Teaching my daughter about makeup

I have had this on my heart so much lately.  How do I teach my daughter about makeup?  I know how to teach her the technically correct way to apply eyeshadow or lip liner…I know how to teach her about the color wheel and color theory…I know how to talk to her about what colors look best with what eye color…I can handle all of that!   (in time…obviously not when she is this young)

I am not sure how to talk to her about not needing makeup.

I totally understand that for a 4 year old, makeup is fun. She see’s her mommy putting on makeup and making videos and talking about makeup ALL DAY, EVERY DAY and I realize kids want to do what their parents do. I am fairly certain that if we had a little boy (or if Ellie enjoyed other things) they would be pretending they were a firefighter because that is what daddy does.  I know it is natural and I love that she wants to be like me.

But I worry. I want her to think of makeup as a creative outlet, an art form. I want it to always be fun for her and just something extra that can enhance her already beautiful features as she gets older.  I want her to know that she is pretty without makeup…that she doesn’t NEED makeup on her face to be beautiful. 

For now, I am just trying to remind her every day that she is beautiful and let her play and express herself however she wants with makeup.  I want her to associate it more with art then beauty at this age.  If she wants blue eyeshadow and hot pink lips then go for it!  

BUT, we don’t leave the house like that. I want her to know that makeup is age specific too…little girls don’t need to wear makeup out and about.

This all just brings up so many fears and worries as a parent to a girl. I want her to be strong, independent, confident and so many other things.  I don’t want her to be afraid to express who she really is or be ashamed of doing that.  I feel like there is a fine line with makeup…and I am still figuring it all out.

In the meantime I am going to just keep talking to her and letting her play and hope that I am doing the right things and making the right choices for her.