Did your mom teach you how to apply makeup when you were a teenager?
Mine didn’t.
She just sat back and watched as I paraded around with a face full of blue eye shadow, matching blue eyeliner and mascara, orange blush, and frosty pink lipstick, and never said a word about how absolutely ridiculous I looked.
And that’s cool.
There’s a lot to be said for not interfering and letting your child experiment and figure out who she is.
But since it took me until I was in my mid-30s to feel comfortable in my own skin, I think I need to take a different approach when it comes to my own daughter.
I just don’t think that kind of history should repeat itself, you know?
And while my 5-year-old is a long way away from her teenage years (phew…), I know there are other moms out there who aren’t as lucky as I am, so I decided to share the best makeup tutorials for teenagers that I found on YouTube.
1. Teenage Skin: What To Do and Not To Do During Your Teens by gossmakeupartist
I really wish I had access to tutorials like this when I was a teenager! Wayne Goss really knows what he’s talking about (he suffered from bad acne in his 20s), and this clip is full of great tips and tricks to help teens get clear, blemish-free skin. I’ve been using 2 products religiously for the last 10+ years, which help keep blemishes at bay: Vichy Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Cleansing Micellar Water Facial Cleanser (removes even the toughest eye makeup and doesn’t irritate my skin) and La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment Cream (I use this under my makeup and at night to treat and prevent breakouts while also keeping my skin moisturized). I absolutely swear by them!
2. Acne/Blemish Covering Makeup – Foundation & Concealer Tutorial by Lisa Eldridge
I cannot get over how well Lisa Eldridge hides blemishes – where was she when I was a hormonal teenager??! She recommends heaps of great products in this tutorial, but the 2 that I like the most are the Clinique Clinique Redness Solutions Makeup and the Clinique Airbrush Concealer. Both are superior products in both minimizing redness and helping to hide blemishes and acne.
3. Beginner Eye Makeup Tips & Tricks by TheMakeupChair
A fantastic tutorial for beginners filled with tips and tricks for perfect, natural-looking eye makeup. I’ve already put together an entire post on professional makeup brushes at a fraction of the price (you can see it here), and if you’re looking for ONE affordable eyeshadow palette that will give you the most bang for your buck, I highly recommend the Maybelline New York The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette!
4. Selena Gomez Makeup Tutorial – Back to School Makeup! by gossmakeupartist
This tutorial is filled with pointers for quick, easy makeup for back-to-school that isn’t too over-the-top, but it can easily be dressed up for school dances with a darker shade of lipstick!
5. Back to Basic Beauty by Michelle Phan
I love all of Michelle Phan’s tutorials as they are filled with helpful tips and tricks, and this one is no different. It’s perfect for teens (or those who are new to makeup), and I love how natural her finished look is. And her nail trick is pretty cool, too!