What age should girls wear make-up?
March 8th, 2008 / 12 Comments
I was at the high school today teaching a freshmen class. The girls in the class are about 15 years old. But I swear, some of them look like they can be 25! The amount of makeup they wear is why cosmetics is a billion dollar industry.
I suppose we have the Paris Hiltons and the Brittany Spears to blame for girls’ precocious behavior today.
What can we do about it? Do we just say “girls will be girls”?
Here is what I’ve done in guiding my daughter about make-up:
1. I try to keep my children’s innocence as long as possible by not exposing them to the media that shows young girls dressing and acting like adults. They don’t need magazines and TV shows telling them to be adults before their time. They only have at most 18 years to be young, but they will have 50+ years to be adults! Why let them rush into acting, dressing and looking like adults? We don’t buy or subscribe to teen magazines or celebrity magazines like People. We use the TV for educational shows only (Jeopardy is my personal favorite!).
2. Have an outsider talk to your daughter. My friend is a Jafra consultant. I asked her to do a Jafra party with my daughter and her friends on skin care and makeup. She showed them how to put light make-up on for every day, and a little more for special occasions. None of that thick heavy make-up please! The party was fun, informative, and much better coming from someone else other than the mom.
3. We bring into our conversation positive female role models in the news instead of talking about crazy celebrity gossips that inundates the news. For a school project to write a biography, my daughter did a report on Condoleezza Rice. Oprah Winfrey has used her celebrity to be a generous philanthropist and a crusader for human rights. Sports figures like Dorothy Hamill and Jackie Joyner-Kersee are much better role models than the ones we see on the news.
When my daughter was in the 8th grade, she asked me about wearing make-up. On a special occasion she wore lipstick, a little mascara and eye shadow. That sticky feel of make-up does take getting used to. She didn’t want to bother with it after that.
My main emphasis with my daughter was skin care. She learned to take care of her face with a good cleansing and moisturizer. She liked the feeling of that better than make-up.
I know that even though you may discourage make-up at home, girls will find ways to put it on at school. I’ve seen them borrow their friend’s make-up. If your daughter wants to wear make-up so badly, I don’t think it is a hill worth dying on. Instead of fighting them, join them and show them the correct ways to apply make-up. I highly recommend asking a Jafra consultant to help them do it right using quality products that will not ruin their skin.
Photo by annia316
Comments
I see girls all the time in middle school with loads of make-up on. I am not sure their parents understand the consequences that it may cause. Not to mention skin aging way to young, but the age it makes girl looks.
It’s these little things that causes bigger consequences later. You’re right, Tara.
I don’t think I would allow for a daughter of mine to wear make-up until they were in high school…and then it would have to be put on lightly. I just don’t understand the girls today with their make-up, short skirts, low neck shirts, etc…but that is for another of your posts.
I heard someone say that their daughter does not go out of the house until the dad approves of what she’s wearing. He tells the daughter what guys are thinking when she puts on THOSE kinds of clothes. Comes off better from dads than moms.
I think High School is probably ok, maybe college…I have three girls so I don’t want them taking themselves that seriously ever, but I suppose its inevitable.
I have encouraged my youngest, who is now a young teen, to take care of her skin. We have discussed how beautiful her face is without the need of makeup. So far, she’s not been interested in it, even though I have offered her some lipstick wear for dances and such. Thank goodness !!!
Young girls don’t realize how naturally beautiful they are. Don’t we wish we had their skin! Debbie, I am glad you affirm your daughter.
Im in middle school and i wear make up, but i try not to look older, i like to look like candy or a doll! But i dont wear loads of make-up. Only, maybe, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara and maybe some chapstick.
Hi Isabella: Thanks for sharing. Make-up can be fun to wear. Make sure what you look like on the outside is giving people the kind of impression that you want them to have of you.
I’m 13 and i’ve started wearing mascara and eyeliner..the main reason is because i want to enhance my eyes (i have the small asian eyes). I want them to look bigger and prettier but i only recently found out that eyeliner may be really bad for your skin. I dont talk about this much with my mum so i sort of need some adult advice from other people on the site. I really dont want anything bad to happen to my skin (i love my skin) so i need to know if it eyeliner and mascara REALLY IS bad for you and if so, how can i minimise the effects? By the way, i always wash it off with water..should i use something else??
Rebecca, the tissues around our eyes are very delicate. If you feel around your eyes, you notice there are no muscles and very smooth. The problem I see with eye makeup is that when you take it off, you have to rub the skin around the eyes, thus causing more “wear and tear” making you prone to wrinkles at a young age. No matter how gentle you dab, you can’t help but pull on your skin.
I’ve been told that Shiseido is good quality makeup for Asians. Go to a cosmetic counter and ask them for a good eye makeup remover that is gentle.
I also suggest that you use make up on special occasions only. You are still young, and using it everyday loses it’s effects after awhile.
I am in your league in terms of having small Asian eyes. I wear eye liner when I go out, but try not to put too much on. I’ve gotten over trying to fit in to the “white” standard of beauty. Don’t let the media make us feel self-conscious. Let your natural beauty shine through by taking care of your skin, maybe use a little gloss for your lips, and having an attitude of confidence and joy that will bring brightness to your overall persona.
im 12 years old, and its my first year of middle school. all the girls in my grade are wearing tons of makeup and they look gorgeous. is it to early for me to start wearing lip gloss and mascara 2 or 3 times a week?
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