When Can I Wear Makeup?

You may decide how to get your face painted at a party, but your parents usually get to decide when you’re old enough to wear makeup. Most kids aren’t interested in wearing things like lipstick, concealer, or mascara until middle school, but younger kids may want to wear lip gloss or lip balm.

When your parents decide to let you wear makeup, be careful not to use too much. A little bit goes a long way. You’ll look best if you use makeup to boost your natural beauty, not if you’re trying to change your face!

These tips can help:

• Learn how to use makeup. Talk with a friend or relative you know who wears makeup or watch videos online to help you learn how to use products.
• Wash your hands before putting on makeup. After putting on makeup, clean makeup sponges each time you use them and wash makeup brushes once a week.
• See how your skin reacts. When you try new makeup products, see if they irritate (bother) your skin or cause rashes. Sometimes skin can be sensitive and it might not like makeup.
• Know how to take off makeup. Wash your face with a mild cleanser, without rubbing, and pat dry. Keeping makeup on when you sleep can lead to clogged pores (tiny holes in your skin), acne, and other skin problems. So make sure you remove your makeup before you go to bed.
• Avoid sharing makeup. When more than one person uses a makeup product, germs can spread and cause infections.