Hordes of Ten-Year Olds Are Raiding Sephora For These Anti-Aging Products

TikTok’s latest beauty drama centers on an unexpected group: 10-year-olds. This controversy involves young children asking their parents for products from high-end brands like Drunk Elephant, leading to chaotic scenes in stores like Sephora, where they eagerly raid shelves. Beyond the immediate disruption in stores and product shortages, concerns arise about pre-teens using these products. Many skincare products contain ingredients designed for specific skin conditions and may be harsh for young, developing skin, potentially posing unknown long-term effects.

As children approach puberty, their skin undergoes significant changes:

• Thickness: The skin typically becomes thicker during puberty.
• Sebum Production: Sebaceous glands increase sebum production in puberty, leading to oilier skin and potentially causing acne.
• Barrier Function: Pre-teens have a less developed skin barrier function compared to adults.
• Collagen: While collagen levels decrease with age, pre-teens generally have higher collagen levels, contributing to more elastic skin.
• Hormonal Balance: Significant hormonal changes during puberty directly impact skin health.

These Sephora pre-teens are obsessing over products formulated for anti-aging, skin rejuvenation, and wrinkle reduction, which are not suitable for their age group. Ingredients like retinol and exfoliants (AHAs and BHAs) can cause skin irritation and disrupt the natural skin barrier. The long-term hormonal effects of these products on pre-teens are yet to be fully understood and require further study.

However, there are suitable skincare products for pre-teens that can help protect and maintain their skin health:

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a crucial part of skincare, even for children as young as six months. For this age group, a physical sunscreen is often recommended due to its gentleness on sensitive skin.

• Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer™ Physical Daily Defense Face Sunscreen SPF 30: This sunscreen is safe for pre-teen skin, containing 20% zinc oxide. However, a combination of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is generally recommended for broader protection. Priced at $34 for 3 oz, it may not be the most cost-effective choice.

Alternatives to consider:

• EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47: A better value option, this sunscreen includes 10% zinc oxide and 5.5% titanium dioxide, offering comprehensive protection. It’s priced at $36 for 4 fl oz, making it a more economical choice per ounce.
• CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Lotion: For an even more budget-friendly alternative, this sunscreen, at $13.99 for 2.5 oz, contains 7% zinc oxide and 9% titanium dioxide, providing effective protection at a lower cost.

Gentle cleanser

Using a gentle cleanser can be beneficial for pre-teens. It helps maintain hygiene and introduces them to skincare routines.

• Drunk Elephant Beste™ №9 Jelly Cleanser: This cleanser, priced at $34 for 5 oz, is formulated with mild surfactants suitable for pre-teen skin. However, its higher price point may be a consideration, especially for children who are still learning to use products sparingly.

A more affordable alternative:

• First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser: This cleanser is also designed for sensitive skin, using gentle surfactants. At $24 for 5 oz, it offers a more wallet-friendly option for pre-teen

Moisturizer

Incorporating a gentle moisturizer into a child’s skincare routine can be advantageous and typically poses no harm. However, for children and pre-teens dealing with specific skin conditions like eczema, their skincare might need to include specialized ingredients or products tailored to address these unique concerns.

• Drunk Elephant Protini™ Polypeptide Firming Refillable Moisturizer: While this moisturizer targets anti-aging and boosts collagen production, it may not be suitable for pre-teens who naturally possess more resilient skin with higher collagen levels. The presence of AHAs like lactic and glycolic acid, may be overly harsh for the delicate skin of pre-teens, potentially leading to irritation. Considering its price of $68 for 1.69 oz, this product might be more suitable for adults rather than children.

Gentler alternatives:

• Naturium Niacinamide Gel Cream 5%: Priced at $19 for 1.7 oz, this moisturizer is gentle enough for pre-teen skin and offers a luxurious feel. It includes niacinamide, which is mild enough for younger skin and offers added hydration benefits.
• CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion: As a drugstore alternative, this lotion at $13.77 for 3 oz is very cost-effective. It includes ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide in a formulation suitable for pre-teen skin.

If anything, the recent unfolding of drama do offer valuable insights into the profound impact of social media on children’s views of beauty. It’s a situation that ideally would motivate skincare and beauty brands to take more responsible actions. This could involve adding clear disclaimers to their products, particularly those not suited for young, sensitive skin. Equally important is the role of parents in this scenario. Given the influence of beauty trends and social media, it’s hoped that parents will become more vigilant in researching and understanding the ingredients in skincare products their children are showing interest in.