What Kind Of Organic Makeup Can Preteens Wear?

Ask The Kit is the no-nonsense advice column you didn't realise you needed. Twinxie Girl, editor-at-large, addresses your burning beauty and style questions every week. Which blazer is the best for work? What should you do about stray chin hairs? What is the most effective approach to combat frizz? 

My 12-year-old granddaughter is eager to do her own makeup. I promised to go shopping with her. What other cosmetics do you recommend for pre-teens outside the obvious eyeliner, mascara, and natural eyeshadow? Is one brand better for youthful skin than another? I've been trying to convey the idea that the key is to appear natural, but it's also enjoyable to go a bit crazy now and again. —

I don't recall being 12 years old. Do you think so? Princesses and playhouses, periods and peer pressure: that phase of life goes so swiftly, a murky blend of childish aspirations and teen fears. All I recall is a desire to grow up, to cut the final strands of childhood and knit oneself securely into maturity. (Though this may occur at a younger age these days; life has accelerated dramatically since I was a child, not to mention that Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have taken over as cultural arbiters.) I attempted to explain to my kids this morning that when I was a youngster, the internet didn't exist and you had to use a real camera.

"Did you use your camera to photograph dodo birds?"

So, to answer your question properly, I phoned a 15-year-old girl since, at the end of the day, all 12-year-olds want to be full teens already. My buddy, isn't your typical adolescent. I've had the honour of seeing her grow up as the daughter of a close friend, and I've been continually surprised by her knowledge, charisma, and delight from the sidelines. She was five years old when she became smart.

"Most of my friends started wearing kids organic makeup in seventh grade—at least a year before me, because I wasn't permitted to wear it until I was almost fourteen," she says, taking a break from her online lessons. "I was only allowed a smidgeon of mascara when I initially started, but no one else around me was wearing nearly as much." "The majority of women my age wear mascara, concealer, and a little of highlighter." (Note: While full-face contouring techniques on YouTube are popular, this style isn't popular among students.)

Natural Lip Gloss is still at the centre of an adolescent cosmetic collection now, just as it was when I was in school. "We really adore it!" she exclaims, laughing. Lip gloss, after all, is all about having a good time. It's gleaming and inviting; it lacks the hassle and pretence of lipstick, which is more suited to business meetings; it comes in delicious aromas and just provides a little wash of colour. "A lot of my pals like Burt's Bees and Nivea lip balms, but I prefer Vaseline because it's so glossy." These are basic pleasures that everybody may enjoy at any age.

Because, as you say, cosmetics can be a lot of fun, but it's also essential to recognise that as girls grow older, there's a lot of pressure on them to be beautiful—and part of me wants to scream that we should put off that demand as long as possible. I understand that we can't expect children to be children forever, and I understand that you love your granddaughter and that she wants to feel cool and unique, but I believe it's worthwhile to address the underlying ramifications of it all.

"I mean, you're still a kid in seventh grade." I don't think it will make a significant difference in the long run whether you start when you're 12 or 14, but it's worth noting that by the time I was permitted to wear natural makeup , I didn't want it as much as I did the year before. "Waiting taught me that it wasn't really required," She adds. "At the time, I was really irritated, but looking back, I believe I was introduced to cosmetics and social media at a suitable age for me."

As a result, the responsible people in your granddaughter's life—you, her parents, or her guardians—should think about when she's ready to start wearing organic makeup. The fact that she wants it isn't the decisive factor. Choose goods that are entertaining, simple, and, most importantly, beneficial when she reaches the age that seems appropriate for her—whether that is now or later. Tinted SPF, for example, may appear to be cosmetics yet serves an important purpose. After all, sun protection is an essential component of any cosmetic regimen.

You could next gift her a highlighter from Milk Makeup or a mascara from a cool-girl company like Glossier, both of which are in great demand." "And obviously, because it's from Rihanna, everyone enjoys Natural Beauty," Twinxie Girl, "but I don't know a lot of people who have it."" You'll be the granny of the year if you can get your hands on a tube of Natural Lip Gloss.

Most importantly, before you pack her adolescent organic cosmetic bag, remind her that having fun is optional, and that the demands of adulthood will creep up on her all by themselves. I wish my grandma and I had had more open and honest chats like that. "The goal of wearing makeup at 12 or at my age is to seem older — and maybe to hide some acne," Mums thoughtfully explains. "However, the fundamental motive for using cosmetics at any age is to 'appear nicer,' which isn't the case. "Everyone should feel gorgeous even if they aren't wearing organic cosmetic."