Is makeup safe for kids?

If your mother is Kim Kardashian, chances are she will allow you to wear some lipstick to a Christmas party.  

In 2018 her daughter North West, 5 at the time, wore a red shade that was allegedly from Kim’s KKW beauty during their family holiday photos.

This however did not sit well with every parent out there as you can imagine.

Differing opinions started flying out the window as many parents still believe that makeup should be left for the adults.

Whether you agree or disagree, here is what you need to know about makeup and the safety concerns you should have for your precious princesses:

Kids grow up too fast

Kids need to be encouraged to be kids no matter what they see going on around them. No child should be changing their appearance even if they’re using pretend makeup kits to transform themselves. This makes them grow up too quick and may trigger certain sexual triggers at a very early stage.

It’s inappropriate

As aforementioned, makeup has a sexual tone to it and besides being used to draw attention to one’s face, it hides flaws thus somewhat deceiving and studies have shown that women who wear makeup act different from when they do not.

Makeup can become a source of fake confidence at an early age affecting their self-esteem as they grow up. It also sends the wrong message to all those who see young girls and kids wearing lipstick and other makeup that should be reserved for the adults.

Allergies

Study after study has found that certain makeup brands marketed to children contain harmful ingredients that cause allergies and other skin reactions.

Justice, a makeup brand that targets tweens was discovered to have traces of asbestos in its shimmer powder forced to remove it from the market.

As if that isn’t enough, several photos and videos on social media started making rounds with kids being hospitalized and having severe allergic reactions.

Dangerous chemicals

Most chemicals found in makeup cause irritation, dryness, redness and itchiness and prolonged use can adversely affect the structure and barrier of the skin.

And considering these are young girls, chances of them completely removing the makeup from their faces is next to nil and these traces of makeup left behind may lead to acne, clog the pores, dermatitis, flaking and buildup of dirt and bacteria.

Add to that the fact that kid’s skin is thinner making it difficult to retain moisture and keeping dangerous elements out compared to adult skin.

Ingredients to be on the lookout for

Just because they’re pink or have glitter does not mean they are safe for your children. According to the laws where most of these products are manufactured, brands are not required to mention the chemicals that fall under the fragrance ingredient.

Nickel on the other hand has been commonly related to dermatitis while preservatives such as formaldehyde have been shown to have a link to certain cancers and skin conditions.

So, is makeup safe for kids? That is up to you.

Do your homework and make the decision before you gift your makeup obsessed daughter with a new eyeshadow palette.