How to Choose a Makeup Kit for Kids
While it's tempting to pick the first makeup kit you spot online, take some time to read through the following considerations to ensure that only the best ingredients and materials will touch your child's skin.
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Go for a Real or Play Approach
You have two options to choose from when it comes to the type of makeup kit to get: one that has real makeup or one that is only for pretend play. Each has its pros and cons.
Introduce Pretend Makeup Kits for Young Artists
Pretend play makeup kits nowadays look so realistic that your very little one wouldn't be able to tell the difference. What's more, they never run out and are very durable. Pretend makeup kits are safer for more sensitive skin and pose no risk of allergic reactions.
They encourage imaginative and creative play, too. Go for makeup kits made with top-notch materials to ensure that they're stimulating enough for young ones. High-end quality kits come with lipsticks that twist and pop up or face powder cases with actual sponges.
Perhaps the best perk that comes with pretend play makeup kits is the no-mess application, which countless parents love. Children as young as two years old (with adult supervision) can grab the "cosmetics" and start mimicking their role models.
Pediatrician, LGBTQ+ Life Coach, AuthorDr. Lulu
Whether you despise makeup or you love "glam and glit", you might find that your child (male or female) loves the stuff! Since children love to copy, they are likely to copy you, and that is also one way they learn.
In the spirit of safety and play, it is always best to begin with pretend makeup kits, particularly with younger children. Since they are toys, there is no danger of chemicals or even messes. They look like real makeup kits with sunglasses, lipstick, nail polish, blush, brushes, and more.
Get a "My First Make-Up Set" for Older Kids
For older kids, a pretend play makeup set might not be as engaging anymore. At this age, they expect output - seeing that something is actually happening to their faces. Fortunately for parents, there are now real makeup kits specially designed for kids to explore and enjoy.
They basically get what they see in an adult's makeup bagbut in a kid-friendly version. The materials are more durable and the ingredients are safer. The colors will often be more youthful as well, with fun shades and sheer formulas!
Pediatrician, LGBTQ+ Life Coach, AuthorDr. Lulu
As kids get older, parents can begin to inch towards real makeup with a "trainer set". One of those is something like My First Make-Up Set, available on Amazon and anywhere makeup is sold. These are made with kid-safe materials.
They are non-toxic and washable, and I even heard from a little bird that some of them might be edible. However, for some children with sensitive skin, the makeup may cause skin irritation. Parents must be careful!
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Ensure the Makeup Kit Is Safe
When getting a makeup kit for kids, safety is the number one priority. From the materials to the ingredients used, it is a parents' task to ensure that the kit is safe to use.
Check the Makeup Ingredients
Makeup contains certain chemicals or ingredients that may pose no harm to adult skin but could irritate a child. Young skin has a thinner barrier, or defense mechanism, to keep irritants out. Examples of such ingredients are sulfates, emollients, fragrances, or artificial dyes.
Because you are dealing with more sensitive skin, the ingredients in a kid's makeup kit must be non-toxic. You can get products that are made with natural minerals or even hypoallergenic or vegan ingredients. If you have specific concerns, there are formulas that are gluten-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and the like.
It is also advised to look for CPC (Certified Professional Coder) certification, among other safety standard certifications, to ensure that the product is compliant to all medical coding laws and is safe for kids to use
Pediatrician, LGBTQ+ Life Coach, AuthorDr. Lulu
Since adult makeups can sometimes have ingredients that might cause irritation to childrens' skin, a quick check of the ingredients is a great place to start.
Most of these kits are washable, and that is a huge attraction for parents. However, you can never be too careful. For instance, Glamour magazine in 2018 reported that some kids' make-up kits were found to contain traces of asbestos. It's a toxin that can cause health problems in children, hence the need to look at ingredients!
Do a Patch Test First
If you're getting a real makeup kit, a patch test is a smart way to gauge if certain ingredients will react with your child's skin. You take a swab of the product and apply it on your child's inner wrist or elbow- these areas have thinner skin and will provide more accurate results.
