Latest news with #SephoraKids
CTV News
6 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Pricey TikTok skin care routines for kids raise alarms in new study
Children as young as seven are making TikTok videos about their meticulous and pricey skin care routines. Known as 'Sephora Kids,' they are the focus of a new study that raises alarms about the trend. 'We found that the skin care routines posted by creators aged 18 and under were complicated, costly, and time consuming,' lead author and dermatologist Dr. Molly Hales told 'The skin care routines offered few benefits to the young people that they were targeting, and they carried risks of irritation, skin allergy, and sun sensitivity.' Hales is a postdoctoral research fellow at Northwestern University's medical school in Chicago. For the study, Hales and another researcher created new TikTok accounts posing as 13-year-olds. They analyzed 100 skin care videos by content creators ages 7 to 18, and recorded the number and types of products that were used, as well as the total cost of each skin care regimen. On average, the content creators used six products per video. The average cost of the products used in each regimen was US$168 while the most expensive exceeded $500. The videos the researchers analyzed had an average of 1.1 million views. The 25 most-viewed videos featured products with an average of 11, and a maximum of 21, ingredients that could potentially lead to skin irritation, sun sensitivity or skin allergy. 'We found significant dermatologic risks associated with these regimens, including a very high risk of irritation,' Hales added in a news release from Northwestern University. 'That high risk of irritation came from both using multiple active ingredients at the same time, such as hydroxy acids, as well as applying the same active ingredient unknowingly over and over again when that active ingredient was found in three, four, five different products.' Only a quarter (26.2 per cent) of daytime skin regimens included sunscreen, which Hales says is an incredibly important product for young and old skin alike. 'It's really the only product that is recommended in this age group for those who don't have a known skin condition such as acne or eczema,' Hales told 'It's particularly important given that we found in our study that the most popular active ingredients in these youth skin care routines are alpha hydroxy acids, which are known to increase sun sensitivity.' In one video, a content creator applied 10 products to her face in six minutes – and quickly regretted it. 'You can see that she's turning bright red,' Hales said. 'She wraps up the video by saying, 'If anyone knows how to get it to stop burning, that would be greatly appreciated because it actually hurts a lot.'' Senior author and pharmacist Dr. Tara Lagu also noted potential harms that went beyond just product ingredients. 'We saw that there was preferential, encoded racial language in some cases that really emphasized lighter, brighter skin,'Lagu, an adjunct lecturer at Northwestern University, said in the news release. 'I think there also were real associations between use of these regimens and consumerism.' Lagu got the idea for the study after asking her 12-year-old niece what she wanted for Christmas and getting a list of $300 worth of skin care products. 'After digging around a bit, she realized that nobody had done a formal study of the skin care routines that were circulating among teens and pre-teens on social media,' Hales told 'She approached me about a potential collaboration, knowing that I'm both a dermatologist and a medical anthropologist with a background in digital and social media.' Published in the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is the first peer-reviewed study of its kind. The study's authors conclude that the videos offer little to no benefit for their young audience. They also note that it can hard for parents to track what their children are viewing on TikTok because of age-based algorithms. 'I would encourage parents to make sure that their kids understand that they don't need to be using tons of costly products in order to have healthy skin, or to take care of themselves and their skin,'Hales told 'These skin care videos can be fun and playful, and given their popularity, they likely aren't going away anytime soon. But it's troubling when this content sets an unrealistic standard of beauty and then promotes it in the name of 'health.'' Dr. Elena Hope, the head of pediatric dermatology at SickKids hospital in Toronto, was not involved in the study but echoed its recommendations. She said children should avoid using products with fragrances, essential oils and retinoids, urging parents to educate themselves about potentially harmful ingredients. 'Daily moisturizers that have been tested for tolerability and sunscreens are the only recommendations we have for children,' Hope said in an email to 'All other preparations are not needed and may be harmful.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Sephora kids' are using anti-aging creams. A new study says harms aren't just skin deep
