How to Be a Trendy Teenage Girl

Co-authored by Jordan Stolch

Last Updated: August 6, 2022

Picture this: You're walking in the mall one weekend, and every store and dressing room you enter is filled with gorgeous teenage girls that totally have their look pulled together, laughing with their equally trendy friends. Everyone's eyes - including yours - are glued to them. Has this ever happened to you? Have you felt a little twinge of jealousy that they're having the time of their lives while looking carefree and flawless, whereas you're just a bystander? Why do you have to be a bystander when you can be one of those girls?

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Working on Your Body and Clothing

1
Work on having flawless skin. One of the main things every teenage girl wishes for (if they aren't already blessed with it) is clear skin. The three main products you need for an effective skincare routine are a good cleanser, toner, and moisturizer that go with your skin type. There are five main kinds of skin types: Combination, Sensitive, Oily, Dry, and Normal. Match your skin type with the products below:
- If you have a dry skin type, you need moisturizing products! Start off with a good cleaner. Follow up with a moisturizing toner and finish it all off with a high-power moisturizing product. Try a good cleanser. Keep your moisturiser oil-free to avoid clogging your pores.
- On the other hand, if you have an oily skin type, go for a good cleanser and then a lightweight moisturiser. Lightweight means that it's oil-free and won't clog your pores.
- If you have a combination skin, go for a good cleanser and then a regular moisturiser. It should be oil-free and light. Keep things in moderation.
- If you're a lucky girl with a normal skin type, you're pretty much able to use whatever products you want. We'd suggest a good cleanser and a lightweight moisturiser. This way, your skin will be kept fresh and moisturized, but also control the amount of oil in your skin.
- If you have sensitive skin, you'll need to take extra precautions with your skincare products so that they won't irritate your skin. Go to a dermatologist to see what they recommend.
- If you have acne-prone skin, you'll need quality products to maintain a good complexion! Products like Neutrogena SkiniD and Proactiv are effective for sensitive skin.
- Buy your products and start your routine! Wash your face at least once a day. For oily and combination skinned people, it is recommended to wash it twice a day, and once for the rest of the skin types. Wet your hands. Take some cleanser and dispense a small amount in your hands. Rub your hands together to spread the cleanser. Stand over a sink, close your eyes, and rub the cleanser thoroughly on your skin for 30 seconds. Stop for 5 seconds to allow the cleanser to settle. Then, rinse it out with cold water--this will close the pores. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel. After, apply the toner with a cotton pad. Let it sit until it is completely dry, and then dot moisturizer on your chin, forehead, nose, cheeks, and the region between your nose and mouth. Rub each area in, making sure there is no residue left on your skin.
2
Get the makeup. One of the pleasures of being a girl (especially a beautiful and trendy girl) is wearing makeup! If you have great skin that isn't uneven, don't wear foundation or concealer! Learn to apply makeup, and to apply it well. Wear an amount that makes you happy. A good, simple makeup look that suits most girls are:
- In middle school, most girls don't wear too much makeup. At most, you could use mascara, clear lip gloss, and minimum clear brow gel and highlighter if you want.
  - Use a concealer that matches your skin tone to cover any blemishes.
  - Take an eyeshadow colour that makes your eyes pop and apply it to your eyelids.
- Line your lids with a black or dark-brown eyeliner.
- (Optional) Curl your eyelashes.
- Apply dark brown, clear, or black mascara.
- (Optional) Apply blush to your cheeks.
- Add light-coloured lipstick/lip gloss/lip balm to your lips. Try to match it with your natural lip colour, or go a few shades darker.
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3
Use your natural beauty! You want to look good while wearing makeup, but you also want to look good when you have no makeup on at all!
- To zap a zit overnight, purchase a Zeno Hot Spot (they can run a bit expensive) or put a dab of toothpaste (regular, not gel) on the zit. It should disappear!
- To get rid of bags around eyes, take two thin, cold slices of cucumber or two frozen spoons. Place them over your eyelids and leave them there for 10 to 15 minutes.
- For super chapped lips, take a clean, warm towel and rub it over your lips for one minute. The dry skin should rub off. Then, apply lip balm.
- Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day for clear and healthy skin.
- Exercise frequently to stay in shape. Be careful not to overwork yourself! Space your exercise regimen responsibly and give your body time to recover to avoid injury.
4
Don't forget your hair! No matter what length, color, or style your hair is, most people agree that the most attractive hair is moisturized, clean, and managed. Identify what problems you have most with your hair. Then, find a hairstyle you like. Preferably, it should go with your face shape, but go with what you feel. Visit a salon and ask some of the hairdressers for hairstyle suggestions. If you want, get highlights, low-lights, or a different hair colour!
- Wavy or straight hair is ideal if you want to be able to wear it down.
- For thicker or curlier hair, you can use a straightening iron.
- For extremely curly hair, try dutch braiding it. If you would like to add texture, you can get short feathery bangs, but not proper bangs. If you choose to get these bangs, you want little pieces so you can style them.
  - There are so much different hairstyle options! Purchase some hair elastics, bobby pins that match your hair color, a couple of plastic headbands, some elastic headbands, mousse, and hairspray. If you don't already have one, splurge on a flat iron or curling iron, as well as a heat protectant. Straight, smooth hair is trendy and looks good on almost anyone. On the contrary, pretty, bouncy curls happen to be trendy and can completely alter your look. Try out different hairstyles and look at other people for inspiration!
  - Speaking of hair, there's another kind of hair- facial and body hair. There are many ways to remove your hair, and no worries, if you don't want to, you don't have to. If you do, there are many different ways to remove those hairs! You can try waxing, plucking, depilatory creams, and shaving. A rule of thumb is to never shave your facial hair. This backfires and will cause your hair to grow back thicker, longer, and darker than before. Plus, it will be harder to remove in the long run. Consult your parents or your friends for further advice on hair removal.
5
Is tanning trendy? The answer is no. Pale is equally pretty than tanned and actually looks better on some people. But if you adore the way you look with sunkissed skin, use a faux tan. If you buy the right one you won't look orange. Jergens is one type of tanner that works well.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Having a Fit Attitude

