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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think kids experimenting with makeup is normal?

60 replies

Everythingnotsavedwillbelost · 04/10/2019 18:11

DD 7 has some of my old makeup- she plays with it at home- puts lipstick on etc. I wouldn’t let her go out in it but I am totally fine with it at home- I used to do the same with my mums old makeup.
She’s had a friend round & when the Dad came to collect, he made it clear he was totally horrified & disapproved- his DD hadn’t put any on tho.

Aibu to think it’s normal for kids to experiment with makeup or am I totally wrong on this?

OP posts:
WTFdidwedo · 04/10/2019 19:01

My mum didn't wear makeup and I don't either, so I never did as a child and my daughters don't as a result. I don't think I'd be horrified if they did, I'd just find it a bit odd I suppose as I never had that experience. My 3 year old does like a bit of my aloe vera Vaseline though!

bingspando · 04/10/2019 19:02

My two year old watches me putting a bit of eyeshadow on every morning and sometimes loves to grab a brush and have a little dab at her own face. I wipe it off before we leave but I really don't see it doing her any psychological damage!!!! She just wants to do what I do!! I think people can overthink anything and everything these days!!!!!

myself2020 · 04/10/2019 19:03

I would be ok with face paint, but not with old makeup - yuk!

AloneLonelyLoner · 04/10/2019 19:06

Totally normal.

fernandoanddenise · 04/10/2019 19:09

Totally normal in my world. It’s fun. Mascara to school - nope. Huge face- full of bright res lipstick at home to play dress up - hell yes!

middlemuddle · 04/10/2019 20:14

My DD is 7, she likes to play with it and copy me. I let her, she is only allowed to wear a bit outside to birthday parties (just lipgloss and blusher, she actually does it very well and subtly. It scares me a bit how good she is at it!!).

People overreact about these things. Making a big deal and it a 'no no' tends to make the child want to do it more, it did me. I remember putting red felt tip on my lips haha.

mnthrowaway2099 · 04/10/2019 20:15

I think he’s being a bit stuck up as his daughter wasn’t wearing any

Fluffsmum · 04/10/2019 20:23

My DS loves a bit of make up (he's 3). Totally normal.

hyperkatinka · 05/10/2019 08:24

Yes my dd painted her nails with wipe clean pen before I let her do nail polish.

Thurmanmurman · 05/10/2019 08:29

Normal, but I would always ask parents permission for their child to put on make up/paint nails at my house as some people don’t approve, best cover your back.

Milicentbystander72 · 05/10/2019 08:32

Very normal to play at home.

I still remember the smell of my mum's Matt pink lipstick from Avon that she used to wear. It was in a heavy sparkly textured tube. At 6 or 7 I used to steal it and put it on.

As an adult I wear make up but not a lot.

KUGA · 05/10/2019 08:45

Normal.

LionelRitchieStoleMyNotebook · 05/10/2019 09:24

Personally I wasn't interested until I was a tween and everyone else was, there is something about it that makes me feel uncomfortable, because it focuses on making yourself physically attractive.
That might just be because I come from a family where make up is generally not worn, light or for special occasions. My daily routine for work is some tinted moisturiser and benetint, I do get my eyelashes tinted so I don't wear mascara. I didn't grow up seeing anyone do make up every day so it's out of my norm. I do remember an aunt (married to DFs brother), taking great pleasure in painting my nails light pink when I was primary school age, when she left I asked if I could take it off now, I was just slightly bemused by it.

Florencenotflo · 05/10/2019 09:29

My 3 year old likes to pretend she's putting make up on, completely normal. I haven't let her have any actual make up yet just because of the mess 😂 but she's just copying what she sees me doing. She was pretending to have a shave with DH the other morning, again, it's just copying.

ethelredonagoodday · 05/10/2019 09:32

I think it's totally normal when they're little. However, I'm not keen on v small children putting on make up 'properly'. My friend's daughter is obsessed with make up and watches you tube tutorials etc. She is 6 and can put make up on more proficiently than me!
I am not sure either though about the Dad being so affronted by it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Tellmetruth4 · 05/10/2019 09:35

Normal for play but not wearing outside the house. However, there’s an 8 year old in DCs school who’s gone from wearing red lipstick in singing competitions to wearing it in school. It looks all types of wrong. She looks like Jonbene Ramsey. Haven’t seen her wear it this week though so maybe the school have pulled up the parents. The mum makes bitchy remarks about women she deems to have ‘fat thighs’ so I’m guessing the perfectly applied lipstick was her idea.

UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 05/10/2019 09:36

It's absolutely fine, she's just playing and experimenting.

Dazedandconfusedmostdays · 05/10/2019 09:38

Totally normal!!

Bucatini · 05/10/2019 09:43

There's nothing massively wrong with it, but I wouldn't be delighted if that's what my 7yo DD was doing at a friend's house. A bit too young IMO.

And the fact that his DD wasn't wearing any means that it wasn't an interactive game between them. Just his DD watching while yours enjoyed herself.

Babdoc · 05/10/2019 09:47

I never bought or wore any of that crap, so there was none in the house for the DDs to use even if they’d wanted to.
And I raised them as feminists, so they would see the cosmetics industry for what it really is - a way to exploit women’s insecurities for profit.
Having to waste time every morning clogging your skin with chemicals is just one more way to hold women back. I don’t see many men having to stop what they’re doing to touch up their lipstick!

PeachandBee · 05/10/2019 09:49

Totally normal. My DD8 is currently in her room trying out a box of make up samples that her make up artist god mother gave her. She knows it's only for play inside the house. I only occasionally wear make up for special occasions/going out (not that that happens much with 3 children) so it probably isn't from watching me.

justfortoday4367 · 05/10/2019 09:56

I unless on a very rare night out wear makeup, I have 2 DD . DD16 wears mascara occasionally, nights out she might put a little bit of lip gloss. DD10 loves makeup & sadly has sensitive skin so I’ve brought for her birthday a makeup set to play with . I’ve no idea where it comes from but she happy! It’s difficult as it’s not something I get as I don’t wear it it & have tried to bring my girls up confident in their own skin.

MintyMabel · 05/10/2019 10:04

not something I get as I don’t wear it it & have tried to bring my girls up confident in their own skin.

Same here. Make up is for "party face" not everyday in our house. DD (10) hasn't every "experimented" with makeup. She asked for Make up when her friends had been talking about it but hates the feel of it on her face.

Lazypuppy · 05/10/2019 10:13

I don't know why you would want to encourage them to wear make up!

Their skin is so delicate as well. I've never worn make up so my dd won't be 'experimenting with make up'.

If she wants to wear make up when she's older then we'll do it then

Rainbowknickers · 05/10/2019 10:15

It’s one of those-I can’t bear seeing kids wearing it in those pageants
I also was at work once and a group of kids walked in with it plastered all over their faces but they where all dressed in mini skirts and crop tops too-they where aged about 8
At home all my kids have worn make up (the girls and the boys)
I have the photo proof!
I think it’s fine if it’s your child and at home only-it’s just face paint
I wouldn’t put it on another child unless the parents where ok with it (one mate joined in putting it on them but another one wouldn’t have been happy)
My youngest loved nail polish (Worn rarely) cos she wanted to be ‘mummies nail polish twin’