Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s too young to do it all?
Young girls are pressuring one other into trying and buying pricey skincare products as early as elementary school age — and experts are sounding the alarm bell, warning moms and dads not to brush off what could be a dangerous trend.
The plea for parental probity comes as cosmetics manufacturers enjoy a surge of fresh interest from the junior set. The hashtag #teenageskincare has garnered over 26.4 million views on TikTok, fueled by pint-sized beauty influencers — also known as “Sephora kids” — sharing their 12-step skincare routines.
“The skin is the largest and most complex organ and if the wrong products are used or introduced too early or for the wrong skin type, you can end up having more problems than originally were present,” celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer told The Post.
Although it may seem like all the cool kids are doing it, beginning a multi-step skincare routine too young can disrupt the natural process of the skin cycle and cause premature damage.
“Changes in the skin occur at different ages, climates, and skin types. But usually, young skin replenishes faster and is prone to more oil and hormonal change,” Dr. Andy Franklyn-Miller, chief medical and innovation officer of Nuritas, explained to The Post.
“This can mean that products designed for older skin are too irritating and can disrupt the skin microbiome.”
The experts agreed that children and teens should be especially cautious of harsh products like high chemical acids, exfoliants and retinol — unless prescribed by a medical professional. These products can erode the skin barrier and cause a long list of unwanted reactions, including irritation, inflammation, scarring, burns, congestion and breakouts.
Dr. Blair Murphy Rose, an award-winning board-certified dermatologist seeing patients in NYC, said that she “frequently treats patients struggling with skincare problems caused by the products they are using.”
“Ranging from acne breakouts to skin irritation and barrier breakdown, misuse and overuse of skincare products are common culprits,” she said.
Drunk Elephant products, which have become increasingly popular with Gen Alpha beauty buffs storming Sephora to get their hands on the colorful bottles, even issued a warning to its pint-sized fans about which ingredients are unsafe.
“Many of our products are designed for all skin, including kids and tweens,” the company wrote on Instagram. “Stay away from our more potent products that include acids and retinols — their skin does not need these ingredients quite yet.”
Pretty pink and bright blue packaging might entice younger skincare fanatics, but the experts advise inspecting skincare products further to determine if they’re age-appropriate.
Dr. Miller recommends choosing products with as few ingredients as possible — otherwise known as practicing the art of “skinimilism” or skin minimalism.
“When looking at labels, choosing a brand with fewer ingredients and additives is the general rule,” he said. “Less is more is important.”
Always do your research and seek professional opinions when possible. “Rather than restrict use, it is important to have guidance to the proper way to use them,” Dr. Rose said.
Although elementary-aged children don’t need to be gooping retinol and chemical peels onto their faces, even babies will benefit from a simple skincare routine.
“Even under age 5, washing your face and applying moisturizer and sunscreen has great benefits,” Dr. Rose insisted.
The experts advise that a more intensive — and expensive — skincare routine can begin in the prepubescent years or whenever issues such as blemishes begin to arise as long it is done safely.
“The key is to use the correct ingredients and products and start with a simple routine that won’t overwhelm the still delicate/ changing skin,” Dr. Lancer said. “If there are no symptoms, then a mineral-based sunscreen for sun protection should start as early as infancy.”