1
You don't have to be mean to be trendy. In fact, being nice is probably the best thing you could do for yourself and the people around you. Just think about it! Would you rather be loved (pretend love, that is) because people are afraid of being bullied by you, or be loved because you're super nice? We think that it's a pretty easy choice.
- Always think before you speak. Words can really hurt people, and if you're the one saying them, that needs to stop! If you're the kind of person that blurts things out before thinking, Try to stop yourself. Before you speak, take a moment to think about how what you're about to say will affect others. If it will affect them negatively, don't say anything.
- Be honest but in a nice way! Honesty is super important in a trendy girl, and even in a good friend. We want you to be honest, but be kind about it. There's always a nicer way to say something! For example, if your friend got an awful haircut and asks you how it looks, say "It's nice, but it doesn't suit your pretty face as well as it should." Your friend might be taken aback initially, but will appreciate your honesty and will take the suggestions that you've made into consideration. However, always know when to draw the line of being honest and not being honest. Sometimes, little white lies are okay.
- Don't get trampled on! Stand your ground and make sure everyone knows that you won't get walked over! Friendship and relationships should always be at a green light. If it has turned yellow or red, then it's time to inspect if that person is really worth being in your life.
2
Be smart. Obviously, no one likes talking to a person who has no idea what they're talking about. Pay attention in class, no matter how boring, and talk with your friends outside of class or when the teacher says you can talk. Brush up on knowledge and keep your computer homepage on a website like Yahoo so you can see the latest news as you log in to your favorite websites. We know that being smart can be kind of 'nerdy' to some people, but better that then being labeled a 'stupid ditz'.
3
Respect others! If someone doesn't want to tell you something, you can't make them speak! Be a good listener, and try not to gossip about people. It's okay to look at celebrity magazines every once in a while, but keep in mind the difference between that and gossiping about peers. You've probably seen people being torn apart by rumors. Don't start them and you won't be involved with them. Also, pay attention and help out your parents. They are the ones that have raised you and taught you what you know. Respect them and they will more than likely listen to what you have to say.
4
Know when to walk away from anything. Know when to leave an argument, a situation, or even a relationship. Never take sides in an argument, even if you see one person's reason and not the other. If a friend comes to you for advice, give it, but don't give anything that could hurt others or hurt your friend. In fact, if they ask for advice, give them a word of encouragement and suggest a nudge towards figuring it out themselves. That way, no one can pinpoint something directly onto you. Know when to walk away from a situation if it's getting to risky or dangerous. Also, know when to walk out of a relationship, especially if your boyfriend/girlfriend is trying to convince you to do something that you don't want to do.
5
Be yourself. Do what you like to do. There will be people who get you down, but who's living your life? If you have a religion, believe in it strongly. If you don't, that's okay too. Respect everyone's beliefs and state your own too. Find some hobbies you like and stick to them. Remember that it's okay to be different, whether this means racially, sexually, intellectually, or whatever. Be confident and proud of yourself!
6
Be connected. Read good books and listen to music you enjoy. If you want, get an Instagram or Twitter, but never give out your info to strangers. Add only people you know. And don't say anything bad about anyone, especially on the Internet--there's a log somewhere out there that records what you say. Think before you type.
7
Be classic and trendy. You are going for a comfortable, nice style that is polished and pretty. So, you need to get some cool clothing. Some things you should have:
- A pair of dark wash skinny jeans.
- A pair of dark wash boyfriend/straight jeans.
- A pair of white, black or dark washed shorts
- A cute medium sized purse
- A pair of Converse in gray, black, or white.
- Some solid coloured crew neck, scoop neck, and V-neck plain tees.
- Some cute flowy tops with unique patterns, cuts, and fabrics that aren't too much to wear to school.
- 2-3 Cardigans in colours like navy blue, gray, white, black.
- Camis in solid colours.
- Cute tank tops and camis with patterns, buttons, detailing, and designs.
- 1-2 high-waisted skirts.
- A pair of flip-flops, T-strap sandals, or Gladiators.
- A pair of ballet flats.
- A cute pair of boots. They can be slouchy, UGGs, knockoffs, black booties, or whatever.
- Lots of necklaces and accessories! Things like long dangly necklaces, bangles, friendship bracelets, earrings, etc.
- -2 nice hoodies.
- A solid colored winter jacket.
- Solid and printed scarves.
- A usual, cool styled pants cost around $79-$199
8
What stores should you shop at? Some great stores that sell items like the ones above are Aeropostale, Abercrombie, Hollister, Delia's, Forever 21, Victoria's Secret PINK, Wet Seal, Charlotte Russe, Papaya, Target, Old Navy, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Rue 21, Nordstrom, Marshalls, TJ/TKMaxx, Ross, JCPenney, Macy's, Kohls, and even Walmart.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can you look and feel more beautiful at a party?

