Tween makeup: Sweet or slutty?

Apr 16, 2010 11:34 AM by
Posted in Beauty & Style / Makeup & Skin Care

Age-Appropriate Primping

We all did it as little girls. You know, sneak into Mom's vanity drawer and gorge our faces with the delicious bounty of lipsticks and eyeshadows, blushes and cold creams. Little girls love makeup -- and as they start to grow, it becomes a key player in forming their grown-up identities. But for moms, it's not easy. How do you draw the line between the fresh, pretty-girl look... and that of the hot, sexy nymph?

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Some take-away tips for moms

Be celebrity-savvy

Find a celebrity both you and your daughter like who wears makeup you'd be comfortable with your daughter emulating. Find out what products they use or what colors they wear and show them to your daughter as an example of a look you're comfortable with.

Compromise

Be aware of the trends, along with which makeup products her friends are allowed to wear and what they're actually doing. It isn't always the same thing. If everyone in her peer group is allowed to wear makeup to school, perhaps it's time you compromise with your daughter so that your strong stance doesn't backfire. You don't want your daughter to be that girl in the class who caked on makeup the minute she got to school, only to take it off before heading home. (Note: If you're friends with the moms of your daughter's friends, it would work to all of your advantages to have a set of guidelines you all agree to abide by with regard to your makeup rules.)

Be consistent

With regard to makeup rules, it's important to be consistent. Both parents need to be on the same page across time. Don't say "yes' sometimes and "no" other times. Also be consistent across children. If your older daughter had to wait until a certain age to wear makeup, hold steadfast to the same rules for your younger daughter.

Pick your battles

At the end of the day, you don't want mascara to come between mother and daughter, so it's important to decide what you feel most strongly about and to compromise on the rest. If your daughter wants to wear lipstick and you're against all makeup, perhaps a barely-there pink gloss would satisfy you both.

For more on teen beauty and fashion trends:

Tips for dealing with disastrous teen fashion
Teen piercing trends: Earlobe gauging, stretching and body piercing
Top 10 Teen Celebrity Hairstyles of 2009!

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Tags: teen fashion

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Comments

Comments on "Tween makeup: Sweet or slutty?"

Clara April 26, 2011 | 8:19 PM

I'm 19 now but I've not once in my life worn make up, partly because I disagree with it but also partly because of the image it gives off. I didn't/don't want to be seen as some weak girl who'll do anything to get a guys attention. I'm stronger than that, my mother has never understood and so tries to force make up on me all the time. To me, that's bad parenting! Is there any advice for people like me (although we are a minority)

Emma April 25, 2011 | 5:44 PM

Hi, I'm in middle school, and I partially agree with this article. I used to wear a little black eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow, which STILL wasn't as bad as some girls at my school who have half their eyelid covered with black eyeliner and the other half with eyeshadow and has a face covered in foundation. The truth is, I'm really insecure, and wearing a little makeup makes me feel better about myself. So, if it boosts your self-esteem, and not worn just to look sexy, then a little brown eyeliner and mascara ISN'T that bad; it has really helped me. I sometimes wear no makeup, and other times I just wear some light eyeliner and lip gloss. However, I don't suggest letting your daughter wear a whole lot. She immediately becomes (unfairly) one of the school tramps.

Anastasia March 28, 2011 | 6:18 PM

Hey, there, I am having this discussion with my Daughter now. We don't approve of makeup for young girls, that is tweenies. Girls need to understand that they are worth more than what they look like and need to de-emphasize their focus on having the perfect look for others to approve. Why base a girl's worth on what she looks like? Do we really put this much emphasis on how the guys appear? NOT hardly.

Jen February 02, 2011 | 9:24 PM

I'm 13 now - I first started wearing makeup when I was ten. Nothing much, just some eye shadow, lip gloss and blush. Now I regularly wear Chapstick, blush, neutral shades of eyeshadow, and mascara. Mom doesn't mind because she says she can barely even tell (all she wears is red lipstick) I think the privilege of wearing makeup at a young age has helped me be more experienced with what I put on my face. Now I'm better at applying it and making it enhance my face, not make me look like a clown. I don't wear makeup every day - just when i feel like it. It gives me self-confidence. I think every girl should be able to wear at least some neutral or basic eye shadow by the time she's 11 or 12.

evey December 20, 2010 | 7:44 AM

I started to wear make up last year when i was 16. I think its fine for a tween to were make up around 15 but not too much i started wearing all nude and light foundation but now its a bit darker but not too much just beigey.

eniola ajayi December 04, 2010 | 3:57 AM

it nice and lovly

Dee June 15, 2010 | 9:30 AM

I think teaching a tween about makeup needs to be done in babysteps. Less is more when it comes to application, age appropriate and they need to use proper cleaning methods. If they start off using just a little at first, then they'll have the time to learn how to use makeup to enhance their beauty as young women rather just cake it on and look fake. Just my thoughts.

Maureen Halvorsen April 22, 2010 | 3:17 AM

Looks ugly on tweens, not natural

Swanzy April 21, 2010 | 11:26 AM

I used to wear makeup as a tween. It had nothing to do with sex appeal, either. My face was full of zits, my hair was greasy, my lips chapped, my eyebrows hopelessly bushy and my body pasty and gangly. Makeup was the only thing that could tame my awkwardness. I don't necessarily think it's slutty. I think it's just part of that awful transition into womanhood. Heck, if a little gloss and some mascara is what your daughter needs to feel secure at 14, let her wear it. Just don't allow red lipstick and fishnet tights, and you'll be fine.

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