Honestly, I would get her a gift card to either a specific make up counter or to Sephora/Ulta so that she can go there and have some help picking out specifics. I think a specific make up counter in a department store would be less overwhelming, but am not sure what to recommend (clinique was big when I was a teen in the 1980s).

Are you friendly with other girl-moms? This is the kind of thing I would ask peer moms about. They may know if there is an "in" brand for her friend group right now. (for 13 there may not be...)

Get her this to play with different colors

https://www.ulta.com/flirty-flawless-makeup-collection?productId=pimprod2012256

I second the ipsy subscription idea.

Something like Burt's Bees or Pacifica. Available at Target and the makeup is not super saturated with chemicals and color, so is better for a younger person.

I'm middle aged and like Pacifica, but think it's marketed to a younger audience. A more expensive brand is Tarte.

Anonymous wrote:I would go to Sephora and look for a palette that contains coordinated colors for eyes, cheeks, and lips. It's hard when you're just starting out to know how to combine colors, and these kits do that for you. I'd take a picture of her along so that the sales person can help you select one that will work for her coloring. I'd also ask for their recommendation for a mascara since that's something almost everyone who wears makeup uses.

If I bring DD to Sephora, will someone there work with us to find her a good palette? I went to the drugstore and was clueless what to buy her.

I like the pixie stuff for a nice "drug store" brand -- they have it at Target. It has a more youthful vibe, at least as far as the packaging and branding.
FWIW, I think the "fun" lip colors are more youthful and easier to pull off in a lip gloss, versus a matte lipstick.
Also, my 13 year old really likes fun nail polish colors and has asked for nail polish stencils (which I was not really successful in finding) -- so those are apparently a thing with the 13 year olds.

Anonymous wrote:Would it be terrible to buy a drugstore brand like Almay? She’s not a make-up girl, not particularly trendy, etc. This just be some stuff for her to play around with.

Full disclosure - I’ve been wearing the same Clinique makeup for 30 years.

I would suggest starting with drug store brands. One, they are often just as good or almost as good. Two, it allows her to test some stuff out with no real guilt if she does not like it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it be terrible to buy a drugstore brand like Almay? She’s not a make-up girl, not particularly trendy, etc. This just be some stuff for her to play around with.

Full disclosure - I’ve been wearing the same Clinique makeup for 30 years.

Drug store brands are ok, just do not go on as easy or last as long. Except Maybelline mascara. Don't do Almay,

I used department store brands for years and started going back to drugstore stuff recently. Maybelline snapscara is a great choice because it comes off with plain water but doesn't smudge. They also have fun colors. ELF has lots of trendy things for cheap.

Anonymous wrote:Would it be terrible to buy a drugstore brand like Almay? She’s not a make-up girl, not particularly trendy, etc. This just be some stuff for her to play around with.

Full disclosure - I’ve been wearing the same Clinique makeup for 30 years.

Drug store brands are ok, just do not go on as easy or last as long. Except Maybelline mascara. Don't do Almay,

Anonymous wrote:Would it be terrible to buy a drugstore brand like Almay? She’s not a make-up girl, not particularly trendy, etc. This just be some stuff for her to play around with.

Full disclosure - I’ve been wearing the same Clinique makeup for 30 years.

Fine but I’d get Clinique. Just get blush, lipgloss and eye shadow.

Beauty Counter, because there is a bunch of chemicals in makeup, because it's not regulated by the FDA. Beauty Counter is designed to be free of all that.

Would it be terrible to buy a drugstore brand like Almay? She’s not a make-up girl, not particularly trendy, etc. This just be some stuff for her to play around with.

Full disclosure - I’ve been wearing the same Clinique makeup for 30 years.