Combating Shine

I don't know about you, but it's getting a lot warmer where I live. That means that first of all, I don't need as much foundation as I do in the fall and winter months (this applies to you, too!). It's been so warm lately that I've been able to get away with light cover-up/concealer and tinted moisturizer, which I love. But on the downside, with the warmer weather comes the dreaded perspiration, which I can tell you all about since I bike to and from work now that it's not 27 degrees outside anymore. By the time I get to work, my face is as shiny as a disco ball. And, since I don't want to clog up my pores by putting powder on top of all of that, I've been using oil blotting sheets a lot lately. You can find them at any drugstore (I just use the CVS brand and they work just fine), but if you want to go high end, most makeup counters sell their own brand, like Clinique and Shiseido. Some of them even promise "pore minimizing" effects, but seriously, unless that is a huge concern for you, it's probably not worth the money. The sheets are pretty small, but just blot one on your nose, forehead and cheeks to absorb some of those oils and give you a more matte look. Trust me, putting powder on top of makeup and sweat is a recipe for bad skin. I know this. I am old.

Everyone Else is Doing It!

Oh it is time. I am just about to regale you with a tale from my "good old days" in college. Are you ready? Just wait. You will be telling your own stories just like this one day. I promise.

My first dorm in college was all-girls. After spending 5 years at an all-girls private school, I was less than thrilled about this. But it was a good experience and I made some good friends and I even managed to study once in a while. HOWEVER. What I remember most about this dorm is a poster that hung in the lobby, right next to the elevators. The poster (which I found online and posted above) was a wrinkled and gnarled looking woman, smoking a cigarette, and below her was the phrase, "Smoking is very glamorous." I passed that poster every day and I remember thinking, EW, I will never end up looking like that. Because I won't lie, I did smoke in college, and I don't like to admit it now, but my boyfriend smoked, a lot of my friends smoked, and so, in an effort to be all cool and college-like, I smoked, too. I quit a long time ago but I still worry that one day I'll end up looking like the lady in the poster.

Smoking, like sun exposure, is one of those things that has long-term affects that, since you don't see right away, you rarely think about. EVERYONE knows that you shouldn't smoke because of the risks of lung cancer. But not all of us think about what smoking will eventually do to your skin. When you are 12, 13, 14, I know it's practically impossible to think 20, 30, or 40 years down the road... but as much of a downer as it is to say, you won't be young forever (well, maybe in your heart you will be), so take good care of yourself and your skin now and the older version of you will thank you for it.

All joking aside, smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your skin (besides run around on the equator without sunscreen on). Keep that in mind when you and/or your friends start getting curious about cigarettes. Just take a look at my lady friend and remember that smoking is very glamorous.

De-mystifying the Fan Brush

As I've mentioned earlier, it's holiday time. That means you'll probably get lots of gifts you don't want or like or know what to do with. As a teenage girl, I always loved getting makeup sets or kits as a gift, and they never failed to have this one crazy looking brush that I had no CLUE what to do with: the fan brush. For a while, I just had like 3 or 4 of these brushes sitting in my bathroom, collecting dust, because, surely, if they came in this makeup kit, they must serve some purpose related to makeup...right? Now I'm down to just one, since it's not one of the brushes I use every time I put my face on, but there are a few good uses for this mystical brush that I thought I would share with you.

1. Use a fan brush to lightly apply loose powder to your eyelashes before putting on your mascara. This fattens up your lashes a bit and acts as a base for your mascara, which also helps your lashes look longer and fuller. You don't need or want much powder on the brush, though, so just dust the brush in loose powder (pressed compacts really don't work here, in case you don't have loose powder already), close the eye you're applying the powder to (duh) and give the lashes one good swipe with the brush flat against the lashes. Voila! Mascara primer. Who knew?

