If you’re so inclined to follow me on IG, you’ve probably seen the girls and me playing with make up… but it may not be what you think. While I’ve been rummaging the aisles of Target, CVS, Walmart (you get it) to find inexpensive makeup that gives me the look I want without breaking the bank (and I am IN LOVE with THIS contour kit I got off Amazon)- the girls have been playing with Miniplay Makeup, which is 100% fake!!!
I found it at Bellani Maternity, which is probably my most favorite store, and the girls have not stopped playing with it since I set them up with their own little makeup vanity area.
The girls love the set so much they even play with the demo in Bellani… and beg to bring their makeup bag everywhere we go. Addie’s favorite is smelling the new lip gloss, which has a scented wand, and Millie loves doing “nay-ul”… aka nails. (As I mentioned, this is ALL FAKE. I painted my nails last night.)
This morning we had such a great time playing that I wanted to share some pics with you.
Miniplay Makeup is amazing because it gives off NO color, no product, nothing real, but encourages the girls to imagine, push the boundaries of their minds. Addie even closes her eyes to apply her trio of eye shadow, admiring her look after she’s done. The soft, real makeup brushes are just like mine and perfect for small hands.
All the fun without the mess! @MiniPlaymakeup #imagine #pretendplay Click To TweetI love the kind of play MiniPlay Makeup encourages for so many reasons, but here are a few:
1. The girls get to do what I do… leaving me time to apply my [very real] makeup. During this time we actually get to discuss wearing makeup and how fun it is to play with. While the girls’ makeup feels real, including the compact puff, lip gloss wands, and rollers– there is no need to worry about a mess, or my ladies changing their appearance or thinking they’re “more beautiful” if they do. In our safe space of my makeup table or theirs, we can openly talk about self confidence and the power we hold over how we feel about ourselves- no one else.
2. Hand-eye coordination… From “applying” with the brushes to opening up the packaging- MiniPlay Makeup teaches fine motor skills, depth perception, and coordination. The packaging incorporates sliding, twisting, zippers, drawstring closures, and traditional hinges (like a compact) for all sorts of [fake]makeup from eye shadow, to rollers, gloss, blush and nail polish- all with a number of different makeup bags and brushes to choose from.
3. NO mess… if you didn’t read it before, there is NO makeup in these products. When we were kids, there was actual waxy, heavy dyed products in our play makeup- if there wasn’t any product, the play makeup was made of hollow plastic and not even close to looking like the real deal. The 80’s and 90’s were hard on us kids. The glosses were sticky and glittery and the shadows were terribly blue and stayed on our eyes and fingers for days. The lipstick was staining and often broke or had a scent or flavor that was enticing to eat. All just no. No. No. No. Miniplay Makeup looks real, feels real, but has no actual product to spill, stain or apply!
4. Pretend… there are so many years that this won’t be pretend. We will experiment, no doubt there will be pictures better not shared for the world to see with trends that will never be trending. There will be arguments about too much eye shadow or blush or eyeliner. All these things will come, but for now, we pretend, and the girls’ imaginations are fabulous. Both Millie and Addie truly enjoy the imagination of it, the opening and closing, the twisting, the “we doing your nails for you, mama” and getting to know how different brushes work (which has really carried over into their real painting). MiniPlay Makeup encourages a different level of pretend play and a new way to integrate lessons into our everyday.
Now that I’ve found such a diverse learning tool (and who doesn’t LOVE to learn while playing?!), I want more! Share a toy that you’ve found that is hours of fun, with lots of hidden lessons!
What a neat makeup set. Play is super important. It helps the kids discover the world around them. I love how realistic this set looks.
Yes!! 100%!!!
My girls have always loved makeup! They’d have loved having their own, and I’d love there not being a mess.
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The no mess- a total key for it being fun for me, too!!
This set is adorable! I love that there’s nothing real for them to create a mess. My son has a kitchen set that I bought on clearance years ago and he LOVES it. I’ve added more food periodically, and it’s just the coolest thing.
Pretend- no mess play- SO much fun for everyone!!! 🙂
I have taken/thrown away so much play make up over the years- it is so messy! This would have been great to have when my daughter was younger.
Always cool stuff coming out!!! Maybe you can share this as a tip for new parents to toddlers! 😉
Omg I so need to do this for my daughter!!!! She is always wanting to play with my makeup! This would save my makeup from getting destroyed lol
YES! She will love it!!
The pictures are adorable and cute! I have a niece and she’s so addicted to mini make up. She would definitely love this!
I bet she would!
What a cutie! All those lovely compliments! Did you pay her 😛 Hahaha Usually when my son gives me such compliments he sneakily wants something lol I love the idea of this play makeup. Kids love to do what we do. My daughter is a bit young now but I can’t wait for her to be old enough to see what she likes to play with.
Addie is such a love- I am always shocked about what she says! 🙂