Navigating the Tween Beauty Scene

So, your tween wants to wear makeup? Before you start visualizing your 10-year-old as the star of Toddlers in Tiaras (tantrums included), consider using her new obsession as an opportunity to start healthy beauty habits. The first step is swapping the items on her wish list for inexpensive, chemical-free products in pretty packaging. Looking for suggestions? We've done the leg work for you. We'll start with what she wants and then recommend what she should get.

Wearing makeup at any age is about showcasing your natural beauty—not masking it. So it’s important to focus on the message that her new makeup is sending. For instance, if the packaging promotes plumping, boosting or collagen enhancing, it could make her feel as if she’s not lovely as is. Try giving her self-esteem a boost instead: A shimmery gloss is a great way to highlight her beautiful smile.

Tarte Cosmetics Vitamin Infused Lip Gloss is paraben- and sulfate-free, plus it’s chock-full of healthy stuff like chamomile extract and vitamin E. Unlike lots of glosses, it won’t dry out her lips. Even the eco-friendly packaging sends a positive message.

To buy: Sephora, $21

Some girls hit puberty around age 9 or 10, and pimples start to pop up. Acne can make your tween seriously self-conscious. Instead of often-noticeable, cakey coverage, home in on the problem with a spot treatment.

RELATED: When Should You Toss That Foundation?

A multitasking stick that helps clear up blemishes while it covers them, Neutrogena SkinClearing Blemish Concealer is the way to go. It’s oil-free and noncomedogenic (meaning it won't clog pores), so it helps prevent new pimples from forming. Now the tricky part: finding the shade that’s right for your daughter’s skin tone. At this price, testing a few tubes won’t set you back much.

To buy: Neutrogena, $9

It’s OK to indulge your pre-teen with a mani/pedi (plus, it’s also great bonding time). However, before you kick up your feet, make sure the nail technician has your list of dos and don’ts (e.g., file only, skip cuticle clipping, avoid lotions with fragrance—you get the idea). You’ll also want to be in control when it comes to polish. We suggest BYOB.

RELATED: Best Organic and Natural Makeup

Hard Candy Just Nails Polish is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. You’ll love that they’re free of the big three toxins: toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and formaldehyde. She’ll love the fun colors and the heart-shaped ring that comes with every bottle.

To buy: Hard Candy, $4

There’s something about a brightly colored pout that makes little girls feel all grown up, but lipsticks can often be too pigmented (read: garish) for your little lady. Instead of buying her a tube that’s completely saturated with color, consider a lip tint.

Stick with balms, which offer a hint of hue and won’t feel sticky. Yes to Carrots Lip Tint has a minty flavor and, because it’s 95 percent organic, is not a big deal if she licks her lips.

To buy: Yes to Carrots, $4

Coloring your hair is a big commitment. It means hours in the salon and monthly touch-ups. And while permanent hair treatments are great for covering up grays, they’re not ideal for an experimenting teenager. Skip the hassle and the harsh chemicals for a fun, temporary treatment.

RELATED: Cool Hair Trends for Summer

Hair color chalk is actually a soft pastel (yes, like the one you’d find in her arts and crafts kit). These crayon-like sticks can be used to create colorful streaks in any color hair. You can find them at a local art store (we like the brand Sennelier) or order a kit of colors. The color rinses out in the shower, so it’s super easy to switch shades.

To buy: Hair Color Chalks, $20 for 12 chalks

Using blush is trickier than swiping on lip gloss or mascara. If she has a heavy hand, she’ll look overdone. If she applies it in the wrong spot, suddenly she’ll look more doll-like than dolled up. Plus, makeup brushes can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Try a new approach to rosy cheeks.

Each dusted Mai Couture Blush Papier strip (they look like blotting papers) is sprinkled with shimmery blush. The application is easy—swipe and go—and the result is natural, sun-kissed cheeks.

To buy: Mai Couture, $18

Don’t let your daughter over-douse on perfume. Beside the obvious—that you’ll be able to smell her from a mile away—some fragrances also contain harmful chemicals. Guide her toward a body mist, or at the very least an eau de toilette, that contains natural ingredients and a light scent.

RELATED: Light and Breezy Summer Scents

It’s the mixture of fruity fragrances—think: grapefruit, lemon and pineapple—that make geoGIRL TiSC (ThisisSoCool) Body Mist our main squeeze. It’s made with 100 percent natural ingredients, and the smell is so refreshing that it’s OK if she goes a little crazy while spritzing it on.

To buy: geoGIRL, $5

These spa treatments vary in cost depending on how fancy the salon is, where you live and what type of facial you’re getting, but ultimately you can count on a bill of somewhere between $50 and $250. This is a high price to pay for tackling a few whiteheads or blackheads. Instead of heading to your aesthetician the minute your tween shows an interest in her skin, start teaching her a good regimen at home.

A luxurious mask will make her feel sophisticated and rid her skin of excess oiliness. A mom-and-tween-daughter duo created Willa Fresh Face Cucumber Face Mask, so it’s slumber party approved!

To buy: Willa Skin Care, $2 (seriously!)

Sticky glue, tweezers, synthetic lashes. Sounds like a nightmare, right? Which is why false lashes are only tween-approved for Halloween! For the other 364 days of the year, consider letting your little girl play dress up with a less daring lengthener.

The key to making lashes look long and natural is making sure they’re the same hue as your daughter’s hair color. A clear gel, like Sephora Professional Clear Natural Mascara, guarantees a perfect match every time. It’s an ideal makeup addition for special occasions. She’ll feel extra glamorous.

To buy: Sephora, $10