What age should you let kids start wearing make-up?
WITH AN INSISTENT TWEENAGE DAUGHTER, CLAIRE SPREADBURY ASKS AN EXPERT WHEN IT’S OK FOR BEAUTY RITUALS TO BEGIN
CHILDREN seem to grow up so fast. Parents have been saying that for decades – but in 2020, when kids are so grown-up they’re leading the climate change fight, running a hectic social life and are constantly surrounded by imagery on TV, social media and the internet, wanting to look a certain way can start seeming important at a young age.
My eldest daughter Rosie is 10, and desperate to have her own make-up.
I’ve been struggling with the requests for a few months, repeatedly telling her how beautiful she is without it – but apparently, she tells me, ‘everyone’ else has products of their own.
So, is it time to succumb? Should I let her have a little make-up stash of her own, or tell her to stop asking until she’s a proper teenager?
“From the moment we first glimpse a glamorous woman carefully applying her lipstick, most of us know it’s something we want to try sooner rather than later,” says make-up artist and mum-of-two, Susan Fox. “But when is the right time to join in the age-old ritual of wearing make-up?
“The truth is, there is no hardand-fast rule,” she notes, adding that teens and tweens all develop differently, and what fits for one might be different for another. “From the age of 11 or 12, most teenagers are already using gloss, concealer and mascara,” says Susan. “And in the fast-paced world we live in, with so much emphasis on beauty and a myriad of YouTube tutorials at their fingertips, it’s hardly surprising teenagers often look way older than they are.
“I know every generation has gone through this, but we’re now faced with kids who have better knowledge, better products, and much better skills than we ever had. “However, I do believe make-up before the age of 12 should be reserved for Halloween and dress-up games. It is so important to allow our children to enjoy the freedom of childhood.”
STARTING OUT
WHEN and if the time comes, and your children want to start wearing make-up, it’s important to talk to them. Ask them about it – what do they like about make-up, and why do they want to start wearing it?
If you don’t feel comfortable with them wearing anything too grown-up, you could compromise.
Giving them a make-up bag containing tinted lip balm, some face and body moisturiser, and a brow and lash gel might make them happy, but will barely be noticeable to anyone else.
DON’T LET MAKE-UP BECOME A MASK
AS PARENTS, it’s important to guide our kids, while at the same time not taking away their creativity and confidence, says Susan.
“Being a make-up artist, I wanted to let my girls enjoy
There are no set rules about when kids should start wearing make-up
make-up, and when they insisted on using the black eyeliner on the inside of the eye waterline, I left them to it – only to be asked a year later why I let them out like that! Trial and error, ladies!”
Do instil body confidence in your kids whenever you can. Some might want to wear make-up because they’re not happy with themselves.
“There is no doubt make-up can give confidence when a little extra is needed,” notes Susan, “however, when it starts to become a mask, or hours are being taken to apply it every day, then it might be a good idea to have a chat and make sure there are no other issues going on.
“Get the inner beauty going on, and the outer