Should teenage girls wear makeup?

I try to read a variety of media, and while the Times and Financial Times are mainstays, I also read the Guardian regularly, and from time to time reactivate a free trial of the Telegraph. In the latter, I recently read Annabel Jones' 'Should teenage girls wear makeup? I think it's fine - and here's why' - and I tend to agree with her.

I started playing with makeup in the pre-teen years: when I was 11 or 12.

Puberty is starting younger and younger - I started my periods a month after my twelfth birthday and developed acne at the age of 10. This is also now happening to even younger girls, due to environmental factors such as diet. So if you do have acne, it's natural that your self-confidence would feel dented - and even though I do see the argument of letting the skin get some air (and even as an adult ensure I have at least two makeup-free days a week), I also think a bit of concealer does more good than harm (especially if, like I was, you are also bullied). This is one of the first points made by the Telegraph's beauty editor also.

I would probably just go for a lighter mineral concealer, rather than the cheap stick foundations and concealers that I used to slather on, which were quite thick and cakey. ELF does good affordable ones that will cover blemishes while allowing skin to breathe.

I also used to love messing around with nail varnishes with my cousin, and would argue that such experiences are good for bonding - though this is also an argument for cheap clothes and nail polishes, as well as plenty of nail varnish remover, as chances are it will go everywhere! I didn't have a particular favourite brand, but used to go for the classics that pervade the aisles at Boots and Superdrug - Maybelline, 17, and so on. I was mainly about the colours, rather than brands, and especially all about the glitter, for which Barry M is a good choice. It also teaches you about science - namely, not to use nail varnish remover to clean up accidentally spilled nail polish from the top of a plastic TV casing...

Experimenting with eyeshadows - especially pink glittery ones - was another favourite pursuit, and as well as being just plain fun, helps you to see what colours suit you so that you can develop a sophisticated style long-term. I wouldn't be so keen on pink glittery eyeshadows now, but would go for dark purples, blues, browns, metallics or even greens to highlight my grey eyes.

This argument is even more persuasive when it comes to foundation. While young skin doesn't specifically need it, there are plenty of lighter foundations available, as well as tinted moisturisers, and even BB creams, which didn't exist when I was an adolescent but are a great option for teen skin, not just for breathability but also their other functions (such as SPF). I wouldn't recommend cheaper options in this case - even now, I'd say investing in the base is everything so as to not damage your skin. Furthermore, more expensive brands tend to have a wider range of shades available, meaning you have a greater chance of a good-looking result. It's perhaps more important and higher-stakes than you might think to get this right at a young-ish age - I went for my first job interview when I was 15, and who wants to go with a massive tide mark along the jaw line because the shade isn't right? It's a good lesson for young people too: if you want to wear makeup, then look professional. While quite a few of the cheaper high street brands have upped their game since I was trying out foundations for the first time, most still have their 'palest' shade pitched either too dark or too orange - so I would recommend trading up. Try Lily Lolo for mineral foundations that are kind to acneic skin.

Even though I started wearing makeup at a young age, I'm forever grateful to my (otherwise strict!) parents for their laissez-faire attitudes regarding this. Annabel Jones mentions in her article about picking your battles and not restricting the amount or type of makeup your teen wears - and I tend to agree, as doing the opposite would only breed resentment. It's something your teen has to work out for themselves - and, as I have mentioned above, in their own time (and plenty of it).

As she also mentions, good skincare routines and products are vital too. Steer clear of the cheap and artificial as far as possible - brands like Lush, Zao, Couleur Caramel, and Lamazuna are environmentally friendly too. Conversely, don't be afraid to seek prescription products if really needed for teen skin conditions.

Annabel Jones' most important comment though, is that makeup is about enhancing - not disguising - who you really are. And that, for teenage girls who may be feeling more insecure by the day, is crucial.

