Tweens and Makeup
How do I help my tween use make-up without looking like a seventeen year old? How do I help her understand that she’s pretty without it at all!?
She’s only 12. And as a mother I’m required to prevent her independence at every turn right? Well, that’s what she thinks. What I really want is for her to learn about make-up in a realistic way. What I don’t want is a Mall Make-Up Zealot influencing my kiddo with what and how to wear her very young face.
I had a little brain storm. I contacted e.l.f. Cosmetics directly. I asked them what would work for a young girl eager to use make-up, but with a mom who refuses to allow ‘Miley’ eyes? I figure the e.l.f. products (and prices) are perfect for a young girl to experiment!
I even sent them a before shot to give them a little peek at her coloring and youth.
They suggested:
- $1 Tweezer
- $3 Mineral Booster
- $5 Large Kabuki Brush
- $3 Mascara black
- $1 Pink Kiss gloss
- $1 Light Pink Nail Polish
- $1 All Over Cover Stick
- $3 Mineral Silver Eyeliner (For an evening out)
{I know this sounds crazy, but apparently all of the girls wear eyeliner to school. ~ e.l.f. customer support}
That last part cracked me up. Don’t I already know it! I’ve seen the girls in her Junior High. They use paint sprayers to apply eyeliner!
I love having her use the All Over Stick as eye shadow. It’s barely there, yet she feels like she’s all sparkle-y and oh so pretty.
I have to agree.
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Wow…so stinkin’ cute! When I was 12 y dad (I know…I know…) would say, you know you put it on right if it doesn’t look like it.
I totally agree!! I was a ‘natural’ kid myself even in high school.. the girls with the ‘line’ around their face totally confused me?? Much less the eyeliner extremists!!
PS your username is hilarious Jenny!
really nice, I like your approach. We just did a make-over for our oldest dd on her 15th birthday, it was the same idea, we wanted her to learn how to use make-up right, without all the scary/bright experimenting. We wanted her to learn how to enhance her natural look, without looking totally made-up.
we had a family friend who is a stylist take us shopping and teach her. I didn’t know about E.L.F. products, I’ll have to look for the brand.
we ended up with foundation for special days, loose powder, eyeliner and mascara. light and natural is a very pleasing look.
Light and Natural is EXACTLY what I was going for.. and all the pinks on a young face seem to really do that..
I’d be scared of foundation, but my kiddo is only 12.. so 15 sounds fine.. esp only for special occasions!
I love elf cosmetics! Let me know if you try any out??
Beautiful! My tween had already attempted the way to dark eyeliner. I took her to Sephora and had them (because I know nothing) help her pick out eyeliner. I would also much rather buy her makeup and teach her to use it properly then have her “borrow” others make up and end up with every type of eye fungus there is and look like a clown to boot. Good job mama!!
Holy Bananas! I hadn’t even thought about her ‘sharing’ make-up… the horrors!
Great point!
i love it…looks very natural.
my girls(ages 13 and 11) have started wearing makeup, too, but only eyeliner and lip gloss. they actually have some elf lip gloss and other elf lip products. mini-me, the 13 yo, hates lot of makeup. the most she’ll ever do is light eyeliner, foundation to even skin tone, mascara, and lip balm. the 11 yo loves it, but i don’t let her wear more than the eyeliner and lip gloss. i think my 11 yo is going to be like me…i was wearing full face makeup by 13. my mom couldn’t really stop me lol but i will be stopping her..plus, school is k-8 and they suggest you don’t wear makeup to school and most don’t.
Thanks Ciara!
I love it when the school is not pushing them to wear more makeup (grow up more etc.) One thing we have going for us is her friends also don’t wear a lot of makeup (yet)… here’s to hoping anyway!
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Oh, she looks lovely, Carissa. I think that soft, natural looking make-up is fine for tweens, especially if she feels more confident in her appearance. We all feel better when we feel that we look our best!
When our girls turn 13, we go to the salon for a facial and eyebrow shaping (which usually entails getting the ones out of the middle). Then they get a skin care basket. We generally start our girls (I’m expecting our 4th daughter) with lip gloss and a soft pink blush at about 14. When they turn 16, they get a full make-up set and a bag… And a lesson in modest application. I’ve never been one for heavy make-up, so I think my girls have a good idea of our family aesthetic.
Our oldest daughter has been asked for make-up lessons from her friends. I think they like that she manages to enhance her pretty features without looking made-up?
What a great complement to you as a parent, if the kids come to your daughter for tips!! Great job.. I like the idea of set years and amounts. If they know what to expect that should help them a lot! Thanks Nissa
I agree- NO MILEY EYES!
You did a great job of showing her how to use makeup in a natural way!
What a pretty girl!
She looks just like her mama for sure.
THANK YOU! Especially since I think she’s gorgeous… !
I think you did a wonderful job “walking the line” between allowing your daughter to wear appropriate make-up and preventing her from looking like, well, um – we did in the 80′s (remember that God-awful blue eyeshadow! I still have nightmares! LOL).
Twelve is a tough age and I agree that it’s a good idea for parents to teach their daughters how to apply make up PROPERLY. The policy “less is more” really is true when it comes to girls and make up
And GROWN UPS too!!
I LOVE the after! Very au natural! I can’t believe she’s already in jr. high. They are all growing up so fast!
LOVE it! She looks great, you did a good job! I hadn’t even thought about this stage.
I used to wear lots of make up (not LOTS as in over the top, but I used it all… blush, mascara, eyeshadow, lipstick, etc…) but now I wear gloss and mascara, and only for date nights. I really rarely wear makeup! So I’m not sure when my oldest (9) will be interested. I’m going to have to figure it all out again!
Me too.. well I never wore a lot..
but I don’t wear much now, so I really want my kiddo to understand the whole less is more mantra! You’ll be awesome!!
We need to do a little workshop one night with our girls because Olivia really “likes” the eye make-up and doesn’t seem to listen to me because I am just her dumb mom and what do I know!!?