Makeup Basics

Here are a few rules to remember while applying makeup of ANY kind. I know from experience.

Foundation + Concealer

• I don't reccomend using foundation if you a) don't have anything to cover or b) are not going on stage. Foundation creates a base for makeup, however, if you are having problems creating a proper base for makeup I reccomend a non-comedogenic base to stop it from clogging your pores.
• I have already given concealer basics in my past entries. However, a word of advice - never EVER cake on concealer or foundation. It just looks cakey and makes everything look very fake. If your skin is not perfect, just take good care of it and the pimples will all go away. If you are having problems with severe acne, rosacea or blotchiness, I highly advise that you talk to your derm because they know the best strategies for these problems.
• A powder often helps the makeup set, however don't apply too much as this is what makes it look cakey. Look for a good-quality kabuki brush, these are the best for a powder or a powder foundation.

Eyeshadow + Liner

• Always put on your shadow before you apply your eyeliner because otherwise the eyeshadow might go on top of the liner, making it less black and therefore making it stand out less.
• The one thing you have to remember when using eyeshadow is BLEND! otherwise the colors will look really spotty and will not go together. Blend your colors using your fingertip.

Lipgloss + Lipstick

• There's this thing called dark-light which basically states that it makes sense to do bright lips if you have less defined eyes and vice versa. So remember, if you want a dramatic effect, don't do a strong lip color if you have defined eyes! However, you can if you are careful about balancing it out.
• When picking out a lip color, always be sure that it looks natural. My mom wears a purple lipstick and while it looks good on her, it doesn't always look natural! It always looks better if you stay in reds and pinks, especially in your teen years where you can wear what you want and it will always look good.
• One tip to make sure it doesn't get on your teeth - After you apply lipstick/gloss, put your lips around your finger and pull your finger out. It never fails for me!

If i forgot anything let me know.
-ninana <3

Dreams?

We've all heard it before - "follow your dreams", "Do what feels right". But these few statements make a difference, and believe it or not, a few influential women on earth used these very statements to make a difference in their lives.

1) Barbra Streisand. (yeah, I heard it on Glee) She was told to get plastic surgery because her nose was "too big". What did she do? Become one of the best artists in American history.
2) Kelly Clarkson. She was told her butt was too big. She just released an album.

These days, nobody knows what perfection is. What is perfection? Who are we to know? How can we be the best?
These two women are notable because, not only did they accept their imperfections, but they became successful because of their persistence and hard work. I truly believe (not just because I like music) that these two women are two of the best celebrities in this world! Use them as examples!

I also wanted to take this second to talk about weight and anorexia and WHATEVER. BAD. BAD BAD BAD.
Think about it. Your stomach does its thing on a regular basis, do you think that forcing it to squish and force out food is healthy? No! I'm not exactly the skinniest person on earth. However, personally, I do whatever I can to stay healthy and athletic! Girls AND guys, i want your opinion: What is hotter, a stick or a woman?
Be healthy. be beautiful, be you.
xoxo.

Makeup?

So I promised not to let a lot out about my age or where I live, but something has to be said - I am under the age of 18. So makeup, in some people's opinions, is not necessary. However, at a young age, it is okay to experiment with different looks, as long as it lets the true you shine through.
Me? I have a basic makeup thing that lets me do something natural, yet colorful.
Here's how it works!

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1) Foundation or concealer. If you are younger, you don't need foundation, however if you have zits then concealer is probably something you might want to use. Take a small amount of liquid concealer and dot it onto the zit with a small concealer brush. Then pat it in and set it with powder.
2) Normally when we use powder we get rid of our natural rouge, so a little bit of blush is okay, just not a lot. Use a big fluffy brush and only put it on your cheekbones.
3) Eyeshadow is fun to use when it's colorful. What I do is I have two colors in the same family, for example, dark grey and white. First, i put the white all over my lid. Then, i use the grey along the top of my lid and on the edges. No matter what you do with eyeshadow, my trick is BLEND! otherwise it will be cakey and gross.
4) Mascara - if you're younger, a great trick is clear mascara. It gives you good practice when you actually wear it. If you're over the age of 13 (in my opinion) you should wear black mascara if you want.
5) a little bit of lipgloss never killed anybody :)

So yeah, hope you like it!!!

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CONFIDENCE TIP #2 - Whatever makeup you wear, if you feel comfortable in it, you look great!

Acne Solution

Like many of you out there, I am an acne sufferer. I have struggled with zits, pimples, blackheads and nodules since I was 11.  It's so annoying - waking up to a beautiful day with a pimple in the middle of your face. It also makes you embarrased. Personally, I could not look people in the eye when I had pimples! Fortunately, you too can clear up your skin this summer with a few simple tips. I will also include my skin care ritual.
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MORNING AND EVENING

1) Wash with a gentle cleanser. Always use lukewarm water, rinse well and pat dry. I personally reccomend SpectroJel because it helped me, but Cetaphil works just as well. Anything non-comedogenic and without parabens or fragrance work.
2) Toner or moisturizer. If you have oily skin, like me, a toner is genius since if gets rid of all the unwanted oils on your face. What I used to clear up my skin was aveda's  all sensitive toner, and it comes in a spray bottle so you can mist it on your face. If you have oily skin, I would stay away from moisturizer. I know, people reccomend it, but I didn't use it and my skin got clear fast. If you have dry skin, however, a little bit of moisturizer is good. For those of you with combo skin, stick with toner because it gives oil in places of need and zaps oil in others,
3) After consulting with a doctor, I got an antibiotic with Clindamycin 1% that I put on at nighttime before I go to bed. That helped a lot. Moral of the story: Always always ALWAYS talk to a doctor. They will help so much.

A FEW TIPS

- NEVER pick at your face. If you really need to (like you can SEE the gunk), pop a pimple, but very RARELY because it can cause further inflammation. My recommendation is get a pro to do it for you.
- Basic hygiene. One shower a day, and always wash your hair, cuz if your hair is greasy so is your face,
- If you wear makeup, don't do an all-over foundation. As tempting as it seems, this could only worsen acne. So just on the spots where you need it, and make sure it is non-comedogenic.
- Get loads of exercise, and a tan never hurts :)

So have fun with your clear skin!

Heyyo.

So. You might be on here to look for advice on how to break up with your boyfriend, or whatever. Well, have I got news for you: you won't find any of that on here.
This is the Unoffiial Teen Girl Survival Guide, aka Nina's Guide. I don't know about you, but I love life. Every inch of it, including the heartbreak, homework and everything in between. So no, you will not find anything about boy breakups whatever. Negativity - out. Yeah, im being really nice when I say that, but it's true! Negativity plus negativity, in my eyes, only leads to more stress. Who needs that?
I made this guide after having my first major acne breakout. Stupid right? Well, I figure if I share my success stories with the world, I could put an end to acne as I know it. Thats when i though about it even more. What if I could share my style, and my opinions? What if you could find out what I was thinking? Well, now you can. :]
A little about me. I'm somewhere between the ages of 5 and 100, and I love music. Yeah, that's really all you need to know now.
More later.
-Ninananana