How do you explain make-up to toddler DD?

[BobbysBeardOfWonder]

If you wear it I mean

She sometimes copies me when I'm putting blusher on, although she doesn't understand what it is yet.

I'm a feminist but I wear make-up - how do I best explain that to a 2.5yo?

[Cortana]

I would always say that make up is for when you feel like "looking different" rather than "I use it to look nicer." Maybe explain that sometimes DD likes to wear a blue shirt and have her hair down, sometimes it's nice to have a change and wear a green shirt with our hair up.

Not sure if this would suit everyone, I wear make up and colour my hair though and I honestly don't think I look nicer, just different to how I usually look.

[Eskino]

Ds (23 months) loves to watch while I "do brushes". He has a little brush and pokes it in his eyes and eyebrows and mine , then wanders off to try and stick it up the cats bum.

Can't you just say its for fun?

[feministefatale]

Could you do it when she isn't around? Or pop in to the toilet and lock the door to do it? I don't let dd see me shave for that reason. I don't want her to see it part of a grooming routine iyswim. Unless your makeup is very dramatic, I don't suppose a toddler would notice if she just saw you already made up? And then explain it properly when she is older.

[BobbysBeardOfWonder]

DD is always around. She can sniff me out even if I hide in the bathroom

What do you say once they're old enough to understand then? (How old is that anyway?)

[topsmart]

I say it's grown-up colouring-in. Which it is, essentially!

[feministefatale]

I'm not there yet my dc are little and I don't wear makeup. Dh wears loads of lip balm and dd pretends to put it on , but I guess when you can have a proper conversation maybe just explain that some grownups (don't make it gender specific) wear make up to dress up. But not everybody does and nobody has to?

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

I say mummy is a bit worn out and aged now and needs a bit of make up to make me feel smart. And that dd is young and beautiful and doesn't need any help in that department ever for years.

[LynetteScavo]

Personally I think putting it on in private, and hiding it from a child is really unhealthy.

I always had my makeup on the dressing table. All my DC have used my blusher brushes on their face (because they feel nice). They all know I use makeup because I want my face to be a different colour, just like I go to the hairdressers regularly to change the colour of my hair.

I've no idea if they know I shave my legs or not, it's never come up in discussion. I wouldn't hide it, though. Thinking your mother has naturally smooth legs, and wondering why yours are hairy is going to leave a child They know DH shaves his face though. There are somethings adults do, which children don't.

[feministefatale]

lynette I don't see why not showing a two year old everything you do is unhealthy if they don't know you do it..why is that a problem? I never said hide it forever I said until they are old enough to explain it to them and they understand.

I think it is unhealthy for a toddler to think you have to wear makeup. To assume it part of the normal grooming process

[fixarupa]

My daughter is 4 and takes quite an interest in my make up and often likes to pretend to put some on. I don't wear make up everyday, and I make sure that she is aware that sometimes I want to wear it and sometimes I don't. Its up to me to choose how I want to present myself. It is by no means seen as a necessity. I think so far she seems to understand this (i hope)