Should Kids Be Allowed to Wear Makeup?

Should Little Girls Play With Makeup?

July 19, 2010

Lots of little girls like to apply lip balm or play with toy makeup. But what should we do when little girls want to wear makeup for real? Moms are often the ones who are conflicted on the issue, but recently a dad has also weighed in. It's interesting to get a male point of view about the issue, because the dad seems entirely uncomfortable with all makeup — even kiddie "beauty" kits. What's your take? Would you let your daughter play with real makeup, faux makeup, or no makeup at all?

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20 Comments

WarEagleNurse 2 years 39 weeks

Yes

WarEagleNurse 2 years 39 weeks

Yes

summer210 2 years 39 weeks

I don't think anything's wrong with letting kids play with makeup, but be careful with the cheap "kiddie" kind. A grade-school friend of mine got a piece of glitter from a toy store eyeshadow embedded in her eye and had to get it removed at the hospital.

2 years 39 weeks

@SimplyStella: Nail polish? Really? It seems like I wore nail polish practically since I was born...just pinks, nudes, golds and clears before kindergarten. Around 4 or 5 I stole some of my mom's burgundy polish and painted my nails (and my fingers, too!) I felt like such a rebel wearing dark nail colors, which my mom always forbid me to wear :) I got my first professional French manicure when I was 4. Strangely I prefer doing my own nails now.

2 years 42 weeks

I'm currently a single mom of an 11 year old girl. I purchased some make-up for my daughter under some conditions, She cannot wear it outside the house. She can wear and play with it as much as she wants indoors but not in public. Last night my ex husband brought her home and she had eye-liner on. She looked like a racoon. I confronted him about it and he thought it was ok for her to wear make-up. I just want to know since when has has it been cool for 11 year old girls to wear make-up outside of their homes and since when has dads, of all people, think that it's ok? I thought the dads were the ones to have the issue about their little girls wearing it.

postmodernsleaze 2 years 43 weeks

I think playing with makeup is fine. I did when I was little. And when I say that I played with it, it was always washed off before going out in public. I didn't actually wear it regularly til I was 12/13 (when I started middle school).

Girl Jen 2 years 43 weeks

My three-year-old plays with my makeup all the time. When I'm putting it on, I let her play with the brushes, look at the nail polishes and lipsticks, suggest colors, and so on. I paint her nails. I'll give her play makeup when she gets a little older.While we're playing, we talk. We talk about how makeup is fun, and it's a way to make us look different, but we can be pretty without makeup, too.

Girl Jen 2 years 43 weeks

My three-year-old plays with my makeup all the time. When I'm putting it on, I let her play with the brushes, look at the nail polishes and lipsticks, suggest colors, and so on. I paint her nails. I'll give her play makeup when she gets a little older. While we're playing, we talk. We talk about how makeup is fun, and it's a way to make us look different, but we can be pretty without makeup, too.

Datura2112 2 years 43 weeks

Playing yes, absolutely. Wear out of the house, No. I can see letting them paint their nails and wear a little lip gloss out of the house tough. I did that when I was a little girl so I was not gonna tell my girls they couldn't. That roll on strawberry lip gloss was the greatest!

ladylove004 2 years 43 weeks

this topic is funny bc I wouldn't mind, so long as when she steps outside her face is wiped clean, but my bf has a huge problem w it, he doesn't like it when his niece plays w makeup or even puts nail polish on, so I doubt he would allow our daughter if we get to that point.

simplystella 2 years 43 weeks

Oh, I remember being a young girl, very frustrated for not being allowed to wear nail polish! When I'll have kids, I'll definitely let them play with make up.. even if they'll be boys. Playing with your look, changing it, is a form of art. I want to make sure that my kids will be free to express themselves and their creativity in every way..

2 years 43 weeks

I think it's their choice! Why is it bad for children to play with make up? Although I woudln't let her use the harmful ones...

roma18 2 years 44 weeks

If I had a daughter instead of letting her play with kiddie makeup I would get her things that are more productive and helpful in shaping her personality. Art supplies, sport equipment, books..etc.. I'll get her makeup when she is ready.

2 years 44 weeks

Sure, why the heck not? It's makeup, not internet porn.

Lucysgottagrin 2 years 44 weeks

I don't see any problem with young children playing with makeup when they're kids. I had tons of make up kits when I was a child, and I grew out of it just fine, and I decided on my own when to wear makeup. I think the problem comes from parents who don't take the time to tell their children that you don't need makeup to look good, and that they should only wear makeup if they want to.

2 years 44 weeks

My daughter is 5 and has her own little makeup kit. In it is some translucent powder, an eyeshadow kit, tons of lip smackers and nail polish. She also has her own facewash and moisturizer. The make-up is for play only, though I have let her wear it out of the house twice, once to the Alice and Wonderland movie when she was dressed like the Red Queen, and once to our New Years Eve party. It's fun for her, yet she understands that it for play time or super special occasions. Her facewash and moisturizer, she uses every day, just like I do.

Chrstne 2 years 44 weeks

If I had a daughter, I think I would be fine with letting her play with faux makeup at home, but I don't think you should wear makeup outside the house until you are older. Those shows like "Toddlers & Tiaras" horrify me. They are slutting up little girls with load of makeup and it is so creepy! I would not want my daughter to look like that. I'd only entertain the idea of real makeup for my child when they were a teenagers. I had kiddie makeup as a child, and I never wore it out of the house. I mean, then, I didn't care enough to, but even if I did, my mom would never allow it. I started wearing makeup at 16, and I think that's a much better age.

ClassicalTorture 2 years 44 weeks

I think little girls (and boys!) should be allowed to play with it at home when they want. They shouldn't wear it out until they can understand the reasons why people wear it, and can voice why they want to wear it.

FrankiLee 2 years 44 weeks

I would let my daughter play with pretend make-up at home. She won't be wearing make-up outside of the house for quite some time. I want her to understand that playing with it at home is just for fun, just like playing pretend house, or doctor, etc., but it's only for pretend. She likes to sit beside me and play with my make-up brushes and the bottles as I'm putting on my real make-up, but it will be a while until she wears the real thing!

2 years 44 weeks

I would let my kid play with faux makeup

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