The teenage face

Remember the days of caked on foundation and black-as-can-be kohl eyeliner?

 I've been wanting to write this post for a little while now after recently reminiscing with my old school friends about what we used to get up to. We've all been there, looking back at old school photos where we thought we looked oh so grown up and sophisticated when in fact we look more like an oompa-loompa with black eyes after a growth spurt. Why did no one tell me my 'fringe' and over-curled hair looked like a beaver had died on my head?

Remember the days when you took your first trips to town without your parents on a Saturday afternoon? The combination of being armed with your best friends and a Starbucks chocolate frappuccino (with cream obviously, always the epitome of health) while roaming the isles of Boots to spend your pocket money soon became a weekly ritual. Once the must-have item had been purchased we returned to a friends house to pour over it and test it out. As a child I was not entirely tomboy-ish, however I was never your typical girly girl. That being said, I used to adore wearing glitter hairspray at primary school discos... don't judge. I was simply a happy, care-free girl who loved nothing more than rollerblading outside with friends.

I started wearing makeup to school in year 8, at the tender age of 13. These days that probably seems practically ancient compared to today's young things *feels old* but at the time it was an acceptable age to start dabbling in makeup. It happened after I noticed some girls in my year starting to wear it so naturally curiosity got the better of me, especially as I was quite shy and wanted to fit in. Mascara, jet black of course, was probably the first product I wore with a bare face. We've all made the mistake of accidentally buying waterproof mascara that not even a direct jet wash to the face would budge. In spite of this, I loved the way it defined my eyes and soon began adding to the 'dramatic' look with lashings of black kohl liner by Rimmel. Of course layered on my waterline! There's nothing better than looking like a demented panda each day. The teachers must've thought I looked hilarious.

After the innocence of eye makeup I needed more. I needed foundation. Raise your hand if you remember the holy grail of teen face coverage: Dream Matte Mousse. Need I say more? Looking back there is something very unnatural about a foundation so whipped that it resembles something you're supposed to eat for dessert, however we were hooked.
It's 11am. The bell that signifies the start of break has just echoed through the corridors. Girls twitch and reach into their blazer pockets, manically feeling for a hand-held mirror. Nervous eyes gaze into it. What's that? A patch of natural skin emerging from beneath an inch of slightly-too-orange matte mousse? Time to reapply. Liberally. Note: Application is not complete until you have wiped your entire hand down the toilet wall to remove excess, leaving a haunting hand print making the room look like a murder scene.

As the years rolled on and the faces of my peers became more made up, it became quite the challenge to avoid the wrath of the pastoral care team. I can vividly remember one morning where they marched all repeat makeup offenders to the canteen and confiscated their beloved stash. Luckily my school bag had a hole in the lining so I poked everything through it! Students - 1, Teachers - 0.
Looking back, you learn from your teenage beauty mistakes, and it's definitely part of the fun whilst growing up. It's the perfect time to make them. Plus I wouldn't have numerous albums of dodgy photos to giggle at now!

Important things I have learnt:

- Less is definitely more. I know it's really really tempting to pile concealer on your spots; however this short term fix will do you no favours. It may be easier said than done but please try to embrace your teenage skin. Let it breathe and don't pick at spots to avoid scarring.
- Keep it looking natural. You have your whole life to pile on makeup, so save it until you need it. Your skin will only look this youthful once in your life. All you need to do is simply enhance your natural beauty with a little lip gloss, peachy blusher and dab of mascara. Perfect.
- Don't put eyeliner on your waterline. It makes your eyes look teeny. Instead opt for a liquid liner which opens your eyes and enhances their natural shape. My favourite thing to do is wing it at the sides.
- Clean your skin properly each night with a proper cleanser and toner. Do not use makeup wipes, all they do is smudge your makeup round with their horrible perfume-y smell. I learned to do it straight after school before I went into sloth mode.

What was your experience of makeup at school?