When your tween and early teen daughters start to want to wear makeup, it’s scary for parents on many levels. Your little girl is growing up. The first time she walks out of her bedroom wearing makeup and high heels, is a day that I’m guessing many moms and dads feel their breath catch in their chests. Well read on…this will give you some great ideas of how to help your teen navigate the world of beauty right from the start!

In my experience, a teens first makeup item usually takes the form of a stark, black or dark brown eye pencil. I’ve seen it over the past two years with many of my younger cousins and it never ceases to shock me that that’s what they select.

The very best way to approach this sensitive topic at a very sensitive time, is to help your teenager to learn how to make herself look great and play up her individual and unique features. There is an amazing sense of pride and empowerment that young woman can gleen from knowing how to apply their own makeup in a flattering and age appropriate way (while we know that the term “age-appropriate” may be subjective and that your teen might have a different definition of that then you).

My recommendation would be to look through some magazines with your daughter, tear out looks that you think would look great on her that are natural yet polished and pretty. Have her also pull out some tears of looks that she likes. Talk them over come up with a compromise that you are both comfortable with and then take your tears and go to your favorite cosmetic guru at your local department store. If possible try to go on a weekday night so it won’t be too busy.

Some makeup tips that are generally important to keep in mind for girls of that 12–15 age range:

1. Get her on a good skincare regimin, now is the time to start with proper cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection. This will help your teen for the rest of her life! This doesn’t need to bank-breaking expensive skincare, there are dozens of great brands at the drugstore level! I recommend looking into brands like Neutrogena, Aveeno, Proactiv, Murad, and MD Skincare.
2. Often, they just want to wear what their friends are wearing. Earlier I gave the example that I’ve seen a lot of girls that just take a black eyeliner pencil and apply a stark line on the bottom lashline….on their young complexions, this looks very harsh and severe. It might appease them (and you) to buy a soft, light brown color pencil.
3. For your teens’ overall confidence, it’s important that they learn how to apply makeup properly. During the often turbulent teen years, they will take much comfort in knowing how to make themselves look and feel pretty.
4. Be kind! Your teen is growing up and dealing with all kinds of changes. Just as she did as a toddler learning to walk, she may stumble as she finds her personal look and style. Equipping her with knowledge and information about beauty and skincare will make a huge difference in her development.

Nicciknows is a makeup artist and beauty expert, as well as a former teenage girl who went through all the makeup phases that parents fear! She has come a long way in her beauty development since the 7th grade days of blue eyeshadow!