Gen Z and Gen Alpha are afraid of getting older. Social media is encouraging children and teens to take anti-aging skin treatments much earlier than necessary. Using harsh chemicals on young skin can cause a myriad of other symptoms and allergic reactions. The never-ending quest to prevent aging continues as younger people choose to undergo preventive cosmetic surgery before the signs of aging appear. As the influence of social media continues to grow, growing older is becoming obsolete.
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Thanks to social media, children and teens are being drawn into the world of anti-aging. Today’s young people, considered “Sephora kids,” are flocking to beauty stores for skin care products that were never designed for them. According to one study, teens will spend 33% more on cosmetics in 2023 than they did in 2022, and 19% more on skin care. report Written by Piper Sandler. “They’re celebrating birthdays at Sephora, talking about the chemistry of beauty products, exchanging samples, and sending each other videos of their morning skincare routines.” NPR.
Products coveted by today’s youth include ingredients like vitamin C and retinol, which are powerful and made to be used on older skin. Dermatologist Dr. Andrew Kane said: “It’s alarming to see so many children getting hooked on skincare routines that weren’t designed for them.” . ITV News. Children’s “skin barrier is more sensitive to the active ingredients in these products.”
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Many are placing the blame on influencers and cosmetics companies.Drunk Elephant, a brand popular among the Alpha generation, is said to be characterized by its bright colors. salon. Influencers are also sharing their “elaborate, glamorous routines.” Dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffey said: USA Today “Skincare and some of these brands have become status symbols.”
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Children’s interest in high-end skin care products can be not only expensive but also harmful. “They don’t understand how the skin works, and they don’t understand that you can’t just throw everything at this wall,” Jeffy says.
ITV News said: “Many trendy creams are harmless, but there are concerns about products specifically designed for older people’s skin.” “Powerful ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, hydroxy acids, and others labeled as ‘whitening’ or ‘anti-aging’ can cause lasting damage if used incorrectly.” Using too many strong skin care products “can cause a contact dermatitis-like rash,” said Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital. health.
He said that young skin has “rich collagen, rapid cell metabolism, and less accumulated damage.” Axios. “At nine or 10 years of age, the skin barrier is not fully formed and can be easily damaged by products containing active ingredients such as vitamins A and C.” CNN. Skin care is important for all ages, but young skin doesn’t need harsh chemicals.
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Younger generations’ obsession with anti-aging highlights the huge influence of social media on beauty standards. “With filters, people don’t really seem to understand what their skin looks like,” cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong told Axios. Instead, the skin’s normal texture appears defective.a 2021 survey Of 200 American teens, 87% said they use filters on social media, and nearly 1 in 5 said they use a beauty filter on every post.
Fear of growing old has spilled over into young adults. CNN reported, “A growing number of people under 30 in the United States are spending thousands of dollars on cosmetic procedures such as fillers, skin resurfacing treatments, and neuromodulating injections such as Botox.” In many cases, there will be little or no wrinkles and instead use these steps as a preventive measure. Social media perpetuates negative views about aging, exacerbating young people’s anxieties much earlier.
Nevertheless, it is not optimal to ignore the concerns of younger generations. “Gen Z and Alpha’s interest in skin care may well reflect a yearning for self-care and purpose during uncertain times,” clinical psychology says, providing “stability when things feel out of control.” said academic and co-researcher Dr. Daniel Glaser. The founder of Therapy Room goes to the salon. “Rather than condemning their attempts at control and self-soothing, I believe we must guide young people to channel this energy into realms that uplift humanity.” Keep the mirror pointed only at ourselves. It’s not.
