A disturbing new report has found girls as young as 12 feel compelled to put on makeup before they can leave the house.
For beauty professionals, there’s often nothing more rewarding than sharing the transformative power of makeup with others.
After all, makeup has the power to lift someone’s spirit, bring out their best features and make their confidence soar.
But what about when that person is a child?
A concerning new report has revealed girls as young as 12 are not only regularly using makeup, but feel they can not leave home without it on.
The study, commissioned by skincare brand, Simple, found over half of 12 to 14-year-olds wear makeup most days, while a shocking 17 per cent refuse to be seen in public without it.
…over half of 12 to 14-year-olds wear makeup most days
In fact, 45 per cent of the study’s 12-14 year-old participants admitted to being so obsessed with their appearance that they topped their makeup up multiple times a day, while a further 63 per cent even going to bed with their makeup on at least once a week.
When surveyed, over 70 per cent of the girls’ mothers said their daughters regularly complained about the appearance.
45 per cent of participants admitted to being so obsessed with their appearance, they topped their makeup up multiple times a day
While we all know the consequences on the skin of wearing makeup from a young age, many experts are concerned that the greater impact on these girls will be its effect on their self-esteem.
“Caking on makeup to cover their imperfections unfortunately enters them into a vicious circle,” a Simple spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
“Applying layers of makeup will only serve to block pores, create and harbour more bacteria, and inevitably, lead to confidence and self-esteem issues.”
Have your say: At what age do you think it is acceptable for young women to start wearing makeup?