Back to School Make-Up Basics for Teens

Last weekend at our free monthly workshops in LA and NY, we showed our participants how to enhance your positive features and diminish your negative features. In case you missed it, we will break down the steps and show you how to create a soft preppy schoolgirl look and an artsy urban-chic look – whichever look suits you best!

Now, let’s get started!

Face: Analyze the texture of the skin and prep your face. Remove excess oils with a toner and cotton round and moisturize your face if necessary. Prime your face with Face Primer using a MUD Professional Make-Up Sponge or #940 Foundation Brush. To achieve an even tone for your face, choose two or three Cream Foundations that are closest to the undertone and shade of your skin. Sample the colors on your jaw line and drag the color down your neck; a good match is when the foundation disappears into the skin. Begin the application on your forehead and work your way down to the neck with the Professional Make-Up Sponge or #940 Foundation Brush. For a sheer coverage, mix MUD’s Cream Foundation with the Face Primer. *Tip: If you are using a Color Creme, apply before setting the make-up with Loose Powder. Set the foundation with Loose Powder using a #710S Powder Blush Brush for a longer lasting wear.

Brows: Remove the foundation and powder out of your eyebrows with a disposable mascara wand and 99% alcohol. Use the appropriate colored Eye Pencil to shape and fill in your eyebrows. For a softer long lasting application, transfer the pigment from the Eye Pencil onto a #210S Angle Liner Brush and apply the color in the same direction as the hair growth. As an alternative, use an Eye Color similar to the natural hair with a #210S Angle Liner Brush. Look for equal balance and weight. But remember… brows are sisters, not twins.

Get this Look: The Soft Preppy Schoolgirl

Eyes: For a soft, natural look, try a soft dusting of a light Eye Color on the lid with a #330S Shadow Fluff Brush. Eye Colors such as the Cashmere, Wheat, Apricot, Pixie, Pink Grapefruit, and Spanish Gold are perfect for this look. Choose an Eye Color a few shades darker to lightly enhance the crease with a #800S Crease Brush. Blend to feather out the color for soft edges. Tip: DO NOT exceed the outer corners of the lid. Lay the handle of a brush on your face with the handle touching the outer corner of the nose, outer corner of the eye to the end of the eyebrow. This will make for an easy guideline to prevent the outer corners from drooping. Finish this look with a coat of Volumizing Mascara.

Cheeks: The Rose Petal Cheek Color is the perfect schoolgirl blush. For medium to darker skin tones, try the Bubblegum or Poppy Cheek Color. Apply to the apples of the cheeks in a circular motion and lightly sweep back and upward toward the ear with a #710S Powder/Blush Brush.

Lips: A great rule of thumb when applying lip color is to stick with the same family of color as the cheek color. Not only is the Cupid Lip Glaze in the same family, it also continues in the same theme with that pouty schoolgirl lip.

Get this Look: The Artsy Urban-Chic Girl

Eyes: Before you start the eye treatment, think of your colors. If you go super bold on the eyes, tone down your lips. If you have subtle eye color selections, choose a fun color to really play up your lips. It should ALWAYS be one or the other. Begin with a pop of color on the lid with a #330S Shadow Fluff Brush; bright fun colors are best used on the lid for this artsy urban-chic look. Choose a shadow and deepen the crease with a #800S Crease Brush; blend to feather out the color for soft edges. Tip: DO NOT exceed the outer corners of the lid. Lay the handle of a brush on your face with the handle touching the outer corner of the nose, outer corner of the eye to the end of the eyebrow. This will make for an easy guideline to prevent the outer corners from drooping. For a precise, defined look use a Cake Eyeliner with a #100 Round Liner Brush. Activate the Cake Eyeliner by spraying water onto a Stainless Steel Palette and spin the brush in the water to create a fine point. Never spray directly into the product. Mix the product until the desired consistency. To achieve that glamorous eyeliner, lay the brush flat from the inner corner of the eye while hugging the lash line; drag the brush to the center of the lid. Relax your eye, look straight ahead and place a small dot on the outer corner where the end of the wing should end. Reload your brush and place the tip on the dot and drag your brush toward the center. Fill in the liner to even the color out. Use the same Eye Color that you used in the crease as a drop shadow on the lower lash line with a #210S Angle Liner Brush. Finish this cool urban-chic look with a coat of Cream or Volumizing Mascara.

Cheeks: The Rose Beige Cheek Color adds depth and warmth without taking away from the creativity of the eye or lip application. For medium to darker skin tones, try the Gingerbread Cheek Color. Apply to the apples of the cheeks in a circular motion and lightly sweep back and upward toward the ear with a #710S Powder/Blush Brush.

Lips: For a subtle lip application with a little shine, line and fill in the lips with the Natural Lip Pencil and coat the lips with the Bare Lip Glaze. To play up the lips with a fun color, use the Red Lip Pencil to define the lip line. Apply the Lady Bug Satin Lipstick with a #310 Lip Brush. Make sure to hug the lip line with the outer edge of the brush. Top it off with a coat of the Cupid Lip Glaze. Tip: Remember, bold eyes-subtle lips and subtle eyes-bold lips!