Some might say that getting into a good skin care routine from an early age is good, as it can teach good practices as one ages.
However, today’s tweens and young people are using skin care products they see on social media that are meant for older people, and ruining their skin in the process.
Social Media trends entice Teens
One of the main issues facing teenagers today is social media and the products that social media creators promote.
While the products the creators are using might be suitable for their skin, they are very harmful to their young audiences and have caused trips to the dermatologist.
Teenagers Showcasing Skin Care on Social Media Have Been Given a Name
The New York Post has reported that teenagers posting about their skin care routines on social media have been dubbed “Sephora kids.”
Some of these teenagers are showcasing their 12-step skin care routines, which are often more than any adult would carry out on a day-to-day basis.
Teenagers Are Enticed by the Color of Products
If their favorite content creators using these skin care products weren’t enough to encourage teenagers to buy them, they are also interested in them due to their bright colors.
Skin care companies like Drunk Elephant and Glow Recipe use brightly colored packaging, which means teenagers are more likely to buy these products than ones in plain packaging.
Teenagers Are Using Anti-Aging Products
Anti-aging products are aimed at the older population who want to achieve youthful skin, something that the younger generation doesn’t need to worry about quite yet.
Medical News Today states that anti-aging products contain ingredients such as AHAs and retinoids, which are fine for adult skin but dangerous for young skin.
One Teenager Had a Dry Rash on Her Skin
NBC News has covered the story of one 13-year-old called Leora who ended up getting a dry, red, itchy rash on her skin.
The rash ended up getting infected, and it is likely to take a few weeks or months before it completely goes away.
Parents and Teenagers Need Education on Skin Care
The world of skin care can be quite complicated in terms of knowing what will and won’t work for your skin, something experts are saying parents and children need education on.
Particularly where children are concerned, parents need to know the ingredients contained in skin care products, which skin care products are good for children, and the consequences of using the wrong products.
Drunk Elephant Has Responded to the Issue
With Drunk Elephant being one of the skin care companies that teenagers are using, the company took to Instagram to address whether children and teenagers can use their products.
They said that their products are “designed for all skin” and listed some of their products that are safe for children and teenagers to use, including F-balm, virgin marula oil, and sili body lotion.
Using the Wrong Skin Care Products Can Cause More Issues
Teenagers might think that using these products is helping their skin and resolving any issues they might have, but they are actually causing more harm than good.
It can disrupt the natural process of the skin cycle and cause premature damage, which can lead to more skin issues later on.
Teenagers Should Be Using Skin Care Products with Minimal Ingredients
When looking for skin care products for teenagers, they should be looking for products that contain minimal ingredients.
This is part of a trend known as “skin minimalism,” which encourages people to use minimal ingredients in their skin care routine, according to Sublime Life.
Skin Minimalism Has Many Benefits
One thing that teenagers and adults might find by using skin minimalism is that it comes with many benefits.
It can help save time and money, lessen the chance of getting irritated skin, maximize the benefits of using one product, and encourage a sustainable lifestyle.
Children Under 5 Years Old Can Use Skin Care
Even though some people might believe that you shouldn’t start using skin care until your teenage years, children can start using skin care products when they are babies.
They can use moisturizer and SPF, which help protect them from UV light and soften their skin, but they don’t need to use any more than this until they are much older.
Teenagers Don’t Need to Avoid Skin Care Entirely
While it might be recommended that teenagers don’t need to go in as heavy with skin care as they are currently, it doesn’t mean that they have to avoid it entirely.
Teenagers and their parents should be mindful of the ingredients in the products they use, recognize the issues with their skin and what products are good for combating these, and not use a product just because their favorite skin care influencer is using it.
