'real' make up for an almost 4yo?

[Lusi]

My DD2 (4 in Feb) loves playing with make up...so Santa was going to bring her another 'play' make up set...problem is that the make up itself is usually pretty rubbish, lots of lip glosses that don't show up etc...and expensive for what they get....

I don't wear makeup anymore and DD1 isn't interested ...only recent experience I have was for DD1 ballet shows...

Just seen in the Argos Christmas Catalogue 'real' make up sets (aimed at teens?) that look much better value for money and probably 'better' make up...
Thinking more about her skin - than the potential mess - I supervise her with it and even 'play' make up can make a real mess and need to be removed with cleanser...and obviously wouldn't let her use eyeliner/mascara
Any problem with getting one of them for DD2?

I would ignore it all-far too young.

I wouldn't give even 'play' make up to 3 year old tbh, never mind real stuff.

Get her facepaints instead, or bath crayons.

Tell her she's very beautiful and if she wears make up people won't be able to see that.

agree with piscesmoon - she's far too young

I wouldn't get real makeup for a 4 year old. the reason the play stuff doesn't show up is
a) because they look like those nasty pageant babies and
b) it would be terribly damaging to the skin.

DD1 likes to put on my facepowder as it has a brush but I wipe it all straight off, even that makes me at her.

What about a tube of lip balm - you can get it in cherry etc flavours so coloured, and say its lipstick. (She doesnt actually need colour? - just the pretend factor) My dd was given one at the aiport a while ago and she loved it! I would avoid the real stuff thought, too messy and i think too young as well ....
also glitter? (although not in my house as cant bear the thought of it everywhere!)

She does have facepaints and is getting some more from Santa...
The play makeup we had was DD1s - she got some for a birthday present and then went though a stage of playing with it but now (9 yo) shows no interest and complained about having to wear
it for the ballet shows -
But DD2 loves it...she puts it on herself, me, DD1, dollies (if I don't stop her) and Daddy..
The stuff that has no real colour she keeps smearing on to try and make it show up...
I wouldn't let her (or DP) wear it outside...don't know where she gets it from really...like I said I never wear make-up, no-one she knows obviously does...it is a bit of a puzzle...(unless it was the ballet shows???)

I think all I have to say is that if she was a boy I'd be looking for some too...

My problem is whether 'adult' make up would be worse for her skin than play make up...

The thing is it's about mimicking rather than looking pretty IMO so I agree with the lip balm and maybe some glittery stuff as opposed to war paint. I'd rather my girls didn't want it, so I make sure it's treated as a toy to be played with rather like the dressing up box.

There is a reason that you can't find real make-up aimed at such young children.
here

Read your link purple ...it isn't like that at all...more like OFFS - it is very definitely a toy...she smears lipstick on her forehead(!!!)

Don't know where she gets it from we are very non-gender specific (DD1 didn't get a dolly until she asked for one kind of thing - try and avoid pink etc etc - I was amazed when DD1 about 2 yo knew which was the girl's bed in a book - because it had the pink cover - the boy's was identical except for a blue cover)

I think she is more interested with the colours - like face paints but she can put them on herself ...hence the play make up or lip balm - it looks coloured in the tray but usually looks clear on ..so she layers it up and soon there is none left...and a sticky mess all over her face....