appropriate age to wear full-on makeup?

[Sammybingo]

I started wearing a little make up at 11, *but* I went through puberty very early, and so got all the insecurities of being completely different to my friends (half a foot taller and busty) as well as acne quite early. But I wore a subtle base, to try and even out my skin, and was careful with what I bought and tried to look natural, so I could get away with it at school (a very strict school). For evenings out, I started wearing a little more at about 14/15. By 16 I was hooked and spent half my money at Guerlain and Clinique .

I don't think young girls should be trying to emulate our orange/hooker-esque "celebrities", but I see no real issue with them wearing natural makeup if it helps their confidence. Being a teenager is hard enough, without thinking you look like a monster! I do find it heartbreaking that a lot of our role-models for young women are .. well, if I was running a dictatorship, half of them would be deported haha. There is no value on education and intelligence, it's all about instant gratification, money and looks. It's heartbreaking. I am of course being very broad with those statements, and I know that isn't all young women, but sadly, it's an awful lot (many on my fathers side of my family ).

I certainly don't like those pageant children you see who look like 45 year old street walkers. I find it deeply, deeply disturbing! I don't know WHAT their parents are thinking.

I am still living with acne, so I have almost 20 years of experience with products and stuff if anyone needs any hints and tips! There are a few I swear by. The only thing that clears my skin is antibiotics, I'm afraid, but I use Liz Earle skin-care to keep me looking fresh and youthful, and it's amazingly gentle .

For someone who claims to be so anti-vanity, I really am vain, and shallow, aren't I!

Babble babble,
Sam, saying too much and going nuts on forums again x

[fluffymunchkins]

Awww Sam thats lovely words :')
You put it exactly right in my mind!

[Otorongo]

Wow. I had no idea this would rank up so many views!

[emma and button]

I said 16+ for the all over make up. YET the other day I bought mascara for my 12 year old sister as a confidence boost for starting secondary school, we were there choosing the war paint and she wanted to get the full shabang, lipgloss eye shadow and foundation, but i explained to her that the mascara will be perfect as she has no spots or oily skin yet .

I started to wear makeup at 16 i was one of the last girls to do so aswell- my mother is not very big on makeup yet i love it. ^_^ i wish i wore it sooner just for the confidence it gave me

[Tish36]

I'm going to type out my makeup routine which has been proven by makeup artists etc not to ruin your skin

- Put on any spot stuff (creams, sticks) etc, wait for 5-10 minutes then wipe off with makeup wipe
- Put moisturiser all over face, rub in and rub off any excess with makeup wipe
- Foundation all around face and under chin applied with either sponge or brush, can use lightly on the eyelids as a primer for eyeshadow/eyeliner but not too thick!
- Put eyeshadow on lids, using brush to shape the shadow around the socket line
- Blend eyeshadow with another eyeshadow brush to make it settle in more
- Put liquid liner on top eyelid, make slight curve at the edge of the eye
- Put pencil eyeliner on water line (bottom eyelid) but only thinly as not to smudge
- Use small brush to lightly smudge the bottom eyelid to make the line smoother
- Apply mascara and then brush out any clumps with a eyelash brush, wait a few seconds for it to dry
- Apply concealer on any blemishes, bags etc. Rub in with fingers as gives more coverage than brush.
- Apply powder with brush all over face to set foundation.

Yes, I am sad ahaha, I love doing makeup and that process has made my skin feel really good and gives a good pale look I also do a tiny bit of lipbalm and to remove it all I use about 2 makeup wipes

[mangoandmimi]

Aha luckily i dont go through all of that everyday for school, i run late all the time just with a 3 minute makeup routine

[Tish36]

It doesn't take that long actually now I'm used to it, about 10-15 minutes

[Hope]

Oh Sam you do make me chuckle!! So much of what you said I totally identify with.

I went through puberty very early, (I was the sole reason for the 'special' bin in the year 6 toilets at school a serious source of embarressment and ridicule!) so yes, most of the time a felt like a freak. I had to have a bra, and had spots and hairy legs and no one else did!
I started waering full make up to school at about 13, mainly to cover up my deadful skin (which I still struggle with now - and its not just a case of washing it! You think I havent thought of that?!) but my mum helped me choose what looked best and most natural, I didnt want to look like I was waering make up and I am certainly no plastic. Now I wear make up most days and always at work as I am in a customer facing role and just couldnt bear it with out my 'face' on. When I worked in a quiet office I would often go in bare faced and it not bother me. As I ve got older Ive become more relxed about how I look, and more comfortable with myself.

I wear a lot of mineral make up and really rate it, yu are supposed to ba able to sleep in it and it not do any harm, but I never do, my skin doesnt need any more 'help' in that dept! I love my mascara and glittery barry m eyeshaddows. My eyebrows are slowly taking over my life too - I dread to think how long Ive spent plucking over my lifetime!
I dont think I ever look over made up, I just try to enhance what Ive got really!

Interesting question though - love reading everyones opinions!

[KatiePillow]

Originally Posted by Hope

Oh Sam you do make me chuckle!! So much of what you said I totally identify with.

I went through puberty very early, (I was the sole reason for the 'special' bin in the year 6 toilets at school a serious source of embarressment and ridicule!) so yes, most of the time a felt like a freak. I had to have a bra, and had spots and hairy legs and no one else did!

I know the exact same thing..I've been the same height since I was 12.. 5"8 (give or take like..3 cm), so I was taller than everyone else.. and I used to wear a school jumper all year round to hide that I wore a bra.. the doctor called it 'precotious growth' because people mistook me for 17 at 10 (without makeup)

If makeup would make anybody in that situation feel better about themselves then I think they should be able to wear it.. I remember my mum teaching me to wear a bit of eyeliner when I was 11 because it made me feel a bit better about myself and otherwise I just felt rubbish.. then I started dying my hair instead when I was about 14. I've never been able to wear the clothes I've wanted, and stopped wearing age appropriate (like age 11-13) clothes at about 9.. so I think that I need some comforts!


And Hope, don't get me started on eyebrows - bane of my existance! As is my skin...and hair. I'm 19..when can I get rid of my blasted adolescent skin!

[Hope]

Oh Katie!! I used to have to wear trousers all year round to cover up my hairy legs! Someone who can feel my pain!


Everyone comments on my eyebrows and says how nice they look, which is nice, but I do spend half my life infront of a magnifying mirror with a pair of tweezers! One woman at work keeps pestering me to do hers for her as she likes mine so much - gah!! I spend enough time on my own ones! Oh an I still ahve adolecent skin at 25 - dont think I can get away with calling it that anymore really!