Written by Tiffany Terrell
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Makeup 101: What's Right for You
I remember always looking at mom while she applied her makeup on thinking I cannot wait until I am able to start wearing makeup. Once that day occurred, I did not know anything about makeup. Many teenagers suffer from acne. The worst thing to do is cake your face up with makeup; it is only going to make skin problems worst! If you must put makeup on, go for a fresh, natural look. African American teens have a difficult time finding something that works for them because many makeup products are geared towards other ethnicities. African American teenagers should focus on finding shades that work mostly with their dark skin tone and of course, natural beauty. Here are some tips on what might work for your skin.
Moisturize
It is very important that you wash and moisturize your face before putting on makeup. This will ensure that your face is clean and ready for makeup applications.
It is very important that you wash and moisturize your face before putting on makeup. This will ensure that your face is clean and ready for makeup applications.
Foundation
A tinted moisturizer or pressed powder can provide coverage to even out your skin tone. Many teenagers might wear a foundation to cover up blemishes or even acne. Since teenagers typically have oily skin, look for a mineral base foundation. To find a foundation that is a perfect match to your skin, you can do this by testing the foundation on the inside of your wrist or along your jawbone. As a teenager, it is not necessary for you to use a liquid foundation. |
Eyeliner and Mascara
Eyeliner shows off your eyes while mascara shows off your eyelashes. When finding the right eyeliner, dark skinned teenagers should use colors like brown, blue, black, or green. Light-skinned teenagers could use the same colors or go lighter. Secret to eyeliner, do not line the inside of your eyes. Instead, line just the lash line. It will make your eyes pop out instead of appearing smaller. Apply a light coat of black or brown waterproof mascara to the tip of your lashes. You can also invest in an eyelash curler. It is best to curl before applying mascara. If you are not a fan of mascara, you can always use Vaseline. You can put a little on your finger or on a clean lash brush and rub it on your lashes. Gives you the same effect as it would if you were wearing regular mascara |
Blush
African American teens should not focus so much on covering their cheeks. You do not want to look like Bozo the Clown! Blush is something you really do not need right now but if you must put it on, focus on using a dark tone blush and apply it lightly. |
Eye Shadow
Find a warm color like gold, bronze, even a dark green, or a neutral color like browns, peaches, and plums to bring out your eyes. When taking eye shadow off, use Vaseline. It is a cheap but great eye makeup remover! |
Lips
A shinny coat of lip-gloss is all you need…as a teenager. However, if you must use colors, try pink, nudes (my favorite), and/or browns. Vaseline also works great on chapped lips. |