Everyone plays with Mom's makeup!

Here at Amazing, we’re wondering what every woman, mother, and teen is thinking… “How young is too young to wear makeup?”  I remember being a young girl and playing dress up with my grandmother’s jewelry and my mom’s lipsticks and eyeshadow, but when I see the way 12-15 year old girls dress and look nowadays, I am in shock. Living in a society were women of all ages are exposed to images of how we should dress, act, and behave, it makes sense that this would carry over to the youngest of women too. With the United States being the leader in the cosmetics industry, it’s no wonder why young girls are sneaking their makeup and putting it on at school!

We all have our own stories about playing with our mother’s makeup, but there’s a clear difference between little girls trying on lipstick, and an 8 year old that has been shalacked beyond recognition. I asked the ladies around the office and a few of our favorite celebrity makeup artists their stories from the past and what they thought of tweens wearing makeup. (Stay tuned ’til the end for a fun giveaway!)

All we can say is, "Really??"

Question: When did you start wearing makeup?

Lisa Thurman, Founder & CEO: “Realistically, I think I started in junior high. Maybe 8th grade? Just a little mascara and lipgloss most likely. It’s been a long time. If I had to choose an age for today’s young woman, I’d say 13ish.”

Sue Katz, Founder & COO: “I’ve played with makeup since I was about 10.  I probably didn’t start wearing it every day though until high school.  My parents didn’t let me!  My daughter wasn’t interested in makeup until she was about 13, so I didn’t have to restrict her.  If she were to start wearing tons of black eyeliner like some young girls do though–then I’d probably step in and stop that nonsense!”

Sandy Incardona, Director of Sales and Marketing: “I started wearing makeup when I was in 7th grade. And in ‘makeup’ I mean mascara and lip gloss… and if my parents weren’t looking I’d sneak some Azziza eye shadow in ‘sky blue.’  Shopping at the Osco (keep in mind I was in 7th grade) near my home and perusing the cosmetics area was a huge deal for me as I could walk there and spend as much time as I wanted picking up colorful compacts, looking at the lipstick shades and all the pretty girls on the packaging. In high school, driving a car helped me raise the bar on my retail therapy excursions where I quickly learned that I much preferred Marshall Fields cosmetic counters over the overly-lit Osco aisles! My best friend Darlene would head straight to shoes and I b-lined for Lancome, Clinique and Dior!

You’re too young for makeup when makeup looks like it should be on a 30 year old. A little lip gloss never hurt a girl in Jr. High… black eye liner rimming the upper and lower lash line basically creating two black holes… not good when you’re 14 or 40!”

Sherri Long, AmazingCosmetics Makeup Artist: “I was in 8th grade when I first started wearing makeup. It was all Bonne Bell lip glosses and eyeshadows at first. Then, one day, my mother took me to a cosmetic store and gave me a complete makeover. She showed me all the right shades that fit my complexion and how to blend everything correctly. I have been obsessed with makeup ever since!”

Kathy Brown, Account Exec: “I think if I had a daughter, 12 yrs old (7th grade) would be ok for gloss & maybe a little mascara. 13-14 (8th grade) a little more, but no black eyeliner that makes them look like a raccoon. Being in stores as much as I am, seeing 11 & 12 yr olds wearing so much makeup is sad.”

Samantha Bordignon,  Marketing & PR Coordinator: “My mom would always give me the lipstcks and glosses she would get in her gift with purchases at the Lancome or Clinique counter when I was a kid and I LOVED them. Since I went to Catholic school, I couldn’t wear makeup during the day so I would just carry around lip glosses in my pencil case because having them made me feel so cool. I would put on sheer Clinique lipglosses in the bathroom and wear it in the hallways and then wipe it off on my hand before I walked into my classroom. I was such a rebel. My mom and I are both such makeup junkies that wearing it was never an issue in my house. If anything, it only added to my awkward years when I would rock blue eyeshadow and ice pink lips that my mom called my moon man lipstick. I definitely wouldn’t say it made me even remotely “sexy” too young. If anything, it did the opposite!”

