When do you think makeup is age appropriate?

Jay_Cee · February 2011

I just saw a link to this article on BOTB. If you ever have a little girl, when will you allow her to start wearing makeup?

Personally, I think that 8-12 years is too young for a girl to wear makeup. Perhaps some tinted chapstick is fine, but not real makeup. My mom didn't let me wear full makeup -- unless it was a special dance or other occasion -- until I was 16 (it was a house rule). I think 14-15, depending on the maturity of the girl, is a fine age to start wearing light makeup.

e_uecker · February 2011

I would say junior high, but nothing dark. That's like 14-15 isn't it?

KleanFreak · February 2011

Grrr... I'm the teacher who makes girls remove makeup if they are wearing it (I teach grade 5).Lip gloss is fine.

We never had a rule at my house, but I didn't show interest until high school.

My one friend's mom made the rule of 16. She would celebrate it by having her girls go to the Clinique counter for a makeover (and to learn how to put it on properly) and then they got to spend some money on some new makeup. I always thought that was so cute.

MamaC2b2011 · February 2011

12-14 depending on the make-up

kell8807 · February 2011

I'm with you. 8-12 is way too young, IMO. I think maybe I started wearing lip gloss around 12, but that's it. My mom didn't let me wear makeup until high school and even then I only wore eye makeup, unless it was for a special occasion.

I'd let my daughter put makeup on to wear around the house for dress up or play when she was younger, but NEVER out of the house until she was at least 14 or 15.

mbritto4 · February 2011

I remember it being a big deal when my Mom let me start wearing lip gloss in middle school. I think I started being interested in make up in 8th grade (14) but didn't really wear it much until I was 16. Probably because I went to an all girls catholic school 2 years of high school & didn't see the point. Now I rarely wear it.

EllenMA · February 2011

The only way I would allow my daughter to wear make up between 8-12 is if she had really bad acne like I did. Kids can be so cruel and make up can help in moderation with self esteem. Aside from that I think 13 or 14 is fairly age appropriate.

aesf · February 2011

Light at 12. Because when I was 12 I wasnt allowed so i snuck makeup remover, black eye liner, blue shadow and red lipstick to school. Id rather my kid not look like a kiddie whore. Atleast she can look more natural with a peach lipstick and some tan eyeshadow

mainemommy · February 2011

My daughters 5 she loves playing dress up & has her own dress up makeup. I dont let her leave the house with it on though & I dont let her wear it often.

Im thinking middle school Ill start allowing it to an extent, like foundation or cover up because of hormones & zits, maybe some mascara if she's got terrible eye lashes like me, lip gloss.

Real makeup can wait for high school though.

MrsO_53 · February 2011

I think it depends on the type of makeup. I wore makeup in Jr. High, and by makeup I mean I wore concealer and some mascara maybe. I don't think there's anything wrong with a reasonable, age appropriate amount of makeup starting at 13-14. If my daughter was trying to leave the house with blue eye-shadow, blush, and red lipstick (or makeup that looks to "old") on at age 12 to ... well maybe any age (lol) then I don't think that's appropriate

MrsO_53 · February 2011

KleanFreak:
Grrr... I'm the teacher who makes girls remove makeup if they are wearing it (I teach grade 5).Lip gloss is fine.
We never had a rule at my house, but I didn't show interest until high school.
My one friend's mom made the rule of 16. She would celebrate it by having her girls go to the Clinique counter for a makeover (and to learn how to put it on properly) and then they got to spend some money on some new makeup. I always thought that was so cute.

I really like that idea! How cute.

e_uecker · February 2011

EllenMA:
The only way I would allow my daughter to wear make up between 8-12 is if she had really bad acne like I did. Kids can be so cruel and make up can help in moderation with self esteem. Aside from that I think 13 or 14 is fairly age appropriate.

I know what you mean. I started shaving really young because I was seriously I wooly mammoth. Kids are cruel.

cburitz · February 2011

14. I don't want my daughter to grow up too fast! I would allow lip gloss as an exception and perhaps cover up in junior high.

My niece is 12 and she wears a LOT of makeup. Eyeliner, dark eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick, etc. She's already 5'9" and wears a C cup. She looks 18 WITHOUT the makeup. I'm afraid boys will take advantage of her since she looks so much older.

mama mand · February 2011

Wow, that is crazy. My DD is 5 and she will not be wearing make-up for a long while, at least older middle school, and even then it will not be much.

I like the comment below on the article and think it is a good idea to do before my daughter can begin to wear make up.

"8 is too young for make up. Getting girls on a healthy and safe skin care routine should be the first step. If your daughter can not commit to washing her face each night for at least 3 to 6 months then she is not ready for make up."

