A post that will make beauty bloggers shudder

There's a distinct lack of glamour on this blog. 

I've come to this conclusion after spending a whole morning reading beauty blogs for a project I'm working on.

I'm suddenly feeling a little old and a little frumpy.

The blogs and the writers are all very glamorous and many feature some stunning photographs of the latest beauty products and make-up ranges.

They've taught me a lot. 

What I've also learnt recently is that when you have an eight-old-year old daughter in the house, there are a number of things you need to watch out for:

• Never leave black mascara unattended - it will get used and not on eyelashes.
• Never suggest a selection of different nail varnishes would make a good present, especially if they contain glitter.
• Never get into a conversation about ear-piercing - you'll be going round in circles forever.
• Never get into a conversation about whether your daughter's friends have had their ears pierced - it won't help your argument.
• Never buy expensive perfumed soap - it'll be dropped into the bathwater and left there.
• Never, under any circumstances, get into conversation about hair removal - it will trigger more questions that it answers.

And never ever leave your favourite and most expensive lipstick within reach.

Parents of older children - is there anything else I need to know?

Comments

[notsupermum]

Never ever keep perfume, deodorant, shampoo, razors, cotton wool, make-up remover, nail varnish remover on display. You need a hiding place, or a lockable box otherwise everytime you go to use them they will all be empty. I keep some on display, but my personal supply is put somewhere else away from thieves and teenage daughters.

[Rosie Scribble]

I like the idea of having my own personal supply hidden away under lock and key. I think I'll do that with my bank cards too. I'll put some fake ones on display and see what happens. And create a trap. Mwah ha ha.

[EmmaK]

No advice. I have daughters aged 8 and 11 and together they have ruined most of my makeup. My eight year old even insists she has hairs under her arms and therefore has to use my deoderant even though I know for a fact she does not have hairs or sweat. But I just let them get on with it, creative expression or some such guff!

[Tara]

A good friend of mine was visiting her (without children) friends and they put their then 2 year old daughter in the spare room to go to sleep
Only she didn't sleep, she found a tube of cream left on the side and did as mummy does and smeared it all over herself. Face, chubby little legs, neck, white duvet she was sat on, hair etc etc etc.

Which would have been just a mild clear up job IF it hadn't been a giant tube of fake suntan cream she had been playing with . . .

[EmmaK]

Actually now I come to think of it - hide your tampons. My daughter once hoarded dozens of them in her dollhouse and told me they were 'mice' - at that stage she had no idea what they were really for!

[Jules Young (@muddleduck)]

My two eldest daughters seem completely uninterested in my make-up as yet...they do however relish using the more expensive shampoo in the bathroom and insist on each having their own shower gel as they "don't like the same smells".....my nearly 3 year old however has a completely over zealous love of my make up...my other half forgot to put the "child lock" (a high up latch thing) on our bedroom door and I found my beautiful child happily smearing my Benefit concealer all over herself, the bed, the carpet...can't get the stain out of the carpet and am still gutted my expensive present has all gone :( *note to self, never trust OH to shut door when make up is at stake!

[Claire 20somethingmum]

Mini can do her nails better than me. And she's not even 5 yet. She also loves my lipstick, especially bright red. She wont go out without a spritz of whatever perfume I happen to be wearing. I direct you to this post and the images it has-http://20somethingmum.blogspot.com/2011/04/half-term-minis-birthday-mummy-fail-and.html

[geekisnewchiv]

sod the make up... mine know all my credit card numbers!

[Make do mum]

Ah yes, I've already learnt about mascara the hard way and I've had a few near misses with a 2 year old and nail varnish. I agree with EmmaK about tampons being just as attractive and have an early memory of me sticking my Mum's sanitary towels up the wall

[Rosie Scribble]

Oh God. That is just hilarious! *dashes off to find a very large safe*

[Rosie Scribble]

Noooooo! The comments on this post have taught me that everything - EVERYTHING - needs to be locked up. I shudder at the thought of the years to come ...

[Rosie Scribble]

No!! Not Benefit make-up!! I once babysat for a two year old little girl. I thought she was safely tucked up in bed. In fact she was smearing her mother's lipstick all over the bedroom wall. And yes, it was red. And it was Chanel. I was never invited back.

[Rosie Scribble]

Oh my. Those images are something else Claire. Threaten to have them blown up onto a t-shirt for her 18th birthday next time she thinks of doing something like that. That should do the trick!

[Rosie Scribble]

She knows she is doomed if she goes near my credit cards. That said, I'm going to lock them away on a very high shelf. Or never allow her to leave the house. One of the two.

[Rosie Scribble]

Now that's created an image in my head I can't quite get rid of. I'm planning to avoid all things periods-related and I'm sending her round to my mothers for a few years instead. There's no other solution I've now realised!

[Emily O]

Very funny, and on a more serious note I think as mums we have to be careful how we present the idea of 'beauty' to our impressionable daughters. I've had an idea for my own beauty (or lack of) post for a while and I think you've inspired me to get on and write it.

[Bod for tea]

As the mother of a 2.5 year old that likes to apply lipstick to parts that other lipsticks can't reach I think I'll pass on trying to give you advice!

[Nickie]

You need to know one more thing...

Let your 8 year old daughter apply her own make-up and then take a picture of her. 10 years later tease her with it on her birthday ;)

If you're REALLY brave you could let her do your make-up and take your picture too but then you might accidently-on-purpose lose that photo...

[Rosie Scribble]

Emily, I think that would make a really interesting post. I'd love to read it. Let me know if you go ahead with it and I'll take a look.

[Rosie Scribble]

Oh goodness. You're going to have your work cut out in the years to come. I'd lock up your make-up now. And your creams and perfumes!

[Rosie Scribble]

Nickie, sounds as if you are speaking from experience. And you've given me a brilliant idea. I can picture that photo on an 18th birthday t-shirt already. And it would look great in the middle of her birthday cake. Genius.