Clean and Clear Hint of Tint Cover and Correct Cream

RRP: £6.99
# of shades available: 2

--What does the promo say?--
"Instantly conceals and helps clear spots for clear, beautiful skin. NEW CLEAN & CLEAR®Hint of Tint™ gives you instantly clearer, beautiful skin in one quick & easy step!"

--Packaging--
A bit functional and dated in its design, but as this suggests, it works well nonetheless.

--Appearance--
The limited number of shades available means that this definitely won't suit everyone. The 'light' shade (which I was sent for free by Clean & Clear's PR) is acceptable on me, but I would still maybe prefer to only wear it in summer. Furthermore, the result is a bit sheer for me, but that's a matter of personal preference rather than being an inherent fault in the product.

--Scent--
Nothing of note.

--Texture and consistency--
Smooth and blends well.

--Coverage--
Doesn't really deliver on this score; you will likely need to top up with concealer and/or powder.

--Value for money--
As I prefer a more matte, heavier-coverage finish, I probably wouldn't purchase this. However, others with different needs could give it a go.

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Correct and Perfect CC Cream

RRP: £6.99
# of shades available: 2

--What does the promo say?--
"Neutrogena Visibly Clear® has developed a CC Cream that instantly covers spots and other imperfections, while helping to correct them – in one easy step. Immediately, your complexion looks more even. Day after day, your skin is clinically proven to become clearer and healthier-looking, even without make-up!"

--Packaging--
The orange and purple banding is distinctive, cheerful and unisex, meaning that it not only stands out on the shelf but also clearly marks this product out as part of Neutrogena's Correct and Perfect range (which also includes a scrub). The flip-top lid is hardy and practical, while the image on the front of the tube, showing a swipe of cream, clearly shows both what the product is and the type of shade you can expect. Equally, the brand logo is clearly visible while being discreet.

--Application--
Apply a thin layer to the skin first, and then wait for this to dry before building up coverage. Adding too thick a layer at the start will cause the product to cake unevenly.

--Appearance--
The 'light' shade of the cream, kindly sent to me by Neutrogena's PR, blends in perfectly with my skin tone, which is always a relief given the fact that there are only two shades available of this product. However, the coverage afforded by the product is rather light, too, and thus not what I would wish.

--Scent--
Nothing discernible.

--Texture and consistency--
While initially smooth, creamy and luxurious without clogging, and blends well, over time this dries in uneven patches, meaning that you need to keep an eye on it.

--Longevity--
Unfortunately again in this respect the product tends to cake and show up the driest areas of your skin (for those of us with combination skin), meaning that reapplications are necessary.

--Effects on the skin--
A small improvement in blemish quantity is definitely notable, which is a positive point for this product and fulfils what they promise.

--Value for money--
At £6.99 this is hardly going to break the bank, and it has moisturising as well as blemish-busting qualities. However, I'm not liking the caking effect much, which suggests that going back to the drawing board in terms of texture would be advisable in the longer term.

perfect partners
Spot Clearing Facial Wash, £4.99
Blackhead Eliminating Cleansing Lotion, £3.25
Rapid Clear Treatment, £3.69
Blackhead Eliminating SOS Cleanser, £4.89
Complexion Scrub, £5.99
Spot Stress Control Daily Scrub, £3.69
Oil-Free Moisturiser, £4.19
Gentle Exfoliating Wash, £3.79
Blackhead Scrub, £3.69
Spot Stress Control Daily Exfoliating Wash, £4.49
2 in 1 Wash and Mask, £3.69

GIVEAWAY: Neutrogena CC Cream

Neutrogena have very kindly sent me one of their brand new Visibly Clear Correct and Perfect CC Creams (in Medium) to give away to one of you lovely people. Yes, you!

I also have one to test for myself, which I'm looking forward to doing, as it promises to cover spots and breakout marks while helping to correct them too. It contains salicylic acid, so it's bound to do something to help.

