly in the mornings to give your skin a boost.

Step 4: Get rid of zits with an acne treatment that works for you. Depending on your skin type and the reasons for your acne there are many solutions. Tea Tree oil is wonderful for the odd pimple you get on occasion. It reduces redness considerably and dries out the blemish. You can also use zit creams with Benzoyl Peroxide which fights the source of the acne.

Step 5: Moisturize! Many teenagers ignore this step because they don't think it is necessary. A moisturizer will help considerably with dry/flakey skin and it also helps keep skin plump and healthy. It also sets up a great base for your make-up. There are different moisturizers for different skin types and can reduce shine, help dry skin, and excess oil.

Although there's the odd pimple here and there, teenagers usually have very good skin. No wrinkles, no sun-damage, not too much to worry about.

Concealer is a must have for every teenage girl. It can erase pimples in a flash and you only use it where you need it. Choose a concealer closest to your natural skin tone. Using the wrong color concealer will only bring attention to the blemish or discoloration you are trying to cover. There are also concealers called color correctors. They vary in colors but can be green, purple, yellow, and orange. Sounds crazy right? Well if you look at a color wheel, green is on the opposite side to red. So, if you want to cover redness, you would use a green concealer to cancel it out. This applies to all the color correctors.

I recommend applying concealer with your fingers, because you can warm up the mixture and blend it easier. You can also use as little or as much pressure needed especially if you are using concealer around your eyes. Dab the concealer on the blemish or discoloration, don't rub it in, you'll only move the mixture around and it won't cover anything. Be very gentle around your eye area and don't go overboard, the last thing you want is cakey concealer.

I dont really recommend using a full coverage foundation because usually, teenagers don't need it. But if you do prefer an all over foundation I would choose a lightweight foundation that you can build up if necessary.

Once you have a clear and concealed face, you can add a rosy glow to your cheeks. One thing to remember is that powders blend with powders, and creams blend with creams. Powder blushers work best when they are blended on top of another powder, so I would use a translucent powder on your cheeks to create a good base. Choose a shade that is close to your natural blushing color, usually you can tell by the undertones of your skin but if in doubt, pinch your cheeks for a few seconds and you'll see your natural blush. Cream blushers blend well on top of a foundation, but tend to look cakey on top of powders. So I would only use cream blush if you are wearing a full face of foundation.

Shimmery blushers are a great way to highlight the face and make you seem more awake. The shimmers reflect light which lightens up your whole face while adding colors. I like using blushes with gold undertones in the summer to get that bronzey effect. Blush itself is a great way to bring color to your face making you seem more awake and well.

Bronzer is a great way to bring definition and a little color to your face, unfortunately a lot of people don't know how to use it and end up looking orange. Choose a bronzer that is appropriate for your skin tone, it shouldn't be too dark or too light. Pick a bronzer that is warm tones so you don't look muddy. Those with fair skin should use a golden color, medium tones should use a bronze-red color, and dark tones should use shimmery browns.

Where and how you apply bronzer is key. You need to use a large, fluffy blush to evenly distribute the color on your face. Apply the bronzer to the high planes of your face, or where the sun would naturally hit you. This includes the tops of the cheek bones, the temples and forehead, the nose, and the chin. Remember you want a soft glow, so don't go overboard and start with very little. It's easy to add more, than to take away.

Eyeliner can make your eyes seem wider, whiter, and more intense. It can really bring out the beauty in anyone's eyes if used in the right way. Eyeliner comes in many colors, not just black. So experiment with blues, browns, purples, and greens. There are a few types of eyeliners, pencil, liquid, and gel/creme liner. There are so many options and possibilities.

Pencil liners are the easiest to use and generally the most popular. To draw a line on your top lashline, steady the hand with the pencil on your face with your pinky, and use your other hand to steady the skin around your eye (don't pull it though!). Then use small, short strokes to connect the line. To fill in the inner rim of your eye, also known as the waterline, gently run the eyeliner over it and don't pull at the skin, it is very sensitive.

Liquid liner is much harder to apply but it produces a darker more fluidline. The best way to apply this liner is to steady the applicator and and skin around the eye, and start the line in the middle of the lash line and use fluid strokes to connect the full line. Liquid liner is not safe to use on the inner rim of the eye.

Gel/creme liners are a lot less popular but are, in my opinion, the best type of liner out there. For this you need an angled or a script brush to apply it. It is applied pretty much the same way as liquid liner, except you can use it on the waterline. It glides on really easily and creates a strong, dark, fluid line. Short strokes work best with this eyeliner.

Feel free to mix up the thickness, shape, and color of the liner.

Mascara is an absolute must for teenagers, it's simple but it makes an impact. It opens up your eyes and its great for those day you oversleep in the morning! You want to choose a mascara that is lengthening, volumizing, long lasting, and doesn't flake. Black is the color that most people use but never be afraid to use color! An eyelash curler does wonders for lashes and really makes a difference. Use the eyelash curler BEFORE you use mascara, that way you won't pull out any lashes. Tilt your head back a bit when applying mascara, that way you won't catch the skin and ruin your make-up. When applying mascara to your lower lashes, dab the brush on the lashes, that way it is evenly distributed and they don't clump.

Eyeshadow can be very tricky, but if used in the right way, your best friend.

Most teenagers prefer a simple look they can do in the mornings before school. So, I would recommend a shimmery gold,or neutral color eyeshadow that enhances your eye color but is easy to apply at the same time. It gives you a little pop of color without too much hassle.

If you want to be more daring, use different colors and contour the crease of your eye. The crease of your eye is where your eye socket hits the brow bone and creates a crease in the skin. Use a large, fluffy brush to apply and blend color in your crease or else it will look harsh. For example, use a flat shader eyeshadow brush to apply a shimmery gold color to your eyelid, then a fluffy brush to apply a soft brown in your crease. This will create a nice contour to define your eyes.

Don't be afraid of color. Use colors such as greens, purples, browns, silvers, blacks, and greys to enhance any eye color and change up your make-up style!