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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my niece should be allowed to wear makeup to school.

337 replies

PiperIsOrange · 16/09/2014 19:47

DN came home rather upset today after being told makeup is banned in school. She doesn't wear a lot just some foundation and clear lipgloss.

The reason she likes to wear it is because it covers all her spots, in the summer holiday she didn't wear any. My sister has taken her to the doctors and tried every OTC lotions and potions but nothing works.

It really boost her confidence and now she is dreading school because of these spots.

I have been to her school to collect school reports as dsis due to work commitments and have seen many teachers wearing makeup, so I assume it's a policy for pupils only.

OP posts:
Original poster
PiperIsOrange · 16/09/2014 19:47

Dn is 14

OP posts:
MrsDavidBowie · 16/09/2014 19:49

Teachers are adults.
That's why they don't wear uniform

catgirl1976 · 16/09/2014 19:49

Sorry but if it's banned it's banned.

I feel for your DN with her acne, but the make up probably isn't helping.

I know it's tough being a teenage girl but no make up at school is pretty standard and 14 is young to be wearing it IMO (gimmer)

MamaPain · 16/09/2014 19:49

Can you get her a tinted moisturiser or something so it's very light and not too noticeable?

I hate rules like this. I understand why they do it but as a teen it's so hard and you're just trying your best to feel your best without all the added rules.

catgirl1976 · 16/09/2014 19:49

And of course it's a pupil only policy Confused

Dawndonnaagain · 16/09/2014 19:50
  1. yes of course it's policy for pupils only. Teachers are adults.
  2. If it's a serious problem then perhaps your niece's parents should talk to the school.
  3. There are things that can be done for acne and the Doctor can prescribe.
  4. Boys don't wear make up to cover theirs.
redexpat · 16/09/2014 19:51

School rules dont apply to teachers. She will have to deal with it.

Notacs · 16/09/2014 19:51

We banned makeup at the school I worked in.

To be honest it was sad in a way to see girls so horrified at the thought. Girls without makeup is just girls - just how they look. The problem is most teenage girls aren't great at applying it and do look tango-d; coupled with spider lashes it looks - well, not great.

Try to encourage her to see school as a place of learning not beauty. Although it is hard I know Flowers

Shesparkles · 16/09/2014 19:51

I wish my daughter's school would ban makeup-as much as anything it would save a fortune!
It seems harsh, but boys don't wear makeup to cover spots, and as long as the rule is applied across the whole school, then it's fair.
Get her back to the doc, my dd had to see 3 GPs in the practice before she saw the one who took the matter seriously and she was prescribed the correct antibiotic to help her skin, and it did work.

You can't compare the pupils with school staff wearing makeup, there are rules for pupils and rules for staff, and that life

BikeRunSki · 16/09/2014 19:51

How does lipgloss cover her spots?

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 16/09/2014 19:52

Sorry but a no make up policy is a no make up policy. A pp makes a great point - boys dont use make up to cover their spots.

Similarly, she wont be the only girl with spots and therefore wont be the only one who would rather cover them up, but the rules say no.

CatsCantTwerk · 16/09/2014 19:53

I feel bad for Your DN but in all honesty make up is more likely to make the acne worse.

DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 16/09/2014 19:54

The make up wont help the spots in fact it will probably make it worse. It does stink she dreads school because she cant hide them though.

I don't get your point about teachers wearing make up. they are adults and therefore allowed to wear make up. School children are, well school children Confused Much the same that I'm allowed to go to bed when I want but my DC have a bedtime Hmm

Ericaequites · 16/09/2014 19:54

Children aren't adults. They don't need makeup, and should be actively discouraged from such habits. Most private schools in the States forbid it. Makeup is expensive, not good for the skin, and unnecessary. I'm sorry your niece has acne, but only skin will wrinkle less in the long run.

sugarquill · 16/09/2014 19:54

YABU, foundation makes acne worse

She won't be the only one with spots if everyone else sticks to the rules! She's not at school to look pretty.

jellybelly701 · 16/09/2014 19:55

I don't think the foundation would be helping the problem. But if she insists then I suggest she invests in a decent foundation, one that blends well with her skin tone so it isn't obvious she is even wearing any.

My school had a no makeup policy, but if your makeup was subtle they didn't really care.

BettyFocker · 16/09/2014 19:55

YABU.

If make-up was allowed you'd have girls turning up looking like drag queens. Your DN might be subtle with her make-up but a blanket ban is easier than policing it.

And of course teachers can wear make-up. They're adults at work, not children at school Confused

The Dr should able to prescribe something if over the counter stuff isn't working. I have acne and I'm on Oxytetracycline which has been a miracle worker.

Original poster
PiperIsOrange · 16/09/2014 19:55

Lipgloss doesn't.

I will get Dsis to take her back to the doctors. She has never been in trouble in school.

I just feel that how can an adult tell a teen off for wearing makeup while she also has makeup on.

OP posts:
ElephantsNeverForgive · 16/09/2014 19:55

Make up is banned at DDs school, as I believe it should be below Y12.

However, the rule is totally ignored. DD2 certainly wears a bit most days, DD1 prefers sleep.

Since nothing is ever said, I keep out of it.

Kundry · 16/09/2014 19:56

It's a school, banning makeup is normal. And it's probably making the acne worse. Plus lipgloss doesn't cover acne.

If she's been to the GP and it hasn't helped, go back. She needs a dermatologist, not a tinted moisturiser.

ilovesooty · 16/09/2014 19:56

The teachers are adults. Of course the rule only applies to the pupils. How odd that you should think otherwise.

Fairenuff · 16/09/2014 19:57

If she can get a doctor to specify that foundation and lip gloss will help her acne then she might have a point.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 16/09/2014 19:57

An adult can tell a child off for breaking the rules. Simple. The rule is no make up for students.

GREYCROW · 16/09/2014 19:59

I think no makeup is extreme to be honest and if properly applied they wouldn't notice.

This coming from a 30 odd year old with a ginormous zit on cheek.

slightlyconfused85 · 16/09/2014 19:59

YABU. I am a teacher and our girls are not allowed to wear make up - if they try they tend to look awful and are asked to remove it. If it is for serious acne then she should be being treated by a doctor anyway, not covering it up with foundation which will make it worse. Lipgloss is unnecessary, she is not wearing it because of her spots she is wearing it because she feels like it which unfortunately flouts the rules.

Teachers wear make up and their own clothes because they are adults in the workplace. It is not relevant.