2. Often when I apply my shadows, some of the pigments fall from the brush to below my eye and end up just above my cheek. I have tried to swipe this shadow snow away with my hand and it only leads to a big smear of color across my face, and unless it's Halloween or you're auditioning to be a backup dancer for Lady Gaga, that is probably not the look you want to achieve. Use your fan brush to gently brush off the excess powder without making a mess.

3. I am a girl. Therefore, I love glitter. I want to put glitter all over myself, at all times. This is not always appropriate. The fan brush comes in handy when I want to stealthily add some shimmer to my hair without looking like I fell in a vat of glitter (omg, how amazing would THAT be??). Use a shimmer shadow or loose glitter and very lightly dust your fan brush in it - then apply to the hair around your face (this is NOT the time to wear your heavy hands, though...chances are your mom will just make you get in the shower and wash it off if you go overboard. I speak from experience!). Proof that subtle CAN = pretty!!

What IS Mineral Makeup, Anyway??

Mineral makeup is everywhere. People rave about its super powers, how pure it is, how great it is for your skin, how it could cure cancer (ok, I made that one up)...but is it really better for your skin, or is it all just one big marketing ploy? Nowadays we assume that because something says "natural" or "pure" on the label, it's better for us, but that's not necessarily true. The same thing applies to something labeled "organic." Pick up some products that say natural or organic and read the ingredients list - as long as an ingredient is derived from something that is "natural" (as in, a plant is put through a chemical process to get a certain ingredient out of it), that product can label itself as such. Just be careful about what you're putting on your skin, and into your body. It never hurts to read labels. But back to the mineral makeup, I did some research and found a great article at a reliable source - Web MD - that you can read here. But if you're not into reading a 3 page article, here's the low down. Mineral makeup contains the same basic ingredients that most makeup is made from (insert names of mineral sounding materials that are apparently ground up minerals that do exist in nature!). What mineral makeup does NOT contain is preservatives (which means the makeup can sit on shelves for longer), binders (chemicals that hold the makeup together and also help it bind to your skin) and fragrances (which can irritate sensitive skin) - so, in a way, it could be considered more "pure" than other types of makeup. By removing some of those things like synthetic dyes and fragrances that cause sensitivity in some people, mineral makeup could prove better for you if you have very irritable skin. So, it really all comes down to what works best on your skin. Just don't be fooled into thinking you are putting nothing but Mother Nature on your skin just because the label says "natural."

Goodbye to Summer

Ok, so I've been a bit busy enjoying the end of my summer and have totally slacked on my beauty blogging. What can I say, I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer yet. I promise to be more on top of the blog in the upcoming weeks - including posting video tutorials and more posts on celebrity looks and great new products. But while summer is still lingering, one thing to keep in mind is that with the change in weather will also come a change in the way your skin responds to products. Moisturizers that work great in the summer may not be enough once the fall and winter start their relentless attempts to suck all moisture out of your poor defenseless skin. You may need to think about stepping up your routine or finding a heavier foundation, since you won't immediately sweat it off as soon as you walk out the door. I'll get into all this more as the season progresses, it's just something to think about for now. For most of us, you'll wear a different foundation for fall and winter than for spring and summer, and your skin may need more than just a light moisturizer. Again, getting to know your skin type will help you figure all this out once you actually do have to start pulling out all your fall sweaters. So, enjoy your light summer foundation while it's still warm out, and prepare your wallets for a fall makeup spree!!

When It's Too Hot for Foundation...

If you are one of the lucky few who is just blessed with beautiful skin (and oh, how I envy you!!) and you just don’t NEED to wear foundation, there’s a great product out there that doubles as a moisturizer and a little bit of color – tinted moisturizer (genius name, right??). One thing that’s really great about it is that it will blend in to match your skin tone because it’s only lightly tinted to provide just a teeny bit of coverage, and it also is super lightweight so you don’t have the heavy feel of foundation. This is also great during the summer if you want to skip the foundation all together but still need to even out your skin tone or cover a blemish. Sometimes it really is just too HOT for foundation. Instead, dab a bit of concealer under the eyes or over a blemish, then blend over that with the tinted moisturizer, finish with powder, and that’s that. Neutrogena makes a great one that is available at any drugstore, and even comes complete with that SPF factor that I love so much. And may I say, that had I had skin like Selena Gomez when I was 17, I would have paraded it around every single day. Not that she is parading, I’m just saying that I would have.

