Girls and Makeup

I think her request is cute but I also get grandma's hesitation.  Does she want make up to impress boys? Does she want to grow up to fast? Then her Grandma and I discussed it.  We figured that either way she was going to get make up.  She could walk in to a drug store and buy cheap knockoff products and really bold dark colors that would look bad on her. Our worse fear is that she ends up looking way older then her age. Or we could give her great quality stuff and choose colors that are light and would complement her skin tone and youth.  I asked her if she has make up now and what colors. She said purple and green eyeshadow, bronzer, and red lipstick.  😳.  On the phone Grandma said this to her.  You have a beautiful face you don't need make up and you don't need to impress boys yet.  I can get you lipgloss but lipstick is for girls over 15.   

While I initially agreed with her, on second ponder, is that the message I really want to give my niece or potential daughter? Not really.  

Why do I wear make up? Certainly not for boys.  I'm happily married.  Grandma is happily married to and she wears make up when she leaves the house.  We also don't wear it because we don't think we're not beautiful inside and out.  I don't want to tell my niece your beautiful now but by the time your a teenager or in your 20s you'll need this stuff.  I want her to always think she's beautiful with or without make up.  I wear makeup because I appreciate the art form and it makes me confident like putting on a pretty dress.  On days I don't want to. I can leave the house without it.  That's how I want her to feel about make up.  She knows she's beautiful and makeup shouldn't be associated with that.  

So yes I say buy her make up and guide her on appropriate color combinations, technique, and how to take care of her skin before and after application.  Make it a conversation and learning experience.  Not something else that is forbidden and taboo. 

In the end we bought her peach eyeshadow, a light blush, pink almost nude lipstick and sparkly lipgloss.