Beauty tips for teenagers

Young girls are not only keener than ever to learn the secrets to looking naturally gorgeous but to actually understanding good skin care. Over the last three years Cannelle reports they have seen a 54% increase in the number of teenagers visiting their salons with the majority opting for manicures, waxing and eyebrow shaping treatments.

Cannelle offers a wide range of suitable treatments including Décleor facials for spot prone skin which use 100% pure essential oils with natural plant extracts. For teenagers Aroma Purify is great for oily skin or Aroma Radiance for duller skin.

"Recent years have seen an overwhelming pressure for young girls to ply on heavy amounts of make-up but now we are seeing more girls who are being brought to the salon by their mother's to learn how to look after their skin and to learn how to put on make-up for a natural look. We also find this generation is far more savvy about sun exposure," says France Baudet the owner of the renowned French beauty salon.


France continues: "The teenagers who come to our salon are made to feel as comfortable as possible and learn a lot from our experienced beauty therapists. With exam time and then end of year balls coming up we are expecting to see even more girls coming in for a treat, to reduce the effects that stress has had on their skin and to relax."

Cannelle delivers a fusion of beauty treatments all of which are tailored to meet their clients' special requirements. Baudet has divulged some top beauty tips for teenagers.

CANNELLE TEENAGE BEAUTY TIPS

1. Cleanse, tone AND MOISTURISE! - Even if you have oily skin! Many girls avoid moisturisers because they believe they contain oils which promote spots. In fact if you choose a moisturiser that contains 'purifying oils' you will reap the benefits of well-nourished skin without spot problems. I recommend Décleor Aroma Purete for combination skin or Décleor Hydra Floral for normal skin.

2. Make up remover wipes are handy, particularly for girls on the go! So take them on sleepovers for quick, mess-free make up removal but avoid using them for prolonged periods. Wipes do not replace a proper skin care regime...think mouth wash as an alternative to brushing teeth. Exactly, you wouldn't!

3. Lip gloss compliments young, fresh skin perfectly. Don't be tempted to try dark or bright red matt lipsticks...you did that when you played dressing up as mum ten years ago...you don't want the same effect now! Vaseline has the same light reflecting instant plumping effect for even the thinnest lips so keep a travel size handy and reapply, reapply, reapply!

4. UV rays are a big no! Your generation is far more savvy about UV rays and burning. Sun exposure causes premature ageing and wrinkles can develop even in the early 20s with too much sun. Thankfully pale, pasty skin is a thing of the past for teens now the shelves are bursting with easy-to-use, skin nourishing creams and daily moisturisers containing hints of tanning colour that allow a safe, healthy glow to develop with continual use.

5. If you are particularly sensitive about the size of your nose, summer is the best time of the year for you! Trendy sunglasses and large brimmed hats look fabulous (teamed with skinny jeans and flip flops) and will dramatically reduce appearance of a larger nose. Uber stylish, uber clever!

6. Sparse lashes? Zig-zag your mascara brush! Whatever brand of mascara you choose it's the application that gives thicker longer looking lashes. Start at the base of the lashes (brush under not over lashes) and keeping the brush in contact with lashes at all times, zig-zag from side to side as you move up the lash. This movement separates and coats each lash at the same time, for maximum coverage and instantly thicker, bolder lashes.

7. Everyone has sad skin days. The moment you notice an obvious spot, cover with a medicated concealer and re-style your hair! Our attention usually goes straight to what's new, so all focus will be on your hair not on your blemish! Alternatively MAC, Couleur Caramel and STILA have great concealers.

Fashion program empowers teen girls

Autumn McBride

 

Pinecrest Academy students, from left, Jessica McLaughlin, MK Strom and Annie Lagomasino, are all involved in Pure Fashion, a program designed to teach teen girls how to dress stylishly but modestly.

The terms “purity,” “virtue” and “modesty” don’t come up too often when talking about trendy, modern fashion.

That is, unless you’re a teen girl involved in the Pure Fashion program.

Sixteen students at Pinecrest Academy are participating in this year’s Atlanta area program, which focuses on teaching young women ages 14-18 how to dress stylishly but modestly.

They’ll join about 25 other girls from around the metro area from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the program’s Peace, Love and Pure Fashion Show at Buckhead Theatre.

The show benefits Bert’s Big Adventure, which helps needy children in the metro Atlanta go to Disney World.

It’s all part of a national faith-based program that, according to its Web site, encourages teen girls to “live, act and dress in accordance with their dignity as children of God.”

Jessica McLaughlin, a Pinecrest senior who’s been involved with Pure Fashion for four years, said she’s learned much more through the program than just how to dress.

“I’ve made a lot of good friends,” she said. “And I know how to act in any situation.”

This year, she has also learned about teaching others as a leader for a group of eighth-graders in the program.

She said all the girls in the program meet once a month. They have “model training,” during which they learn skills important to the fashion show such as walking properly and having poise, but the lessons also go deeper.

“There’s always a faith aspect as well,” McLaughlin said. “We’ll have prayer and some sort of lesson about being a dignified young woman.”

Other lessons include etiquette and appropriate ways to speak to various groups, as well as the most flattering ways to apply make-up and fix hair.

McLaughlin’s fellow Pure Fashion participant Annie Lagomasino, a sophomore at Pinecrest, said some people are taken aback by teenagers wanting to dress modestly.

“It’s kind of a foreign concept for some people,” she said, but noted that most of their classmates are supportive.

“It’s not weird here,” she said. “Everybody thinks it’s pretty cool.”

Another participant, MK Strom, also a senior, said even most of their male classmates are supportive.

“I guess most people would think guys wouldn’t like it, but here all the guys we’ve talked to about [the program] all think it’s awesome,” Strom said.

But Strom noted that dressing modestly and staying in line with current trends isn’t that difficult.

“Luckily, right now the look is a lot of layers,” she said. “It’s not like back in the early 2000s, when there was a lot of belly shirts and things like that.”

And the girls want to make sure the market continues to provide modest options. 

All three girls said one of their favorite parts of the program is something called the “mall mission,” in which they visit retailers and critique the clothing options.

Vivian Heard, communications coordinator at Pinecrest whose 14-year-old daughter Ansley is in the program, said the girls fill out feedback cards on the clothing options and then give them to the store managers.

“It makes them feel empowered to have some say in what stores offer,” Heard said.

Another important part of the program is a weekend retreat where the girls bond.

“That’s really good for the younger girls to get to know the older girls,” Strom said. “They’ll come in really shy, but then they get to know everyone and have more confidence.”

Unlike most modeling programs, physical appearance isn’t a factor.

“We’ve got girls of all different shapes and sizes,” Lagomasino said. “Everyone’s beautiful and the program just helps bring that out.”

Heard said the program has huge impacts on the girls’ lives.

“The younger ones come in and when they see these older girls dressed in these really cute, stylish outfits that are appropriate and modest, they think, ‘Oh this is kind of cool and I want to do this,’” Heard said.

To encourage an even younger following, Pinecrest will hold a Pure Fashion summer camp June 20-24 for rising fourth- through seventh-graders.

“It’s good to lay a foundation early on,” Heard said. “And the camp will be just a lot of fun.”

It’s obvious the Pure Fashion program has made big impacts on the lives its older participants.

“The program has made me very confident in my own skin, and that’s a big problem with a lot of girls my age,” McLaughlin said. “I now know how to handle myself and I’m comfortable talking to people in all situations.”

Added Strom: “High school is tough, especially with today’s media. In this program you can really find who you truly are and know that you don’t have to be what the media is telling you to be.”