When rouge replaces crayons

Mona

Girls are gonna love makeup. But when cosmetics giant Mac joined hands with retail biggie John Lewis for a mini masterclass Back-to-school, aimed at girls 12 plus, it led to a huge furore. Back to school preps require learning and not looking good, and eventually the program was cancelled. 

Mums around the world have worked in vain to save their lipsticks and blush from their tiny tots; for, colourful makeup seems like way more alluring than array of toys. But things get serious when adults take as much interest in using kids for a canvas to present make up skills, just what Mac mini class aimed at. 

While daughter joining mums in salons for painting their toes is a common site, a child in makeup raises eyebrows. Celebrity mother Mira Rajput came under scanner as her daughter Misha debuted on social media with coloured hair. “It’s temporary,” she tried to assuage trolls who took her to task. Telly heartthrob Juhi Parmar has often stirred the hornet’s nest on occasions more than one as she shared her daughter Samairra’s pictures in deep coloured lipstick and rosy blush. She took to social media only to share her struggle as to how at times she applies her lipper in car as not to get into an argument with her 6-year-old who wishes to doll up as often. The actor has set the limit of makeup only on birthday or annual days or special occasions for her daughter dearest.   

Is there a right age? 

What’s too young for makeup? Depends on what you deem as makeup, says Richa Agarwal, from Cleopatra. Looks-obsessed adolescents do drop in her salon with fancy ideas. “An eyeliner for tweens is okay but certainly no heavy, cakey makeup.” What she insists on is skin-friendly products. Often while dressing up for occasions, mothers and daughters show up demanding a make-up session for young girls. “Bit of gloss, very light makeup and some shimmer, if done say once a year, is fine. With an elaborate dress, one would want just a slight finish, after all youngsters are no mannequins,” she says insisting as long as it is occasional and products are good quality, why not?”

Hair comes with its own challenges. Richa admits that while styling is one, it’s the colouring that she advocates against. “Anything permanent whether makeup or hair colour is not for tweens.” While she understands teens and their taking fancy to fads, she finds a solution in temporary colours. “Teens will want to have fun. Their fads last a few hours, opt for quality temporary colour.”

Professional makeup artist Deepa Bisht suggests pre-teens and their mothers, if they were to wear makeup, to keep it very light. “At most they should use powder, concealer to cover up any blemishes and some lip shimmer that must be wiped clean thoroughly.”

Dolling up daily vs occasionally 

Mum to a 16-year-old, Pooja Vashisht sees no need for makeup whatsoever. “The other day I was speaking to my sister that the pre-teens (often laughingly addressed as the ugly duckling stage) has altogether skipped the current generation.” Exposed to social media, there is so much significance attached to looking good, and first makeup kits and pre-teen lessons are just a click away. Not much of a believer in makeup, her daughter Adita herself is too sporty to worry about it. “Whenever getting ready for a wedding or party, occasionally when I get dressed I’ve asked her to try her hands on some liner or gloss but Adita is not up for it yet,” says this mum who would give a go ahead if her daughter ever was to tint her hair like boys and girls her age sporting blue or green tints.

While most schools have no makeup policy, it’s common for girls to wear and smuggle a liner or a gloss. “Many a times my classmates have been caught and reprimanded for the same, I have shied away from trying it ever in school,” shares 14-year-old Arpita. She started experimenting with her mum’s makeup as early as at the age of eight or nine. “If I did not encourage her, I did not discourage her either,” says her mother Srishti Bhatia. Extremely fond of dolling up, she sees no harm in her daughter getting an early start. “Two sides of a coin. While others may label the desire to look good a patriarchal push away, for me it’s an expression of my femininity. I would let my daughter make that choice,” says this banker.

The age to start wearing makeup has dropped to as early as 13 lately and dermatologist Shweta sees red. “At an age when hormones are under change, chemical induced makeup only does worse than be of any help.” Acne issues can get aggravated due to many chemicals that find their way in beauty products. “With teens and tweens sharing their products, varied skin infections get passed on which does harm not only to their looks but self-esteem as well.

[email protected]