There's nothing worse than getting advice from older people, we know, we know, but the truth is some advice is worth taking and keeping, especially when it comes to fun beauty tips. I've been reading fashion magazines and testing beauty products for years. In this time, I've read 1000s of beauty tips, tried 1000s of products, but only a few are worth keeping around. So, here I share with you the 20 things I wish I knew when I was a teenager.
Watch the foundation
In high school I wore a full face of Cover Girl liquid foundation every day despite the fact that I had pretty nice skin for a 16-year-old. I was a victim of "cake face," that matte look that screams to the world, "I wear lots of makeup." I had no idea then that heavy foundations are not meant to cover the entire face, they should be used judiciously -- to cover up only the uneven spots like the cheeks, around the nose and maybe the chin. Once the foundation is in place, you can then dot concealer on any ruddy or pimply spots the foundation doesn't cover.
Here's a secret I wish I knew then: gorgeous skin is dewy and natural and heavy foundations leave look looking anything but. A better bet than foundation is tinted moisturizers, which didn't exist when I was a teenager.
You pat concealer in, you never rub it in
When I was younger, I used to slather concealer over my ruddy spots because tap, tap, tapping it in seemed like such a waste of time. The truth is tapping in it leaves your face looking much more flawless.
Here's how to properly do it: put a bit of concealer on the pad of a finger and pat it in. Never rub. Got acne? Gently tap the concealer over the blemishes and then set it with powder.
Play up your lips or your eyes, never both
Ever notice how girls with heavy eye makeup and heavy lips can look overdone and a bit clownish? When it comes to making up your face, it's best to decide to play up either your eyes or your mouth, but never both. I'm not a huge fan of rules when it comes to beauty, but I pretty much always follow this one and I wish I knew this tip when I was a teen.
If you wear a smokey eye, go for nude lips with just a bit of gloss. Prefer the drama of dark lipstick? Keep face light (stay away from heavy blush) and wear only mascara on your eyes and a light eyeshadow. Don't heavily line your eyes. Play up both and you'll look like a clown. And never, ever line lips in a darker color than your gloss or lipstick.
Less is more during the day
Ever notice how some of your friends look their best with no makeup at all? No matter your age, there is such as thing as too much makeup. If you wear foundation, powder, blush, liner, mascara, eyeshadow, lip liner and gloss on an everyday basis, then you're probably overdoing it. Leave the heavier makeup to the evening and formal occasions and tone it down during the day: All you really need is a great mascara, concealer for blemishes and gloss. Add a pop of blush in winter.
Oily hair? Baby powder to the rescue
I have to wash my hair every day or it will look greasy. But the truth is, I hate washing my hair every day. I get by on the days in between using baby powder that I apply at my crown and roots and brush through. It soaks up excess oils like nothing else. I find it works better than dry shampoo, but that's just my opinion.
Baby powder works best on blondes or girls with light brown hair. If you have dark hair, you might be better off with a dry shampoo crafted especially for your hair color.
Baby powder also works wonders at the beach. Apply baby powder to get sand to slide right off. I learned this trick from my cousin who has babies (there's nothing worse than a diaper full of sticky sand), but it works on older kids and adults too!
Bye-bye bad hair color
Ever see those girls with naturally dark hair and super blonde highlights the width of spaghetti? It's as if someone painted little lines in their hair (which is actually what they did). Not attractive. The secret to great hair color is hair that looks like you didn't pay to have it done. That said, some of the best hair color is so obviously not natural but is so cool that everyone will want it. Either leave people guessing or leave them dying to ask where you get your hair done.
So when to do it yourself and when to head to a salon?
The general rule of thumb is to do your own hair if you are going only a shade or 2 lighter or darker. Anything more than that and you need a professional's help. Going from dark to blonde is actually a complicated process. You'll first have to strip hair of its natural color (this is called "bleaching"), then the stylist will color your hair blonde and possibly add a few highlights of darker and lighter strands to give hair definition. This is not something to try at home. But if you are dyeing a few strands blue or a couple shades darker, you can do it yourself.
