This article was written by a student writer from Casper Rivero’s Her Campus Chapter.
Serums, moisturizers, gua sha… these are all terms we’ve seen on social media, convincing us that it’s the “next big thing in skincare”, promoting improved blood circulation and boosting collagen production. It’s full of promises. But they all have one more thing in common. It’s a promise to slow down aging. Anti-aging skin care is not new to the dermatology market. The dermatology market is always looking for new solutions and is often filled with empty promises, but according to Retail Intelligence, it has experienced significant growth over the past few years, for example.platform trendalyticssearches for Botox, dermal fillers, and retinol increased by 63% in 2023.
While the desire to be “eternally young” is not new, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are rapidly becoming obsessed with aging at a much younger age, starting as young children. This is rapidly leading to a phenomenon like Sephora Kids becoming obsessed with makeup, and there are a lot more seams. It is related to the natural evolution of the skin. Wrinkles, age spots, and laxity are all common aspects of the passage of time, and while we can’t stop them, we still seem to be terrified of what we know is coming. In 2023, TikTok seemed like a stupid trend. It is a filter that allows users to get a glimpse of their future selves. You might even remember famous people like: kylie jenner I’m playing with trends. result? A look of fear and despair.
From older women who are insecure about their skin to kids applying retinol to their perfectly youthful skin, the anti-aging market seems to be becoming a part of everyone’s routine in some way. But where is the line drawn between skin care and self-care and the obsession with not aging?
Gen Z’s fear of aging
hashtag#sephora kids has posted more than 8,000 posts on TikTok, demonstrating the growing interest in makeup and skin care among young children. Many factors come into play when analyzing this interest, but one undeniable factor is the early presence of social media. “In the internet age, children tend to imitate what they see. Many of them also observe obsessive habits related to perfection and beauty on social media. An increasingly widespread skin care culture. includes promoting a routine that involves applying multiple products that may be used on skin that doesn’t suit you due to lack of information. Achievement facilitated by this skin obsession “The combination of impossible beauty standards and societal pressure to maintain a perfect image has led to a disorder known as cosmetic anorexia, which is characterized by excessive purchase and use of skin care products.” . Larissa Fonsecapsychologist, member of the Brazilian Psychological Association.
No matter which social platform you prefer, it’s virtually impossible to escape skincare tips and Sephora information. This information tends to make us think that something new is urgently needed. drunk elephant I didn’t know anything about serums other than they kept my skin looking youthful and had colorful packaging that would look great on any cabinet. “The obsession with anti-aging skin care also comes from the dermatology industry’s idea of creating playful, highly colorful packaging that captures the attention of teenagers and young adults, but whose compositions often contain active ingredients that should not be used. , in fact, is a matter of dermatological surveillance”, points claudia marsaldermatologist, member of the Brazilian Dermatological Association.
But what’s behind the need to constantly take care of your skin from such a young age? There are over 26,000 posts on TikTok with the hashtag #antiageing, which is “anti-aging secrets you need to know.” It’s full of products that will keep your skin looking youthful. The danger behind those “tips” is not that it starts with the propaganda of lack of confidence that it stimulates the brain, but that the brain is currently programmed to think that aging must be stopped at all costs. However, that’s because For You is not made by a licensed dermatologist, and it is unclear what ingredients are in the bottle and how they will affect different skin types. It’s made by ordinary people who simply tested the product and liked it, without knowing what it was.
Claudia even explains that with the rise of social media, we are constantly being watched, and it can be for selfies or online meetings, and you know, we have to look perfect all the time. Always have flawless skin without acne or wrinkles. Teenagers start using these skin care products due to societal pressure to hide imperfections such as acne. They see influencers, bloggers, idols, models, and important people with beautiful, glowing skin, and they use concealer on their dark circles to brighten their under-eyes, mascara, and other skincare routines. I will. getting older. They want to keep that babyface forever. ”
Growth of anti-aging business
Whether it’s skin care or facial treatments, the anti-aging business has boomed in recent years in response to demand. Although a market’s strategy for selling a product involves a lot of logistics, it is important to understand the growth within the market, and not only those who are already in middle age, but also those who are still showing growth. It’s also of interest to people who don’t have it. signs of aging.
“The increased need to use anti-aging products can be attributed to a variety of factors, including social pressure, idealized standards of beauty, and concerns about appearance as we age. There is often an emphasis on looking youthful, and the obsession with maintaining a youthful appearance has led many adults to pursue products that claim to delay the onset of signs of aging. ” explains the psychologist.
