How to Do Natural Pretty Makeup for School (Teen Girls)

Co-authored by Yuka Arora and Amber Crain

Last Updated: July 22, 2024 Approved

Sometimes the best makeup look for school is one that gives you a natural, effortless-looking glow. If you're wondering how to apply makeup that hides problem areas and plays up your features while still looking natural, this article has got you covered!

Here are 10 tips for doing a natural makeup look for school.

1

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser.

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Lather up with lukewarm water and rinse off your skin thoroughly. Makeup goes on best when your skin is clean and dry! Wash your face with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser formulated for your skin type. Then, gently pat your face dry with a soft towel.^{[1]
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- Avoid harsh cleansers with alcohol in them since they can dry out your skin.
- If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, stick with fragrance-free and non-comedogenic products.^{[2]
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  American Academy of Dermatology
  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
  
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2

Apply moisturizer with SPF 30.

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Hydration and protection are key, so use a product that gives you both! Moisturized skin is the perfect canvas for natural makeup. Choose an oil-free, non-comedogenic facial moisturizer and smooth a pea-sized amount all over your face. Give your skin about a minute to absorb the product.^{[3]
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- Make sure the label says “broad-spectrum sunscreen” for full protection against the sun’s rays.^{[4]
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  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
  
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- Dermatologists agree that moisturizer benefits all skin types, including oily skin. Just be sure to choose an oil-free product.^{[5]
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- If you have acne, the sun can make it worse. Sunscreen will prevent that.^{[6]
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3

Use sheer foundation.

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Stick with a lightweight foundation if you want to even out your skin tone. Heavy and full-coverage foundations tend to look unnatural and can make you break out, so stay away from those.^{[7]
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American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} Sheer/light coverage foundation, BB cream, and tinted moisturizer are all great options for a pretty, natural look.^{[8]
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Research source} Use your fingers or a foundation brush to smooth a thin layer of product all over your face, starting in the center and blending out to your cheeks, forehead, and chin.^{[9]
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- Choose a product that matches your skin tone so it blends naturally.^{[10]
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- Stick with liquid and cream formulas since they look more natural than powder foundations.
- If you’re using your fingers, don't forget to wash your hands first, especially if you have acne-prone skin.^{[11]
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  American Academy of Dermatology
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- You could also consider using a face primer before your foundation as it will help the make up last longer.

4

Cover blemishes with a dab of concealer.

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A little concealer can disguise imperfections like pimples. Choose a concealer that matches your skin tone and use a fluffy eyeshadow brush to dab a small amount straight from the applicator on any dark spots or pimples you have. Then, buff around the spot lightly with a small makeup brush to blend the concealer out and you’re all set.^{[12]
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- Too much concealer tends to look unnatural, so use it on problem areas only.

5

Set your foundation with powder.

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Use a fluffy brush to lightly dust your face with powder if you have oily skin. Go with a setting powder that matches your skin tone or use a translucent powder. Use a fluffy kabuki brush to dust a little powder all over your face. This locks in your foundation and gets rid of any shiny areas.^{[13]
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- You can skip powder if you don't have oily skin since light coverage foundation creates a great natural finish. Powders never look as natural as liquid/cream formulas on the skin.
- Use a powder puff if you want a more matte look.^{[14]
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  Yuka Arora
  Makeup Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.}

6

Use rosy blush on the apples of your cheeks.

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Cream blush formulas are easy to blend and look really natural. Choose a rose or peachy shade and use your fingertips or a blush brush to smooth the blush on the apples of your cheeks. Use circular motions to blend the blush out toward your hairline for a soft, healthy-looking flush.^{[15]
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- To find the apples of your cheeks, look into a mirror and smile. The apples are the front parts of your cheeks that pop up under your eyes when you smile.
- Cream blush formulas look more natural than powder blush.
- Look for a blush shade that’s similar to the color of your cheeks after you exercise.^{[16]
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Rihanna, Founder, Fenty Beauty

Have fun and take risks with makeup. "Makeup is there for you to have fun with. It should never feel like pressure. It should never feel like a uniform. Feel free to take chances, and take risks, and dare to do something new or different."

7

Curl your eyelashes and apply mascara.

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This makes your lashes look longer and opens up your eyes. For a super subtle eye look, curl your lashes and skip the mascara completely. If you want to enhance your lashes a little more, apply 1-2 light coats of mascara to your top lashes only.^{[17]
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- If you have blonde or red hair, stick with brown mascara since black will look a bit harsh and unnatural. If you have brown or black hair, go with black mascara.
- You could also use a clear mascara to give your lashes definition without adding colour.

8

Fill in sparse brows with brow powder or pencil.

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Use a brow product that closely matches your natural hair color. If your brows are a little patchy or super blonde, brow powder or pencil can give them more definition. Start by combing both brows up with a clean spoolie. Then, use light, feathery strokes to fill in any sparse areas with brow pencil or powder. Run a spoolie through each brow once more to blend the makeup.^{[18]
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- Teenagers usually have thick, healthy brows, so you may not need to do this.

9

Swipe on lip balm or gloss.

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Use a sheer rose or nude lip gloss for a hint of color. Hydrated lips look amazing on their own, so a little balm might be all you need to complete your look.^{[19]
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Research source} To add a little shine, apply a clear or natural looking lip gloss. A natural-looking rose lip stain is a great way to add a little color without looking unnatural.^{[20]
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- Avoid dark shades since they tend to look unnatural. Stay away from matte formulas, as well, since they're very drying.

10

Use an oil-free makeup remover at night.

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Always remove your makeup at night before you hit the sack! Just soak a cotton round with oil-free makeup remover and rub it gently all over your face to get off most of your makeup. Then, follow up with a gentle cleanser to wash away any leftover residue and dirt.^{[21]
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American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source}

How Do You Achieve a Natural Makeup Look?

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Question

Lip gloss always looks dull on me no matter what color I use. Is it my skin tone? I have tan.

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Your tan can definitely wash out certain lip gloss shades. Try a warm coral or deep pink lip gloss shade instead. Those colors really pop against tan and darker skin tones!

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Can I use concealer, powder, blush, mascara, and eyeliner? I don't have really oily skin but during the day I tend to get a little oily, so do I need powder? I want a natural look for my skin but a little more drama for my eyes.

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You can definitely use all of those products! Since you're aiming for natural-looking skin, you only need to apply a little powder to the areas where you get oily (rather than applying powder all over your face). Use a rose or peachy cream blush for a healthy, natural glow.

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Can I use BB cream, concealer, mascara, eyeliner, bronzer, and a lip tint for school?

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You can if your school and parents are okay with it. If you're going for a natural look, though, you really don't need to use bronzer or eyeliner. If you decide to use them anyway, use a light touch so your overall look is still natural-looking!

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For bigger eyes, put some shimmery, light colored shadow on the inner corners of your eyes. This opens your eyes up and makes you look more awake. Then, use a neutral color on your lid. At the outer corners of the eyes, use a darker color (like a plum or a chocolate brown). Apply it lightly. This gradient effect really opens up your eyes. Finish with a light application of brown or black eyeliner and some mascara.
Take a translucent pressed powder with you to mattify your face throughout the day. Definitely keep this with you if you have naturally oily skin, if have have a gym class, or live in a sunny area.
If you want to lightly contour your face use a cooler tone darker powder or bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, hairline, and jaw line.
To make your lips look matte, put powder on top of a lip stick. This will make your lips look natural and not too glossy.
To make your application lighter, tap off any excess on your brush before you apply it on your face.

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