To enter, email bianca[DOT]dee[AT]gmail[DOT]com with your name and address. And that's all! The competition will close one week from today, on March 30th, 2016, at 18.30 UK time. So get emailing and good luck :)

No7 Youthful CC Cream

# of shades: 2
RRP: £14.95

--What does the promo say?--
"The 'CC' in CC Cream can stand for different things for example Colour Corrector, Complete Correction or Complexion Correction. The key benefit that all CC Creams deliver is a beautifully even Complexion by correcting uneven skin colour and pigmentation. Our new No7 Youthful CC Cream is a Complexion Corrector- it's a great multi-tasking product which combines giving you a beautifully even skin tone with anti-aging benefits. Just like our BB Creams it's great for those lighter coverage days or as an additional beautifier alongside your normal foundation/ skincare routine."

--Packaging--
The white and silver combination provides a futuristic finish and the squeezy tube and screw-top lid are both practical.

--Application--
Apply to clean dry skin. Theoretically, concealer, powder and moisturiser shouldn't be necessary, but a primer may be necessary due to its sheer coverage (more of which below).

--Appearance and coverage--
Unfortunately, as this only comes in two shades, the fact that the lighter of the two shades does suit me is probably down to luck. As mentioned, the coverage is quite sheer, meaning that a) you may need a primer to prevent it from sliding off, and b) if you have blemishes, concealer and powder may still be necessary for you. However, it does add radiance, which is important for deflecting attention away from blemishes and fine lines.

--Scent--
Nothing discernibly bothersome.

--Texture and consistency--
This product has a smooth consistency that blends well. As it does only provide light coverage, I tend to apply two coats, and the product stands up to this very well, with this not leading to a sticky or caked-on feeling in the least.

--Longevity--
As mentioned, it depends what you wish to apply before or afterwards. On its own, I suspect this wouldn't do too well.

--Effects on the skin--
A non-irritating product, but it doesn't seem to have any especial healing qualities either.

--Value for money--
Tricky one. It's not a terrible product in itself, but I struggle to see what additional purpose or gap in the market this serves beyond what's already done by tinted moisturisers. My research earlier this year showed that CC creams should specifically not only do the work of BB creams in terms of actively healing blemishes, but should also 'correct' (hence the C in the name) by way of having different tints available for different purposes, such as green to neutralize redness, pink to counteract dullness, and so on. Unfortunately, as with many Western BB creams, this perfectly serviceable product has just jumped on the latest fashionable bandwagon by slapping a new label on what is essentially just a tinted moisturiser, and using it as an excuse to hike up the price tag*: I wouldn't mind, but No7's tinted moisturiser is over £3 cheaper. My advice? Buy that instead (it even comes in 3 shades instead of the CC cream's mere two).

*Should probably say that No7 is not the only brand guilty of this. Most Western CC creams are just overpriced tinted moisturisers with a different name. Buy Asian instead to get the genuine article.

perfect partners
Lift and Luminate Dark Spot Corrector, £19.50
Lift and Luminate Day and Night Serum, £24.95
Lift and Luminate Mask, £18 
Lift and Luminate Foundation, £16.50
Lift and Luminate Day Cream, £23
Lift and Luminate Night Cream, £24
Lift and Luminate Eye Cream, £16
Youthful Glycolic Peel Kit, £24.95

Cosmetics Contemplations: Knowing Your Beauty Alphabet

To beauty bloggers and columnists everywhere, 2012 will surely be remembered as the year of the BB cream (I'm still busy trialling a huge quantity of them; prepare for a post on a battle of the BBs in 2013!).

