How young is too young? What’s “age-appropriate” makeup?

Let me begin by saying that I am not a mother, unless you count dogs. I have been a nanny for five precious girls, worked in children’s church for years and worked in youth groups, both junior and senior high, for eight years; BUT, I’m not a mother. (Hopefully, in the next couple of years ) I am not writing this to put any type of judgment on anyone; I get asked this question a lot so I thought it would be a fun topic.

We’re in the age of Toddlers and Tiaras, 16 and Pregnant, The Kardashians (my guilty pleasure), and several other reality shows where young girls prance around with makeup horribly caked on. Lately when I watch these shows or even walk around the mall I’m amazed at the age of girls wearing makeup. Make-up like this:

Lets take it back a little and I’ll get embarrassingly real with you.

I was, um, sort of awkward and very much a tomboy, rarely ever did I get girly—unless I saw makeup. I remember waiting every morning for my mom to put on her makeup. I would sit and stare at her the whole time, watching every little move and paying attention even to the brushes. Even better than that, I can remember sitting on my grandmother’s toilet while she stood with her mirror on the high window (think much older house that had teensy bathroom windows), watching while she painstakingly applied the pancake makeup to her face. I could literally sit for hours watching this! She was so careful, everything had its place and purpose, I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen (next to Dolly Parton) I was so fascinated that even now, if I close my eyes, I can remember the way her Max Factor makeup smelled.

Much to my dismay I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup till I turned 16, again, reminding you how awkward and not so cute I was. My solution to the “life ruining” rule my parents had? Sneak it. I guess the makeup sneaking started when I was 12 or 13. I would go to church fresh faced, but as soon as I got to youth I would go to the bathroom and dig out the lip-gloss, blush and mascara from whatever place I had been able to stash it. I cannot count how many times I was caught and grounded!!!! 16 felt like it would never come!

Now, I don’t think you need to wait till 16 to start allowing your girls to wear makeup; BUT, I do think some boundaries are good. Back to the age of reality television: personally, I repeat, personally, I think shows like Toddlers and Tiaras are horrible! As someone who has worked in the modeling, acting world—this stuff is real!

Girls younger and younger are being encouraged to alter their God-given beauty in order to look like something the “entertainment industry” has set as a standard.

What happened to letting kids be kids?

This is what I usually tell mothers when I’m asked, “How young is too young?”

No one but you, as parent, can set the age limit for when your daughter can wear makeup.

Having done makeup for 10 years and having worked with HUGE age varieties, I will gladly give you some tips/guidelines on what I (as a non-parent) think.

Here are the ages and steps I’d pair with them:

9-11 or 12:

Good skin care is the best thing (as a beauty secret) you can teach your daughter!

Before you decide to start letting her start to wear makeup, choose two products to start with. Clear or brown mascara and neutral color lip-gloss are my picks. Translucent powder is another good one.

11-14:

As she gets older start adding things. Bronze eyeliner, darker mascara, a light bronzer instead of blush, lip-gloss with a bit of color.

14-15:

At this point I’m sure she has a decent grasp of what’s cool and hip in the makeup world and if I remember correctly, my mom didn’t know what she was talking about, I knew everything … HAH!

My biggest tip for moms: take her to a makeup counter and get her makeup done. Nordstrom isn’t allowed to charge for makeovers so they have a lot of walk-ups. Be a considerate customer and CALL AHEAD to make an appointment! When you do, tell them you would like a lesson for your (fill in the blank) age daughter. Let them know you would like to keep it “age appropriate.”

Don’t worry—you won’t offend anyone! It will actually help the artist do their job and you will be one happy momma!

My favorite makeup lines for beginner lessons are Trisha McEvoy, Bobbi Brown, Stila and Benefit.

My mother took me to the Trish McEvoy counter in Louisville, Kentucky to have my 16th birthday makeup lesson; this is where my entire world changed! What I think is funny about it is that still to this day I use some of the tips they taught me.

Even though I’m not yet a mother, I do know what it’s like to be a daughter.

Tell your girls how beautiful they are! Start young so they know that makeup doesn’t make them pretty, a kind, good heart and Jesus does.

Encourage them to grow up slowly! In such a superficial, airbrushed world they need to have confidence that comes from within.

And oh my goodness, being a girl is FUN!!!! All I see are girls trying to look older than they are. They should enjoy being little girls!!!!!

Here are some great examples of celebrities looking beautiful and age-appropriate and fresh faced:

Again, I’m not a mother so I don’t have experience at this; all I have is a makeup artist’s perspective.

Mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, granddaughters, aunts and girlfriends—you are unique and beautiful! Enjoy being you!

(And a very special Thank You to the lovely and adorable Erin Alexis for volunteering to be our ‘too-much Make-Up’ model!)

About The Author

Heather Bray

Heather Bray’s passion is to help women see their own beauty, help them feel beautiful and teach them how to accomplish it themselves. As a make-up artist and the owner of HeatherNycole.com she gets the opportunity to realize that passion often. Heather has done make-up for over 200 weddings, many different runway shows and independent films, ministries such as Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Jerry Savelle Ministries, and CFN Music, and worked with brands like Integrity Music, Nike, Yum Foods and Nokia. Heather is a huge Saints fan and loves to snuggle in and watch games with her doggies: Jaxson, an adorable Chihuahua, and Gus an Aussie/Blue Heeler mix. (Yes he was named after the mouse in Cinderella!)