With the expansion of anti-aging propaganda from our favorite self-care influencers, society has become primarily focused on women and always concerned with their appearance and eternal youth. Is my skin glowing enough?No, you should buy it drunk elephantgolden drops. Does my family have a close history of wrinkles? I should start using retinol as soon as possible. These thoughts cross many people’s minds and they end up buying any product that can help them stay young.
The pursuit of eternal youth can eventually affect your self-esteem as your skin eventually shows signs of aging. Also, using skin care that doesn’t suit your age needs or skin type can have the opposite effect. And it can create unrealistic expectations and perpetuate the idea that aging is ugly and should be avoided at all costs. “As a result, you may feel inadequate or dissatisfied as you get older, which can have a negative impact on your self-esteem and confidence. Additionally, if you’re constantly worrying about your appearance, you may feel inadequate or dissatisfied. , which can lead to a preoccupation with aging and decreased self-acceptance, which can have a negative impact on emotional and psychological health in the long term,” added Larissa.
The beauty industry continues to exaggerate unrealistic ideals and promises at a cost to women. The concept of beauty is shown to us by models, mostly under their 30s, arranged in the most attractive way, and the photos are retouched to remove flaws and shortcomings. Therefore, we are led to believe that youth is beauty and anything else is abomination. That’s not beauty.
The skin care industry is expected to grow by $63 billion by 2024, and companies are poised to profit by launching more products that claim to have more benefits for skin, despite a lack of scientific evidence. It has gained. Therefore, it is important to remember that the fetishization of youth is created by the dermatology and cosmetics industries to feed people’s insecurities.
Who should use anti-aging products?
Today, any skin care product is available at your fingertips or at your local Sephora. While this has made skin care much more accessible, we also tend to buy things in packages without really analyzing the possible effects. It may even be in our skin. “The skin is made up of several layers and various components. Its outermost layer is the skin barrier. This barrier matures over the years and protects the skin from pollution, dirt, and microorganisms, as well as providing moisture to the skin. However, during childhood, around the age of 9 or 10, the skin barrier is not fully developed and can be easily damaged by active anti-aging ingredients such as vitamin C. there is.” Paola Pomerantsevdermatologist, member of the Brazilian Dermatological Association.
Therefore, dermatologists still point out that anti-aging products such as vitamin C and soft acids should begin to be used by the age of 20, while more powerful ingredients such as retinol can only be used by the age of 30. Masu. elephant! “The skin aging process begins between the ages of 28 and 30 and varies from person to person. A dermatological examination will determine the ideal age of onset. It’s best to start with the ideal skin care regimen tailored to your skin type and specific needs,” he added.
“These products are used to hydrate through the substance we use most today, actually hyaluronic acid, an established molecule with several different molecular weights. So this hydration It is done in a different layer of the skin than the dermis and avoids transdermal moisture loss, preserving the skin’s radiance and reflectivity,” explains Claudia.
Risk
One of the main concerns about using anti-aging skin care is the side effects that can occur if you use it incorrectly or too soon. Even if it does have some effect, the creams I use are very concentrated and often don’t have enough active ingredients, which can cause allergies, irritation, redness, peeling, and even acne-like rashes. It can cause complications because it can cause an outbreak. Because these products should not be used in this age group, and in fact they should not be used, ”explains dermatologist Claudia.
Paola also adds that when used on young skin, it can actually have the opposite effect and accelerate the aging process due to breakdown of the dermis and loss of elasticity. “Furthermore, the constant quest for a youthful and perfect appearance can lead to aging, especially if we constantly measure ourselves against unattainable and unrealistic beauty standards promoted by the media and social norms.” and can exacerbate self-image insecurities,” says Larissa.
Has beauty become scary?
Has beauty become scary? That’s the main question I tried to answer in this article, and my answer is “no”. In reality, beauty is never scary or even meant to attack people’s insecurities and profit from them. It’s not just beauty. In my opinion, what has become “terrible” is the dermatology industry, which continues to promote the illusion of eternal youth coupled with happiness and social acceptance.
There is a scene that I think everyone remembers. barbie (2023) really resonated with the true concept of beauty. In the clip, margot robbie When you are sitting at a bus stop in the real world, you see an old lady next to you. She said Barbie told her she was beautiful and the old woman replied, “I know.” That is the beauty of truly embracing time. The truth is that you can’t stop the reflection of time on your skin, but isn’t that actually a beautiful thing? It is the world’s way of portraying you, your victories and successes, your love, and your family. That means tossing your vitamin C serum in the back of your cabinet. It’s not the time to use it yet.
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The above article was edited by Duda Kabzas.
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