When Your Little Girl Wants Make Up

When is your daughter old enough for make-up? This is a question a lot of parents ask themselves. Is it when she knows how to apply it properly? Is it when she reaches a certain age or maturity level? Is it when she hits a specific grade in school? The answer is, it varies, but here are some helpful things to consider when it comes to your daughter and makeup.

• 1. It is normal for girls to want to wear makeup, so even if your daughter starts asking early, don’t let it freak you out. Instead, inquire as to why. Do they have bad skin they want to cover up? Are their friends doing it? Are they looking for that next step in growing up? Knowing why can help you determine if they are old enough for it.
• 2. What will your daughter do if you forbid makeup? Most tweens and teens that are forbidden to wear makeup will simply apply it once they get to school. Instead of having your child rebel, consider allowing them to wear it, but helping them choose lightly tinted moisturizers, clear or light pink lip glosses, peach or skin toned shadows, and brown mascaras. Letting them wear makeup doesn’t mean you have to let them wear blue eye liner and bright red lipstick.
• 3. Help your daughter learn how to apply make-up properly. Most parents think their children are too young, but that is because when they see their child in makeup that they apply themselves, it seems out of place and unnatural. This is usually because it is. So, help them learn how to wear it by taking them to a class. Many department stores at the malls offer classes on how to apply makeup, and wear it to look naturally. In addition, this can help them learn how to wear makeup to play up their best features, and choose event appropriate makeup. The more your daughter learns about makeup and what is appropriate when, the more comfortable you can be about her wearing it, regardless of her age.

Most girls are ready for makeup when they are already practicing good hygiene, and are at the end of their tween years, or beginning of their teen years. The important thing to remember is that they should be taught to apply it properly, care for their skin (remove it properly), and be held some what responsible for the image they create with makeup. A thirteen year old may be more ready for makeup then a sixteen year old simply because emotionally she can handle the attention, or because she applies a more natural looking makeup, thus promoting a different idea about herself. Teach your daughter how to wear makeup appropriately, and assess their maturity before allowing makeup to be worn.