We’ve been seeing it for a while now: teens and tweens in Sephora and Mecca asking for Drunk Elephant, Glow Recipe and anything with actives that they can get their hands on. But what’s caused this sudden surge in interest in serums and creams? And are there any implications of this newfound skincare obsession on body image?
As with every generation, today’s young people so desperately want to grow up. One of the areas where this shows up the most is their increased interest in beauty and skincare. While it’s great to see young people taking an interest in skin health and looking after their skin, the act of engaging with skincare seems to have become less of an act of self care or self expression, and more of a status symbol to fit in with friends. Young teens and tweens are highly impressionable and are blindly buying overhyped skincare products without properly understanding them, their usage and whether they are actually suitable for younger skin. A quick search of ‘Sephora kids’ on TikTok or Instagram will reveal just how widespread this has become.
A large piece of the puzzle that explains where this has all come from is the beauty gurus and so-called ‘skinfluencers’ on social media. These creators love to share their product recommendations and skincare routines openly, however their regimes typically include products containing active ingredients such as retinol or hyaluronic acid, which are designed for older skin. Through no fault of their own, influencers’ content (that is intended for older audiences) is being seen by younger and younger people. As a result – out of a desire to experiment and appear more grown-up – young people become drawn to these products. However, developing skincare regimes with products boasting anti-ageing or skin-tightening properties at the ripe old age of 10 or 11 is at best unnecessary – and at worst harmful – for their young skin. But the damage doesn’t stop there.
Aside from the cost and potential risks to young skin, the rising obsession with ‘glazed donut’ or ‘glass’ skin can have damaging effects on young people’s body image. These trends reinforce the unrealistic expectations and beauty standards that society pushes onto all people, but especially our highly impressionable young people. Constant exposure to flawless, filtered skin puts unnecessary pressure on young people to conform to unrealistic and narrow beauty ideals.
So what can we do about it?
While we might not be able to stop our kids from consuming this content and falling for the hype, there are several things that parents can do to minimise the risk of harm associated with it.
Firstly, instead of focusing on how skincare might make us look, try talking to your kids about how it makes them feel. Skincare offers an opportunity for us to indulge in self care and spend time pampering ourselves to feel good. Flipping the focus from preventing common skin concerns like acne or wrinkles to looking after our bodies can really help.
Secondly, if age-appropriate for your kids, try opening the conversation about beauty standards and encourage your kids to question the skincare content they are exposed to. Encourage them to be curious about what they are seeing and truly think about whether or not they need the products that are being sold to them. After all, there is no greater act of self care than being accepting of their skin and bodies exactly as they are.
Lastly, help them to focus on all the incredible things that their skin does for them, rather than how it looks. From protecting us from harm, regulating our body temperature and allowing us to feel different sensations, our skin is such an important organ that does so many amazing things for us, without us even realising it. This focus on functionality is explored further in Dove’s #TheFaceof10 campaign featuring a ‘Gen A Anti-Aging Skin Care Talk’, which is jam-packed with tips and advice for parents of young skincare-lovers.
Bonus tip: If your kids love skincare and you’re comfortable with them using it, help them to find products that are suitable for young skin and make the whole experience fun and uplifting. One of our fave skincare brands for young people is Allkinds.
If you or a young person you know are struggling with body image, don’t hesitate to seek out the support and guidance of a professional. The Butterfly Foundation Helpline (1800 334 673) is a great place to start.
