Introducing Your Teen to Makeup

The world of cosmetics may raise a lot of questions, especially when it comes to your child. It's up to you when to allow your daughter to start wearing makeup, but every mom should educate her daughter about the fine art of showing her best face to the world. "The message should be about beauty from within and showing their children how to be the best version of themselves," says Jeannine Morris, founder of Beauty Sweet Spot.

While some girls don't care about makeup even past their 18th birthday, others beg for red lipstick before they hit 10. "Normally, special events are an appropriate time to allow teens to begin wearing makeup, but that can be an 8th-grade graduation or a sweet 16 party," says Morris. "The age really depends on the teen and her environment." Consider her school's strictness, her friends' makeup habits and her maturity level.

Start at the very beginning: skin care. "Introduce tweens and teens to a proper skin care regimen at an early age," says Morris. "Getting them used to a simple cleansing and moisturizing routine … will give them the proper foundation to work with when they start using makeup."

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When the time's finally right to introduce your tween to makeup, don't feel like you need to teach her everything at once. "As age and skill levels advance, the amount of makeup one applies, number and cost of products used—and colors chosen—need room to change and expand," notes Marianne Skiba, a two-time Emmy award winning celebrity makeup artist.

While your daughter is young, it's easy for her to cross the line between fresh-faced teen and pageant girl. When in doubt, go for a natural look. A lightly pigmented lip balm or gloss, tinted moisturizer and brown or clear mascara are all a great place to start.

You can easily make makeup time a bonding experience with your daughter. Morris suggests visiting a makeup counter at a department store for makeovers together. Also try making some DIY skin care products together or going all out with as much makeup as possible (with plans to stay in, of course).

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Skiba suggests creating a mini makeup starter kit with your daughter. The kit can include cheek tint in a soft color, eye smudge pencils in light brown, clear or brown mascara, blotting papers, spot cover or tinted medicated blemish concealer, and a tinted lip balm or gloss.

If you're not a makeup savvy mom, have no fear. There's an abundance of Internet cosmetic tutorials, beauty magazines and educational guides at the bookstore. Learn the world of cosmetics as a mom-and-daughter duo, and have fun together along the way.

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Teens are all about self-expression and love to do so through their music, clothing and yes, makeup. "While cosmetics should be used to a minimum during teenage years, an element of self-expression should also be allowed," says Morris. Embrace the concept of bringing out your daughter's best features, and let her create looks to express who she is.