ABOUT FACE:Irish teens could take a leaf out of the French skincare book
"Mum, please, please never give up this job," say my daughters, as another bag of beauty samples hits our house. I'm lucky enough to have two willing testers at hand for products suitable for the younger beauty queen. My girls are experts in mascara and highlighters, and what they don't know about the smoky eye isn't worth knowing.
The age when a girl starts using something other than soap and water on her face varies, but most little girls love to emulate their mothers and smear on the lipstick. Wearing make-up is a passport to adulthood, one of the reasons it's so appealing. Techniques are shaky and budgets tight, which often results in overkill and the Tango tan.
In France, skincare is encouraged from a young age, and Irish teens could take a leaf out of their book, without breaking the bank. Cetaphil(€6.79) is an excellent cleanser available from pharmacies everywhere which comes recommended by many a skin specialist for sensitive skin. It will also remove even the toughest eye make-up.
Find a light moisturiser to suit your skin such as Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream(€22.70), which a favourite in our house. Don't try to conceal using foundation -- instead, invest in a good concealer that matches your skin tone. MAChas an excellent range of colours (€16) which last forever, so it's money well-spent.
Foundation is the one item I recommend getting advice on, as nothing else you apply will compensate for the wrong colour on your face. Cliniquehas an excellent range of weights and shades; my pick is the Gentle Light Foundation(€28).
If you are confident choosing your own colour, you can get great results in the value ranges. Barbara Daly for Tesco(€10.70) is fantastic value and the colours compare well with some of the more expensive brands.
Dual-purpose products are a great investment, and many are designed with teenagers in mind. Many brands have a double-ended eye liner and shadow pencil; and there are also dual cheek and lip products. Stila's Cherry Crush(€22.50) is new and gives a gorgeous natural flush to cheeks and a subtle stain to lips.
It's hard to beat Maybelline Great Lash Mascara(€6.99). It's not a world best-seller for nothing.
Rimmel Londonis always fashion-forward at an affordable price. Try The kohl eyeliner (€4.35) is hard to beat. Bourjoishas beautiful eye colours (€8.99) in distinctive little pots.
Tools are important so every teen should invest in a good eyebrow tweezers - you can't beat Tweezerman(€20).
Don't overpluck! It's worth having brows professionally shaped once, and then just keep them tidy. The best value-for-money brushes are from the Body Shop, which has a comprehensive range (prices start at €12) for accurate application.
There is so much time spent on hair washing/styling/straightening in our house that the GHDeventually wore out and gave up. Hair is a very important part of the finished look, and regular visits to the salon can be expensive. The solution is to go to the model classes which are available in most salons with trainees.
Two pluses here: first, your hair will get expert attention as the treatment is overseen by an experienced stylist, and second, the sky's the limit in terms of experimentation, as the trainees need to explore all kinds of new techniques. You usually need to make an appointment, so contact the salon and inquire about training days.