Do most 11 year old girls wear cosmetics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have three daughters and one stepdaughter. We are in NYC, and at the start of sixth grade all have wanted lip balm (scented). Seventh or eighth grade is when eyeliner and mascara started.

They've all been into it to varying degrees. The swimmer wasn't into eye makeup except for going out at night with friends, for example. The dancer, who wears makeup for recitals, was more into watching makeup tutorial accounts on social media and practicing.

This is a good point. My DD is also a dancer and has been interested in makeup since even before we let her wear it for recitals. But it's like... stage makeup. She wants to put it on and see how looks in photos or changes how her face looks in the mirror. She doesn't even want to wear it to school, where no one wears makeup, because that would be weird. I let her play around with my lipstick and blush at home sometimes and would get her own to play with at home. Different from buying her a makeup kit for daily use.

Also, the lip oil seems like a different thing. I started giving my DD lip moisturizing products when she was like 5 because, like me, she is prone to dry lips in winter. That's a standard stocking stuffer in our house, and I try to get the ones geared towards kid with fun scents and cute packaging because it's more fun. Like I'd definitely buy her something like this without even thinking about it: https://www.target.com/p/burt-39-s-bees-passionfruit-lip-oil-0-27-fl-oz/-/A-75561982

I know there are also tinted lip oils and if that's what she wants that's different, but is it really that different than like those Lip Smackers for girls, some of which do have a minimal tint? It's not lipstick and the main intention is keeping your lip skin in good condition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 11yo is pining for lip gloss (she’ll get some in her stocking). I think that’s about it. I can barely get her to brush her hair and wash her face, so I expect that she will forget about or lose the lip gloss within a week.

This was my DD at 11. When she started 6th grade, she became more interested in cosmetics generally and I used that opportunity to also get her into a healthy skincare routine (literally just washing her face in the morning and before bed). She got super into cosplay in 6th grade and now in 7th grade, if she is dressing up, she does her makeup to match whatever the cosplay is. Otherwise, she's not wearing a face of makeup.

I would say it's developmentally normal for girls this age to be interested and experiment. It is good parenting to help them do that in a way that is safe and appropriate vs. just sending them to Sephora and saying "Go nuts!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My almost 11 year old loves makeup and self care stuff (sheet masks, those rollers, etc.). I got her several sets of things from Sephora for Christmas. She doesn’t wear it to school, but she loves to practice putting it on with tutorials, and convinces her twin (who has no interest in makeup) to let her practice on her too. She also is a dancer and wants to be able to do her makeup for recitals. I don’t see any harm in this whatsoever. People project way too much onto tween girls that like cosmetics.

Yes to all of this. They don't think of it the way adults seem to. It's just fun, like a toy. Combines elements of dress up, performance, and art. Which, for the record, is also how a lot of adult women think of it too. When you tell tweens that it's inappropriate for them to even play with makeup at home it raises some very valid questions about what you think makeup does and who it is for.

[Anonymous]

No, not makeup. Some clear lip oil or lip balm, yes.

[Anonymous]

my almost 13 yo is not into make up yet, though she will try putting on some lip gloss and a little eye make up when the event is dressy. I think she doesn't want to bother yet. I would be okay with her trying something light in public (so not the extreme youtube eye make up looks.)

But she has long dark lashes naturally, slightly rosy lips, and clear skin (so far, knock on wood.) If she didn't, maybe she would be more motivated.

I think many girls like to experiment with make up in an artistic way. Your nieces must love having you as an aunt. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

No. My 12 yo isn’t into makeup, nor are her friends.

But I remember wanting to wear makeup at 11, and definitely wearing some light makeup at 12. So I guess it is just the personal preference of the girls. I don’t notice it on the middle schools girls in general now though- maybe makeup has fallen out of favor

[Anonymous]

I mean who really cares what age girls start to show interest in make-up. Let's stop the shaming. Many girls use it as art and many just like to try it out and start working on how to use it. Her mom will decide when she can and can not wear it.

Honestly just sick of the teen girl bashing and shaming on this thread. My daughter is 13 and is a mixed bag with her friends. Some wear a lot of make-up, some wear mascara and lip gloss only. Some wear none. Some pick and choose depending on the event. And they are all nice girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean who really cares what age girls start to show interest in make-up. Let's stop the shaming. Many girls use it as art and many just like to try it out and start working on how to use it. Her mom will decide when she can and can not wear it.

Honestly just sick of the teen girl bashing and shaming on this thread. My daughter is 13 and is a mixed bag with her friends. Some wear a lot of make-up, some wear mascara and lip gloss only. Some wear none. Some pick and choose depending on the event. And they are all nice girls.

+1. My girls are 5th graders and the girl next door is a 7th grader and she and her friends all wear makeup. Those girls are also incredibly kind and respectful and just all around delightful. It’s so absurd to act like a girl in MS who wears makeup is projecting something negative about herself.

[Anonymous]

Hi, OP here. My intent was definitely not to "bash" my lovely nieces, merely to try and understand the environment they are living in today. They're my only connection to youth, and I just don't know what the kids are up to these days! Last year they asked for iPhones, which I was also surprised by. I checked with their mother before buying those, and I will check with her on this as well. At least this year is going to be a lot cheaper than last year!

[Anonymous]

My 11 year old (almost 12) has gotten interested in trying makeup lately. She puts it on at home on the weekends and then washes it off - I think she's only worn mascara and/or lipgloss to school a few times. She wants some more makeup for Christmas, but I don't think it will become a regular thing for some time yet.

[Anonymous]

Lip gloss only. And that's rare. Girls like facial type treatments though.

[Anonymous]

No, judging by 11 yr old girls in DC schools (which I work in), no, most 11 yr old girls do NOT wear cosmetics, at least not to school. And I'm talking about how they look IN school. There are the kids who add makeup/subtract clothes once they've left their home, but how they look in school is a pretty good barometer of how they look outside their house.

[Anonymous]

My 12 year old has been asking for it and she loves to play with it. She watches makeup tutorials and sometimes tries to replicate horror makeup etc from movies. I give her samples I get and I’ve bought glosses, eyeshadow, masks, and some good skincare bc I think that’s important. She sometimes will wear a tiny bit to school but she’s not supposed to. I’m getting her a couple small things along with smelly lotions for her stocking.

Thinking about a Sephora advent calendar

But if anyone has found a not too expensive fun palette, link it here!

[Anonymous]

Some do. My DD started wearing mascara and lip gloss around that age. I didn’t allow anything more but she loved practicing at home or with friends- I bought her those cheap makeup sets that are often for sale around the holidays.

At 14, she still pretty much just wears mascara and lip gloss. Occasionally a bit of concealer. Anything else is just for fun at home or goofing around with

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, judging by 11 yr old girls in DC schools (which I work in), no, most 11 yr old girls do NOT wear cosmetics, at least not to school. And I'm talking about how they look IN school. There are the kids who add makeup/subtract clothes once they've left their home, but how they look in school is a pretty good barometer of how they look outside their house.

Not necessarily true. Some kids wear uniforms to school and dress pretty different at home and on the weekends. I agree most 11 year olds don’t wear makeup at school but many of the ones I know experiment with makeup and more wild fashion at home and at one another’s houses. Which makes sense because those are safe places to experiment, whereas at school anything they wear risk judgment from other kids, from teachers or admin, even from other kids’ parents. School is not necessarily where kids are most themselves.