1 Health problems 

2 Monetary problems 

3 Social Media Influence 

4 Product safety 

5 Emphasize Natural Beauty 

A counterargument could be self-expression and creativity, makeup can serve as a form of self-expression and creativity for children.  Allowing them to experiment with makeup within reasonable limits can foster their imagination and help them explore different roles and identities. It’s similar to playing dress-up, which is a common childhood activity. In some ways this is accurate but mainly incorrect because dress up is you wearing different type of clothing and for makeup it's a bunch of different kinds of unknown chemicals on your face. 

My interviewee is Manuel Sanchez, male, age 16. He comes from a Mexican household; he is a brother to an older sister aged 20 and younger sister aged 9. He is a suitable candidate to interview because he’s a male with no knowledge of makeup or skincare. I want to have someone who has no knowledge about my topic so I can have information from different mindsets of a female.

• He believes children 13 and up should have access to makeup.

• The benefits of kids that are 13 and older are that they are able to express themselves more and explore new things that they could potentially 

• The concern of children using makeup is the exposure and judgment by others, leading to potential hate towards both the kids and parents. 

• Parents could show kids to makeup and allowing them to try it at home, that way it allows kids to express themselves and be more prepared in the future.

• He believes parents should sit down and have a conversation with their kids about the risks and the benefits of wearing make up. The parents should tell the kids when they could use makeup and how much they could apply.

I believe that parents should not allow their children ages 8-10 access to makeup. Instead they should have an open discussions about makeup with their children and establish expectations, set limits and understand the health impact of it. They are too young to be wearing such heavy and harsh makeup on their still-developing skin.

Introduction:   Consider a world in which children's innocent faces show through their rosy cheeks, free from the touch of powder and paint. Let's look at the reasons behind some parents' decisions to prevent their young children from wearing makeup. Children are causing themselves health problems due to the use of makeup. They have no clue what kinds of chemicals they are putting on their face. They are too focused on what older people are doing and taking away from living their childhood as in playing and having fun. I believe that parents should not allow their children ages 8-10 access to makeup. Instead they should have an open discussions about makeup with their children and establish expectations, set limits and understand the health impact of it. Some key points I will talk about are Health problems, Social Media Influence, and Product safety.

Background:   During the pandemic, many children in the United States have been using makeup and body products. Ever since, children were indoors using electronic devices. They had nothing to do but just sit on tiktok watching these “influencers” unbox viral makeup. This had an impact on how they wanted to look. Now they would be instores buying makeup just because they saw it was “trendy” on tiktok.. A study conducted by students at Curie Metro High School revealed that about 79 percent of parents reported that their children aged 12 or younger use makeup and body products marketed specifically for children. These products include items like glitter, face paint, and lip gloss. These seemingly innocent products often contain toxic chemicals, such as lead, asbestos, PFAS, phthalates, and formaldehyde. In light of these findings, it’s crucial to prioritize safe alternatives for children’s play and self-expression. Toxic chemicals in makeup can have serious consequences, especially for the little ones. Parents and guardians should be aware of the potential risks and make informed choices when it comes to children’s makeup. 

Major Point 1:   A major point in having children access to makeup is Health problems, recent studies have highlighted concerns about toxic chemicals found in children’s makeup and body products (CMBP). These chemicals, including heavy metals, can be harmful, especially to infants and children. This is a problem because these chemicals can cause health risks, these chemicals have been linked to cancer. Exposure to toxic substances can impact brain development. (Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health,“Study finds most US children use potentially toxic makeup products, often during play”, Medical Express, 26 January 2023, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-children-potentially-toxic-makeup-products.html, 

Accessed 2 March 2024) Another problem with makeup that causes health problems is sharing makeup which leads to infections. Using shared makeup products can lead to skin infections and allergic reactions. Bacterial strains like staphylococcus and streptococcus can thrive in makeup. Sharing makeup increases the risk of spreading Demodex folliculorum mites, which can cause itching, redness of eyelids, and have been associated with rosacea. (Curology Team, “Beauty blunders: The potential dangers of sharing makeup”, Curology, 31 August 2023, https://curology.com/blog/beauty-blunders-the-potential-dangers-of-sharing-makeup/, Accessed 2 March 2024)

