Today's beauty products that children adore are no longer limited to strawberry-scented shampoo or bubblegum-flavored toothpaste. Beauty influencers under the age of 12 are promoting skincare products on social media. However, caution is advised as the cosmetics promoted by Sephora Kids on TikTok may pose risks to children's skin and their psyche. Here's why.
Perhaps you've heard about the "Sephora Kids on TikTok". This term refers to the latest trend on TikTok France: videos of young girls aged 8 to 12 years old showcasing their beauty routines in the style of influencers.
These "mini-influencers" who rack up views on TikTok and Instagram film themselves applying cleansers, toner, serum, anti-aging cream, and makeup on their faces. Despite their young age, they are true pros at applying eyeliner and contouring!
This phenomenon is said to have been started in the United States in 2022 by North, the daughter of rapper Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. While this trend might be surprising, it is also concerning, according to child psychologists and dermatologists.
The videos of Sephora Kids on social media are increasingly encouraging little girls to buy skin care products that were not designed for their age group.
This phenomenon has grown so much in a few months that dermatologists are worried and sounding the alarm. Not only do children's skin not require such powerful care, but these cosmetics often contain ingredients that are dangerous for their delicate epidermis.
Skincare products for adults have not been tested on children and teenagers. It is unknown if they are safe and well-tolerated by such young users.
Many dermatologists have therefore spoken out in the media to remind that children's skin is more fragile than that of adults. These experts have also pointed out that anti-aging active ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, or glycolic acid are very irritating for a child's skin.
In the short term, adult cosmetic products can cause irritation on children's sensitive skin. However, this is not the only danger of these beauty products unsuitable for the young. With continuous application of these cosmetics on their skin, children can develop an allergy to one of the active ingredients they contain.
The risk of irritation and sensitization to an allergen increases with the application of multiple layers of cosmetics, as in the beauty routine of Sephora Kids. Moreover, substances applied to the face and skin can contribute to a dangerous cocktail effect for health. That's why it's better to limit the use of creams to a minimum on a child's skin.
The only useful beauty products for the young are:
• a moisturizing cream in case of eczema and atopic skin.
• sunscreen, provided that you choose sun protection specially designed for children.
It is essential to choose products labeled "child" because this means they have been tested on children. Another advantage is that these products are generally hypoallergenic and fragrance-free.
In addition to being potentially harmful to children's skin, adult beauty products such as anti-aging cream or plumping serum are not without consequences on the psyche of little girls, at an age where they are building their self-image.
In theory, social networks like TikTok are only allowed from the age of 13 because younger children do not have the maturity needed to put into perspective what they see on the Internet.
The Sephora Kids videos could lead thousands of little girls to believe they need cosmetic products, risking premature aging and becoming unattractive. These videos also risk giving them a very stereotyped vision of beauty and femininity.
It is up to parents to explain to the child that they do not need anti-aging cosmetics. At their age, it serves absolutely no purpose. However, if the child expresses a desire to take care of their skin and appearance, parents must respect their wish and accompany them to the pharmacy to choose a hypoallergenic moisturizing product suitable for children.
Author Audrey on 14 March 2022
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