Remember to wash your brushes at least once a week. It will prevent bacteria from growing and skin irritations and acne from forming. Add a dime-size amount of gentle shampoo to a cup, fill with water and swirl the brushes around. Then, take each brush and rinse it under streaming water. Gently squeeze out the water and form your brush head to its original shape. Synthetic brushes (foundation, concealer, lip, etc) will need more shampoo to get rid of the makeup in the bristles.
2. Sharing Makeup
Because bacteria can grow in products that contain moisture (mascara, liquid liner, lip gloss, sponges, liquid/cream foundation), sharing makeup with your friends can lead to eye infections or nasty skin problems. If your friend asks to use your lip gloss, put some on her hand, instead of letting her apply it directly from the tube. For eyeliner pencils, dip the tip in alcohol and then sharpen the pencil if you need to share.
3. The "Heavy" Look
Too much makeup on a teen girl can give off the impression that she's trying to look older than she is. Makeup needs to be applied and blended lightly and evenly. The correct brushes definitely help to blend and create a flawless application. Instead of a foundation, try a tinted moisturizer. Instead of a powder blush, try a sheer cream blush. For eyes, have fun and experiment with colors. Don't use black, because it can be too harsh and intense. Instead, try navy, gray, purple, or bronze. Here are some hot products to check out: Mark No Place To Run Longwear Eyeliner,Get a Tint Tinted Moisturizer Lotion SPF 15, Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint, and Matte-Nificent Oil Absorbing Powder.
4. Glitter Overload
If you like glitter, remember that too much can be an overkill and look too character-y (aka the Ke$ha effect). Instead, try using glitter in one area only, such as glitter lip gloss or glitter eyeliner.
5. Raccoon Eyes
Too much mascara can cause clumpy, crusty-looking lashes. Solution: Use a lash comb to separate lashes after applying each coat of mascara. Another option is to use a mascara that has a brush with tiny bristles, or one that comes with a brush comb.