The Eyes Have It

I am not going to lie: I do not always get my beauty sleep. I wish I could say I religiously get 8 hours of sleep every night, but I do have a life and that means sometimes I stay up past my bedtime. You may be able to lie to your parents about what time you actually got off Facebook last night and went to sleep, but your skin will give you away, every time. Your eyes have an amazing ability to point out the fact that you did not have them closed for a solid 8 hours while you were off in dreamland, but there are ways to fake a decent night's sleep. I do not recommend this as a substitute for actually getting the sleep you need, but I remember the time when I also thought sleep was highly overrated. Anyway, I found a great product by Yes to Cucumbers - and knowing that cucumbers have long since been a remedy for puffy, swollen eyes - I am really anxious to try it out. There was a time when I would put cold cucumber slices over my eyelids or chilled tea bags to reduce the swelling, but when they put it in gel form and wrap it up in a cute package, who am I to not try something new? The great thing about this is that it's available at Walgreens and Target, among other stores, and you won't pay a fortune for it. Another thing to remember when dealing with tired eyes is to not load up on concealer under the eyes...lightly apply a dab under each eye and blend using your ring finger (just because it's your weakest finger and you'll do less damage to your skin's elasticity that way). Layer that under a light foundation and your eyes will perk up a bit. Keep your shadow colors light in the inside corner of your eyes, especially near your tear ducts - that really opens up your eyes and can also make them look a little more wide awake. That said, I am not promising miracles here. You really should be getting your sleep. And, if you know you're shorting yourself and you fall into bed at 1am after a night of talking to your boyfriend on the phone, do yourself a favor and at least indulge yourself in a glass of water before bed. Getting up to pee at 5 am is a small price to pay for keeping your skin hydrated and healthy looking, believe me.

Check out the cucumber eye gel here: http://www.yestocarrots.com/?CategoryID=416 Your eyes will thank you for it in the morning.

Color Me Bad

I know I've mentioned before that I love to wear color on my face, my eyes especially. The right color can really make your eyes pop, and complement or enhance your natural eye color. I have brown eyes, so I love to wear purples and greens on my lids, but there is a fine line between getting color right during the day and getting it very very wrong. First of all, make sure that you are applying your makeup in a well-lit space. Obviously if your bathroom or bedroom is on the darker side, you'll tend to go heavier on the makeup because you can't really see it. And then you go outside and people stare because you look like you have clown makeup on. And we don't want that to happen to you. So, always be sure that you can clearly see what you are doing. Back to wearing color during the day, I left the house today wearing a bright blue shadow with charcoal gray in the outer corners of my lids. Consider toning down how much color you're wearing when you are going out in the day time - I lightly applied the blue and the gray was just a touch of color to set off my eyes. I also skipped the eyeliner on my top lid because I didn't want my look to be overly dramatic for the day time. Instead, take a gray or black pencil and just line the bottom lash line, to emphasize the shape of your eye, without adding too much weight to your look. Finish it off with a great black mascara and you're all set. If I step out tonight, I might do a black liquid liner to dress up the look, but it's really a bit much for middle of the day, summer time makeup on top of the color I'm already wearing. So remember to keep it simple - but fun - during the day and kick it up when the sun goes down.

