If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.
Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, easily making any mom a little sappy. Whether you just welcomed a new baby or you have older kids, recalling your favorite memories will always be a cherished gift. One of the most common memories mothers share is how their daughters would always crawl in their laps while getting ready or turning the corner to find a mini version of themselves in their lipstick cabinet. And even when they turn into tweens and teens, sharing a makeup routine with mom is something both will never forget.
My daughter Henley will be ten this summer, and I still remember when she was four, looking for her to find her hiding in the room with my favorite discontinued Tom Ford lipstick in “All Mine,” smeared across her American Girl Doll‘s face. I’m sure you can imagine the shriek I initially let out. Now that she’s old enough to swipe my favorite products from my bathroom to get ready for school and cheerleading competitions, we now enjoy getting ready together.
This Mother’s Day, our team of mothers and beauty enthusiasts discovered the beauty products moms and teens love. Whether using the same product lineup or just formulas that parents feel safe learning their kiddos use, we compiled a comprehensive list of the most popular items. We even talked with other real-life moms to learn what they’re doing in their everyday lives.
Keep reading to see the beauty products moms, teens, and tweens use in their everyday routines — from hero makeup products to effective skincare picks.
Best Mascaras
Benefit Bad Gal Bang! Mascara
“Benefit Bad Gal Bang! Mascara is our favorite,” shares Malia Crespo. The mascara is smudge-proof, water-resistant, and volumizing. It offers up to 36 hours of intense volume without weighing lashes down. The Benefit include provitamin B5, which fuels the thickness of each hair for a bold and defined look.
Covergirl LashBlast Volume Mascara
As someone with sensitive eyes that constantly itch, Covergirl’s LashBlast Volume Mascara has been a staple in my makeup bag. I love that it immediately plumps lashes with only two coats; no curling the lashes needed! I even stocked my almost 10-year-old up with mascara for her to wear to cheer and dance — it stays put for those never-ending competition days!
Babe Lash Essential Serum
According to Tess Fetter, mom of two teenage girls, the Babe Lash Essential Serum is a beauty staple in her home. It’s an effective solution for enhancing short, brittle lashes. The serum is packed with biotin and amino acids to help eyelashes look fuller and healthier. It comes with a precise applicator that delivers a precise product layer with every swipe. With consistent use, the serum helps to improve the lash line and retention.
Best Foundations
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Natural Glow Foundation
I’m 99.9% sure that almost every woman (and teen) loves this foundation. Although a splurge for teens, it’s the one foundation that universally flatters all skin — from sensitive to mature. The bestselling Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Natural Glow Foundation is a weightless formula that offers a medium cover that doesn’t melt off the refer for up to 24 hours. Plus, it leaves a glowy finish behind.
Saie Slip Tint with Mineral Zinc SPF 35
Although not a foundation, the Saie Slip Tint is an excellent lightweight product to have on hand. I love how it glides onto my skin and leaves a natural finish with just enough coverage. Instead of leaving my skin with a cakey finish, my complexion looks radiant and dewy. I’ve also used a small amount of my tween, which made her feel so special for her daddy/daughter dance.
The ingredients are gentle and have a soothing list of licorice, jojoba esters, and pansy flowers, which brighten and moisten. The tint also has SPF 35 for added protection.
Best Bronzing Drops
D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops
I keep multiple backups on the D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops just in case I run out; they’re just that good. I love that these drops instantly melt into the skin and offer a boozy wash without spending hours in the sun. My daughter likes to wear the drops, too (sparingly), since she’s a summer-loving girl who loves glowing skin. I don’t mind her using it since the formula is filled with soothing ingredients like cocoa extract packed with antioxidants, a Matrixyl 3000 peptide blend for a youthful glow, and chronocyclin, which contains vitamin D. The combination of ingredients mimics the benefits of vitamin D and defends against pollution and environmental stressors.
e.l.f. Skin Bronzing Drops
And when you don’t want your broke bestie stealing your bronzing drops, you can get them their own that work just as well, for a fraction of the cost. The e.l.f. Skin Bronzing Drops go on smoothly and add a kissed glow that lasts all day. Better yet, you can also use it on the body.
Best Moisturizers
La Roche Posay Toleriane Face Moisturizer SPF 30
I’ve been using this moisturizer for years! I appreciate that it doesn’t break my acne-prone skin out or leave a greasy finish behind. It also includes SPF 30 in it, so your skin soaks up additional protection against harmful rays in case you don’t feel like applying a separate formula. Recently, my daughter Henley has been using the moisturizer too, and it makes me rest easy since La Roche Posay crafts each product with science-backed, dermatologist-approved formulas. The moisturizer features the La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water, ceramide-3, niacinamide, and glycerin for all-day hydration for up to 48 hours.
e.l.f. Fragrance-Free Holy Hydration! Face Cream
e.l.f. is known for its incredibly affordable and gentle care products that are effective for all skin types. This $13 cream is the perfect option if your teens need a moisturizer. The formula delivers all-day hydration and brightens and evens skin tone. It’s crafted with hyaluronic acid, which locks moisture into the skin and leaves it plump. Niacinamide, peptides, squalene, and vitamin B also improve the skin’s tone, balance, and elasticity.
