It’s the age old battle, we’ve seen it time and time again. I’m talking about the struggle every little girl faces when she feels she is old enough to start wearing makeup versus how much makeup her mother will allow. It’s hard to define just how much is appropriate and how much is too much. In some cultures it is more widely accepted than others but then again it can come down to just how protective your parents are.

Working in the makeup world for as long as I have, I’ve seen a lot. I’ve had women ask me to apply lipgloss on their 2 year old which is one extreme, all the way to a 40 year old women coming in to buy her first foundation. It’s hard to say what’s right and what’s wrong, I think it truly depends on the situation, but one thing I do know is that when any girl/woman first starts applying makeup, they need to learn how to do it right. So if you have a teenager, or are a teenager and are beginning your journey with makeup, I wanted to share some tips to help you get started right.

1. Learn the basics first. I wouldn’t suggest going straight to the bright blue shadow right off the bat. You need to learn how to work with eyeshadow first, how much is needed, where to apply it and how to blend. Work with neutral shades first, and once you master that, then venture out into color.

2. Understand the difference between blush and bronzer. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had girls asking for bronzer only to watch them apply it as blush. News flash folks, they are not the same product!! Bronzer is meant to be applied to the perimeter of the face and under the cheekbones to give your face some dimension and a glow. Blush is meant for the cheeks to mimic, well, how you look when you’re blushing. Not the same product at all.

3. Black versus Brown liner. A lot of you will want to line your eyes with black eyeliner, a look made popular by many celebs, but a lot of moms will have a big problem with that. If black is too much, don’t be too upset about it, you can always start with brown! It will still give you the look you want without being overly dramatic.

4. Master the art of concealer. Foundation is probably the last thing any mom will ok, and while a lot of teens may find that to be unfair, there’s always concealer. Concealer is great to cover dark undereye circles and spot conceal blemishes, which is more than enough to fulfill most girls needs. Master your application and you will be set for life. Here’s a little video I did that will help:

5. Get into a good habit when it comes to skincare. If you are going to wear makeup, you have to take care of your skin. That means, cleansing, toning and moisturizing..and NEVER sleeping with your makeup on. No matter how tired you are.

Makeup is a very powerful tool  and when applied right it can totally enhance your appearance and even self esteem. When applied wrong, well, it can actually make you look worse than your natural look. So learn how to do it right from the start and you will be set for life.

If any of you are looking to learn, I have over 60 makeup tutorials posted on my YouTube Channel plus I offer Lessons and Personal makeup shopping sessions.