If you've recently witnessed a 10-year-old smear their face with an $80 anti-wrinkle cream — either in real life or in any number of "Get Ready With Me" TikTok videos — you're probably already aware of the "Sephora kids" skin-care trend that has young people clamouring for anti-aging products thanks in part to what they see on social media. Now, a new study published in Pediatrics this month, the first peer-reviewed paper of its kind, found that skin-care solutions promoted on TikTok not only offer little to no benefit for children and teens, but they can actually be harmful. And the risks go beyond skin damage (although, there is that, too), the authors note. "It's problematic to show girls devoting this much time and attention to their skin," corresponding author Dr. Molly Hales, a postdoctoral research fellow and dermatologist in the department of dermatology at Chicago's Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release. "We're setting a very high standard for these girls. The pursuit of health has become a kind of virtue in our society, but the ideal of 'health' is also very wrapped up in ideals of beauty, thinness and whiteness." The authors in the study analyzed 100 unique videos by content creators between the ages of seven and 18, with an average 1.1 million views each. On average, each regimen featured six products, totalling about $230 Cdn. On the higher end of the scale, some of the girls used more than a dozen products on their faces, the authors said. WATCH | Explaining the 'Sephora kids' trend: They found that only a quarter of the skin-care routines included sunscreen use, the most popular videos contained an average of 11 irritating active ingredients for young skin (such as hydroxy acids) and the content creators often layered multiple active ingredients or the same one over and over in multiple products. In one video, the authors say, one girl applied 10 different products on her face in 10 minutes. The videos also sometimes had racially encoded language that emphasized "lighter brighter skin," the authors noted. The problem with 'Sephora kids' The "Sephora kids" trend, where children as young as eight or nine use anti-aging skin-care products purchased from beauty retailers such as Sephora, started rising in popularity last year — and so have attempts to stop it. In California, for example, Alex Lee, a member of the State Assembly, has been pushing a bill that would ban the sale of anti-aging products that contain potent and harsh ingredients to kids under the age of 18. In May, CBS reported that the bill quietly died without a vote. And last December, Quebec's Order of Chemists published a warning that some skin-care products designed for adults and popularized on social media should be avoided by children because the active ingredients can be harmful to young skin. The products often contain strong active ingredients that young skin isn't properly equipped to handle, said Dr. Julia Carroll, a dermatologist and lecturer at the University of Toronto, who was not involved in the current study. WATCH | Quebec chemists warn about skin-care products and tweens: Younger skin is typically more sensitive, so ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids and retinoids can cause irritation, drying, peeling and dermatitis, Carroll told CBC News. "It can actually sensitize their skin and give them a lifelong allergy to an ingredient," she said. The trend also creates a dependency where kids think they need a 10-step routine, Carroll added, "when really they just need a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen." Gen Alpha drives sales Canadians spent almost $9 billion US on beauty and personal-care products in 2024. According to Statistics Canada, households started spending "substantially" more on personal care after the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing by 30 per cent in 2023 compared with 2021. Meanwhile, Generation Alpha continues to drive skin-care sales in the United States, according to recent Nielsen data. A global Mintel marketing intelligence report this year noted that this digital-first generation also has spending power projected to reach $5.5 trillion US by 2029, when the oldest of the cohort will be 19 years old. Members of Gen Alpha, who were born roughly between 2010 and 2024, see beauty influencers and their routines as sources of inspiration, the Mintel report says. "However, this acceleration into adult-oriented skin care often results in routines that prioritize appearance over health — a gap that the beauty industry must address," it adds. For now on TikTok, where there are some 18.3 million "Get Ready With Me" videos, Gen Alpha influencers show off their skin-care routines and "hauls" on videos with millions of views and comments. In the Pediatrics journal study, the authors found that these products tend to be marketed heavily to younger consumers. They also expressed concern that it's "nearly impossible" for parents and pediatricians to track exactly what children or adolescents are viewing. "We're seeing kids as young as eight or nine who are using anti-aging ingredients they picked up on TikTok," Carroll said. "You're setting kids up for an unrealistic beauty standard that isn't really appropriate for an eight-year-old, nine-year-old, 10-year-old. They already have usually pretty perfect skin, so to set them down that road that early can be quite harmful." LISTEN | How do cosmetics affect my skin health?:
CBC
18-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
'Sephora kids' are using anti-aging creams. A new study says harms aren't just skin deep
