At what age do you feel a girl should be allowed to wear light makeup?

Question

I have five daughters. My eleven year old has started to make noises about wearing makeup as several of her 5th grade class mates do so. I personally feel that she's much to young. I started at 17. Please chime in with your point of view and why you feel that way. Please also inlude your age and when you started wearing makeup. If your not allowed to do so, would you let me know why your parent or gaurdian feels that you should be restricted. Thank you.

Answer 1

Girls today are certainly in a rush to grow up, aren't they? I can remember the rites of passage.....getting hose, wearing one inch pumps, choosing a shade of light pink lipstick in 7th grade, shaving my legs, and others. Certain things were written in stone, and you didn't push the time line. If I were raising a daughter now, I would urge her to keep it natural, explaining that makeup is meant to enhance her beauty, not redefine it. Perhaps you could buy her a clear mascara, some light polish. Heck, take her in for a manicure/pedicure, but urge her to use only the slightest peach shade of blush, and maybe one of the sheer lip glosses that are so popular. A tiny touch of mascara, and she should be all set. Fifth grade is just too young for much more than some fun color on her toes! Get in front of a mirror with her. Allow her to use a little gel or hairspray; share some bubble bath or nice lotion and assure her you will provide all the things she needs in the near future. Put your arms around her. Point out her strong points. Tell her how beauiful her eyes are without makeup. Pinch her cheeks and tell her that's all she needs for blush!! Tell her you just want to keep your baby girl a little while longer, and go for some ice cream together or put on a great CD and dance with her all over the kitchen. You could even start a special savings for good skin care and make up when she's in 7th or 8th grade and let her watch it grow! Five daughters! How blessed!

Answer 2

I have four daughters. I was one of five girls.

My rule is 16. I started then, but only eyeshadow and lipstick. I didn't start full makeup until I was between 19 and 22, but only because I liked my nice smooth complexion and didn't want to ruin it.

My daughters can practice at home, play around, learn how to not overdo it. This also allows them to 'wear' makeup without going out of the house.

My younger daughters have two friends: one who started wearing makeup at her 8th grade graduation, and the other who has been wearing makeup since she was 12. They both can wear anything they want.

I, too feel that 11 is too young. But this is because (as I told my daughters) priveleges come in stages, like growing up.

Ages10-14 was for lipgloss, and I purchased many varieties and types:sticks, pots, tubes, etc.

Now that there are sheer lipsticks out, my 15 year old can apply a lipstick over lipgloss or sheer lipstick for more variety. The lipstick appears very sheer.So she has now added lipstick to her makeup collection.

My 16 year old received makeup for her birthday: powder, mascara...the works. She hasn't worn much since, even though she wanted to wear makeup when she was younger. Only on special occasions.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

14-15 is a good age to start. Don't let her bend to the peer pressure in school.

There are great lip glosses on the market today. A little blush or bronzer won't hurt at 14. Use the meantime to teach her about the importance of good skin care: Using sunblock year round; washing make up off in the evening; never sharing make up products especially those made for the eyes and lips, etc.

Being a Mom is tough, and girls can be demanding about these issues. Just have a heart to heart talk with your daughter and explain your reasoning.

Make up often clogs the pores of girls undergoing hormonal changes. There is a lot of lousy make up manufactured and pitched to young girls. There are subliminal and overt sexual messages aimed at preteens and teens by the advertisers.

You want your daughter to be able to make rational decisions which are not based on fattening some corporate big wig's wallet.
Unfortunately, the majority of advertising dollars target the mall set.

I wore light make up at 15.

Answer 4

I didn't wear make-up until I went to my junior prom. I even needed a little help, teenage acne sucks. But if you start her too early on it, it can cause some damage to her skin. Especially the stuff with glitter. It can tear up your skin. If you want to let her, try something light. maybe light powder and lip gloss. Nothing too sexy though. Get a lip gloss that is one shade off of her lip color. If you let her wear it, after a while it just might lose the appeal and she'll stop. I wanted to wear it all the time when I was younger, but my dad refused to buy it (my mother was out of the picture). Now that i can buy it whenever I want, I never wear it. I am 24 and started wearing makeup at 16.

Answer 5

Well, I started wearing light makeup when I was about twelve, then again I was in the seventh grade. I had just turned twelve and I just wore light eyeshadow and a little mascara from time to time. Now, I hardly ever wear ANY! I think that you should let her wear makeup when she gets to seventh grade, younger than that is just gross. Also, teach her how to do her own makeup, use the speech "The key to wearing makeup is to make it look like you are not wearing any!" Then, she can wear makeup without looking awful!

Answer 6

When playing dress up at home, I think it's okay at any age. But for wearing in public, especially to school I think only chapstick/lipgloss would be okay until at least like 6th grade. I started wearing powder in 6th grade. Then in 7th grade I was allowed eye shadow. In 8th grade I was allowed to have blush and lipstick. Then in 9th grade I could have whatever I wanted. But throughout all of this I never really wanted to wear that much anyway. Now at 24 I despise makeup, but still use it! I say if nothing else if it's not being used just to enhance natural beauty, like it's too noticable...then it's not appropriate. Girls are growing up too fast!

Answer 7

I started when I was 11 but that was ages ago. Times have changed. Your girls want to be recognized as almost women. I say let them. My mom actually wanted me to wear light makeup, she was really into avon. I would take her to wallmart and buy her a few things...don't go overbord and let her know she can't share her stuff with others and she cant wear her friends stuff. Get her face powder and maybe some light lipgloss, nothing crazy, and a little mascarra. You can use this against her now. If she is really bad...take her make up away. Let her know that this is the deal, she can only wear it lightly and if shes bad its gone.

Answer 8

.My daughters are now 20 and 23. I let them start with lip gloss and mascara in 8th grade. They were in sports and found that more than that was too inconvenient. About tenth grade they started wearing what they wanted but mostly just to parties dances and weddings. They're very level headed. They were also expected to take on more responsiblity as they got more priviledges. All three kids did all their own laundry at 12. They each had their own set of bath towels in a different color. Saved me tons of time and taught them life lessons. Good Luck.

Answer 9

I'm 16 and started when i was around 13, i feel my mom made a good choice at starting me then instead of earlier, but maybe some chap stick. I barely wear make up now too because i don't find the need to rebel so much about this subject. Ask you daughter how she feels about wearing make up. good luck

Answer 10

I never wore make-up and still don't. I guess I'm just not into that kind of stuff. My sister was allowed to wear light makeup at about 12 or 13.

My feeling on all of this is: if it's light makeup then it isn't that big of a deal. As parents we need to pick and choose our battles. We need to give our kids as much independence on the small things [make-up, style choices, and bedroom decor] so that when we have to stand up to BIG things like drugs, sex, or violence our kids don't feel like they are being smothered.

I do know from experience that a lot of girls who weren't allowed to wear make-up in middle/high school would put it on after their parents left then wash their faces before they left school. It's all up to how you feel but I'd say this is just a battle not important enough to fight. Best of Luck!