HOWEVER!!!

Fall does not mean that you are off the hook in terms of protecting your skin (especially your face!) from the sun. Fall and winter are especially dangerous because people think their skin can't burn. Well, people are WRONG! Glory for Girls makes an all the time sunscreen that goes on without feeling heavy or oily, it smells delicious, and it's all natural. It's available in SPF 17 and SPF 30, so I implore you, please do not stop wearing sunscreen just because it's not hot anymore. The heat may be gone, but the sun is not. And what is it that does the damage to our skin? THE SUN. So. Don't forget to apply sunscreen or a moisturizer with at least SPF 15 EVERYDAY, underneath your makeup. You will thank me when you do not shrivel up like a raisin later on in life. ;)

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.

Summer Skin

I know I probably sound like your mother (roll of eyes) but since it's summer and all, I thought I'd do a quick post about the importance of sunscreen. If you're going to be in the sun all day, and even if you're not, it's always a good idea to have SOME protection on your face - whether you pick a moisturizer with an SPF or if you wear full-on sunscreen. When I was about 15, my mom handed me my first bottle of moisturizer with SPF 15 (Oil of Olay - good stuff!!) and I've been hooked every since. I know it's super hard to think long term when you're in your teens, or even in your early twenties, but having good skin later in life is totally dependant on how you treat your skin when you're young! Personally, I will own up to my obsession and admit that I wear full on sunscreen, every single day of the year. Rain or shine. Summer or winter. I up my SPF to about 55 in the summer time, and bring it down to 35 in the winter. I LOVE Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch, because it doesn't feel oily or sticky under my makeup, and it really does go on just like a moisturizer. If I can't convince you to put sunscreen on, a good moisurizer with SPF 15 will protect your skin while providing a good base for your makeup. Also, do not fear the big summer hat. You will thank me when you are smoking hot at 65 and everyone else your age looks like a prune. It kills me to see girls out in the sun with nothing covering their faces - because every sunburn causes more and more damage to the layers beneath your skin that you're not seeing, and it will eventually lead to thinks like wrinkles and age spots, and no one wants those. So, at the risk of sounding like a nag, start taking care of your skin now and take 2 minutes to put sunscreen on - or at least a protective moisturizer - every day. Even if it's raining. You cannot hide from UVB rays. I've tried. It didn't work.

Getting Started

So, it probably sounds dumb for me to say my first piece of advice is for you to always, always wash your face before you go to sleep. But, given the amount of girls (mostly under 16) I've worked with who have come in for a shoot wearing the same makeup they had on last night, I feel the need to say it anyway. Putting new makeup on top of old makeup is a recipe for disaster. I know you're tired, I know you don't feel like it...do it anyway. Invest in a good facewash to use morning and night - and pay attention to how your skin reacts. If it gets red and irritated, this might be an indication that you have sensitive skin and need a wash made for your skin type. Or if you get dry or flaky skin, obviously you'll need something moisturizing for dry skin. Getting to know your skin type is a big part of getting your makeup right - there are foundation formulas for normal skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, skin with acne, combonation skin...it can get confusing!

Starting with fresh, clean skin is super important - it will help your makeup go on smoother and you'll avoid looking clumpy or cakey when your base (and by that I mean your skin) is smooth and even. Don't forget to moisturize, too. A daily moisturize with at least an SPF 15 is a good way to start practicing good habits early on - Oil of Olay makes a great, lightweight moisturizer that's available in any drugstore. So, clean and moisturize every day - sounds simple, but it's the best thing you can do to make your makeup look even better!