If you've recently witnessed a 10-year-old smear their face with an $80 anti-wrinkle cream — either in real life or in any number of "Get Ready With Me" TikTok videos — you're probably already aware of the "Sephora kids" skin-care trend that has young people clamouring for anti-aging products thanks in part to what they see on social media. Now, a new study published in Pediatrics this month, the first peer-reviewed paper of its kind, found that skin-care solutions promoted on TikTok not only offer little to no benefit for children and teens, but they can actually be harmful. And the risks go beyond skin damage (although, there is that, too), the authors note. "It's problematic to show girls devoting this much time and attention to their skin," corresponding author Dr. Molly Hales, a postdoctoral research fellow and dermatologist in the department of dermatology at Chicago's Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release. "We're setting a very high standard for these girls. The pursuit of health has become a kind of virtue in our society, but the ideal of 'health' is also very wrapped up in ideals of beauty, thinness and whiteness." The authors in the study analyzed 100 unique videos by content creators between the ages of seven and 18, with an average 1.1 million views each. On average, each regimen featured six products, totalling about $230 Cdn. On the higher end of the scale, some of the girls used more than a dozen products on their faces, the authors said. WATCH | Explaining the 'Sephora kids' trend: Breaking down the 'Sephora kids' trend 1 year ago Duration 8:18 Social media is abuzz about the number of tweens obsessed with makeup and skin care in a trend dubbed 'Sephora Kids.' CBC's Anya Zoledziowski explains how they're getting hooked and why experts have mixed opinions on whether we should be worried about it. They found that only a quarter of the skin-care routines included sunscreen use, the most popular videos contained an average of 11 irritating active ingredients for young skin (such as hydroxy acids) and the content creators often layered multiple active ingredients or the same one over and over in multiple products. In one video, the authors say, one girl applied 10 different products on her face in 10 minutes. The videos also sometimes had racially encoded language that emphasized "lighter brighter skin," the authors noted. The problem with 'Sephora kids' The "Sephora kids" trend, where children as young as eight or nine use anti-aging skin-care products purchased from beauty retailers such as Sephora, started rising in popularity last year — and so have attempts to stop it. In California, for example, Alex Lee, a member of the State Assembly, has been pushing a bill that would ban the sale of anti-aging products that contain potent and harsh ingredients to kids under the age of 18. In May, CBS reported that the bill quietly died without a vote. And last December, Quebec's Order of Chemists published a warning that some skin-care products designed for adults and popularized on social media should be avoided by children because the active ingredients can be harmful to young skin. The products often contain strong active ingredients that young skin isn't properly equipped to handle, said Dr. Julia Carroll, a dermatologist and lecturer at the University of Toronto, who was not involved in the current study. WATCH | Quebec chemists warn about skin-care products and tweens: Quebec chemists warn about children using certain skin-care products 7 months ago Duration 2:02 Quebec's Order of Chemists is warning that some skin-care products, designed for adults and popularized on social media, should be avoided by children because the active ingredients can be harmful to young skin. Younger skin is typically more sensitive, so ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids and retinoids can cause irritation, drying, peeling and dermatitis, Carroll told CBC News. "It can actually sensitize their skin and give them a lifelong allergy to an ingredient," she said. The trend also creates a dependency where kids think they need a 10-step routine, Carroll added, "when really they just need a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen." Gen Alpha drives sales Canadians spent almost $9 billion US on beauty and personal-care products in 2024. According to Statistics Canada, households started spending "substantially" more on personal care after the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing by 30 per cent in 2023 compared with 2021. Meanwhile, Generation Alpha continues to drive skin-care sales in the United States, according to recent Nielsen data. A global Mintel marketing intelligence report this year noted that this digital-first generation also has spending power projected to reach $5.5 trillion US by 2029, when the oldest of the cohort will be 19 years old. Members of Gen Alpha, who were born roughly between 2010 and 2024, see beauty influencers and their routines as sources of inspiration, the Mintel report says. "However, this acceleration into adult-oriented skin care often results in routines that prioritize appearance over health — a gap that the beauty industry must address," it adds. For now on TikTok, where there are some 18.3 million "Get Ready With Me" videos, Gen Alpha influencers show off their skin-care routines and "hauls" on videos with millions of views and comments. In the Pediatrics journal study, the authors found that these products tend to be marketed heavily to younger consumers. They also expressed concern that it's "nearly impossible" for parents and pediatricians to track exactly what children or adolescents are viewing. "We're seeing kids as young as eight or nine who are using anti-aging ingredients they picked up on TikTok," Carroll said. "You're setting kids up for an unrealistic beauty standard that isn't really appropriate for an eight-year-old, nine-year-old, 10-year-old. They already have usually pretty perfect skin, so to set them down that road that early can be quite harmful."
