At 12 years old, the last thing either one of us wanted to do was wear makeup. In fact, to us, makeup was that black paint we put under our eyes when playing tag football in the neighborhood. Our “girly girl” daughters, however, felt differently. Gina’s 12-year-old daughter Emily, for example, is constantly asking to wear makeup and Gina refuses to allow it. “Look, you’re too young, Em. Today, it’s makeup. Tomorrow it will be tattoos and piercing. Next thing, you know you’ll be be bringing home Jesse James.”
Whether we like to admit it or not, mothers of daughters have to be able to take a hard stance on makeup. Our mother is still heavily involved in our makeup decisions.
“Gina, you need more blush. You look malnourished.”
“Patty, you’ve got too much. You look like a clown.”
What do you think? Is 12 an appropriate age for makeup? How about 44? Or 51? Just askin…
TG I have a boy!!
I’d say maybe a little lip gloss (not lip stick). As she gets older, a bit of blush for special occassions.
Personally, I think Em is way to pretty to want/need to alter her looks!! Tell her Debbie Stephens said so!
I think 12 is still too young….my rule when my 7 yr old is old enough will be … when you are 17, and have your own money to support such a habbit, then yoiu can wear some until then, lipgloss.
My girls were in dance and I/we always HATED recital’s because of the amount of make up they made the kids wear to look like litle #$^%^*&’s. I gave them the ‘you’re too young’ when they were tweens and told them when they were in high school they could. “Besides, if you start using it now, you’ll end up with permenant circles under your eyes like me…now that’s attractive? Want the eye liner now? they actually just started using it over the summer. One wears every day and the other…special days/occassions. They’re sophomores in high school and do believe…less is more and when you hold off on the daily make up grind, asside from being healthier for your skin, you’ll have more of a ‘wow’ impact for those special occasions 🙂
Great suggestions. Em wants your autograph again Debbie.