Makeup Lessons for Tweens

Women often ask me when their daughters should start wearing makeup and if they should get them a makeup lesson.  I personally think 12 is a good time to introduce a young girl to makeup and yes, a lesson is a must.

Boys don't just know how to change oil in a car and girls don't just know how to apply makeup correctly.  Girls tend to follow their peers and unfortunately most get it wrong.  If you walk through the local mall and look at the young girls there you will see gobs of mascara and lots of black eyeliner.  Not a great look on anyone, but unless someone shows them how to properly apply makeup, that seems safe and easy.

A young girl needs to understand how to use makeup to enhance her features, what colors work best with her coloring (brown is not neutral on everyone and black is always harsh on a young girl), what formulas are good for her skin type, and how to glam it up a little to hit the bar/bat mitzvah circuit or attend a special event. 

If girls are taught from the beginning with a clear understanding of what each piece of makeup does and how to use it, it makes getting a natural, healthy look a piece of cake.  For example, many women purchase a bronzer and then put it all over their face like a powder - bronzer is not meant to be used in this way - it is meant to be strategically placed on the face to add warmth to the complexion - and yes you use it all year long.  But if no one teaches you how and why you are to use a bronzer how do you know?

Giving a young girl the gift of a makeup lesson ensures that she will never fall into the black eyeliner trap and she will always know how to do her makeup for years to come.  An age appropriate, fresh look is always best and showing them how to acheive it makes all the difference.  And if mom or an older sister needs a lesson too (maybe they were never taught) what a wonderful way to spend the day getting beautiful and bonding!