Holy Lip Gloss Batgirl!

April 17th, 2009 by | Permalink
When I read this article in Newsweek a couple weeks ago, I had to check the dateline. April 1. Good. You have to be kidding me. This can’t be for real.

It says, “Eight-to 12-year-olds in this country already spend more than $40 million a month on beauty products, and teens spend another $100 million.” $40 million a MONTH on lip gloss, hairspray and glittery nail polish? These girls aren’t even old enough for Clearasil. This is nuts.

The author also cites a report from the folks at Dove that says “42 percent of first- to third-grade girls want to be thinner, while 81 percent of 10-year-olds are afraid of getting fat.”
I’m all for having healthy pretty kids, y’all, but this is getting ridiculous.
Yes, my five-year-old princess loves to be prettified and (thanks to the rules at her school), nail polish must stay hidden on her toes beneath her bleached white socks and plain jane tennis shoes. She can’t wait to get home and swap out her navy sweats for something pink and preferably a dress (no matter what the weather or occasion). I’ve even been known to wrap her blond locks with foam rollers for a Nellie-esque head of ringlets at Sunday mass.

But, make up? No. Not yet. One day, there will be mascara on those lashes and shadow on those lids. That day is a long way in the future. I’m not going to commit to a particular birthday just yet. We’ll see.

So, what is the appropriate age to glam up (beyond dress-up play, I mean)?

Filed under: Frugal Parenting, News & Politics
Tags: , , , , , ,

Best of the interwebs:

MORE ON THE IMPERFECT PARENT

MORE ON THE WEB

 
Home | Columnists | Features | Blog | News | Tips | Tools | Store

About The Imperfect Parent | Submission Guidelines | Press | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

All original content © 2002 - 2013 Imperfect Parent®. Imperfect Parent and Mominatrix are registered trademarks.

The views, opinions and information expressed in articles and blog posts published on imperfectparent.com and all subdomains are those of the authors alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of The Imperfect Parent or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions of any entity of, or affiliated with, Imperfect Parent. The Imperfect Parent is designed for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for medical, health, legal, or financial advice from a professional.

Reproduction of material from any of Imperfect Parent's pages without written permission is strictly prohibited.