Recently there has been an outbreak of skincare-crazed pre-teens causing disruption in malls all over the world.
Now there is a name for them – SephoraKids.
How did the trend begin?
The trend began in 2022 on TikTok. According to yr media, different cosmetic brands such as Drunk elephant, Rare Beauty, and Tower 28 had products that went viral on TikTok.
Soon, young people began buying more Sephora products. According to AHS Rocket Launch, the “Canadian beauty industry sales rose 18% in 2023” because many children purchased makeup and skincare from stores like Ulta, Walgreens, and Sephora. This trend spread quickly around the world.
Is the trend bad for preteens?
Many adults are concerned about this frenzy. Some skincare products have “allergenic and endocrine-disrupting ingredients like fragrances, colourants, and other chemicals, as well as anti-aging ingredients like glycolic acid and retinol.” These ingredients can result in irritated skin and rashes if children have sensitive skin.
Upper School English teacher Mrs. Scott agrees that some products can be dangerous for young kids. “You should comfortably wait [to use these products] until you’re in your teens,” she said, “because many products that are marketed are really not suitable for young skin.”
Using these products can also interfere with class engagement. “Summer Friday lip balms are a distraction, ” said Upper School math teacher Mrs. Padreda, “because girls have it in their pencil pouches and keep reapplying during class.”
So, what skincare products are appropriate for preteens?
“All you need to use is a nice gentle soap, water and a light sunscreen on your face,” said Mrs. Scott. That “should do everything you need to do.”
Mrs. Padreda agrees. “Nothing looks better in your 50s than sunscreen in your teens,” she said.
