Your tween probably has a lot of holiday parties and celebrations coming up over the next several weeks. Inevitably your daughter will ask if she can wear (some type of) make up. What will you answer? Well, what and how you answer depends on your tweens’ age and whether or not you are willing to be her make-up artist.
The age range for tweens is anywhere from 7 to 14. If your tween daughter is on the young side of this age range (7-10), I think it appropriate to suggest a light, natural-shade lip balm or gloss. Avoid any foundation, blush, eye make-up-especially glitter (does anyone at any age look good in glitter make up?) Young girls certainly don’t, and it irritates their skin. Use this opportunity to establish your credentials as an authority on beauty and demonstrate your willingness to be helpful in this area. Before she starts to apply lip gloss, reinforce the need to brush her teeth. Show her how to cleanse her face and apply her moisturizer (always with upward strokes) and then show her how to apply (not smear) lip gloss to her lips. Try and make this modest make up application and cleansing ritual a beauty moment for her.
Because older tween girls (ages 11-14) have more peer pressure and greater media exposure, you may want to give your daughter more make-up options. But even for this age group, I would avoid the use of any face make up. Their faces are producing more oil, and they should avoid anything that clogs their pores.
If your daughter is in this age group, she really needs your expertise. Think about all of the make-up tips you have ever learned, edit for age appropriateness, and start offering tween make-up tips. Of course reinforcing the need for daily cleansing and moisturizing remains a top priority. Use your beauty savvy to help her learn about the shape of her face. Stand with her in a mirror and point out her beautiful features. She will be an apt listener. Introduce her to make-up pencils. Demonstrate with a lip liner and show her how it brings out her lips. Then dab on a soft shade of lipstick and/or gloss. Help her to shape her brows with an eyebrow pencil. Even just a few upward strokes on her eyebrows will make her feel more polished and sophisticated.
Great make-up artists have always said smart women know their best facial feature and maximize it. Never have more than one focal point on your face. Accentuate your eyes or your lips or your cheeks, but never all three. It’s a great way to introduce a make-up lesson.
To me, my daughter’s beautiful face is perfect just as it is. I am sure it is the same for you. But when your tween daughter starts to ask questions about wearing make up, help her to understand that wearing less make up is actually more beautiful. Partner with her and show her the right way to wear make up. Help her learn how to make the most of her natural tween beauty.