Making It Your Own

How you wear your makeup is ultimately an expression of how you see yourself and how you want other people to see you. Your face is the first thing people see when they meet you, and makeup can actually make a pretty lasting impression. Your teenage years are no exception to this, but what makes it especially hard is the desire to stand out while at the same time, fitting in. You want to blend in, you want to be like everyone else and do the same things your friends are doing - and yet, you want to be noticed, you want to be different and special. I see groups of girls all the time who are dressed in different variations of the exact same outfit - from head to toe, same, same, same. Maybe the color of the shirt is different, or the brand of the skirt, or the exact style of the shoe, but essentially, it's all the same. And the same goes for makeup. Matching liquid eyeliner and eyeshadow across the board. I'm not complaining, I went through the same thing, I wanted to wear what everyone else was wearing (for the most part, until I totally rebelled from this idea and wanted to wear gray lipstick and black eyeshadow for a while), but as I've gotten older and gotten more comfortable in my skin, I've learned to ask myself, "is this really what I want to be wearing?" Turns out, I really really love bright colors of eyeshadow. My favorite shade is a green ("Graffiti" by Urban Decay) that belongs in a box of crayons. I seriously LOVE to make my eyeshadow match my outfit or an accessory (like a yellow ring or bright blue shoes). Lots of people tell me, "oh, I could never wear that color eyeshadow", but the truth is, they wouldn't want to. It's not their style. It's mine. Basically, what I'm saying here is that finding your own style is an experiment and it's going to take a while. Don't be shy about what you really like just because no one else wears their makeup the same way you do. You can bet I got a LOT of strange looks in my gray lipstick days (including lots of disapproving ones from my mother), but I thought it was really cool - at the time - and it allowed me to express myself. Life is too short to spend too much time worrying about fitting in all the time. Just be sure that the way you are presenting yourself (meaning, the makeup you're wearing) is telling the world what you want it to say. Makeup can very often times be misleading and people can quickly form opinions about what kind of person you are, based simply on the way you look. It sucks that people are so judgemental, but that's the way it is. If you don't wear any makeup, you're a nerd. If you wear too much, you're a tramp. It's tough to navigate your way through it, but stay true to yourself and don't let your friends dictate what you like. Do I sound too preachy? Agreed. I'll give it a rest. For today, at least. :)

Dealing With Problem Skin

Your teenage years come with all sorts of firsts - first dates, first kisses, first time driving a car...first outbreaks. Clearly, some of those firsts are more fun than others, but there's no reason a few breakouts here and there - or even acne - should keep your teen years from being anything but memorable. I started breaking out mildly at first when I was around 15 or so, and had the pleasure of dealing with acne shortly after. If you're like me, and super sensitive about your skin's appearance (I swear, people were too staring at my pimples!!), your first instinct is to load up with concealers, foundations, and whatever else you can get your hands on to cover it up. As a teenager, I undoubtedly wore much more foundation than I needed, and looking back, it probably hurt my skin - and prevented it from healing - more than anything else.

First off, if you have anything more than a mild breakout here and there, my best piece of advice is to see a dermatologist. There's no reason to suffer through acne when you don't have to - there are so many creams and medicines available now, even the most stubborn skin can be affectively treated. Or, if you'd rather not or can't see a doctor, I highly recommend giving Proactiv a try - it really worked for me (and I'm not just saying that!), and it's not too expensive.

Lots of foundations now have salicylic acid in them, to help treat your blemishes as it covers. Keep in mind that if you're caking makeup on to cover a zit or a patch of bumpy skin, you will most likely end up drawing more attention to it. And it's never cool to pull a Britney and wear your zit cream out in public. It may be embarassing to not completely cover it up, but your skin also needs to breathe, and if your pores are blocked by heavy, cakey makeup, you're not even giving it a chance.

Also, as hard as it is, try not to pick! If it's something you just can't live with and you must pop it, clean the area afterwards with a good astringent and keep your hands away. Excessive touching just adds more oils to the problem area, and you also risk infection from all the germs under your nails! Even at my age, I still deal with outbreaks from time to time, so I do have to follow my own advice here, but the thing to keep in mind is to keep your skin clean, treat it when it's necessary (with medicines from your doctor or cleaning systems like Proactiv), and try to get out of the mindset that loading up on concealer will do the trick. Dot a tiny bit of concealer over the blemish or area you want to cover, and then blend your foundation over it, dusting it all over with loose powder to set it.