Cover the area with a bandage and wait 24 hours. No breakouts, redness, or itchiness means you're good to go!
Pediatrician, LGBTQ+ Life Coach, AuthorDr. Lulu
One of the easiest ways to detect an allergy to chemical ingredients in makeup is to first place a tiny amount of the makeup on a select area of skin, such as the wrist or the elbow. This also goes for other potential allergens like perfume!
That process is called a skin patch test. If the child's skin is sensitive, it will show a reaction (pain, itching, warmth, redness, or swelling). These visual cues will let you know it's not tolerated by your child's skin, and that knowledge will help prevent any adverse reactions in the future.
Check the Packaging of the Set, Too
Even the packaging must be checked when it comes to choosing a makeup kit for little ones. Go for safe, BPA-free plastic materials (as most of the items will be made with plastic) and EVA foam for the sponges. EVA foam is the safer alternative to PVC! It doesn't incorporate plasticizers, such as phthalates, and it's also BPA-free.
Pediatrician, LGBTQ+ Life Coach, AuthorDr. Lulu
This blog by Dr. Axe lists up to 11 other potentially harmful ingredients that might be lurking in your child's makeup kit. So, it's important that a thorough inspection of the packaging is done to look for other hidden contents of the makeup. These can include lead, cadmium, parabens, arsenic, and more.
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Study the Reviews and Recommendations
Reviewers will often state if a particular makeup kit is washable. You don't want the product to stay on your child's skin for extended periods! Much like how it's recommended to sleep without makeup, kid's makeup must be thoroughly removed to avoid skin irritation. A makeup kit that's water-basedwith an easy-wash formula is advised.
While we don't want the makeup to stick or stain the skin, we do want it to last long enough to be enjoyed. Reviews also indicate if the product stays on the skin or if it disappears too fast.
Those who have the kit will also highlight the quality and formula of the makeup. While some parents might want a kit with bright, bold colors that last, other parents may prefer lighter, sheerer formulas.
Pediatrician, LGBTQ+ Life Coach, AuthorDr. Lulu
In today's world of rapidly changing and easily accessible information, it's important that parents and caregivers read customer reviews of any products they use, particularly those for children.
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Get a Makeup Kit for an Occasion
Another to approach choosing a makeup kit is to focus on an occasion. These are used for parties, such as Halloween, where boys and girls dress up and get their face painted. The makeup kits often include brighter, bolder colors with a long-lasting formula.
There are also make-your-own makeup kits, which double as an exciting activity for your kids. These work like science kits but are for makeup, instead!
Pediatrician, LGBTQ+ Life Coach, AuthorDr. Lulu
There are various reasons why children would want to wear makeup. Most of them would be for fun, like Halloween, others are for parties like costume parties, and others are for special occasions like performances, fashion shows, cheerleading, and more.
No matter the reason for the makeup use, ensure that they are safe, applied by professionals, and abide by recommendations and manufacturer's orders.But like all things, parents must treat everything as fun where kids are concerned. If the children are no longer enjoying it, then consider stopping the use of it.
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Grab a Kit With the Essentials
Lastly, you want to grab a kit that has all the essentials. A makeup kit should include most of the following: makeup for the eyes and cheeks (kids love playing with blush and eyeshadow), some lipsticks or lip balms (they see adults apply these all the time), a couple of brushes or sponges, a mirror, and a pouch or case to keep everything neat and protected.
You can also go for a kit that focuses on type of makeup but includes a myriad of colors and applicators, such as an eyeshadow palette.
Pediatrician, LGBTQ+ Life Coach, AuthorDr. Lulu
While most makeup kits have basically the same contents, there are several items that are deemed "essential" for your child's makeup kit. These contents include mascara, eyeliner, an eyebrow pencil, lipsticks in "fun" colors, brushes and sponges for blending, blush, highlighter, an eyeshadow palette, and makeup wipes. While each child might not need every item, it is better to have them than not.
