Teen Girls' Health

Makeup and Your Skin

Acne and Dry Skin continued...

It’s very common for teens with acne to also have eczema on their face, a condition that causes skin to become inflamed and often very dry and scaly.

If you have acne and eczema, drying out your skin can make the eczema much worse. In this case, the right moisturizer is what you’re on the hunt for. “Many teens think that [using moisturizer] will make them break out more,” Green says. “But using a non-oily, noncomedogenic moisturizer actually makes it better.”

Dry skin and acne can both be improved by treating acne with prescription antibiotics and lotions that are non-drying, such as moisturizing gels.

Foundation Breakdown

There are a lot of options available to teens when it comes to choosing a foundation makeup. Not only is the market flooded with many different brands, there are different textures too.

Here’s a rundown of the most common types of foundation makeup and what you can expect from each.

Liquid Foundation

If you are interested in a liquid foundation, Marmur suggests trying a light tinted moisturizer or a thinner liquid makeup for a more sheer, natural cover. “It will moisturize [the skin] and it is easier to take off,” she says.

In addition, some liquid foundations contain salicylic acid. Marmur says foundations that are non-oily, noncomedogenic, and contain acne-fighting salicylic acid allow teens to wear makeup and still keep their skin clear because they don’t block pores.

Mineral Foundations

Mineral powders are often advertised as natural products that will not only provide a nice smooth appearance, but also help to promote healthier skin.

These products are OK for teens, Marmur says, but most are actually oil-based clay, which may not be the best product for a young girl with oily skin. Still, “It will make skin look better for the day,” Marmur admits.

If you’re partial to mineral powder foundation, take extra care in removing it at the end of the day. Look for an oil-based makeup remover and then go over your face again with a mild toner to make sure that all the makeup is completely removed and your skin is clear.

Cover Sticks

Although not technically a foundation, cover sticks are a great way for teenagers to cover the skin imperfections they’d prefer others didn’t see, Green and Marmur say.

Cover sticks do a nice job of hiding blemishes without subjecting your skin to loads of makeup. Instead of applying foundation to your entire face, you can use a cover stick to hide each individual blemish.

“The most important thing is to find one that matches your color skin,” Green says. “It looks bad when the color is off.”

Take a close friend, your sister, or your mom -- someone you trust -- to the store to help you determine which color best blends in with your natural skin color.

And easy does it when it comes to applying a cover stick, or any makeup, for that matter. “You don’t want to cake it on,” Marmur says.

The idea is to smooth out your skin’s appearance while still looking like yourself.