The Right First Makeup for a Preteen Girl

Allowing your preteen daughter to wear makeup for the first time is a very delicate issue and needs to be handled carefully. To many mothers, it seems as if girls are maturing faster than ever before. Not only are they wanting to wear more mature clothing but they want to be able to mimic their mother's and older sisters with hair and makeup as well. The last thing you want is your daughter going to school looking as if she got into a fight with your makeup box. You also don't want it to lead to your daughter looking and trying to act older than she truly is.  

Age-Appropriate Makeup

When selecting makeup for your preteen child, try and stay away from 'adult' makeup, like coverup and mascara. There is no reason that she will need makeup to even out her skin tone or cover up blemishes, so try and discourage these types of products. Don't use the brands that are typically designated for women. Instead, look at makeup lines that are made specifically for young girls, such as Mary Kate & Ashley. If allowing her to wear eyeshadow, keep the colors very light. You don't want her to look as if she is wearing a mask. If allowing her to wear makeup on her lips, keep it to lipgloss or tinted chapstick that are very lightly colored.  

Reinforce a Positive Body Image

The key to preteen makeup is subtly. This is the stage where you slowly break her into the world of makeup and teach her that less is more. This is a crucial stage in child development and you shouldn't encourage your child to think that makeup will make her more beautiful. If she insists that she wants to try and wear makeup, show her how it can help to enhance the beauty that is already there.