Best Cleansers
Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser
Teens and tweens are reaching for this popular cleanser from Youth to the People. The face wash is powered by superfood ingredients like kale, spinach, and green tea, which “prevents buildup in pores, removes makeup, and balances pH without drying or stripping,” per the brand.
CeraVe Daily Face Wash
A common concern amongst mothers is that skincare might be too harsh on their teen and tween’s skin. That’s why so many parents (like myself) feel comfortable letting their kiddos use the CeraVe Daily Face Wash. The wash features a tried and true formula that helps remove sweat, makeup, and excess oils from other skin to prevent breakouts. It’s developed with dermatologists and includes no fragrances or micro beads.
Best Perfumes
Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Bum Bum Hair & Body Perfume Mist
Nearly every mother and daughter duo SheKnows spoke to, said they all couldn’t get enough of the Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Bum Bum Hair & Body Perfume Mist. The sprays are similar to what millennial moms would race to Victoria’s Secret for. Now today’s teens have stocked piled their collection with the delicious Brazilian-inspired scents.
My daughter likes to display hers on her vanity and uses a few spritzes when she prepares for her day. I like that she is building her own collection — it helps give them a self-care routine and also helps them be conscious about personal hygiene.
PHLUR Vanilla Skin Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
It’s hard to scroll through TikTok without landing on a video talking about how glorious this vanilla scent from PHLUR is. It boasts hints of vanilla, sandalwood, pink pepper, and jasmine that creates a “creamy” scent that is also multidimensional.
Best Lip Products
Bubble Tell All Juicy Secret Berry Lip Balm
Can you ever really have too many lip products in your bag? The answer is “no,” according to teens and tweens. “I stole this Bubble Lip Balm from my mom,” Henley Nordeck says. “I like that it clips onto my backpack so I don’t lose it.”
Moms also appreciate that it’s crafted with gentle ingredients like chicory root extract, a plant-derived glucosamine to plump and smooth lips. There are also moringa oil esters for exceptional hydration and Acacia flower wax to give the balm a soft texture.
Rhode Peptide Lip Tint
I’ve spotted several cool girls (moms included) applying the Peptide Lip from Rhode, and it’s no secret why: It provides a buildable color that glides across the lips for a hydrated, glossy finish. It also adds a subtle plumpness.
Best Brow Pencils
Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil
Fetter also says she and her girls “love” the Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil. The pencil defines brows for a natural, full look. It goes on smoothly and blends easily, thanks to the eight shades it’s offered in. The spoolie brush also helps tame any unruly hairs that fall out of place.
Merit Beauty Brow 1990 Sheer Gel Pencil
My daughter is still too young to wear a brow pencil every day, but for cheer competitions, I grab my Merit Beauty Brow 1990 Sheer Gel Pencil to enhance her brows. The pencil creates soft strokes, which are gentle on the skin. It also works to create a natural-looking fullness and definition. It offers a gel formula that stays put despite sweat and outfit changes.
Best Blushes
MAC Cosmetics Powder Blush
The Fetter girls all reach for this powder blush from MAC Cosmetics. The classic formula instantly adds a flush appearance without being too bold. It is formulated by makeup professionals and is packed with vitamin E, which helps the pigment lay evenly and consistently on the skin.
Pixi by Petra On-the-Glow Blush
Moms of teens approve of (and also use) this multi-use stick, which provides the best color payoff for the cheeks and lips. The blush is packed with hydrating botanicals and fruit extracts to hydrate the skin. It takes just one sweep of the product to create a natural glow that blends effortlessly. Plus, there’s no mess!
Best Highlighters
ColourPop Liquid Highlighter
The ColourPop Liquid Highlighter is a favorite for Mandy Paxton and her teen and tween daughters. This liquid highlighter comes with an easy-to-use wand, which delivers the perfect silky smooth texture to the skin. The highlighter leaves an intense pigment payoff, including light-reflecting pearls illuminating the skin.
MCoBeauty Highlight & Glow Beauty Wand
Paxton also says that a few favorite brands in her home include “Colourpop, Elf, NYX, and McoBeauty for makeup, and Bubble and Byoma for skin care. They are affordable and have many dupes for their high-end counterparts.”
Before you go, check out our slideshow below:
More Stories from Parenting
Leave a Comment