School Makeup

[Anonymous]

I just want a simple, dewy, everyday makeup routine for middle school. I am 14. Any suggestions? Also a "dry" formula mascara, one that holds curl? Thanks!

[Sasha156671]

If you're 14, I suggest you go full-on. I personally have been wearing stilettos since I was 11ish. I started wearing mascara, lipstick, lip liner, foundation, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, eyelashes and the rest since I was in sixth grade.. I suggest you start doing the same.

[italiandaughter]

Hey there! I think a great makeup starter kit for school would be the Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint, a pot cream blush that you can also use on your lips, like the Tata Harper one or the RMS lip2cheek pots, and the Glossier mascara with just a simple brown eyeliner like the Sephora collection one that’s only $12. Xx I hope this helped

[jennatar]

The most important thing you can wear every day is mascara! I really like Too Faced and Benefit's mascaras (and btw Benefit's tinted lash primer is really great on its own if you want a less "heavy," more natural look!). You could wear mascara and chapstick every day and always look really good.

When I was a kid I stuck to Benefit and drugstore products, plus the stuff in the Delia's catalogue (ask your mom) and whatever else my mom coughed up out of her makeup-freebies drawer, ahahaha. I still think Benefit is super cool and fun, and it's my first choice for teens, especially for powdered blush. A brush comes in the box, and it's actually a really good brush. (Benefit also makes a bunch of fun, interesting highlighters. The type that comes in a stick is the easiest to blend.)

As others have already said, start wearing sunscreen now. Dr Jart+ Beauty Balm gets another recommendation from me (it's all I wear), and it won't break you out. You're at that age where you're starting to want to wear concealer, too; Nars radiant creamy concealer reminds me the most of the product I first started using in junior high. (Make sure your hands are totally clean, and you can just tap it in with your finger.)

As a tween I wasn't allowed to tweeze my eyebrows or get them waxed; I wish brow pencils were "a thing" back then, because I could have really helped out my eyebrow situation! (I had a big embarrassing scar in my eyebrow.) If you try out brow pencil, you don't need to go with an expensive one; just make sure you pick a shade lighter than your brow, or it'll look really weird.

Clinique makes "chubby sticks," which will give you a sheer wash of glimmering color on your eyelids or lips. Try setting your face with a spray rather than powder. I like Too Faced's, but Urban Decay's "All Nighter" is considered the gold standard.

I know everyone is into video tutorials these days, but the best "idea" book for eye makeup is Everything Eyes by Bobbi Brown! It isn't overly advanced, so you can start trying out different looks right away.

[jennatar]

Oh, I guess you actually asked for a routine!

- clean face (and then apply sunscreen if you have it)

- primer spray, if you have it (I like Too Faced's 3-in-1 spray)

- eyelids (I recommend just a swipe of cream color in a stick, and blend with your fingertips -- if it creases badly during the schoolday, you might look into getting a separate eyelid primer)

- tinted moisturizer or BB cream (everyone is recommending Dr Jart!)

- conceal as needed, dotting concealer using the wand and then tapping away until it disappears into your skin

- apply blush lightly on the apples of your cheeks -- don't overdo it or you'll look like the old lady at the DMV

- curl lashes if you want!

- mascara, 1-2 coats on just the upper lashes

- a spritz or three of setting spray (Urban Decay makes a good one, but Too Faced's isn't as heavy or sticky, and the 3-in-1 smells like coconuts)

- a swipe of lip balm or a tinted gloss and you're on your way!

[Annalily11]

What price range are you looking at for things? While all the suggestions here have been lovely, some are probably a little more pricey than you'll want to do if you're paying for makeup on your own. 

I'd recommend the NYX or Maybelline BB cream and then a Maybelline concealer. Wet and Wild has some great blushes if you're looking for one. After that, pretty much every brand has a decent lip gloss and there are plenty of affordable tinted lipbalms, so find one in a natural color you won't have to worry about. There's also a pink tube mascara from maybelline that's supposed to be really good, and covergirl and essance are also known for their mascaras. 

