DD is 11. She's interested in make-up and wears a little eye-shadow for school discos/parties etc. My view is that if you let them play with it now (when they aren't going anywhere unsupervised) they will be more educated about makeup and get it out of their system. Therefore less likely to go out looking a little less like painted dolls when they are young teenagers out and about on their own.
So, when we are out shopping together, we often stop by the cosmetic counters and she tries on the testers. A little bit of eyeshadow, perhaps a bit of blusher. I always ask the assistants' permission, they always say of course (as Mum might just buy something from them and DD will after all grow up to be a consumer). However, today, one of the assistants told me categorically that she could not put makeup on a child. I said I wasn't asking her to do a makeover (never do), DD just wants to have a splash of eyeshadow from the tester. Assistant very loudly asked why on earth I would even dream of letting a little girl put on eyeshadow, I was being ridiculous. Now, I am usually very over-cautious in my parenting but have no issue whatsoever with a little bit of makeup. AIBU, or is the lady in Debenhams???