To some, it could still seem slightly baffling as to what a BB cream even is exactly: just about every brand going has jumped on the bandwagon, and all of this new information could seem a little overwhelming. It's important to note that there is a clear difference between a tinted moisturiser and a BB cream: tinted moisturisers obviously moisturise (and with that comes anti-ageing qualities), but also offer coverage equivalent to a light foundation. They often contain sunscreen as well. BB creams are supposed to do all of this and more, and to my mind any extra qualities should be quantifiable - not just something vague like added radiance. BB actually stands for "blemish balm", so the first thing on the list should be an ingredient that actively combats blemishes (whether this is tea tree, salicylic acid, or another spot-fighting agent). They can also act as a makeup primer, meaning that this is another step that BB cream users can skip. In Asia, where the creams are extremely popular, they frequently contain a whitening agent, which understandably doesn't go down too well in Europe. In the West, BB is often said to stand for the far more woolly "beauty balm", which means that many products given this label are little more than tinted moisturisers with a different name. To me, that is a real shame, as there is little worse to me in the world of consumerism than shoppers being out-and-out conned. 

However, this bombardment of information is set to become even more bewildering in 2013 thanks to the inception of CC and, yes, even DD creams. So what are the differences between DD creams, CC creams, BB creams, and tinted moisturisers? 

CC can stand for "complete correction", implying that these would be good for those wishing to blur pigmentation and scars. However, CC is also reported to stand for colour correction, complexion control, and various combinations of these words, making them far less distinct from our friends the BB creams. They are essentially supposed to be revamped versions of BB creams - doing all that they do, but with more radiance, more and longer-lasting coverage, and with a lighter texture. In addition, they are meant to have an even lighter texture, and come in different tones for different needs, in the manner that we are already used to with concealers and primers (pink, yellow, blue, green and lavender, to correct redness, dullness, and so on).

The DD creams are meant to provide us with our daily defense. These, though, are not for the face, but for the feet and body. Given the battering my feet seem to get each day even when wearing flat shoes, this is a revolution that I am looking forward to. As well as softening the toughest skin like regular body creams, the more heavy-duty DD creams also promise to reduce other body blemishes, such as stretch marks.

Amazingly, AA creams also already exist (although they are far less common). These can theoretically be used by people with any skin type, and typically contain avocado, alpha lipoic acid, allantoin, and vitamin A to help with anti-ageing and general skin condition. Further to this, there are even whispers on the wind of EE (early elimination) creams - although it seems that very little is known about these at present.

You could ask why all of these categories are even significant. For genuinely new types of cream, it should be easy to distinguish these from others and not become confused. For other creams that are easy to mix up with others, surely it shouldn't matter what they are called or marketed as if they are right for your skin? 

However, to my mind, it does matter - firstly from the point of view of cost. Clinique's BB cream is £25, while its tinted moisturiser is only £21.50. This also works for more affordable brands: Nivea's tinted moisturiser costs around £3.50, but its BB cream is closer to £6. If the BB cream genuinely offers different benefits, then a higher price can perhaps be justified - but if there is no difference at all (as is often the case in the West, whose brands frequently put notoriously little effort into their BB creams), then why should the consumer pay more for what is essentially just the bandwagon of a new trend, even if the difference is in name only?

Then there is the basic matter of integrity and transparency, and respect for the customer. If you treat your customers like idiots, and they find out, they will vote with their feet.

So my advice is this: don't touch a BB, CC, or DD cream with a bargepole unless you know full well what you're buying, and can justify the cost, knowing that the product is genuinely different to existing concepts. I therefore offer this handy "cut-out-and-keep" guide, just the right size to keep in your purse, so that you know what you're getting:

Type of cream	This cream should :
BB	Moisturise, anti-age, have an SPF, offer light coverage or better, combat blemishes
CC	Moisturise, anti-age, have an SPF, offer medium coverage or better, combat blemishes and scars, come in different tones for different needs
DD	Be for the feet and body, intensively moisturise, reduce body blemishes

And as jokes abound regarding the similarity of these cream names compared to the nation's bra sizes, it's my hope that retailers and manufacturers will wise up and begin to inform consumers better about their choices. That, after all, is why I started blogging - and rest assured that as soon as more information about EE creams (and who knows? FF creams, GG creams...) becomes available, I will be right here waiting for you.