How Old is Too Old??

It is no secret that my favorite mascara is Bad Gal by Benefit (and surprisingly, they do not pay me to say that!). I've never tried Dior Show but I think they are very similar in terms of the effect - which is really flippin long lashes. HOWEVER. There's a recession going on and I can't indulge in $20 tubes of mascara (because that is pretty much a whole outfit from Forever 21 or some super cute shoes from gojane.com), which is just as well because, as a general rule, your mascara has about a 3 month shelf life after you open that tube. I posted earlier about some guidelines for sharing (or, I guess I should say, NOT sharing) your makeup, and the same stuff applies here. Basically, mascara is just one of those things that you shouldn't share and you shouldn't hang on to for more than 3 months. You should also steer clear of pumping the wand up and down into the tube to load up the wand when you start running low. This actually will push air into the tube, which will make your mascara clumpy and it won't go on as well. But, back to my Bad Gal obsession, there are some great drug store options out there now that will only set you back around $6 when it's time to toss your tube in 3 months - trust me, I was always very reluctant to throw my $20 mascara away. I'm on my third tube of Lash Stiletto by Maybeline, and I"m pretty happy about the results, I get a lot of length without looking clumpy. Mascara isn't the only thing you should toss on the regular, though - your makeup sponges should get tossed every week, pressed powder should be tossed when you start to notice oil spots (this is actually caused by putting your powder puff back into the compact face down, which leads to the powder absorbing the oils your face left on the puff - so to make your powder last longer, don't put the puff side down when you close it), and foundations and concealers should both be tossed if you can't use it all before around 6 months. Again, keep your application tools clean and your makeup will last longer and go a lot further!

Taking It All Off

I know I already posted something about the importance of keeping your skin clean, especially before going to bed at night, but there are a lot - A LOT - of options out there for this nightly ritual. And I'm certainly not here to tell you what's best, because it's going to be different for everyone. But I did just happen to buy a new product yesterday and I'm loving it enough to share it with you. As far as makeup removers go, I have started favoring lotion removers over the liquid kinds - I feel like there's less rubbing involved to get the makeup off, and my skin feels more moisturized afterwards. If your face hurts after you've removed your makeup, you may need a new remover - and a new method! I just picked up Physician's Formula Organic Wear Facial Makeup Remover Lotion - one because I liked the bottle it came in (I am such a sucker!) and two because it's free of chemicals (which, when you think about it, you probably don't want on your face, anyway). I was a bit skeptical of how an organic product would work at removing makeup, but I was very pleasantly surprised at how well it removed my makeup - mascara included - without me having to work too hard. One thing to remember is to always be gentle with the skin around your eyes. It's very thin, for one thing, and (again I'm thinking long term here!) years and years of pulling on that skin will eventually show. I like to get some remover lotion on a cotton pad and hold it on my eye for a few seconds and give it a chance to break down some of the makeup first. If you're a fan of the liquid eye removers, I prefer the oil-free kind, just because I usually feel like I need to wash my face all over again after using remover with oil , but pick something that will work with your skin type and don't feel like you have to buy the same one every time! Physician's Formula is available at drugstores - I snagged it for around $6. Oil of Olay also makes a nice lotion remover...the makeup remover pads are fine and all, but I think you can get the same effect with baby wipes, which are generally a lot cheaper. Plus you smell so good afterwards. ;)

Share and share alike??

