Makeup Monday: Your Makeup Questions Answered
“You recently asked about when the first time was that we wore makeup. I have a 12 year old daughter and I know that soon enough she is going to want to wear makeup–she’s already sneaking my lipgloss! So about what age are girls no longer considered too young to be wearing makeup?” Cathy M.
Ok, readers, what do you think? Post your reply in the comments.
If you have a makeup question you’d like answered here on my Makeup Monday weekly series, please email them to me at Shannon (at) b5media (dot) com
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6 opinions for Makeup Monday: Your Makeup Questions Answered
Chic Alert
Nov 9, 2007 at 10:57 am
Well when we were young we all wanted to look and act like grown ups, didn’t we. At the very least we emulated our older sister, a cousin or the older girl next door. I remember being 6 and prancing around the house in mum’s dresses and heels and splashed with lippie from head to toe :) It’s no different today but I think girls, especially teens are much more empowered than their mums were at the same age. However, to your question, personally I think the age is once they become a teen or when they reach puberty. However, this depends on maturity of the individual as yes I know these days children are reaching physical maturity earlier but I fee that there are dangers in pushing the boundaries and often its the pressure of the media, marketing and fashion houses. For example, these days there are sexy panties and even padded bras for girls as young as 7 and 8 and personally I think that this is going a bit too far and perhaps it’s sexualizing children! Toddlers miss being a child and move straight into being tweenagers in the 6 to 12 year-old bracket! There’s even a magazine for tweens “Total Girl is a kids magazine for girls only! A complete Lifestyle magazine for tweens, Total Girl has everything a girl wants including the coolest fashion and beauty, the hottest gossip and the most amazing competitions!” Check out http://www.markwins.com and you’ll see that they have cosmetic kits for tweens. Is this fashion, media and marketing all gone mad - sexploitation of kids for the sake of making a profit? Sex sells yes but at what cost to the kids? A loss of childhood? I’ve even heard of teenage girls having “elective” cosmetic surgery such as breast enlargement or breast reductions and so on. Remember not so long ago when Teen Vogue ran an ad for breast enhancing pills!!!! What really worries me though is that all this is not a case of “looking better” but one of “looking like someone else”, an older person, a celebrity!
Sorry I’ve rambled on :)
Sally Green
Debbie
Feb 28, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I think once girls are in high school they should be allowed to experiment with make up. Obviously you don’t want your daughter to look like a hooker, if that happens you can always tell her not to put on so much. But a little liner, gloss, and mascara isn’t absurd.
Julie
Feb 28, 2008 at 3:16 pm
My niece is 9, and she’s worn nail polish since she was about 3. I also splurge with her every once in a while and get her some Bonne Bell lipgloss. But she definitely won’t start wearing real makeup for another few years.
I agree with Chic Alert’s comments about the oversexualization of our culture… look no further than the Fafi Dolls and the Bratz dolls. What I do, as an aunt, is discuss the Bratz phenomenon openly with my niece. “What do you think about those dolls? Why do you think the marketers dress them like that? Do you know anyone who dresses in that way? What message does it send?”
My niece is a brilliant precocious little girl and has a strong sense of self. She’s rejected the Bratz dolls, and prefers a little nail polish and some chap stick.
I started sneaking makeup in the 7th grade, mascara first, and then some pressed powder. I think that as long as there’s good communication out there as to what is acceptable for a young woman, and where you as a parent draw the line as unacceptable, then there shouldn’t be too many issues. Good luck with your daughter!
Ashley Samantha
Feb 29, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Nail polish has always been ok to me - it’s a favorite past time of mine and my nieces and they are 3 and 8. I remember my mom freaked when she saw me in eyeshadow when I was in about the 9th grade - she was so convinced I was doing it for some guy which was so not even the case, I was just curious about makeup. I was about 14/15 then I don’t think I was too young @ all. I eventually just started using makeup on my own and past that initial freakout my mom didn’t say anything else about it.
To me, I think maybe about 13 is the appropriate age to be *introduced* to makeup - maybe a little tinted moisturizer, and a few “real” lip glosses. MAYBE, a clear mascara.
I think too many moms freak out about their little girls growing up too fast and as a result they DO end up sneaking makeup and end up looking like little clown whores cause no one will teach them to do it correctly. I think guidance is key with young girls and makeup.
But I think lip balms, and cute little lip glosses (like Bonne Belle, Libby Lu, and MK & Ashley Olsen) for little girls at around age 7 or 8 is fine. I always let my 8 year old niece and 10 year old cousin wear a little of my clear or light colored lipgloss when we’re out together as a special treat.
Trisha
Feb 29, 2008 at 6:13 pm
13 is a good age, my daughter is only 3mos now but i think that on her 13th we will take a trip to a fun counter and we will pick up some natural stuff to wear. this way she has something to look forward to growing up & i will have some control/imput on it rather than her picking up some trashy stuff (not knowing any better) & iding it from me. i would rather guide her with this than disapline her for it.
yoyosushi3 (thu)
Mar 1, 2008 at 12:02 am
I think when a girl reaches high school is when make up is best. I mean, before that, they still have that beautiful skin and that fresh glow, so why fuss with it?
I also don’t want them to be so addicted to the makeup stuff (like i am now) so early in life. Gotta let them have the chance to roll in the mud without worrying if their powder is messed up you know?
When you’re in high school, that’s when the blemishes start to come and that’s when everybody dresses up a little bit more. And by high school, I hope that they feel comfortable with themselves that they know they’re a fantastic person with or without makeup :)
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