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The truth about 'Sephora kids' taking over TikTok: Children as young as 7 are using dozens of products on their faces - putting them at risk of lifelong skin allergies
The 'get ready with me' video is one of the most popular formats for TikTok influencers to show off their elaborate beauty regimes. Children dubbed 'Sephora kids' are getting involved in the trend, with terrifying consequences. Scientists from Northwestern University found that children as young as seven are using over a dozen products on their skin every day. These expensive routines are putting children at risk of skin irritation, sun sensitivity, and developing lifelong skin allergies. By creating dummy accounts posing as 13-year-olds the researchers collected 100 videos from the TikTok 'For You Page'. On average, girls aged between seven and 18 used six different skin care products in their routines, with some using far more. The survey also revealed the vast sums of money that youngsters are willing to spend on products. Teenagers' routines cost an average of $168 (£124) with some girls using products that cost over $500 (£370) in total. Searching for 'skin care' or 'skin care routine' on TikTok will return thousands of videos, many of which have hundreds of thousands or even millions of likes. These videos largely feature young women showing their complicated, multi-step skincare routines. For example, one video with over 4.1 million likes recommends a routine of six different treatments including Vitamin C cream, hyaluronic acid, and 'chemical exfoliants'. Yet the study found that many younger users on the app were showcasing routines with even more steps. While these routines promised to deliver 'glassy' or 'glowy' skin, the researchers found that they actually put teenagers at high risk of skin irritation. The top-viewed videos analysed by the researchers contained an average of 11 potentially irritating ingredients. Corresponding author Dr Molly Hales, a dermatologist at Northwestern University, says: 'That high risk of irritation came from both using multiple active ingredients at the same time, such as hydroxy acids. Those ingredients could trigger an allergic condition called contact dermatitis which can limit the kinds of soaps and shampoos that people can use for the rest of their lives. Dr Hales adds that there was also a risk from 'applying the same active ingredient unknowingly over and over again when that active ingredient was found in three, four, five different products.' However, the video creators appeared either unaware of the risks or unconcerned by the potential negative impacts. For example, in one video a young social media user applied 10 different products to her face in six minutes. Senior author Dr Tara Lagu, a pharmacist and health services researcher from Northwestern University, says: 'As she's applying the products, she begins to express discomfort and burning, and in the final few minutes, she develops a visible skin reaction.' In another post, a 'teenage girl in braces' smeared 14 products on her face while instructing her viewers on the proper methods of application. By the end of the video, the girl's face becomes visibly inflamed and red as she says: 'This is what my skin looks like. It is very glowy right now, I love it! But also, I just had some allergic reaction to something that I tried, so ignore how red my face is. 'I don't know what's happening. But if anybody knows how to get it to stop burning, that would be greatly appreciated, because it actually hurts a lot.' Additionally, the researchers found that the advice in these videos offered 'little to no benefit' to their intended audience. Researchers warn that using so many products risks causing skin irritation and developing skin allergies which can affect people for the rest of their lives For example, each of the top 25 most-viewed videos used an average of three products containing natural exfoliants called Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). While these can be used to treat acne, only eight of the 82 content creators had any visible blemishes. In these cases, the risk of developing contact dermatitis 'almost certainly' outweighs any potential benefits. In fact, only 26 per cent of the routines shown included suncream - which dermatologists say is the most useful part of any skin care routine and is especially important for children. Beyond simply giving bad skin care advice, the researchers also cautioned that these videos could be 'problematic' in other ways. Analysis of the videos showed a strong emphasis on lighter, brighter skin which could reinforce unattainable beauty standards. In the paper, published in Pediatrics, the researchers note that the videos encourage girls to pursue these goals under the guise of 'self-care'. Girls are shown waking up as early as 04:30 am in order to fit in an elaborate skin care and makeup routine before school. Dr Hales says: 'The insidious thing about 'skin care' is that it claims to be about health. 'It's problematic to show girls devoting this much time and attention to their skin. We're setting a very high standard for these girls. 'The pursuit of health has become a kind of virtue in our society, but the ideal of "health" is also very wrapped up in ideals of beauty, thinness and whiteness.' METHODS FOR PARENTS TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE Children as young as two are using social media, research from charity Barnardo's has suggested. Internet companies are being pushed to do more to combat harmful content online but parents can also take steps to alter how their children use the web. Here are some suggestions of how parents can help their children. Both iOS and Google offer features that enable parents to filter content and set time limits on apps. For iOS devices, such as an iPhone or iPad, you can make use of the Screen Time feature to block certain apps, content types or functions. On iOS, this can be done by going to settings and selecting Screen Time. For Android, you can install the Family Link app from the Google Play Store. Talk to your children Many charities, including the NSPCC, say talking to children about their online activity is vital to keep them safe. Its website features a number of tips on how to start a conversation with children about using social media and the wider internet, including having parents visit sites with their children to learn about them together and discussing how to stay safe online and act responsibly. There are tools available for parents to learn more about how social media platforms operate. Net Aware, a website run in partnership by the NSPCC and O2, offers information about social media sites, including age requirement guidance. The World Health Organisation recommends parents should limit young children to 60 minutes of screen time every day. The guidelines, published in April, suggest children aged between two and five are restricted to an hour of daily sedentary screen time.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I'm a top dermatologist and these are the three skincare brands I buy my teenage daughters: DR EMMA CRAYTHORNE
As a dermatologist and mother of three with two teenage daughters, I'm all too aware of the dangers – and potential benefits – of a recent social trend dubbed 'Sephora kids'. I'm referring to skincare-obsessed teens and tweens.
