My own interest in beauty products appeared with a flash of glitter in my teenage years - and while a separate category isn’t essential, some of you have asked me for teenage-appropriate beauty gifts. I’ve included a range of options across different budgets, mainly aimed at mid teens. My daughter is almost ten and as yet has zero interest in beauty products beyond hand cream and lip balm (with the occasional spritz of Katy Perry perfume!). No doubt in a few year’s time she’ll be writing this category on my behalf, but for now, I hope you find my ideas helpful. NB it goes without saying that these products are not restricted to teens - I use most of them myself!
Sheer, glitter or full-on colour we’ve got lots of lip options, starting with Barry M Cor Balmy - a step up from regular lip balm that’s less full-on than lipstick - a sheer wash of sweet-scented sheer of colour and moisture. For a more pigmented pout, Too Faced Melted is available in stunning statement shades and Bourjois Rouge Velvet remains my No1 matte lip, great for parties as it doesn’t need touching up - or host your own lip party with Glitter Lips!
I love this royal purple Sleek Glitter Dip It Eyeliner for a pop of colour - if you can’t wear things like this as a teen, when can you? Library of Fragrance Gingerbread smells just as you’d imagine - available in literally 100s of everyday scents, the brand has released a limited edition Christmas collection of festive scents available at Boots.
Older teens will appreciate a little piece of luxury beauty and Nude Stix from Cult Beauty offers perfectly packaged lip, eye and cheek products to enhance natural beauty without looking OTT. For an evening look, every girl is gonna love Bobbi Brown’s Bronze Glow highlght powder for shimmering cheek and brow bones; this also looks great applied wet all over the lid for a glam Christmas or New Year look.
I think teenage make-up should be all about fun and these bright eye shadow palettes - Sleek Vintage Romance and Barry M Super Chic - are perfect for experimenting with colour. You all know how much I love Barry M glitter polishes (about to apply one when I finish writing this) and for real wow factor, Elegant Touch press-on nails come in loads of foolproof, pre-glued designs - a fun stocking filler!
