Being a teenager is exciting. It’s the first time you get to dabble in things that adults do, and because of this, many teenagers delve into these adult things so enthusiastically that they go way over the top. There’s no better example of this than their newfound ability to wear makeup!

Some teenagers have a way of taking makeup to an extreme level, living by the ‘more is best’ rule; on the flip side, makeup can seem so scary to others that they won’t even attempt it.

With formal season fast approaching, I am here to help break it down, and let you know what you can show your teenager to help them on their makeup journey.

Skin Prep

Often girls will plaster on foundation in the hope that it will cover their tortured hormonal skin; but as we all know, this often makes it look much worse. Having a good basic skin routine will help to fix this issue.

A great start is to make sure that they are using a daily cleanser and moisturiser (with SPF). I also highly recommend having a gentle face scrub that they can use once a week, and then having a pimple treatment that they can apply directly to the break out to try and control the damage. I love Kiehls Blue Herbal Spot Treatment ($28).

Clears blackheads, whiteheads and acne blemishes

Foundation

Since we are dealing with young, plump and beautiful skin, it is important to use a foundation that is lightweight and oil free. Avoid anything with full coverage or a matte finish, as this will leave the skin with a heavy, cakey appearance. To match the correct colour, always try any products on the face; if it seems to ‘disappear’ then it will be a suitable colour, but if it stands out and you can see exactly where you have placed it, then it is bad match.

If feeling confused and overwhelmed by all the choices, simply take them into MAC, Napoleon or Mecca and have their foundation professionally chosen.

Eyes

There is so much choice when it comes to eyeshadows, however, I think the best thing to do is to purchase a palette of colours which includes a brush. This way they have lots of choice to experiment with, and if they don’t use it, you haven’t wasted a lot of money. This Napoleon Perdis Gift Set – ($25) is great value and perfect for teenage girls.

Eyeliners and mascara don’t need to cost a fortune either. Do remember that the cheaper eyeliners smudge a bit more easily; so if that is a concern, there is a brand in Priceline called Prestige, and they do waterproof eyeliners that won’t smudge all day long.

A portable makeup kit with two eye shadows, blush, mini gloss and mini mascara.

Cheeks and Lips

When it comes to lips and cheeks, again we don’t need to be going overboard on products, as teenagers have youth on their side. Cheeks and lips are naturally flushed, however, if you want to put a little more colour in the skin, I really recommend a products like a lip and cheek stain. They’re great for giving the skin a tint of colour, are easy to use and you need such a small amount that they always last a really long time. Benefit Posie Tint ($55) is one of my faves.

This stain plants a kiss of see-through tint on cheeks & lips.

What Next?

Well if all this seems a bit too much and you still don’t feel confident in giving your teen the full makeup lowdown, then you can consider booking them in for a personal makeup lesson! Many of the big makeup stores like Mecca and Napoleon conduct one-on-one lessons, and the cost of the lesson is fully redeemable on products, so they get to be shown how to do it and take some of the products home with them too!

Most freelance makeup artists will also conduct one on one lessons, and the benefit of these services is that they come out to your home and they can be shown how to use the products they already own in the right ways.

Whatever you decide to do, just remember that a part of discovering who we are is experimenting with our look! Hopefully you can help guide your teen through this experimental stage and she will grow to be a beautifully polished lady!