These products should give you a nice, dewy look and should be more than 10-15 minutes to put on.

[Audreyrolstad]

my everyday school makeup is:

• benefit roller lash mascara (in brown to look more natural)
• Anastasia Beverly Hills brow wiz and benefit ka brow tinted brow gel
• milk makeup flex concealer (for under eyes) and naked urban decay lightweight concealer (all blended out with a MAC beauty blender)
• laura mercier setting powder
• nars orgasm blush
• este lauder glow serum
• Eos lip balm
• fresh  rose floral toner setting spray

[jennatar]

This is a great routine! All the basics, and it gets you out the door in a jiffy!

I think I really like MILK products (or, really, anything you can buy in a stick) for young people who are constantly on-the-move and need their makeup to not break in their bags.

Kudos for choosing brown lash mascara!! (Your brow routine is on point, too -- terrific products, all anyone needs for nice-looking, groomed eyebrows.) You have an enviable makeup bag!

[Anonymous]

I'm your age, and I just do the basics. Such as eyeshadow, lipstick, and blush. (I was told that the best brand to start with was Clinique)

[jennatar]

Clinique definitely has a reputation as the best "real" makeup for young people -- great tips here!

[notyournickname]

The cheek pop is a great recommendation! 😄😄

[Anonymous]

I know it is! 😁

[fantaji]

Check out Lisa Eldridge videos on Youtube. She is the queen of natural makeup that enhances your features and doesn't look too over the top.

[natalieanndawso]

Maybelline dewy and smooth foundation, loreal pro glow concealer, blush and mascara are always good for middle school

[draculasmermaid]

tinted moisturizer and use concealer if you get a pimple waterproof mascaras usually hold a curl highlighter, I love the milk makeup in lit it makes me look dewy blush- I love the glossier cloud paints! also make your cheeks dewy clear brow gel or fill them in if they are sparse

[Anonymous]

I’m 13. I wear a concealer, powder, mascara, and lip stuff. As for the dewy part, I would say use a hydrating primer like I do. I have very dry skin.

[JorJor23]

Also, Marc Jacobs velvet Noir mascara is really good and holds a curl!

[JorJor23]

I would use a CC cream with a light weight concealer, and add a liquid highlighter! I love to use the it cosmetics cc cream, paired with pretty vulgar's concealer, and sephora's liquid highlighter!

[Tamara76]

@Anonymous I asked the expert, my teen daughter, and she said you should wear whatever makes you happy! ❤️

I do like the suggestions below of using a BB cream instead of a heavy foundation - My daughter really likes Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.

You can also mix a little liquid illuminator into your BB cream or tinted moisturizer for extra glow, NYX makes a really pretty one, but make sure to set it with powder, like Laura Mercier.

My daughter also loves NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer to help cover blemishes and any under eye dark circles.

Her favorite mascara right now is NYX Worth The Hype.

My daughter is pretty glam, so she does full contouring, highlight, blush, eyeshadow - the works!  Not sure if you want suggestions on all that, but let me know if you do! ❤️

[RoamingHoliday]

BB cream or tinted moisturizer (Dr. Jarts ones are good) , little bit of concealer (the Benefit hydrating concealer stick is great), cream blush (Stila convertible colors are really cute and versatile for cheek and lip), and as for drier mascara formulas I really like Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes. If you get something like YSL kiss and blush lip stain or the matte lip stains here's a little tip: if you set your eyes with a primer you can make the lip cream work as a wash of eye color so you can use it for eyes, lips, cheeks. A good cream lipstick can also double up well as a blush and be budget-friendly.

Also, the Sephora Collection products are actually pretty dope and worth taking a look at. A lot of stuff I've used from that line have been winners lately. 

[jennatar]

Thirding. I wish I'd had Dr Jart Beauty Balm when I was in middle school (but I have it now, yay!). I'm not sure what the difference is between the regular type and the "black label," but neither should break you out if you're acne-prone. ❤️