Kelsey Silton (ME!), Marketing & PR Assistant: “I am the only girl in my family, so growing up with three brothers and a father, the boys were never too happy when I got dolled up. I do remember starting to wear makeup around 7th grade. It wasn’t crazy dark eyeshadows and eyeliner, but more of the 80′s look with the frosted pink lip gloss and shiny and sparkly eyeshadow. At the time, I thought it made me look pretty. Looking back, I realize that I was in the phase of my life where no matter what you do to your hair or what you wear, you look awkward. Seeing the way girls in middle school and early high school dress and wear their makeup now seems a little extreme to me. I would definitely suggest to them to go for a more natural makeup look. It’s “sexier” and would bring out their beauty more so than deep and dark makeup looks.”

When I asked a few celebrity makeup artists their opinions and stories, they had a lot of great advice to share.

Terri Apanasewicz (Celebrity Makeup Artist for Cindy Crawford, Gisele Bundchen, Marisa Miller, and Lady Antebellum): “I think I was about 13 when I started wearing makeup, lip-gloss & mascara were allowed I believe, but not everyday.  I think in today’s world the lines are very blurred between “playing dress up” and “seriously wearing makeup” so I think boundaries are very important. The main thing to teach a young girl is that makeup is fun and meant to enhance her own unique beauty, not creating a mask to hide behind, so keep the colors or coverage on the more natural side.

In the teen years acne can be a big concern and cause of low self esteem, so learning how to use an effective concealer can be key.  Again, what makes a concealer a good choice, such as Amazing Concealer, is that it can be used to hide these types of imperfections but not look like you’re wearing a ton of makeup.”

Maya Michelle Shapiro (Makeup Artist for shows including Real Housewives of New York City, TLC’s What Not To Wear and MTV’s TRL): “I started experimenting with makeup around middle school, during which I actually sold Avon! I loved playing with makeup and experimenting but it was out of curiosity and for fun. I am sure my mom would have preferred that I wait till around 15 or 16 years to start wearing makeup and I understand that. For me though, it was coming from a place of creativity and curiosity.

With some exceptions, I really feel that girls younger than 15 or 16 don’t need to be wearing much makeup. We forget that even a teenager is still a child whose sense of herself is still in development. There is no need to rush a child out of childhood. The product a child is using is secondary to the subconscious message that she is being sent. If she is using something as basic as lip balm because she thinks she needs it to be prettier, the product is not helpful. In contrast, if girls get together for a slumber party with face masks and nail polish with the understanding that the most important thing is them, their friendship, and bonding over an activity, then the products become tools for a positive experience.”

Abbey Taylor (Personal Makeup Artist to Jennifer Hudson): “Besides playing in my mother’s stash, I started wearing my own around 14 years old.  I went to a private school where makeup was banned, so freshman year I went all out. My mother owned a salon and had already been in the beauty business for many years even before I was born so needless to say, I was her Barbie.  I literally had my first perm at the age of 3.  My mother was definitely pleased to see me wearing makeup and taught me a lot about how to wear it.  She is the one person who encouraged me to go to makeup school and has always been very pleased about my decision.

As far as mothers and daughters go about wearing makeup, I would say that both the mother and daughter should feel comfortable in this decision and start with the basics.  Mascara, concealer, blush, and lipgloss; these four products can give a fresh, young look and with minimal product.  I suggest going to a MUA that you like and feel comfortable with, whether it be at a makeup counter or boutique like Amazing Cosmetics, easy fun makeup can be taught to both mother and daughter.  Amazing concealer along with their mascara is perfect for the basics, along with any neutral colored gloss, and a peachy/pink blush.”

As you can see, we all have our different stories. As far as what we at AmazingCosmetics believe, natural and light makeup on young girls seems to be ok in our book. What do you think? Be one of the first five people to comment on this blog post and receive one of AmazingCosmetics neutral lip glosses that’s perfect for a natural, beautiful look for you or your daughter!

About AmazingCosmetics:

AmazingCosmetics is known for creating the best concealer for any imperfections, the AmazingConcealer.  Try some today and you’ll see why the AmazingConcealer will be the last under eye concealer you’ll ever need.  As always, we are dedicated to keeping you amazingly flawless when you need it most.