Teen Trap: Makeup

When I was growing up, the makeup section of my local department store was like this infinite black hole of brands and products. A former total tomboy, I blocked a lot of beauty tips from female family members and wanted to do it on my own. This resulted in cosmetic disasters including the dreaded foundation clown-face (where the makeup on your face is about three shades darker or lighter than your neck and could be mistaken for a mask), lash clumping, shadow smudging and lips that can be seen from 4km away.

The one thing that I discovered along the way is that you don’t have to go OTT to look fresh and fab. Here are some tips that help you avoid embarrassment! (Note: I recommend this to teens that have some experience with makeup. Those new to the scene, I have a blog coming later just for you! Fear not!)

Moisturiser: The key to beauty. Nothing says young and fresh like healthy skin and moisturiser brings you one step closer. The teen years can be a bit scary for most of us. I myself had acne prone to skin growing up, very bad. So I suggest going oil-free until your skin decides it loves you too. I heart Neutrogena oil-free moisturiser. It comes in different varieties including sensitive and SPF 15 (super light, super sneaky sunscreen!)  

Foundation: If you’re keen to try foundation you have two choices, powder or liquid. Powder can be good for newbies as it’s a lot lighter and easier to remove if you make mistakes. The only trick is finding your perfect shade. Most girls tend to try and make themselves more tanned by using darker foundation. This ends up looking tacky and cheap. Keep foundation natural, if you’re light: use light foundation! You can always give yourself a summer glow with a light brush of bronzer and/or blush. TIP: Use your oil-free moisturiser first, let it dry, and then apply foundation. It helps it stick longer and gives you a nice little barrier skin and makeup).

Mascara: Finding your perfect mascara can be a long road well worth travelling. I suggest going for something simple. Don’t be lured in by the “super-maximum-ultra-va-va-volume” ads on TV where the woman is (clearly) wearing false lashes. Most of these products come from CLUMP CITY and are out to stick your entire top and bottom lash sets together!

“Does it have to be black?” -- A question I recommend you ask yourself when trying new mascara’s. Fun Fact: Not all mascara’s are black! If you’re of fair completion I suggest trying brown or black brown as a softer contrast.

Lipgloss: In my opinion, always better for teens than lipstick. Why? Most teens hit the harsh reds like they’re going out of style. I will cover lipstick in another blog. Lipgloss is easy to apply, gets you used to the shape of your lips and often tastes great (WARNING: Melly does not recommend you eat your lipgloss!) The only thing I would suggest here is buying a gloss of quality. The Body Shop’s “Born Lippy” goes for $7.95AU, lasts forever and is great quality. Other brands you know like Nivea make affordable lip products too. For sporty gals I recommend a product with a built in SPF 15 to keep your lips loveable!