When I was 15-years-old, my mother woke me up on a Saturday morning, drove me to the mall and escorted me to the Clinique counter. There, she said, “I want you to have nice skin and use nice products. Don’t worry about how much it is–let’s get you the three step system and some makeup.”
While I graduated from the three-step system long ago and wear more NARS than Clinique, I’m still devoted to the brand’s Perfectly Real foundation. I’ve tried other formulas, but nothing smooths my complexion as well without making me look like I’ve got a mask on. So I suppose some teenage habits are a good thing.
It’s no surprise that when it comes to beauty products, teenagers are pretty sophisticated in their knowledge. Not only do they love old standbys like Clinique, St. Ives and Covergirl, but they also use MAC lipstick, Chi flat irons and shop at Sephora.
That’s according to Teen Vogue‘s annual Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards, which were announced this morning at a breakfast in the Condé Nast building. Along with editor-in-chief Amy Astley and beauty director Eva Chen, guests included journalists (like me), reps from several of the beauty brands honored, and even some lucky Teen Vogue readers.
Winners included OPI for nail polish, Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine conditioner and Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer in the self-tanning category. Their favorite drug store is CVS.
What’s cool about the annual survey is that it’s write-in only, which means participants don’t choose from a selection of five items–they choose what they truly prefer.
This is obviously great market research for Teen Vogue–through the survey, they are able to better understand what a big chunk of their users like and desire. While I expected to see items like Pantene on the list–I am still a fan after all of these years–I was more surprised by the readers’ penchant for items like Olay clean liquid makeup. Olay is a brand associated with anti-aging, right? How are they so savvy?
Well, advertising is the obvious answer. But Eva, Teen Vogue‘s beauty director– who was also dragged to the mall as a teenager by her mom to get on the Clinique three step system–thinks that they’re also better-educated. “It was amazing to see that readers embrace products like the Chi, which is a big investment,” Eva told me. “And they’re using a preventive eye care product at 16–that’s great. They’re going to look amazing when they turn 30.”
Were you so savvy at 16? And do you use these products? Here’s an abbreviated list of the winners:
Body Lotion: Bath & Body Works Signature Collection
Body Scrub: Bath & Body Works Signature Collection
Face Scrub: St. Ives Sensitive Skin Gentle Apricot Scrub
Body Wash: Dove Go Fresh Revive
Self-Tanner: Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer
Face Lotion: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Toner: Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2
Eye Cream: Clinique All About Eyes
Shampoo: Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Shampoo
Lip Gloss: Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush
Tooth Whitener: Crest 3D White WhiteStrips
Blush: COVERGIRL and Olay Simple Ageless Sculpting Blush
Foundation: COVERGIRL and Olay Clean Liquid Makeup
Facewash: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Facial
Cleanser
Makeup Artist: Bobbi Brown
Acne Product: Proactive 3-Step System
Lipstick: MAC
Beauty Retailer: Sephora
Drug Store: CVS


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