Vaseline is your best friend
I actually knew this tip as a teen -- that's actually where I learned it. Vaseline is a great product to have on hand for 2 reasons: it's a great eye makeup remover in a pinch and used with a toothbrush, it's the best lip exfoliator ever.
Here's how it works: Slather on a bunch of Vaseline, then use a toothbrush to massage lips. Wipe the excess off on a tissue. Your lips will be smooth and soft.
You can never go wrong with layers
Long layers are great for any hair type: Super curly, straight or wavy. It makes thin hair appear thicker, curly hair appear manageable and wavy hair appear just-got-back-from-the-beach sexy. Just make sure you don't get too many layers cut in. Short, spiky layers and hair that's short on top and long on bottom (mullets!) can be dated.
Acne? Get thee to a dermatologist, stat
Biggest mistake people with acne make? Not going to a dermatologist. Forget those $150 jeans you covet. Getting rid of those pimples will be the best investment you'll ever make. And the only guaranteed way to do it is with a dermatologist.
Spend money on key beauty products
There's no to spend a lot of money on cleansers, makeup removers, polish removers and anything that doesn't stay on your face for very long. Why spend $60 on a fancy cleanser that touches your face for 1 minute a day? You can also find affordable moisturizers that won't break the bank but will leave your skin feeling soft and supple.
Buying foundation or lipstick? Test it first
There are some beauty products you simply must try out at a department store or Sephora before you buy. These include: Foundation, lipstick, blush and powder.
Buy these products in a grocery store and you'll be lucky if you picked the right color for your skin tone. What you can get away with without testing: Mascara, eye liner, most basic eye shadows and lip gloss.
The One Beauty Product You Should Never, Ever Skip
Had I known this trick when I was a teenager, I'd have fewer wrinkles as a 40-year-old. The first beauty product you should apply every day is sunscreen, even if it's cloudy or rainy outside. Why? Good habits start young and if you use sunscreen now, you'll have gorgeous skin when you're 50, 60, 70. Plus, the sun's UV rays can penetrate clouds and car windows.
The Secret to Sexy, Beachy Waves
There's nothing cooler than long, layered waves. Wavy hair is gorgeous on all hair lengths, from chin length to shoulder-length to long. To get them, wind hair AROUND the barrel of a large curling iron. Reverse direction for each 2-inch section (wind up for one, down for another).
Self-tanner will always stink
Unfortunately, even the best ones smell. Your best bet is to apply self-tanner a good 24 hours before an important event and take a shower (don't loofah) to wash off any smell. For really big events like a dance or wedding, consider a professional spray tan. These are pricey and don't last long, so make sure to do it a day before the big event.
Don't let nails go
Not into manicures and pedicures? No worries. Just make sure to keep nails clean and the same length. If you do want to paint them, don't keep the polish on until half of it's chipped away. Also, there's nothing worse than too-long toenails. Keep nails clipped between pedicures! People tend to judge others by the care they put into their hands and feet.
Don't line the inside of your eyes
Of course you can line the inside of your eyes. There's no one stopping you. But keep in mind it will make your eyes appear smaller and who wants that? I love the look of a liquid liner on the top lid and a smudged pencil line on the bottom lid.
Shave legs at the end of the shower
Cut down on nicks and cuts by making shaving the very last step in your shower or bathing ritual.
Play up your best feature
What feature do people comment on most? Play it up. If you're told you have Angelina Jolie lips, make sure to wear gloss and play with bold lipstick colors. If it's your eye color people love, find eyeshadow colors that complement them and make sure to wear mascara. Also, know what color shirts look best on you and go shopping.
Remember: Beauty does come from within
Think about a girl you know who could stand to lose a few pounds yet all the guys love her. Why? Because she's confident. If you aren't wearing makeup and your toes haven't been repainted in weeks, if you're happy and smiling you will still be 10 times prettier than the mopey cheerleader sitting next to you in class. Trust me (wink).
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