Major Point 2:   Another major point is Social Media Influence, researchers said around the ages of 10 to 12 they become more attached to social rewards, seeking attention and approval from peers. Receptors for oxytocin and dopamine, the “happy hormones,” multiply in a brain region called the ventral striatum during this developmental phase. Social media platforms activate this same ventral striatum, providing a rush of dopamine and oxytocin when users experience social rewards. This creates Sephora Kids and Algorithmic Influence, makeup tutorials have flooded social media for years. Algorithms now target younger and younger users, including children. As a result, children may feel pressured to imitate makeup trends they encounter online, seeking acceptance and validation. They try new trendy things they see on social media, what their friends recommend them just because they saw it from a Tiktoker. Sephora was a place people continuously spotted children buying expensive skin products and makeup and just wished they acted like children. (Pauline Smith, “Why do young girls seem obsessed with makeup these days?”, Khou*11, 22 January 2024, https://www.khou.com/article/news/news-explainers/the-why/why-young-girls-makeup-sephora-kids/285-69cc8cf0-3e06-4654-9d71-73fce4239f2d, Accessed 2 March 2024)  Another problem with social media is it causes body image and olnline harassment. Younger social media users are more likely to struggle with body mage issues. Kids who use platforms like Instagram or Snapchat before age 11 face a higher risk of online harassment. The pressure to mimic what they see in posts can lead children to experiment with makeup, attempting to fit in with the online beauty standards. This shouldn't be happening, having social media at an early age can lead up to health problems like I stated before. (Zara Abrams,“Why young brains are especially vulnerable to social media”, Apa, 3 february 2022, https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2022/social-media-children-teens, Accessed 2 March 2024)

Major Point 3: My final point is product safety, makeup for children should be age-appropriate. It should not contain heavy pigments, strong fragrances, or unnecessary additives. Age-specific makeup is designed to be gentle and suitable for young skin. Avoiding harmful chemicals, some makeup products contain harmful chemicals such as lead, phthalates , and parabens. These substances can be absorbed through the skin and may have long-term health effects. Children’s developing bodies are particularly vulnerable to such toxins. Children have no clue what they put in their face which leads to a frequency of use of the product. Approximately 54% use CMBP at least monthly. 12% use CMBP daily. About 20% use CMBP for eight hours or more at a time. A third of them reported unintentionally ingesting the products within the last year. Latino children, in particular, reported using CMBP more often and more for play. This messes up their still developing skin causing them to get acne in the future. (Scientist, “Most U.S children use potentially toxic makeup, often during play”, Public health Columbia, 26 January 2023, https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/most-u-s-children-use-potentially-toxic-makeup-often-during-play, Accessed 2 March 2024) 

Counter Argument:   Although some experts may say that “self-expression and creativity, makeup can serve as a form of self-expression and creativity for children. Allowing them to experiment with makeup within reasonable limits can foster their imagination and help them explore different roles and identities. It’s similar to playing dress-up, which is a common childhood activity.” In some ways this is accurate but mainly incorrect because dress up is you wearing different type of clothing and for makeup it's a bunch of different kinds of unknown chemicals on your face. 

Conclusion: I believe that parents should not allow their children ages 8-10 access to makeup. Instead they should have an open discussions about makeup with their children and establish expectations, set limits and understand the health impact of it. Some ways we can prevent children from using makeup is by Discussing Self-Image and Confidence: Engage in open conversations about self-image and confidence. Help your child understand that makeup doesn’t define their worth. Encourage them to explore their natural appearance and appreciate their unique features. Discuss the difference between using makeup for personal enjoyment versus feeling pressured to conform to societal standards. We can also Empower Critical Thinking: Encourage critical thinking by asking questions like, “Is makeup for other people or for yourself?” This helps them reflect on their motivations for wearing makeup. Help them recognize that makeup can be a form of self-expression, but it’s essential to maintain a healthy balance and not rely on it excessively.

(Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health,“Study finds most US children use potentially toxic makeup products, often during play”, Medical Express, 26 January 2023, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-children-potentially-toxic-makeup-products.html, 

Accessed 2 March 2024) 

(Curology Team, “Beauty blunders: The potential dangers of sharing makeup”, Curology, 31 August 2023, https://curology.com/blog/beauty-blunders-the-potential-dangers-of-sharing-makeup/, Accessed 2 March 2024)

(Pauline Smith, “Why do young girls seem obsessed with makeup these days?”, Khou*11, 22 January 2024, https://www.khou.com/article/news/news-explainers/the-why/why-young-girls-makeup-sephora-kids/285-69cc8cf0-3e06-4654-9d71-73fce4239f2d, 2 March 2024)

(Zara Abrams,“Why young brains are especially vulnerable to social media”, Apa, 3 february 2022, https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2022/social-media-children-teens, Accessed 2 March 2024)