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.

Anonymous wrote:My DD does musical theatre and she put makeup on her Christmas list so she can use it for her shows. She currently has lip gloss only.

I will get a few basic things. If she didn't do theatre, I would get it for her if she really wanted, but just to experiment with at home.

I love makeup. I work from home and wear it almost never, though.

Meant to also say-- ask her mother

My DD does musical theatre and she put makeup on her Christmas list so she can use it for her shows. She currently has lip gloss only.

I will get a few basic things. If she didn't do theatre, I would get it for her if she really wanted, but just to experiment with at home.

I love makeup. I work from home and wear it almost never, though.

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.

11 seems young, but DD says there are kids in her MS wearing a full face of makeup. Lip Oil is probably okay. I'm pretty anti-makeup for young teens (because I think it's not good for their skin), but would be okay with that.

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.

Mom of 2DD, one 22 and 16. My 22 year old is just now getting into highlighting and contouring and skincare.
My younger can’t be bothered.

My niece from CA began wearing makeup around 10.
My SIL thought it was so cute and precocious and along with the makeup came dressing like a 20 something going clubbing.

I’d say way too young and unusually so.

Not to school but I could see letting my kid have some makeup to play with at this age. I'd double check with parents that it's okay but otherwise I think this is like an ideal aunty gift because it's kind of a girly "welcome to the club", borderline age inappropriate in the wrong direction gift. That's what aunts are for!

I think parents make the mistake of thinking makeup on girls is about "attracting boys." It's not, and when you make a huge fuss over it as though it's tantamount to having sex, it just creates weird associations for girls and take something they think of as fun and playful (literally painting your face) and makes it sort of depressing and about someone else. Don't do this to them. Just let them play around with make up, but you can set some rules like no make up at school because it's distracting (and likely violates school rules and would create issues with other girls wanting to do it). But to play around with at home or with their friends, just like they would other toys? Why not, it's just makeup.

Mine wears lip gloss

Um, no. My DD is 13 and still does not wear makeup. Hopefully, she'll go without it as long as possible. I do not think that I'll allow it until 16.

My niece - lives in a different state in the south - is 10 and her mother has her wearing make up and "practicing heels" in the house. I think its ridiculous but I'm not the parent. I just smile and say "great".

Not mine, and not that I've seen on any of her friends.

Not my kids, but they go to a catholic K-8 and makeup is not allowed.

It's the age some girls want to try stuff. Ask your sibling if it's ok! Some parents want to wait a bit longer. My DD is 12 but last year I was ok with her getting one of those big palettes to play around with but not to wear to school.

No! For my kid, this would only be to use at home or maybe for a special occasion.

I'm a childfree aunt who just received her niece's wishlists for Xmas. I was a little surprised to see blush, mascara, and lip oil on the lists. They're 11 and to my knowledge haven't worn makeup until now. Is this the age many girls begin wearing makeup? No judgment, I love makeup, just curious. I'm so old that when I started wearing cosmetics there was still arsenic in the formulas! (Okay not really but I am old and can't remember what age I began to use this stuff)