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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:
MollyHooper · 16/09/2014 21:35

Acne isn't just bloody spots, how ridiculous.

I had spots as a teenage, they were crap but one of my best friends suffered from awful acne and it made her miserable.

Rules are rules of course but you have had some great tips to pass on to your niece Piper, so hopefully she can feel a little better about it soon.

OraProNobis · 16/09/2014 21:36

OP - please please take note of this post

MrsWinnibago Tue 16-Sep-14 20:00:44

I must suggest to you the latest research for helping teens with acne is to eat a completely natural diet...a recent study in Oz saw young men with acne have an improvement of 50% after 12 weeks eating what's called a "Hunter Gatherer" diet. It's basically just meat, fruit, veg and pulses with some carbs such as brown rice. You're allowed the odd scoop of icecream and some honey too....basically no processed foods

Before you turn to medication (i.e Roaccutane - and I have nothing against this - it's worked for friends teens) - please try 6 - 8 weeks on zero sugar. It's worth a try and couple with the excellent advice from Mrs Winnibago I think your DN would see a real improvement.

StarlightMcKenzie · 16/09/2014 21:37

I am almost 40 and have not a single wrinkle. At school I worse 7 layers of make-up. I wear between 2-4 now depending on skin at the time. There was a no-make-up policy in my school, but I wouldn't be attending if anyone had tried to enforce it.

StarlightMcKenzie · 16/09/2014 21:39

I've done zero sugar. In fact I rarely eat it now.

When I did it in my 20s, with a friend who always complained about her (what too me looked no more than) 2 spots, she saw an improvement. I did not.

Thomyorke · 16/09/2014 21:43

Thinking back to being at school the doctor advised make up as I had got in the habit of using my hands to cover my face in a stupid attempt to hide them and he was worried about my posture due to stooping and looking at the ground. It was an awful time but the positive is very few wrinkles as all that grease helped. I was put on the pill at 15 but that was a very long time ago.

Noodledoodledoo · 16/09/2014 21:43

MollyHooper Acne isn't just bloody spots, how ridiculous.

If that was aimed at my comment I admit I didn't make it clear. I know acne is not spots - as I have said I suffered acne as a teenager badly, all across my back as well as my face badly. Make up will not have any affect on acne at all. I was on antibiotics and hormonal medicine for 3 years. Wearing a bra was excrutiatingly painful due to the boil size spots on my back.

Make up and a poor cleansing routine will have an affect on spots.

I never wore make up to cover it up as it didn't work.

Oh and if we are going for anecdotal evidence on wrinkles I am 37 and rarely wear make up and don't have a single wrinkle - and only in the last two years have bothered with erractic application of mosturiser - seriously not got a girly gene!!

itsbetterthanabox · 16/09/2014 21:46

I don't really get why they aren't allowed to wear makeup. It's a silly rule.
Maybe using concealer on the actual spots in the right colour and then a little powder would cover it but be much more subtle.

MollyHooper · 16/09/2014 21:48

No, no Noodledoodledoo that wasn't aimed at you.

I can only imagine the horrors you have seen over the years with various bronzers and tanfastic. :o

MollyHooper · 16/09/2014 21:49

In regards to your pupils that is.

cerealqueen · 16/09/2014 21:50

I empathise as I had dreadful skin as a teenager, and dealt with it by avoiding all mirrors, or if I thought it was unavoidable and that I might glimpse myself, draping them with towels if having a bath.

I'd have jumped at the chance to wear foundation, but it was forbidden.
Even better, would have been my mum to take me to the doctor and get me the 'topex' cream suggested by the GP. It was the first ever benzyl peroxide cream and does work! She never did as she was not that interested in my skin problems.

Has your DN tried the acne.org regime?

here

Definitely worth having a look, it, or rather an old version of it, worked for me. Though did bleach some duvet covers!

soverylucky · 16/09/2014 21:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

itsbetterthanabox · 16/09/2014 21:50

Noodle you sound like a riot.
Seriously the teachers that have polish remover and wipes are beyond sad.
I actually think teachers and pupils should have to follow the same dress codes. Prepare them for real work and responsibility instead of silly uniforms.

