Dear Marsha,
Hello, I hope you are doing well. I am a mother of a 10 year old daughter. She is wanting to start wearing make-up. While I think it is cute and fun to dress her up, my husband is strongly opposed to me doing so.
What do you think is an appropriate age to allow your daughter to start wearing make-up outside of the house?
Make-up Mommy
Dear Make-up Mommy,
That is really a touchy subject for a lot of parents, and is rightfully worrisome. There are far too many pre-teens and teens out there today that are trying to be much older than what they are. This can be dangerous, so I can fully understand your husbands concern for your daughter. I also think wearing make-up at a young age, makes them neglect to see their own natural beauty.
My suggestion would be to allow a girl to start wearing a concealer and face powder at what ever age she begins to have acne. This is usually around the age of 12 or 13. No girl wants to be picked on because of a few zits. Allowing them to wear a little concealer/foundation and face powder (that matches their skin tone) at this stage of life will allow them to maintain their self confidence. I also do not see anything wrong in allowing a girl at this age to wear lip gloss or nail polish either. There really isn’t much harm in either of those.
Perhaps girls at the age of 15 could start wearing make-up that is light and natural looking. It is extremely important that mothers (or a motherly figure,) show their daughters how to properly apply the make-up to look natural and not over bearing. I would suggest not allowing them to wear black eyeliner or mascara as this can make the face look too made up. If they have naturally dark eyelashes, then leave them be without adding any make up over them. Also try natural shades of eye shadows, lipsticks, and blushes. Stay away from dark colors such as reds, blues, purples, greens, etc. and try for light colors such as pinks, tans, corals, and nudes.
By the age of 16, they should now know what the proper way of applying make-up should be, and you could cut loose on the color restrictions to allow them to discover for themselves what their own personal style is. You can always give your opinions, but try not to be too over bearing. This is a touchy age where most teens are trying to find themselves and express their independence. Most of them, in time, will come to see that “Mommy Knew Best” and go back to wearing their make-up in the light and natural shades once again.
Always,
Marsha
