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Original poster

Would you buy your 8 yr old dd make up??

43 replies

biscuitsfordinner · 18/11/2015 22:21

My dd is 8. She has lots of interests but nothing she really wants for Christmas. We went into Boots the other day and they had a large vanity case full of make up. She was very taken by it and said that was what she wanted. For the record she obviously never wears make up and it would be for playing purposes only but I still feel slightly uncomfortable about it. She doesn't have any large presents and even though it is only £18 it still looks sizeable. What would you do?

Thanks

OP posts:
jelliebelly · 18/11/2015 22:22

I wouldn't personally

nancy75 · 18/11/2015 22:24

Dd had nail varnish at that age ( glittery stuff) but not make up. I think she had some flavoured lip gloss stuff but that was about it

Mylittlelights · 18/11/2015 22:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BYOSnowman · 18/11/2015 22:26

i wouldn't

nancy75 · 18/11/2015 22:27

Instead of a make up kit what about a beauty box that you make up yourself with child friendly bubble bath, tasty lip gloss, character flannel, hair clips and other stuff like that? Dd really liked lush bath bombs at around that age

IoraRua · 18/11/2015 22:29

I'd do lip gloss and sparkly scented moisturiser personally. Or maybe a nail polish or something. Nothing more adult than that.

ScarlettDarling · 18/11/2015 22:29

I've never bought my 8 year old 'real' makeup, but she does have a little case of Barbie makeup which she plays with, putting it on herself and on me.

I don't suppose it's any different to buy her a case of 'real' makeup if she's only going to use it to play with. If she really liked it then I don't see what the problem is.

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 18/11/2015 22:29

Yes, my dd is 8 and loves badly putting on make up. I remember being 10 and my grandma taking me and my cousin to Boots to buy a red lipstick and bright blue eyeshadow!

It doesn't mean she's going to turn into some vain self obsessed model wannabe, she's just a kid playing at dressing up like wearing mum's high heels.

Fwiw I also spend a lot of time talking to my dd about body image, the media etc and she is the first to call sexism if she sees something discriminatory or in any way stereotypical. She loves all sorts of activities and clothes regardless of how 'girly' or not they may be.

Teenagecrisisagain · 18/11/2015 22:34

My dd2 is 5 and loves make up, nail polish etc. she has a little set and asked dd1 to put make up on her recently for a party

I don't encourage it but I don't think there's any harm in it at all

Salmiak · 18/11/2015 22:34

I remember getting one of those huge chests filled with makeup around that age (maybe i was a little bit older?) It had about 50 ridiculously garish shades of of eyeshadow, some neon lipsticks and some very red and very pink blusher.

It was AMAZING

I used to just play with it at home, to use on my dolls or myself, I didn't wear the makeup out but was just fun to play with, and for a few months all playdates involved makeovers.

(I never really wear makeup now that I'm a grown up)

nancy75 · 18/11/2015 22:35

Glittery hairspray was another favourite here, but be warned it is a bugger to get off the carpet Grin

Flomplet · 18/11/2015 22:36

I honestly never thought I'd do this, but last year at 8 DD wanted some makeup very much indeed.

I braved Claire's and bought some of the pink sparkly boxed 'play' makeup. I decided I'd rather give her that while she was still young enough to have it as a toy, than wait until she had outgrown toys and would only accept the real thing. It's not too bad on actually.

Original poster
biscuitsfordinner · 18/11/2015 22:41

I think the only reason I would consider it is because I don't think she sees it as anything other than play. My friend has an 11yr old who is getting into make up but much more from an appearance perspective - sneakily applying lipstick before she goes out etc but dd just isn't interested in that way. I like the idea of a box as mentioned above. I'm just not sure she's use much of it. She still mainly baths with her siblings (by choice BTW) so we are limited due to allergies.

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 18/11/2015 22:42

Yeah. But only to play with and not to be worn out of the house.

What actual harm to people think it would do?

TheNumberfaker · 18/11/2015 22:46

No way will I be giving my girls makeup at 8.
Wasn't there a MN campaign 'Let girls be girls' a while back?

backinschool · 18/11/2015 22:47

My 6 year old is getting some make up this year. I was wavering about it but I let my DDs wear princess dresses and plastic heels (as well as superhero costumes and pirate outfits) and they love having facepaint on so I decided there wasn't much of a difference. This is going to be for dressing up too, she won't be wearing it regularly, but I'd still prefer her to have something decent on her skin. She got some 'play' lipgloss for her birthday (from a school friend) and it's like glue! She is getting some moisturiser (good habits from the start and they already put it on under their facepaint), a pink blusher, pink lipgloss and some sparkly eyeshadow plus hair glitter. She does dancing and they wore makeup for their show which I think is why she is interested but does mean she thinks it is part of a costume, not something to wear daily.

AnnaMarlowe · 18/11/2015 22:47

I wouldn't no.

It would be like using felt tip pens on a rose.

Unnecessary.

backinschool · 18/11/2015 22:48

She has asked to play with my make up before and ends up looking like a clown - her look is modelled on Mr Tumble - so it's definitely just for play.

IHeartKingThistle · 18/11/2015 23:00

For playing, it's fine. My 8 year old has some for playing, she doesn't wear it out of the house and it doesn't make me any less of a feminist or her less likely to be one!

LimitedSedition · 18/11/2015 23:06

My DD7 has some. I don't really wear it, which is how she has ended up with an Urban Decay book of shadows and various other bits.
Doesn't do her any harm and she's actually really good at putting it on (although she doesn't wear it out the house) I've bought her some nice make up brushes for Christmas! Usually when she's mucking about with it I compliment her on her colour choice and blending skills Grin

FabFlo · 18/11/2015 23:23

Dear god why?

Buy her some face paint. Let her mess around with that.

NightLark · 18/11/2015 23:29

My 7 year old DD loves make up. I rarely wear more than mascara and lip salve. I'm happy to buy Claires stuff for her, she enjoys playing lipstick and eyeshadow.

susielovessocks · 18/11/2015 23:36

My 7 year old wants the 'frozen' make up set. For her it's all about glitter and gloss, no different from face paints really. I don't have a problem with it for that reason, if she wanted to look 'grown up' or to make her 'pretty' it would be different.

SoDiana · 18/11/2015 23:38

100 per cent yes.

My dd loves makeup.

Her school has a strict policy as have I.

But god bless her does she love love playing with makeup.

Go for it. It's a precious mum dd moment.

SoDiana · 18/11/2015 23:45

She does end up looking like she hastwo black eyes and a ttemperature.......

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