Young person beauty blogging. (Prostock-studio - stock.adobe.com)
Editors Note: In this op-ed, military youth Elaine Desir explains the problems with the “Sephora Kids” TikTok trend.
When Chloe Grace saw some kids messing around with skincare products at Sephora, she posted it on TikTok and started a trend called “Sephora Kids.” Sephora kids are always seen at Sephora, messing around with products, leaving a mess behind and disrespecting the employees. This phenomenon has taken the internet by storm and people are becoming concerned about them. These girls, who are about 7 to 12 years old, are looking for products that have gone viral thanks to beauty influencers. Although these kids think they need products like this, according to dermatologist Shereen Idriss, whose products are sold at Sephora , children up to 16 whose skin is still developing should use only hypoallergenic products, which are products with few or no allergy-producing substances.
Mental health experts say there is only one reason for all of this: social media. According to psychotherapists, beauty influencers’ videos are being targeted to more and more age groups. Since younger audiences watch these videos, it causes them to think they need to follow in the influencers’ footsteps to fit in with the community. It is okay to wear a little bit of lip gloss and mascara occasionally, but these kids have been using products that aren’t suitable for their age. For example, girls today are using aging products, such as retinol. But do they need to start using them if they haven’t even started aging yet? Kids use retinol because it helps get rid of acne, but it can have many side effects, such as dry, irritated skin, itching and burning, and redness.
Kids up to 16 should be careful about what they put on their faces because the skin barrier isn’t fully developed yet. If you use an adult product at a young age, you are most likely to develop an allergy or a hyper-sensitivity to that product. Because there is no set age for when you should start wearing makeup, kids as young as 6 think they are old enough to start using makeup and skincare that could severely damage their skin. For example, Drunk Elephant has been accused of violating California’s Proposition 65, which means it includes some ingredients shown to allow growth of cancer cells, cause acne breakouts and cause bumps to grow on your skin. Although some skincare brands, such as CeraVe, can help with skin problems such as dry and flaky skin, it is also best to rely on your natural beauty and leave your skin alone.
Teenage girl making video blog about skincare. (M-Production - stock.adobe.com)
People are also starting to wonder if the reason kids are going to Sephora is because of how companies package their products. When a kid finds a product with fun packaging such as unicorns, cupcakes or sparkles, they tend to think the product is suitable for their age. Companies use this to their advantage. They make fun products that will attract kids so that they can make more profits faster. For example, Milk One is a face mask company. It has packaging with strawberries, bananas and chocolate bars, and it is shaped like a milk carton. Kids may feel the need to buy something that has fun packaging on it. According to the National Institutes of Health, “These children’s makeup and body products (CMBPs) incorporate features such as bright colors, animals, and cartoon characters to attract the attention of children. Social media platforms that children may use are also being increasingly utilized to advertise these products.” This is why it is recommended that you let your kids into a makeup store at an appropriate age, such as 15 or 16. It is also possible that kids are getting scammed into thinking they need products like this. Dr. Idriss says that it is possible to get scammed if you don’t put your skincare needs in the right direction. She clearly states “If your expectations are not aligned in the right way, of course you’re gonna get scammed.” It is important to research until you’re 100% sure it is the right product to put on your skin.
On the other hand, some people believe you shouldn’t blame anyone because the kids are just having harmless fun. They believe that they are just trying to express themselves just as adults did in their generation. They tell people that the only reason they leave a mess behind in Sephora is because they are kids and the store should just have the employees clean up after them. What they don’t understand is that when someone cleans up a kid’s mess, it becomes a habit and the kids start to rely on others to clean up after them. Other people blame parents for allowing their children to buy things at Sephora. They believe parents should just say “no” and kids will put the product back on the shelf. But that is not always the case. Sometimes, kids go into the store and buy items with their own money. Many families believe that if you pay for something with your own money, you are allowed to buy whatever you want, even though it might not always be the best choice.
Research shows that teens and tweens spent more money last year on skincare and makeup than other items such as books, toys and slime. They spent over $4.7 billion on skincare. In Canada, beauty industry sales increased by 18%. The sales for e.l.f., a skincare company, have been going off the charts. According to the BBC, “Throughout the past year, e.l.f. ‘s stock price has surged 203%, per Marketwatch. And those soaring stock prices are a direct result of e.l.f.’s enormous sales growth.” Kids buy makeup year-round; on Christmas, their birthday and even daily. They are buying an unhealthy amount of skincare which could permanently damage their skin.
In conclusion, “Sephora Kids” is a popular trend of kids posting videos of themselves going to makeup stores, and the main cause for all of this is social media. They may also get attracted to skincare with fun packaging, which is why it is important that a child goes to a makeup store at an appropriate age. Because there is no certain age to start wearing a face full of makeup, kids must know that it is unnecessary to regularly wear a lot of makeup. It is also important to know that using adult skincare can result in consequences, such as dark spots, flaky skin, and an acne breakout. All in all, it is important to be careful about the products you put on your skin.
