Thanks for interesting feedback. Lots of diversity.
I’m asking my D16 to consider using some cover-up on her face when she has a blemish. Considering social norms, she’s lucky that without makeup, her face is beautiful with high cheek color, big almond eyes with dark long lashes, and full lips. But, when she has a breakout, her face could benefit from some cover-up, in my opinion, because the acne becomes “what you see first.”
I told her that when she’s outside her small circle of acquaintances, she might want to use foundation make-up to cover a breakout. I tried to explain it, but I don’t know how to describe social norms v. personal preferences to a young teen without making her feel “controlled” or rejected. Very sticky wicket, given gender norms, etc.
To add to it, she hates the feel of anything on her face due to sensory issues. Because of her outdoor sport, she must wear sunscreen, so I suggested a foundation with sun screen in it. We’ll see how that flies.
Of course, I’ll not force the issue, but I’d like her to consider the use of makeup in our culture as she moves out into the young adult world. As a mom, I want her way forward to be as smooth as possible, as her past has already been filled with struggle. But, ultimately, it’s her choice entirely.
She says she needs a very gentle, non-stinging makeup remover. Recommendations?
@dyiu13 - Neither my DD16 or my DD12 wear makeup much. They both attended all girl private high schools where very few girls wore makeup. My DD12 will only wear it to class if she is making a presentation and most often that only means mascara. DD16 is the same way and I expect she will do the same in college.
For makeup remover, my house uses Purity which is a Philosophy product. It is a face wash that removes all make-up and is moisturizing without oil. We like that it is one step and done for the night.
@dyiu13 D uses Neutrogena clean and clear cleanser for sensitive skin. Cleans and removes makeup in one step. When she wears makeup, D uses foundation - the whole works, but after watching tons of videos on makeup, it looks very natural. There are many days where she doesn’t wear any though.
@dyiu13 Both D16 and D13 wear make-up. D16 goes for a simple natural look, whereas D13 likes dramatic eyes.
We are hooked to Ponds Wet Cleaning Towelettes for removing make-up. For helping with breakouts, Sal3 soap. It’s a sulphur soap and smells like it. IT Bye Bye Redness Correcting Cream does a great job of covering up blemishes and redness. You can wear it alone if it’s a skin match, otherwise you’ll need a CC cream or Tinted Moisturizer or Mineral Powder or something all over. We also like Bare Minerals Concealer in Bisque or Summer Bisque (both powders) for a quick correction of redness or blemishes.
And, dermatologist if the acne is bad or scarring.
Well, I successfully dropped S off at high school for the last time. I didn’t have tears roll down my cheeks until I was on the way home. Tomorrow we all go together for one of the coldest outdoor graduations we’ve ever had. Dressing for warmth not style as it will be mid 30s while we sit on those metal bleachers for several hours. I just finished baking cupcakes and blowing up balloons. The rest of today will be stowing odds n ends out of sight, dusting, vacuuming, and preparing the serving areas for food and desserts. I also get to pick up older S from the train this afternoon! Yay!!! Haven’t seen him since January 2nd, but who’s counting?
Wow, @psychmomma remind me where you are again? That’s REALLY cold for this time of year! Even my old home town in NH is warmer! Congrats to you though, and may the warmth be with you.
@dyiu13 I don’t think anyone worth their salt will judge your D for having acne. If she prefers not t cover it up, that’s her option. D will get the occassional big red blemish, and uses a spot treatment pen thing that works very well, but it also dries up the surrounding skin. She’s realized that some foundations block her pores, so is looking for one that will cover, but not block. Lighter BB or CC creams don’t seem to have that effect. For removal, she uses baby wipes for sensitive skin-everything comes right off. She always moisturizes after and in the mornings, even if she is not wearing make up. She uses a no-scent, no-dye lotion.
Burts Bees makes wipes that remove make up. Those might be good for sensitive skin. Also, I agree with the idea of a tinted moisturizer. I grew up in a So Cal beach town and never really wore make up. Even now I don’t always and I also notice if a foundation feels heavy on my face. The tinted moisturizer w some powder brushed on after works pretty well and is an easy routine to get into.
@dyiu13, in high school my D used to get up at 6 am to shower, do her makeup, hair, etc. She would rarely wear sweats.
She said in college she started wearing leggins and comfy sweatshirts because everyone else did. I think she wears foundation most days but no heavy makeup.
@sseamom, we did some clothes sorting last summer and she got rid of a bunch of Aeropostale stuff. “Mom, I am going to college now”
She brought so much clothing to college but ended up not wearing a lot of it after discovering the casual comfy look.
So we are going through stuff again and getting rid of things that she definitely won’t wear anymore.
She does a lot of walking on campus so sneakers, combat boots and rain boots is what she mostly wears.
@dyiu13, my D started with mineral makeup, it’s very light. She bought it online. Make sure you get the kind that has no bismuth something in it because it can cause breakouts.
She uses makeup remover wipes. Some are more gentle than others, we get the ones our grocery store (MARTINS carries, in a white package). She tried others but those she likes best. So she stocked up on those.
I did not wear makeup in high school on a daily basis, if I went out somewhere maybe. Nor do I now.
My D is much better at hair and makeup than me. Her friends used to do each other’s hair and makeup for prom.
@dyiu13 unlike my often no-makeup D, I wear it everyday. I have a port wine stain birthmark on my right cheek, nose and chin. I remember sneaking some old makeup of my mom’s called “Indian Earth” in grade school and smearing it all over my face. No, you couldn’t see the birthmark, but that was because my whole face was blaze orange! Kudos to your D for not giving a rat’s butt; I have never been able to achieve that.
Middle age has been great for making me more reflective about looking different though (after all, a good looking fella married me, small children don’t shriek in terror when they see me, plus looking funny helps you develop your sense of humor ) I’ve tried every makeup under the sun. The best thing I’ve done recently is get color matched at Sephora so that the first thing you see isn’t mismatched makeup. Most days I just use a loose mineral power makeup all over to “take the edge off” the color of my birthmark. When I’m feeling sensitive, I add a long-wearing liquid makeup just to the birthmark (long wearing is huge if you want the coverage stay). Finally, CeraVe face wash is da bomb! It is, as they say in the beauty world, my holy grail product.
My DD does not plan to shop for college clothing here. She wants to see what people wear in Boston. In the meantime we spent last weekend cleaning our closets and putting stuff on eBay in order to raise money for her new college wear shopping.
Our son’s wardrobe consists of t-shirts, a few polo shirts, jeans, shorts, and a couple of hoodies. Unless there’s a lot of snow he wears Keens. He’s taking some DVD’s (he’s a film major, after all) and his electric guitar sans amplifier.
No hoodies for my son, as he does not like things pulled down over his head. His father tried to wash his hair one evening when he was maybe 2 years old and nearly drowned him. Anything with a need to force fit at the neck is always going to be avoided for the rest of his life. (Afro)
He lives in those free t-shirts the university clubs and visiting corporations give out, though. My daughters think, “How gauche.” He thinks, “Get over yourself.”
