1st Place, Bylined Opinion Article
2023-24, Division 2, News Writing
By Emma Glumm & Jocelyn Larson
Update
H. H. Dow HS
They are buying unnecessary skincare products to going viral on social media. They are damaging their skin. They are “Sephora Kids.” Swarms of adolescent girls are flooding the aisles of the popular makeup and skin care store Sephora all across the country. These children have been known to treat employees poorly and destroy display products, as seen in some videos on social media platform, Tiktok. Sephora kids are known to use products like retinol, when it’s designed for a specific age group and skin type. Some children use this as a way of expressing themselves, when in reality, they are damaging their skin. Nowadays, these Sephora Kids have skincare routines up to 12 steps, especially girls who have barely, if even, reached adolescence.
“It all depends on the person,” dermatologist Chelsea Houthoofd said. “If a teenage patient is medically diagnosed with severe acne, a retinoid can be used to treat that. I see that as young as nine or ten years old. But, if we are using retinol from a purely cosmetic stand point, I don’t think retinol should show up in skin care routines until you are the out of college age. I really don’t think anyone under the age of 25 needs to be using retinol. It is even more common for women in their 30s.”
Many people, including children, are on social media, now more than ever before. There are a lot of influencers on TikTok and Instagram that make “Get ready with me” videos and it’s inspiring little girls to use certain products that are currently trending. These so-called inspiring videos can put a lot of pressure on them to try to fit in and be like their favorite influencer.
Older siblings can also increase the younger girls’ need for these products, if their older sister is putting on retinol cream it’s most likely going to have an impact on the younger sibling. Parents are also fueling the fire in some cases, encouraging them to be themselves and then taking them to Sephora to buy Drunk Elephant bronzing drops that could potentially damage their skin. But, they don’t need to be using anything but a CeraVe cleanser and moisturizer says Katrina Cossey from Parents.com.
Products like retinol, exfoliators, serums, and so on can help with many things like wrinkles, acne, and more. They can have a lot of benefits, however, these products are targeted at young adults in their 20’s to prevent signs of aging says verywellhealth.com. Even though it can be fun and look aesthetically pleasing because it’s trendy, it will not benefit their skin in the long run if they are using these products at such a young age.
“I, as a dermatologist don’t worry about skincare as much as these teenagers do,” Houthoofd said. “I do my basics, my sunscreen, my moisturizer. I use a retinoid now, but I certainly wasn’t thinking about that when I was 15.”
It could possibly boost the Sephora Kids’ egos to be able to brag about all the Bubble and Drunk Elephant products they have, but what these kids do not think about is the aftermath. These products can irritate the skin and cause the skin barrier to be less effective in protecting the skin from the sun and pollution. Many of these products are not tested for children, because they are not made for children. For instance, retinol is very damaging to skin when it is not used correctly. According to cosmetic expert Mervyn Patterson, even at the right age for retinol, if it is overused it can cause inflammation in the skin and skin discoloration. Children who use products made for adults are more prone to breakouts, irritation and inflammation. It’s not just skincare that’s dangerous, it’s children’s makeup too.
Children’s makeup is filled with many dangerous chemicals like heavy metals and toxins that damage the collagen and can clog the pores, says Columbia School of Public Health. What’s not entirely incorrect is that when these Sephora Kids get older, their skin will be experiencing many problems because either way the toxic chemicals damage the skin barrier, says dermatologist Cynthia Cob from Healthline.com.
Continuous usage of makeup products at such a young age can end in body rashes, blisters, and a red swollen face, that is why dermatologists from DermatologyClinic.com recommend reading the labels on products to find what is right for certain skin types, it is a good habit to get into. Brand recommendations for preteens are Cerave, Elf, Beekman 1802, Kinship, CosRx, Too cool for school, Cetaphil.
Social media is a big component to this issue, apps like Tiktok and Instagram are prime examples. With 23.8K followers on Instagram, nine-year-old Grey from vlogs.w.grey is ruling the “get ready with me” world. She has all the ‘normal’ things that a nine-year-old in this generation has: Lululemon bag and clothes, Sol de Janeiro body spray, a Stanley cup collection, unlimited skincare, Rare Beauty blush, and an uncountable amount of Squishmallows. Of course, she is not the only young girl doing this. There are so many accounts like this run by girls whose skin is not suitable for these strong products yet. Although, can they be blamed? There is a lot of pressure nowadays for girls to figure out what’s trending and to be like everyone else.
Many under the ages of 10 should not have to worry about using all these expensive and irrelevant products on their fragile skin every day. These tweens are just starting to understand the importance of hygiene and personal care, according to CLn Skin Care.
“I think the best thing to focus on early in life is really good sun protection,” Houthoofd said. “We all brush our teeth from the time we’re little kids. We all learn to wear seatbelts. I think that sunscreen should be in the same category as that from a tone of safety and responsibility. This is the proper approach to take, rather than trying to make your skin as beautiful as possible. Skin care should be more about responsibility and safety rather than maximizing beauty and youth.”
Just because using retinol and other harsh products is popular, does not mean that young girls need to participate. Using normal face wash, moisturizer and minimal makeup is the best option for tweens and teens. It is better to be safe than to be popular and pretty with a build-up of retinol in the skin barrier. In the end, Houthoofd believes social media is to blame for this spike in harsh skincare.
“This is absolutely because of social media,” Houthoofd said. “Patients come into the clinic to show me skincare TikToks to ask me about them. Where 10 years ago, we didn’t have that. I really fear that this is changing the way young girls are looking at themselves. I am very worried about the phsychological impact. We have young people focusing on these very minuit imperfections. I didn’t know what a wrinkle was when I was 15. I’m not sure I knew what they were when I was 20. Ultimately, society needs to focus on empowering young girls and women to love themselves and their bodies. That stigma can start very early on in life, and after that it is incredibly difficult to break.”
NW-07. Bylined Opinion Article
Article of personal opinion carrying the byline of the writer(s) presented in a style consistent with modern opinion column standards. The article should comment on a news or feature subject of interest (including sports) and/or concern to the readers, or may express dissent from the majority opinion expressed in editorials.
Judging Criteria
- Topic relevant to interests and/or welfare of school or students
- Wins reader interest with a compelling lead that urges action
- Presents evidence/interpretation in logical sequence
- States issue; uses effective examples, facts and comparisons to clarify
- Deals with specific issue; avoids preaching, rhetoric and cliches
- Shows sufficient thought and knowledge of subject, developed with personal style
- Proposes solution where appropriate
- Sentences, paragraphs of varied length; written clearly, concisely and vividly
- Proper diction/grammar