My 3.5 yo DD is going to be a pirate for Halloween. Not a grungy, rough pirate, but a cute one.
I was originally thinking that for "makeup" I would use gold eyeliner, and decorate her eye area a bit, along with a fun eyepatch that she can see through.
I was browsing Pinterest ideas for my own makeup though, and saw some that would be amazing with her costume and the look I am kind of going for with her costume... BUT, it is a smokey eye look, and a bit adult looking rather than costumey... So my first reaction was thinking "no way!" because I HATE seeing little girls wearing makeup (outside of on the stage or dress up..)
But the more I think about it... It is Halloween... Her costume is in no way sexy or adult... (I make her costumes to be worn outside, so everything is completely covered...) and the makeup is really fun and quite colorful. I find myself wavering as to whether I should go for it or not.
What is your opinion?
So the replies are pretty much as mixed as my feelings. :p not much help! Lol.
I guess I will just see what I go with when the time comes.
As far as applying the makeup/removing it, that's not much of an issue with my DD. She LOVES when I apply makeup/face paint on her, and will hold still for however long it takes. I did a fairy-themed face paint on her once, and she sat there happy for the entire 35 minutes it took to apply, and let me scrub it off that night at bedtime.
At that age I would avoid makeup right close the the eye like that. They might rub it and get it into their eye.
Why is makeup even needed? I know when both of my kids were that age they would not put makeup on at all.
The smokey eye make up for pirates was made popular by Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Carribbean movies. So it's not really about slutting up little girls as it is about Johnny Depp in guyliner.
That being said, when my little one is a pirate, she just wants the eyepatch.
If she were wearing the makeup as a part of every day life or on a regular basis, I would say no way.
Wearing as part of a costume for Halloween and/or a performance (that is age appropriate), absolutely no problem.
What's wrong with your original idea? Why the need to do what's on Pinterest? Either way, I probably wouldn't use eye liner on a 3 year old - not on eyes. Is she a girl pirate? Or just a boy pirate? Either way, I'd use the eye liner to draw on stubble or scars or a mustache, but not to enhance eyes - she won't know the difference or care, I wouldn't want to risk an eye infection, and she won't enjoy washing it off later. If she were 8 or 9 I might do the eyes, but not at three.
To be a pirate, you don't even have to put make up on.
She can just wear the eye-patch.
And a pirate type hat.
Then everyone WILL know she is a Pirate.
She doesn't even have to wear an eye-patch either.
A 3 year old probably won't want to.
Just put on a Pirate hat.
One year, both my kids were Pirates. I have a boy and girl.
They did not wear make up or an eye patch.
But they had a Pirate hat, and clothing.
Everyone knew what they were.
If my 3 yr old was going to be a pirate, I'd put an eye patch on her, dress her up, teach her to say "arrr!" and skip the makeup. My DD even now would be more likely to scratch her face/rub her eye than keep the look all night. Simple is better.
Stick with the eye patch...it's more identifiable for a pirate costume
I would never have thought of make-up. Doesn't her costume have an eye patch?
my only concern would be the difficulty of applying eye make-up to a child this young. they tend to be wiggly.
other than that- it's halloween. i just can't imagine why it's even an issue.
ETA my boys would not keep on masks or eyepatches or anything that got uncomfortable after the first few minutes. they both wore costume make-up from the time they were small right up to today, in their 20s. and their costumes now are way better than the ones i devised for 'em!
khairete
S.
Do you really want to be washing makeup off a tired three year old's face? I'd pass on that!
Personally, I think sparkle on little kids is preferable to the smoky eye look. If you are describing it as 'a bit adult looking', then that's a great cue that this really isn't appropriate for a little person. Keep it simple. She'll have plenty of years when she is older and more tolerant of all the work removing that stuff takes. Maybe a pirate hat ( a tricorn-style one or something from a cheap costume shop) would be enough.Katrina has a good point about the eye patches.
ETA: good point, SB, about the Cap't Jack Sparrow "look"... I hadn't thought of that. Still, a lot of work....
You should really think about the long term. Once you start the something it is hard to go back most of the time. Personally I think, if your initial reaction was "no way", then that is your answer. After reasoning with yourself it might look like it's part of the costume, but to others it will just look like makeup on a 3 yo and unnecessary. (You said you are generally in this category.) She will be adorable in her costume without the makeup. Good luck with your decision!
all halloween is to me is a "dress up" day anyways...i say do it
Nothing wrong with it.
I'd rather have makeup on a kid than a mask or eyepatch anyway. That way they are safer because they can see better.
Go for it! It's Halloween and kids love any kind of make up. As long as your daughter is willing to sit still through it and not rub her make up off.
The most I would consider would be to draw an eye patch on with a little black makeup. I'm not big on the idea of putting an actual eye patch on a 3.5 year old and then having them go door to door in the evening. Even the ones made to "see" through are not easy to see through at night. My kids wouldn't have liked makeup at that age and the eye patch would be in my hand very quickly as well.
I always find other ways to polish up the costume without makeup.
Ask your daughter if she wants makeup. My daughter' s wore makeup every year for Halloween since they were about one. They are now 10 and 15 and are really into theatre so lucky for them, I love makeup and let them wear it.
My 10 yo wears light pink lipgloss everyday to school though. I guess I don't see why so many moms don't let their girls wear it until they are 16 yo or so. It washes off after all.
Why is makeup needed at all? My 3 yo is going to be a princess (Sofia) and I'm not even considering makeup, she's beautiful enough without it!