I think a lot of people think it's ok to share makeup. What's the harm in letting your sister use your mascara when she can't find hers or letting your best friend use the awesome new concealer you just bought, right? You'd be surprised. While some products are ok (but still not ideal) for sharing - like shadows or loose powders, here is a short list of things you should never share, not even with your BFF:

- MASCARA. Please, please, please do not share your mascara, no matter how much your friend begs to borrow it. Most people do not like to think about this little tid bit, but there are actually micro-organisms living in your eyelashes (yes, i know it's gross, but they are harmless and there's nothing you can do about them - EVERYONE has them, even sweet beautiful Emma Watson), so as much as you love your friends, I'm going to assume you do not love their micro-organisms enough to let them live on your mascara wand.
- Concealer. Especially if it's something you apply directly to your face, from a wand that goes back into the tube of concealer. A lot of this is common sense...oils and bacteria from your skin go back into that tube when you close it, and while it's fine when it's your own, it's best to steer clear of letting a friend use it on a blemish and then let that marinate in the tube for your next use. Ewwwww, huh?
- Eyeliners. This one is iffy...if you do let a friend use your liner, have her sharpen it before and after using it, which will remove that "layer" of the pencil from her use. You certainly don't want to make your friends feel like a leper, but things like pink eye spread quickly and easily from sharing products that you apply directly to your eyes.

Basically, keep in mind that you don't want anyone using a product of yours that you would apply directly to your skin. Things like loose powders, lipsticks, shadows - those are safer to share because you don't necessarily store the applicator within the actual product (like a mascara wand or concealer wand). Just use your best judgement, and if a friend asks, just say, I'm sorry, I don't share mascara/eyeliner/whatever.

Ever been to a MAC store and watched one of the artists apply makeup? They use about a zillion applicators and they do not ever put a mascara wand back into the tube once it's been on someone's eyes. It may seem wasteful and kinda silly, but think about how many people use those sample products - that is a pink eye extravaganza waiting to happen. But, MAC artists (and most other makeup artists, too!) are well aware of the germ/bacteria issue and do their best to make the process as sanitary as possible. I'm not saying you have to be that anal about it, but do remember that while sharing is always a nice gesture, it's not always the best idea.

It IS Ok to try new things!

When it comes to finding the right looks for you, be prepared to experiment. If you see something you like in a magazine, tear it out. Start a notebook of "looks" you like, and learn to recreate them at home. Some things you will find do not look as good on you as it did in the magazine. And some things are hard to master - like liquid eyeliner, or finding the right foundation color - but I've found that when it comes to makeup, just because you are wearing a ton of it doesn't mean it looks good. Repeat after me: The point of makeup is to ENHANCE my already beautiful features, NOT to hide them/cover them up/make me look like I'm 20 years older than I actually am. If that is the only thing you take away from this blog, I could live with that. Chances are, you really DON'T need a ton of makeup, anyway. But do have fun with it and play around. Again, figuring out when/where certain looks are appropriate and when they aren't is half the battle. ;) School and/or your summer job is probably not the best place for that new glittery pink shadow. You probably already know that. But, I'm just saying. Trust me, sometimes I still have to resist putting glitter or green eyeshadow all over my eyes before I go to work. And I am not ashamed to admit that.

Starting with the Right Tools

Also CRUCIAL to figuring the whole makeup thing out is having a good set of brushes. See those little foamy brushes your eyeshadows come with? THROW THEM AWAY, IMMEDIATELY!!! They are useless. When it comes to makeup, the tools you use to apply it with are just as important as the actual makeup itself. I'll get more specific later on, but for starters, make sure you have a decent powder brush, blush brush, an all over shadow brush and an angled brush - and you don't need to drop your life savings on those, either. Target and CVS are perfectly good places to get your beauty supplies and both sell really quality brushes at a fraction of what they cost at high end places like Sephora or MAC. (I have nothing against these places - I just can't always afford the products there!) Pay attention to how you're applying your makeup - are you quickly swiping color on with your fingers? (I used to do this all the time and now I frown upon it - yes, your fingers make excellent blending tools, but you are also putting the oils from your body into that shadow pallate every time you touch it) Are you using the same brush for your lid color and the color you apply to the outside corner of your eye? There are specific brushes for all types of application. Angled brushes will obviously give you more control over where you're putting your shadows - so it makes sense to use these for your darker, outside corner colors, or for something like applying shadow under your bottom lashes or along your lash line. Bigger, fluffier brushes should be used for application on larger surfaces, like all over your face, or the neck/chest area (for things like bronzing or adding shimmer). Please, please, please, just remember to wash your brushes at least a couple of times a month. You don't need a fancy brush cleaner, baby shampoo will work just fine. Letting color build up in your brushes over time will not only lead to the brush becoming clumpy and full of your body's oils, but it will also mean that the colors you're trying to apply won't be as true, since they are competing with a month's worth of other colors loaded up on your brush. Plus, taking good care of them will mean they last longer. Most drug store brushes are made out of synthetic hairs - the more expensive brushes you'll see in places like Sephore are made from real hair - much, much softer to the touch and divine to use, but if you can't afford it, synthetic is just fine! Just take care of your brushes and your brushes will take care of you!

