Being a teenager is tough. You have to deal with a) boys, and mischievous boys at that, b) your body changing in ways you never thought possible, and c) angry skin that often delights you with its pimply appearance. Or not.
And then there’s dabbling in beauty. We know you want to feel confident and fresh, but there are a few rules when it comes to high school beauty. Actually, let’s make that a lot of rules. But instead of standing on a soapbox like your teacher normally would, we’re taking a different approach when it comes to passing on our ingenious beauty tips for teens – we’re taking a practical approach.
SWAP THIS: heavy, cakey foundations
FOR THIS: lightweight BB creams
Teenage skin should be fresh, glowy and natural, and a BB cream like Chi Chi Super BB Cream (1) will give you just that. The bonus of using something like this over a tinted moisturiser is this: they contain anti-ageing and moisturising properties, so they nourish, soothe and protect your skin while giving you an even complexion. Brilliant.
SWAP THIS: regular cover-up concealers
FOR THIS: concealers that work to cover and heal blemishes
As far as double-duty products go, this one is a goodie. I mean, why not send your concealer to work on minimising your pimples while hiding them at the same time? Proactiv Blemish Concealer Duo (2) does just that, while also diffusing light to give the illusion of radiant, clear skin.
SWAP THIS: intense, made-for-your-mum fragrances
FOR THIS: fresh, light perfumes
Do not steal your mum’s perfume, OK? Just don’t. You’ll only offend your schoolmates’ noses if you do, and possibly find yourself with a headache. Instead, opt for a light, fun scent like Tommy Girl by Tommy Hilfiger (3). It’s energetic and crisp, and is completely safe for school. Love.
SWAP THIS: large, brightly-coloured earrings
FOR THIS: small, delicate studs
Yes, we love hoops. And yes, we love dangly colourful gems. But these types of earrings do not belong in the schoolyard. Trust us. Wearing a pair of Blomdahl Medical Grade Titanium Earrings (4) will still leave you feeling bejewelled and pretty, but without creating too much fuss.
SWAP THIS: bold permanent hair colours
FOR THIS: clip-in coloured extensions
Every teenage girl goes through a stage where she wants to experiment with her strands. To avoid any disasters (because this is the age where they will happen), use clip-in extensions instead of hair dye. Try something like Headlines Hairpieces Splice Curls (5) and you’ll be able to add and remove brightly-coloured streaks (read: pink, blue and orange) or more subtle colours to your mop whenever you feel like it.
SWAP THIS: a heavy-handed approach to eyebrow tweezing
FOR THIS: an appointment with an eyebrows professional
We cannot stress how important your brows are. And the teenage years are usually the years when your eyebrows cop a lot of flack, and end up thin, over-plucked and tad pole-like. To prevent such disasters, visit a professional brow bar, invest in good tweezers like Tweezerman for Benefit Pointed Slant Tweezer (6) and follow this smart guide on finding the perfect eyebrow shape for your face. You’ll look prettier and fresher as a result. Promise.
SWAP THIS: regular facial moisturisers
FOR THIS: hydrating creams with SPF protection
Sun protection is one of the most important beauty moves you can make, and the earlier you start, the better. Save yourself the time, effort and money of using two products and combine your moisturiser and SPF needs into the one product. We love Formula 10.0.6 Picture Perfect Day Moisturising Gel with SPF 15 (7) because it’s lightweight, non-greasy and protects your delicate skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
SWAP THIS: orange-looking fake tans
FOR THIS: natural-looking gradual tanners
You’re bound to play around with fake tanners in your teens, and because we’re completely against sunbaking, we definitely do encourage you to play. However, slathering on loads on strong fake tan will sadly leave you look like an Oompa Loompa. Instead, experiment with something like SunFX Summer’s Secret (8) – an ultra-hydrating gradual tanning moisturiser – and you’ll build a natural, glowing tan over a few days.
What’s your best beauty advice for teenagers? What products do you use when you were young? And what hair, skin and make-up mistakes did you make as a teenager?
