OK. I’ll admit it. I really love a good “Get Ready With Me” video. They’re relaxing and oddly satisfying for this Gen Z mom who rarely has enough patience to even apply makeup. But when I saw that one mom’s GRWM video featuring her six-year-old daughter went viral, my mom brain immediately went whoaaa and I began asking myself, How young is too young for makeup?
Ceaira Fritcher (@evieandceairaa on TikTok) shared a clip of her daughter, Evie, getting dolled up for her kindergarten graduation. And I don’t mean just brushing her hair. We’re talking blush, clear mascara, lipstick, and even faux freckles.
The video has racked up a whopping 37 million views, along with a tidal wave of opinions. Some people thought it was adorable. Others? They were ready to call in the Parenting Police.
In the social media video, little Evie is perched in front of the mirror like a teeny, tiny influencer, asking, “Ma, how many pumps of blush should I do?” Ceaira replies, “Don’t get crazy. Just one.” (Which, honestly, is exactly what I’d say to myself before a date night.)
Evie beams, admires her handiwork, and says, “That actually looks kind of good, for real.” Cute, right? But the internet didn’t think so, and you know what that means…
Cue the mom-shaming: How young is too young for makeup?
Ceaira clapped back hard. In her caption, she basically said: Stop acting like this is a crime. She’s my only girl. We’ve been doing girly things together since forever. She’ll grow out of this one day, so worry about an actual problem. And to be totally fair, those are valid points.
After struggling with infertility, she’s allowed to cherish this time with her only daughter. She even added, “You better believe I’ll let her be happy and girly and put on her heels, and boots and dresses and nails and MAKEUP all she wants.”
On the one hand, my heart melts at that bond.
I have an 18-year-old daughter about to leave for college, and what I wouldn’t give to have her sat on my lap at age 6 again, doing all the girly things together again.
On the other hand, my inner alarm bells start ringing. Because here’s the thing: Where do we draw the line between “fun girl time” and reinforcing beauty standards and viral views before kids can even spell the word “standard”?
Experts seem to agree that this is NOT a simple yes-or-no issue. Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a family doctor and resilience expert, told TODAY.com that the real question is: What’s happening behind the scenes? Is this mom balancing makeup play with conversations about confidence, kindness, and all the things that make Evie amazing beyond her looks? If so, then maybe this is harmless.
But Gilboa also warns that posting these videos online opens a whole other can of worms. Six-year-olds can’t possibly understand what it means to be viewed by millions of strangers, or how they might feel about it in 10 years. And let’s not ignore the darker side of the internet … predators are real.
Then there’s the “likes” factor.
Dr. Gilboa also went on to say that the real danger isn’t the blush — it’s tying your child’s self-worth to online validation. If Evie starts thinking that her value depends on comments and hearts, we’ve got a bigger problem than whether her mascara is clear or black.
Ceaira insists that makeup isn’t a big deal in their house. “Ten minutes later, the makeup is off and she’s outside swimming in the pool,” she says. Fair enough. But as a mom myself, I (and many other concerned moms of young girls) can’t help but wonder: Is this just innocent fun, or are we unknowingly setting up beauty expectations that even grown women struggle with?
Here’s where I land: Every family has to make their own call.
If your daughter wants to swipe on some glitter gloss for fun, and you’re balancing that with conversations about what TRULY makes her special — kindness, compassion, intelligence — great. But before we hit “post” on those viral videos, maybe take a beat? Because internet fame fades, but what we teach our kids about self-worth sticks.
Tell us what you think. How young is too young for makeup?