Mrs.Leah.Maria · February 2011

Jay_Cee:

Personally, I think that 8-12 years is too young for a girl to wear makeup. Perhaps some tinted chapstick is fine, but not real makeup. My mom didn't let me wear full makeup -- unless it was a special dance or other occasion -- until I was 16 (it was a house rule). I think 14-15, depending on the maturity of the girl, is a fine age to start wearing light makeup.

I completely agree with this . . . now. I absolutely thought I should have been able to wear it younger than this though.

dairygirl19 · February 2011

I think age 12/6th grade is fine for things like light mascara, chapstick, maybe a little eyeshadow if she's with friends having fun.

I say 15 for a full face though.

12bailey18 · February 2011

12-13, jr. high. This is when I was experimenting with makeup and I think it's just fine. Tastefully, of course....LOL.

DMBfan41 · February 2011

dairygirl19:
I think age 12/6th grade is fine for things like light mascara, chapstick, maybe a little eyeshadow if she's with friends having fun.
I say 15 for a full face though.

This...except I think hold out on the full face (aka foundation) as long as possible. I wore mascara and lip gloss in middle school but never foundation...until maybe my 20s? My mom never let me and until I "grew up" and wanted to look more formal did I start buying it. If she insisted on foundation (aka all her friends were wearing it) I'd maybe let a tinted moisturizer.

brenwick · February 2011

I started wearing make-up around 12. I look back and wonder, "What was my mother thinking?!?!". She didn't wear make-up, so I was self-taught, and street walker was NOT a good look for me. IMO 6th graders shouldn't be wearing make-up. Shaving? Yes, because kids can be cruel. I think 8th grade, or 14 is a suitable age to start with concealer and mascara. I want to teach my daughters to apply make-up that enhances their natural beauty. I think I would start letting them add a little more once they start high school, but I don't ever want them leaving the house with heavy make-up,

x0stephanie · February 2011

MamaC2b2011:
12-14 depending on the make-up

Agreed. I started at 12-13 and my mom never bugged me about it. I'll just make sure she doesn't look ridiculous.

marchbride32407 · February 2011

I think around 8th grade is a good time to start, but tastefully. I started wearing makeup in 8th grade and wish my mom had made me wait longer! I wore too much foundation and didn't really need it at all. Also, having taught middle schoolers for 3 years, it's so sad to see dark eyeliner and heavy makeup on such young girls. It just makes me sad for them. Girls are growing up WAY too fast and looking way too old. Lots of my students looked older than me.

kateisgreat · February 2011

My mom sold Mary Kay and when I was 12 she gave me a ton of stuff in really bright colors because I was a "summer" and needed to wear brighter shades. I believed her for about a month- at which point I was wearing my flaming orange lipstick and emerald green eye shadow and someone said "wow....." that was all it took for me to stop wearing the clown makeup. My sister and I got lectured about how embarrassing it was for her to try and sell makeup when her own daughters wouldn't wear it. I didn't start wearing makeup again until I was 26, except on special occasions like prom. I'm fine with 12 year olds wearing make up, as long as it's subtle, age appropriate colors.

soontobemrsdavis · February 2011

I never wore/wear makeup so I am hoping that if I have a daughter it won't be something she desires. The most I wore was lipstick/gloss and that probably didn't start until HS, maybe 11th grade. There was no rule though b/c I simply wasn't interested. I did always want nails and nail polish but being in catholic school for all of elementary and jr. high I had to wait for hs for that (catholic hs finally allowed it).

I think 16 sounds pretty ideal to me for lipstick and hopefully she won't be into the full on makeup thing at all, like momma..lol.

katie4253 · February 2011

Lipgloss is fine at a young age. But I think middle school (11ish and up) is when I would think it was okay for a little eye shadow and mascara. Later middle school I'd be fine with more makeup.

I taught 6th grade and 12 years old seemed to be a pretty standard rule. As soon as my 6th graders turned 12 I started to notice them wearing makeup. I wore powder, eyeshadow, and mascara in middle school. I had SUPER light eye lashes and hated them.

If I had a daughter with acne I'd get her to a derm, but I'd def. allow non-comedogenic cover-up and foundation. Regardless of her age!

katie4253 · February 2011

KleanFreak:
Grrr... I'm the teacher who makes girls remove makeup if they are wearing it (I teach grade 5).Lip gloss is fine.

Do you teach at a religious school? I cannot believe your admin. allows you to do this and you haven't had parents complain. You are seriously violating their right to freedom of expression here. You'd totally lose in court...

COMomma81 · February 2011

My parents started allowing me to wear mascara and light lipgloss when I started 7th grade (I was 12). I was allowed to wear eyeliner, minimal eyeshadow, blush, and foundation in 10th grade (age 15). I always wore it very tastefully and if my mom thought I had it on a little heavy, she'd tell me. I felt this was very fair and appropriate, and likely what I would do should I have a daughter.

smili11538 · February 2011

katie4253:
KleanFreak:
Grrr... I'm the teacher who makes girls remove makeup if they are wearing it (I teach grade 5).Lip gloss is fine.
Do you teach at a religious school? I cannot believe your admin. allows you to do this and you haven't had parents complain. You are seriously violating their right to freedom of expression here. You'd totally lose in court...