MollyHooper · 16/09/2014 21:56

I don't think that's fair it'sbetter.

If the rules are no make-up and a pupil comes in looking like Amy Childs dipped in gravy surely it's better to have some wipes at hand rather than send her home?

cerealqueen · 16/09/2014 21:56

PS, check the talk boards, you don't have to buy the ance.org products, cetaphil and oil of olay, which is non pre blocking can be used, and oil of johoba is an excellent moisturiser as it is the oil (actually, it is a wax) most like the sebum found in skin.

Noodledoodledoo · 16/09/2014 21:57

Noodle you sound like a riot.

Why because I insist on our school rules being followed, to be honest I have students come and ask to borrow it as they know they will get caught and get a consequence so avoid getting into trouble. I also shock horror tell girls to roll their skirts down regularly and for shirts to be tucked in!

We follow our dress code, they follow thiers - they are different - part of life we are teaching them about.

Notacs · 16/09/2014 21:59

Itsbetter, haha we were GIVEN wipes by the HOY.

I repeat - your child would have had an outstanding education. OFSTED said so, and I have to agree. It was the only school I worked at I would have been happy for my children to attend.

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine · 16/09/2014 22:00

I love to hear the bollocks spouted that make up, diet etc caused spots. Funny as.

Foundation usually protects the skin from sun damage so people who don't wear any usually look like scarecrows by 50 but that's choice.

Also what schools are these that ban makeup? Must be the posh private ones that abound on mumsnet. Grin

At my girls grammar In the 80s we troweled if on.

My dds wear tons to school but work hard are respectful and just get on.

Thankfully she goes to a sensible school where the teachers teach rather than bother about daft crap like this.

If they would only abolish the uniform it would be perfect. Smile

StarlightMcKenzie · 16/09/2014 22:01

Molly, can you not understand that a child with severe acne who was up at 4:30am to begin their skin regime for the sole purpose of not being noticed, would not take your wipes and stay in the school building. In fact after your humiliating charade directed at a child desperate to hide, in front if their peers might just scupper their education and life-chances irreparably.

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine · 16/09/2014 22:02

On and the absolute best cleanser is found in the fridge, it's milk.

Purplepoodle · 16/09/2014 22:02

I couldn't have survived my teenage years without foundation as my acne was crippling. I was under doctors and specialists but nothing really improved it. Dianette did help. My always brought me good foundations and I learned to apply them properly . If applied right it won't look like she is wearing make up, lipgloss would be a giveaway though.

ApocalypseThen · 16/09/2014 22:03

I don't know why teachers actually bother when other adults react like teenagers and go on with the "why can you wear makeup/normal clothes/not have to do exams" stuff. The takeover of extreme immaturity among adults is shocking.

Original poster
PiperIsOrange · 16/09/2014 22:04

I have written down everything and also sent my niece the links posted.

OP posts:
MollyHooper · 16/09/2014 22:05

Woah there Starlight, I didn't say I agree with the no make up rule.

I just didn't think it was fair to call Noodle sad for keeping some wipes in her drawer, she has to follow the rules too.

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine · 16/09/2014 22:05

Starlight yes totally agree.

Fairly cruel really at a time of life when a child is most vulnerable about their looks.

The British education system at its most Ignorant best.

TheIronGnome · 16/09/2014 22:10

I had acne as a teen (the only thing which shifted it was roaccutane) when at secondary school I hated make up and was quite suspscious of it result of being attacked by older sister with eyelash curlers! I wish I had been introduced to concealer and powder as I think it would have really boosted my confidence. It would have also prevented me picking at my face so much.

I'd get her to ditch her lip gloss but maybe get her to try either a tinted moisturizer type thing or an all in one foundation like the one Benefit do- www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/product/view/some-kind-a-gorgeous

If it's not noticable it should be fine. They just don't want mountains of eye make up and lipstick. If any teacher's notice they should be sensitive enough not to mention it when it's clearly just to cover some skin issues.