Tips for Soft, Natural Makeup for Teens

Soft, minimalistic makeup isn’t only for teens so listen up!

Before we start with the actual makeup picks, the first step in any makeup routine is to keep your skin clean and hydrated. Invest in a gentle cleanser and use it nightly. Cetaphil is a fabulous, all-purpose option.

If you have very sensitive skin, you might try a cleanser that uses “micellar water” instead, like Garnier SKINACTIVE Micellar Cleansing Water. With this type of product, you’ll avoid the tap water rinse that can often be the source of breakouts.

Moisturize every night after cleansing your skin and before applying makeup. The Cerave moisturizer is a great affordable option.

Now onto the makeup:

By starting your makeup routine with the eyes you can easily wipe away any fallout without messing up any face makeup.

This Tartelette Eyeshadow Palette with a great selection of neutral colors is great basic starter eyeshadow palettes. 

I also love this eyeshadow palette option from Natasha Denona. It’s all you need in one palette.

Blend a medium matte color in the crease with a fluffy eye brush and apply one of the soft shimmer colors on the lid with your finger.

For eyeliner I recommend tightlining the upper lash line (applying eyeliner to the area inside the lash line instead of outside. It gives your eyes a soft definition without looking too harsh. This eyeliner in black or brown is easy to apply.
Smoke out the bottom lash line with the same eyeshadow that you used in the crease using a smudger brush and apply mascara to the lashes.

For the face, start out with a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer.

Apply a dot of foundation or tinted moisturizer to your cheeks, forehead and chin. Blend it using tapping motions with a makeup sponge for a flawless finish. Super important: Your makeup sponge needs to be damp. Wet it and squeeze it out well before using.         

A concealer with a full-coverage formula can come in handy for hiding blemishes and under-eye darkness. Apply a dot in areas that need more coverage and blend it out with the sponge.

Cream bronzer helps to sculpt and add dimension to the face. Apply it under the cheekbones and on the sides of the nose. It can also be used on the forehead and on the jawline to define its shape. Blend it out with the sponge.

Cream Blush will give you a dewy-looking rush of rosiness that mimics a naturally flushed face. Apply on the apples of the cheek bringing it upwards to lift the face. Apply with a brush and then blend it out with the sponge.

For added longevity, after you’ve applied your cream products you can set your makeup with setting powder, and top with powder bronzer and powder blush (skip this step if you want your makeup to look more skin-like and dewy).

For lips, this M.A.C. lipstick in the shade creme cup is super popular. This lip stain is another great option.

Top with this fabulous lip gloss.

If you’d like a great starter brush set, this makeup brush set is a great value.