Jordan Stolch
Image Consultant & Style Advisor
Jordan Stolch is an Image Strategist, Style Advisor, and the Founder of MiKADO - a concierge personal styling firm. With over a decade of experience, Jordan specializes in helping people eliminate the confusion and insecurities associated with how to dress in order to build a powerful image and use clothing to their strategic advantage. Jordan trains entrepreneurs, business leaders, and corporate executives in the foundations of "power dressing", from some of the country's preeminent companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, Berkshire Hathaway, Universal Music Group, Starbucks, and Disney. She works with clients both in-person and virtually, teaching them how to take the confusion out of style so they can operate at a higher level. Jordan earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and studied Merchandise Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIDM).

Jordan Stolch

Image Consultant & Style Advisor

Expert Answer

The biggest mistake people make when they're trying to find something to wear to a party is to buy something new. I always tell my clients, you're going to feel the most confident wearing something you already know you feel confident in. People often don't feel confident when they are comparing themselves to other people, so try not to look at other people. Instead, focus on the positive qualities that you bring forward and what you're grateful for about yourself. If you're looking to buy something new to wear to a party, choose things that are in line with your preferences rather than choosing things that you think other people expect you to wear. When you wear things that you think other people think you should wear, you don't really feel authentic. When you don't feel authentic, you don't feel confident. Buy the things that you like. Buy the things that your eye is drawn to and not the things you think you should be wearing.
Question

People have told me to kill myself because I am ugly and have no fashion sense. How can I deal with this?

Community Answer

Talk to an adult about this. These people are bullying you pretty seriously, and it would be a good idea to get some help with this situation. You are not ugly and having a good fashion sense is really not the most important thing in the world. Ignore these ignorant people and talk to a teacher, parent, counselor, etc. about what's going on.
Question

How do I be a trendy girl if I'm poor and my parents don't care?

Community Answer

Try shopping at thrift stores. You can find some cool stuff that is really inexpensive. Also, be creative and try to change/upcycle some of the clothing you already have.

Warnings

You don't need a boyfriend to be a trendy teen.

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Tanning beds and extreme sunbathing can give you premature wrinkles, age you, and give you skin cancer. Wouldn't you rather be pale than have cancer?

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