Question for the MUAs - do you sell makeup to kids?

[aimerbijoux]

I was never really into make up a kid. It was my fascination with glitter that made me want it though lol. I hardly ever wore lipsmackers, but I do remember 1 time when I was like 8 and I wanted a lipstick. My mom only let me get the clear one

I only JUST started getting into make up the summer before I turned 17 (i'm 18 now) and it was when my makeup was done by my neighbor (she worked for clinique) for my senior portrait at my high school. I loved how I looked and how confident I felt, so I started to look up online colors for brown eyed girls and such and the FIRST time I actually wore a full face of make up on a day to day basis was when I started 12th grade and I got the sheer cover mineral make up kit, and after that I got MAC

and now I am addicted hahah.

But seriously, it is CRAZY how young these girls are that are wearing make up. I swear my brother (who is 14) has this friend (who is also 14) and at a barnes and noble book release party she wore a short tight white dress and a full face of makeup. She looked like a CLUB GIRL with her stilettos and no-underwear (probably a thong!) look.

 

[Beauty Mark]

Quote:

I don't like to put heavy makeup on young girls because I don't personally feel that young girls need to be wearing heavy makeup, which is most often what they want to wear because they typically don't know any better

Is there no way you can get around it? Show them how to do their makeup in a more age appropriate way?

I think it boils down to color choices and formula. Loreal's HIP line probably will look gaudy on a 10 year old, just like similar colors in MAC.

For the record I don't get why people are buying expensive makeup for their kids. Kids lose things like crazy, and I don't know if a 10 year old is wearing makeup daily (or why s/he would). Makeup goes bad; dropping a lot of dough on a lipstick seems foolish if they're only going to use it once or twice.

 

[MAC_Pixie04]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beauty Mark Is there no way you can get around it? Show them how to do their makeup in a more age appropriate way? I think it boils down to color choices and formula. Loreal's HIP line probably will look gaudy on a 10 year old, just like similar colors in MAC. For the record I don't get why people are buying expensive makeup for their kids. Kids lose things like crazy, and I don't know if a 10 year old is wearing makeup daily (or why s/he would). Makeup goes bad; dropping a lot of dough on a lipstick seems foolish if they're only going to use it once or twice.

Well, like lara, I always drop the term "age-appropriate" and "situation appropriate" whenever I do consultation. And usually if a younger girl comes in with her mother or older relative, I can get feedback from both of them and determine what kind of look she wants, and then I can give my own feedback as to what kind of look I, as an artist, think would look good, and we can go from there. When they come in alone and they have their heart set on a deep smokey eye and vampy, adult look, that's what they want and they expect to get it, no matter what I might think looks appropriate for them.

I've tried to turn girls onto more soft, natural looking makeup, and still using color, and they sometimes don't want it. I'm not going to break my back and convince a 14 year old that the makeup style she's choosing makes her look like a baby prostitute. If that's what she wants, she's got her mind made up, it's going to be very hard to change it. I was helping a girl the other day, and she wanted to try a look from our catalog, and I explained to her that I could do a similar look, softer than what was in the catalog because the image was supposed to be high fashion to show off the product, not necessarily something to be worn out during the day. I did the look, I made it very soft but still noticeable, and she kept going "Can you make it darker?" I made it a little darker, and when she asked for it darker again, I suggested that she leave it as it were for the time, and maybe make it darker if she were going out at night or to a party. She basically dismissed me "okay thanks..." then proceeded to take my brush and eyeliner and rim her eyes until the sun went down. By the time she left, she had on enough eye makeup to last her for the next 3 days. Regardless of me offering my somewhat professional opinion, she was hellbent on looking like a tramp, and since I wasn't gonna give her that, she did it for herself.

Sometimes we can work around it, but most times, they want what they want, and they'll find a way to get it, even if it means just doing it themselves.

 

[MAC_Pixie04]

Here's a thought: let's let kids be kids? What 10 year old NEEDS cosmetic item? Set limits, make rules. No makeup until you're (insert appropriate age here), and stick to that. Children don't NEED cosmetics. In reality, adults don't always NEED cosmetics, but they're old enough to determine that for themselves and we can assume have the means to purchase their own. When 10 year olds are putting makeup on, guess who's buying it? The parent. Last time I checked you needed to be at least 15 or 16 in some states to get a job. So if mom's buying her little 10 or 11 year old makeup, she's giving the okay, rather than put her foot down and let her child remain a child.

The whole idea of makeup on kids just sickens me. No wonder we've got pedophiles at the playground and downloading images on the web; we're starting to embrace a society where babies that look like adults is "adorable" and "Oh they're just playing around!" Whatever; my daughter won't be wearing makeup until she's old enough to get a job and buy her own, and before she buys any makeup, she'll be investing in some good skincare.

 

[Beauty Mark]

I think some parents think it's great that their kids wear makeup and look count; it isn't necessarily giving into the kids' demands.

 

[lainz]

i had a little girl (must have been like 7) come to the counter with her parents and she said, "can you put eyeshadow and mascara on me?" her dad was behind her, so i just looked at him and said to her, "why don't we ask your dad if we can?" he said she was too young for that, she started arguing with him and said that they promised she would get some makeup on her. her mom then told her they make a lot of promises and started laughing. at that point, i felt bad for the little girl. i was going to offer some lipgloss to her, but her parents seemed so weird that i didnt wanna fuel anything. i think in this circumstance the parents were wrong to make the promise to this little girl that she could get her makeup done, then blatantly disregard it.