Ace of Base

Getting foundation right can be tricky - obviously there's the issue of choosing the right color for you, figuring out what kind you need to best suit your skin type, applying it properly...the list goes on and on. Spend a little time in the makeup aisle of a Target, Walmart, CVS - wherever you prefer to shop - and check out what your options are. If you have the money to spend on a professional consultation, any Sephora beauty consultant or department store makeup counter can recommend foundation to match your skin tone and type. Prescriptives (available in department stores) can even custom blend a foundation just for you. But if you don't have $30-$50 to drop on foundation alone, most drug store brands provide great coverage and are really affordable. Right now I'm using Dream Liquid Mousse by Maybelline and it does a great job of evening out my complexion and covering blemishes. I always go with a lighter foundation during the spring and summer, so my skin can breathe and I'm not sweating underneath a thick layer of makeup. Use foundation sparingly when it's hot out, and really take the time to blend so that you don't get that unsightly line you see on so many girls that stops at the jawline where they stopped blending. Look closely. Is your face a totally different color than your neck? You're not blending enough, and you may also be wearing a shade or two darker than you should be. You want your foundation to match your skin as closely as possible - too dark can make you look dirty and too light can make you look grayish or ashy. If you're going for a tanner look, use a powder bronzer on top of your foundation, NOT a darker foundation. Liquid foundations go on well with foundation brushes, but I prefer to just use a makeup sponge - just don't forget to toss it after a week of use.

Welcome to 13 Going on Beautiful!!

So I've been thinking for a while about starting this blog...not because I think I know everything there is to know about makeup - because I don't! - but because I wish I'd had someone to seek makeup advice from when I was in my early teens, and just starting to experiment with it all. It's sort of like learning anything new, and sometimes it takes a while to figure out how everything works. I hope to use this blog to answer questions about makeup and to offer advice on application so that no one else has to endure the embarassment of looking back at high school photos and thinking "Oh my GOD, who let me out of the house looking like THAT?!?!" Believe me, you do not want that.

That said, I want to get one basic thought out before I really get into things here. In my ideal world, 13 and 14 year olds wouldn't really be interested in wearing makeup becuase they'd be too busy playing Barbies to care about how they looked, I'm pretty sure those days are behind us. I've done makeup on some young ones - 8 year olds for fashion shows, 13 year olds for photo shoots...so telling them they don't need makeup is in one ear and out the other. Maybe you're hearing the same thing at home, that you don't need it or aren't allowed to wear it. But the truth is, if you want to wear it, eventually you will wear it, so my main concern is that you're wearing it correctly. I am a big fan of age-appropriate makeup, and I know this is a phrase I'll be using over and over on this site. Lots of young celebrities -like Hayden or Miley- wear makeup, and lots of it! But their "red carpet lips" aren't necessarily appropriate for your Sunday family dinners, and the "sexy smokey eye" is probably a bit too much for school. The trick is to consider the occasion, and then decide what is ok and what will probably raise an eyebrow. I'll talk more about this later, but in the meantime, just keep in mind that during the day, simple, natural looks are best - save the drama for nights out with your friends, or special events like prom or birthday parties. You are not a vampire. All-over black eyeshadow during the day is really not a good look. On ANYONE.