Making Up for Your Age

Making Up for Your Age

So you think you’re old enough to wear makeup? Your dad absolutely refuses and your mom doesn’t trust you to do a good job. Hello! You’re, like, 12 years old—what’s wrong with a little eye shadow (and eyeliner and lipstick and foundation….)? Before your parents ever let you walk out of the house with a speck of makeup on, you need to prove to them that you know how to wear it!
Makeup is meant to accentuate your features, not mask them. So if you think looking good is caking on the makeup, you’re wrong!
At your age, you don’t need foundation. In order to cover up your blemishes, use a concealer. Lightly dab concealer on your blemish. Blend it by lightly brushing outwards. Let it dry and then set it with a cotton swab dipped in loose powder. Need to brighten your eyes? Mix Cover Girl’s Invisible Concealer with a light eye shadow (choose a color like light pink or blush) and blend, starting at the corner of your eyes and move outwards.
When using blush, go for a natural, sun-kissed look. Lightly brush blush over the apples of your cheeks (to find your “apples,” just smile!), the bridge of your nose, and your forehead. Try Cover Girl’s Cheekers Blush.
When you’re going to school, forego the heavy lipstick and lip liner look. Opt for a fresher look with lip gloss. Lip gloss is light and looks natural while adding a shimmery glow.
Eyeliner is a big no-no. Your parents will NOT approve of you stepping out of the house with your eyes lined with blackest black liner. Eyeliner is a better for a nighttime look—so wait to experiment with it when you’re allowed to go to clubs and out on dates.
For now, stick to standing out with eye shadow. To apply eye shadow, brush a medium shade from your lash line up to the crease in your eye. Blend a deeper shade from the crease to slightly above it. Never, ever brush eye shadow up to your eyebrows—unless you’re going for that BoBo the Clown look!
When buying brushes and applicators, spend a little more money. They’ll last longer and do a better job. Remember to wash your brushes regularly—at least once a week. Wet the brushes and lather with a teeny, tiny bit of shampoo. Rinse completely and dry off excess wetness by blotting on a paper towel. Leave the brushes overnight to dry.
When it comes to makeup, less is more. You don’t want to appear like you’ve spent hours every morning applying loads of makeup. If you can prove to your parents that you can use makeup to accentuate your natural beauty, they will be more apt to let you wear it out of the house. Remember, makeup takes a lot of practice and creativity. Don’t be afraid to ask your mom for help—she’ll be honored to help!