 

[vocaltest]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC_Pixie04 Here's a thought: let's let kids be kids? What 10 year old NEEDS cosmetic item? Set limits, make rules. No makeup until you're (insert appropriate age here), and stick to that. Children don't NEED cosmetics. In reality, adults don't always NEED cosmetics, but they're old enough to determine that for themselves and we can assume have the means to purchase their own. When 10 year olds are putting makeup on, guess who's buying it? The parent. Last time I checked you needed to be at least 15 or 16 in some states to get a job. So if mom's buying her little 10 or 11 year old makeup, she's giving the okay, rather than put her foot down and let her child remain a child. The whole idea of makeup on kids just sickens me. No wonder we've got pedophiles at the playground and downloading images on the web; we're starting to embrace a society where babies that look like adults is "adorable" and "Oh they're just playing around!" Whatever; my daughter won't be wearing makeup until she's old enough to get a job and buy her own, and before she buys any makeup, she'll be investing in some good skincare.

I completely agree with this. And do you know what else infuriates me? Young girls, i.e aged under sorta 12-13ish wearing heels. For example today, I went to get some lights for my car in Halfords (headlight & tail light gone!!), and this girl comes in with her mum, and she was wearing higher heels than I'd wear! I'd say they were at least 3-4 inches high! I think its disgusting! I can understand maybe a little kitten heel for a wedding or something, but for everyday? No. What retailers even make heels that high for kids? She could have been much older than 8 I'd say. They were obviously hurting her as the next thing she was carrying them round with her!

 

[lyttleravyn]

Not quite a makeup store/counter story, but its similar to what we were discussing. I used to be supervisor at a before/afterschool program at an elementary school. I had a number of 4th-5th grade girls who would come in with outrageous lipstick or eyeshadow (or both) on. I usually did my makeup for work in the afternoon and had a lot of girl (and parents) compliment me on it. So I decided to see if there would be any interest in doing a 'makeup club' where I could show girls who were interested how to properly apply age-appropriate makeup. I also gave permission slips to girls who wanted to join and their parents had to sign it. Kids and parents were very excited about it, and so was I! I had bought a bunch of applicators and was planning to bring in a few light shimmery eyeshadows and glosses. However, a few days before the planned start my boss started pitching a fit about it. And not because any parents were complaining, but the girls who worked for the same program I did (but they were at the middle school) complained! These girls rolled out of bed and came to work in sweatpants every day and they were adamant that I shouldn't be showing girls about makeup. They claimed that I shouldn't be showing that girls have to wear makeup to look pretty (I would never imply that). Ugh it was so frustrating. My boss wouldn't listen to any of my reasons (she and I didn't get along very well) and I had to cancel the whole thing. The girls and their parents were all pretty upset about it. Even though I would have parents bring me their girls in the morning asking me to "fix" the makeup the girls applied themselves (this was usually for a special event only: school pictures, a party, a dance, etc.).

I was just so upset that these younger girls had to miss out on an opportunity to learn proper application and age-appropriate makeup all because of some girls who don't wear makeup at all to work (even though they look like hookers outside of work haha).

 

[MAC_Pixie04]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beauty Mark I think some parents think it's great that their kids wear makeup and look count; it isn't necessarily giving into the kids' demands.

If that's the case, then what a horrible example to be setting for young girls. "Well, mommy thinks you're pretty, but you're prettier with a little lipgloss on." A child doesn't just all of a sudden want to wear makeup out of nowhere. That's not in the biological wiring; it's taught to them by someone. And if it's the parent who is initiating the behavior than God have mercy on their superficial souls, because it's just wrong to me. I don't ever think it's great or cute to see makeup on small children. I think it's gaudy and tacky, and I feel the same way about small children wearing the Rihanna/Posh bob haircut--an extremely sophisticated and not to mention high maintenance style--and sporting highlights, and kids who have multiple earrings or piercings in other places than their ears (I realize there are some cultural exceptions to this, but that's not the same as "I want a nose ring mom!"). Parents who allow their children to look grown up have serious problems IMO. Nobody in their right mind should be putting color in a child's hair, piercings in a child's body, and makeup in a child's face. What fucking parenting magazine are you reading? Seriously. Why not just get them a subscription to Cosmo while we're at it? Teach them how to have sex and make cocktails on the weekends.

Like I said, this is just how I feel about it. It disturbs me, it disgusts me, but some parents think it's okay or think it's cute. Fine if that's how you want to raise your child, just don't come into my store and sit her in my chair because I will not participate in it. I have the right to refuse my services based on my own beliefs, clients probably hate it, my boss would probably grill my ass for it later, but that's how I feel, and I won't be made to feel uncomfortable at work because some mother thinks it's "cute."

 

[Flossie]

I'm so glad i missed this "grow up quick" generation and was a muddy tomboy til about 13 hehe

The MUA's at my Selfridge's counter don't serve young girls in groups that try all the make up on. They make a point of walking straight past them and coming straight to the older customer's.

But yes once i couldn't even get to the lippie's as a group of brats were all purposely in the way giving the impression they were about to buy a lot. Which is normally adult behaviour, so it is surreal seeing young girls acting like bitchy 20 year old's.

 

[MacArtist]

If a group of tweens comes up to the counter for makeovers or smokey eyes whatever, I ask them if they are 18. Naturally they say no and I explain that I can't do a makeup application on them unless a parent/guardian is present. If they want me to put a little honesty or naked lunch on their lids, fine but that's about it.