Your 13-year-old daughter comes home wearing purple glitter eye shadow she borrowed from a friend. What’s the big secret to get through this parenting crisis? It’s simple but very effective. Take a deep breath. Then, remember you were her age once, and it’s only makeup.
Now that you’re composed, offer to open up your makeup bag. Or if she makes a face, invite her to go with you to a department-store cosmetics counter for a makeup session (often free). You can take the tips and find similar colors and products at your local drugstore later. If you really want to make an event of it, look for a local salon where you can enjoy a mother-daughter day. But wherever you wind up, here are the tips that can help teens the most.
Gorgeous Skin
Goes a Long Way
Most teens stress about their skin—it might even be the reason they want to wear makeup in the first place, to cover acne or other problems. You can’t change genetics and hormones (which affect skin in a big way), but caring for skin with the right products can help. Get your daughter into the habit of washing and moisturizing her face every day, and it will eventually become as automatic as brushing her teeth. Oily skin needs an oil-free cleansing gel and lotion, normal skin can take a foaming cleanser and moisturizing lotion, and dry skin will benefit from a creamy cleanser and moisturizer. (Make sure all moisturizers have at least SPF 15.) Once a week, if she’s game, do a mother/daughter spa night at home. Try an exfoliating scrub to get rid of dry, flaky skin, or try face masks, which are available in hydrating and deep-cleaning formulas.
Less Is More
Skip all-over foundation, and get her a stick foundation or blemish stick that matches her skin tone exactly to cover blemishes. A pressed powder compact is an easy way to touch up oiliness that builds up on her T-zone throughout the day. Keep color simple to start: Brown/black mascara and sheer, neutral colors on eyes are mistake-proof. For blush, pick a shade that looks like her cheeks when they’re naturally flushed. All she needs on lips is lip gloss or lip stain in a shade that looks like the color of her lips taken up a few notches.
Don’t Forget Hair Removal
A lot of teens are very conscious when it comes to hair, from unibrows to underarm and leg hair. If your daughter has bushy eyebrows, get her tweezers with a slanted tip, and show her how to pluck only stray hairs between her brows. (Hint: Putting tweezers in the freezer before plucking makes it less painful.) Use a clear brow gel to keep brows in place. Shaving in the shower is the quickest and easiest way to get rid of body hair.
The Bottom Line
If you show your daughter a few basics and then give her some freedom to experiment, she’ll eventually figure out what works for her (and it probably won’t be purple glitter eye shadow). But don’t forget the best beauty tip you can give her—happiness and true beauty come when you accept and feel good about who you are. Even if she’s rolling her eyes, the message can still get through.
Be Open
You never know what you may actually learn from your daughter. Be open to her ideas as well. Have a little play time between the two of you. Both could learn and actually enjoy the fun!
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