I teach 5th grade as well and I also tell students to wipe it off, or at least that they can't wear the make-up to school the next day. It has nothing to do with their freedom of expression... it is against the student handbook in most public elementary schools. Just like wearing revealing clothing is against the handbook, make-up is in there too because it can be very distracting to other students. Now if a student is wearing lip gloss, we are fine with it. But if a student is wearing eye shadow, mascara and lipstick at 10 years old...

I have never had a parent call to complain... most of them probably do not even know their child left the house with make-up on. If they were to call I would tell them to check out the handbook that they signed, along with their child.

katie4253 · February 2011

smili11538:
katie4253:
KleanFreak:
Grrr... I'm the teacher who makes girls remove makeup if they are wearing it (I teach grade 5).Lip gloss is fine.
Do you teach at a religious school? I cannot believe your admin. allows you to do this and you haven't had parents complain. You are seriously violating their right to freedom of expression here. You'd totally lose in court...

I teach 5th grade as well and I also tell students to wipe it off, or at least that they can't wear the make-up to school the next day. It has nothing to do with their freedom of expression... it is against the student handbook in most public elementary schools. Just like wearing revealing clothing is against the handbook, make-up is in there too because it can be very distracting to other students. Now if a student is wearing lip gloss, we are fine with it. But if a student is wearing eye shadow, mascara and lipstick at 10 years old...
I have never had a parent call to complain... most of them probably do not even know their child left the house with make-up on. If they were to call I would tell them to check out the handbook that they signed, along with their child.

If it was in the handbook then you are fine. It didn't occur to me that it would be in your code of conduct. I've never heard of this, but it is a good way to CYA. Mohawks were in ours.

I work at a uniform school now, but they don't have a make-up code.

Something to consider if I am ever in another elementary school.

damabo80 · February 2011

Tinted lip balm in elementary school

Then, I'll take her to a professional who can show her how to apply it for:

Light makeup in Jr High, more if it's a dance or special occasion (age 12,13)

Full on make up in high school (age 14+)

jillybean222 · February 2011

I'm not sure if there is an age, but when the time comes, I plan to teach my girls how to apply/remove it properly. They will not be leaving the house with blue eye shadow like I did in 6th grade! FWIW, I had an older sister in 8th grade at the time and I just copied whatever she did - blue eyeshadow was cool in the late 80's...and so was feathered hair and big poofy bangs, unfortunately!

amygoable · February 2011

My mom was big on makeup education. I never seriously wore much until I was 13 and entering high school, at which point a "natural look" application became a daily thing. Before that, it was more experimentation. Occasionally in jr high I'd wear a bit of mascara or a lip gloss, but never anything beyond that in public.

I suppose I think once a girl is going into high school, it's appropriate to make sure she knows how to apply it right (and in proper amounts for DAY use). And while playing and experimenting before that is okay, I don't think a girl should own makeup of any kind before 12.

aesf · February 2011

fogleer:
jillybean222:
I'm not sure if there is an age, but when the time comes, I plan to teach my girls how to apply/remove it properly. They will not be leaving the house with blue eye shadow like I did in 6th grade! FWIW, I had an older sister in 8th grade at the time and I just copied whatever she did - blue eyeshadow was cool in the late 80's...and so was feathered hair and big poofy bangs, unfortunately!
I still know grown women in their 40s and 50s who think this is a great day to day look. I wonder if a lot of people tend to stop maturing in style and stick with whatever was popular when they were in early adulthood.

I wear blue now if i am going out (like to a bar). Its more of a peacock blue, but I have really green eyes and it makes my eyes look AMAZING. But I wouldnt wear it to work or anything else just like a dance party.

Shelleybell · February 2011

lrachelle80:
Depends on the makeup and the girl. I'd say light makeup at 13 or 14, full on face at 15 or 16. It's probably more a grade thing - light in 7th grade, full on as a freshman.

This. I also think it depends on things going on hormonally -(has acne started yet), I would def let my little girl cover up pimples if she had to.

miller4285 · February 2011

I was allowed to start wearing makeup in 5th grade. But, it was kiddie makeup (do you remember those Sweet Secrets? They were little charms that folded into dolls and they had blush or eye shadow, or gloss in them? That's what i wore)

I was allowed real makeup in Jr High (however, I was 10 when i started Jr. High).

So I don't think there is a cut-and-dry answer for age .

(Also, it was no big deal for 5th graders to wear it where I lived. When i hit fifth grade, it was the first year that they made it part of elementary school. That's right....before then 5th-8th was Jr. High)

Want a personalized experience?

When do you think makeup is age appropriate?

Re: When do you think makeup is age appropriate?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards