On May 8, 2024, the Mercury News featured a bill in the US state of California that would ban the sale of certain anti-aging products to children under the age of 13.1 More specifically, the bill would ban the sale of “over-the-counter (OTC) skin care products or cosmetics advertised to combat skin aging that contain vitamin A or its derivatives.” [including but not limited to retinoids and retinol] or alpha hydroxy acids [including, but not limited to, glycolic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or citric acid]”, as of January 1, 2025. You will also need to verify the age of the purchaser.2
Related article: California considering ban on Gen Alpha anti-aging skin care
The Guardian newspaper reported3 In March, Swedish pharmacy Apotek Hjaltat was banned from selling anti-aging skincare products to consumers under the age of 15 without parental consent due to the “possibility of harmful effects”. According to Bloomberg, when Bubble Skin Care launched its exfoliating serum in the U.S. earlier this year, the company told many prepubescent consumers that they should not buy the serum because it was “too harsh” for their skin. He advised her not to do so.Four
national geographicFive Concerns about potential negative effects extended further to children’s mental health. In April, the headline was “What is fear of aging doing to children’s mental health?” The story refers to the so-called “Sephora Kids” effect, in which age-obsessed teenagers begin raiding retail stores in search of “a drug that supposedly keeps them young forever.” is.
mercury news1 continued with the story of a 14-year-old girl interested in skin care who was using her mother’s anti-aging products, which contained ingredients such as retinol and hyaluronic acid. Although these are known to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, they left her young face red and blotchy. This is one of her relatively minor examples of what’s all the fuss about: concerns that anti-aging products used by young consumers could potentially be harmful.
Who is the culprit? Social media.
Where do they get this idea from in the first place? Many sources point to social media. In January, the BBC reported on the “Sephora Kids” phenomenon, citing the hashtag #sephora or #sephorakids on TikTok and Instagram.6 The Guardian highlighted that TikTok has millions of videos dedicated to teenage girls using skincare, and that a younger generation of influencers is emerging. “[I]”Now the Kardashians are sharing their skincare routines online,” the Guardian reported.7
An April report in The Week said, “Social media is encouraging children and teens to seek anti-aging skin treatments much earlier than necessary.” …The never-ending quest to prevent aging continues as younger people choose to undergo preventive cosmetic surgery before the signs of aging appear. ” The official added that the influence of social media is only increasing and that “getting old becomes obsolete.”8
fear of aging
“Today’s young people perceive aging to be a rather frightening event,” explains dermatologist Dr. Zoe Diana Drellos. “This is unfortunate, because aging is a part of life, just like eating and sleeping. This concern has led teenagers to assume that if they start anti-aging activities while they’re young, they won’t look older.” This led me to consider anti-aging products and treatments at a young age.There is no evidence that this claim is true.
She continued, “Currently, teenagers are opting for botulinum toxin injections before they develop wrinkles in the forehead, glabellar area, and around the eyes. The 65-year-old woman looks younger than others who have received botulinum toxin injections all their lives. Or? I don’t really understand.
“However, there are some considerations to discuss. There is good evidence that after long-term injections, the forehead and glabellar muscles begin to atrophy or shrink as they are no longer used. This is true for all parts of the body. It happens in the muscles. As soon as weightlifters stop lifting weights, they begin to lose muscle mass, and the muscles in their arms and legs have to resume loading to regain the lost muscle mass. Although they cannot be increased in mass like facial muscles, they do take up space under the skin, so there is concern that a decrease in facial muscle mass will actually result in a loss of facial skin. This may cause wrinkles.
“It is thought that botulinum toxin may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face by preventing muscles from pulling on the skin to which they attach. This is possible. However, while using botulinum toxin, However, the face ages when exposed to sunlight.
topical concerns
Regarding topical products, Doleros says: “Many young people also purchase topical preparations containing anti-aging ingredients such as retinoids, bakuchiol, green tea, growth factors and exosomes. Is it worth using anti-aging moisturizers from a young age? ” Yes, applying moisturizer to your skin may help. Humectants protect the skin barrier and actives protect against oxidative stress.
“Films on the skin surface can trap nanoparticles contained in pollutants and prevent them from touching the skin and inducing reactive oxygen species. Topical antioxidants can also quench reactive oxygen species. It is not proven that moisturizers have an anti-aging effect if started young, but aging is best addressed in the preventive phase, not the restorative treatment phase.
She said the high concentration of anti-aging ingredients could be a concern for young skin. “Ingredients used in cosmetics must be safe because they are found on both adult and children’s skin. However, the ingredients can cause irritation, which is more common in young skin. Possible, e.g. retinol [can be irritating] It is present in the skin of both adults and young people and can cause retinoid dermatitis. ”
So what can young consumers do to maintain their appearance safely? “Looking young means protecting yourself from sunburn and avoiding the sun,” Dueros replied. “It also means a healthy diet rich in antioxidants and a healthy body that gets enough rest and avoids excessive alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and e-cigarette consumption. Healthy skin also means a healthy body that is free from pollution. That means avoiding exposure to exposed areas and wearing sunscreen. You can start these youthful lifestyle habits as a teenager and still look great at age 65.”
Alpha generation: large group and responsible
While the risk and benefit factors of anti-aging skin care for teenagers are being debated, what isn’t at issue is the purchasing power of these young consumers. Also known as Alpha generation (born between 2010 and 2024). global cosmetics industry Generation Alpha continues to drive luxury beauty sales in households with incomes of $100,000 or more, with households with children growing at twice the rate of households without children, according to previously reported Circana data. It is said that they are doing so.9
Notably, “spending per purchaser was directly influenced by the presence of children. Households with children spent on average five times more per purchaser in the first quarter than households without children.” It has increased by a percentage.” Generation Alpha households are also more brand conscious than other generations and often engage with more categories than other generations. For example, 44% of US adults with children of all ages purchased skin care, perfume, makeup, and hair care in the past three months. However, 60% of parents of children aged 6 to 11 purchased hair care products for their children in the past three months, and 46% purchased skin care products. Interestingly, 30% of this group bought cosmetics and 20% bought perfume for their child in the past three months.9
The Piper Sandler Companies’ 47th biannual “Taking Stock With Teens” study reports that as of spring 2024, U.S. teens will spend $339 on beauty, an 8% increase from the previous year. ing. This marks the highest amount spent since spring 2018.Ten
Given that tweens are at the center of purchasing power and product demand, it’s only a matter of time before “anti-aging” (or “non-aging”?) products targeted at tweens hit store shelves.
References
1. Lamb, S. (May 8, 2024). “Age comes before beauty?” California bill seeks to ban sales of anti-aging cosmetics to children. Mercury News. Available at https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/05/08/age-before-beauty-proused-california-bill-seeks-to-ban-sales-of-anti-aging-cosmetic-products-to- possible children/
2. Rigiscan. (Accessed May 10, 2024). California Assembly Bill 2491. Available at https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB2491/id/2988046
3. Bryant, M. (2024, March 20). A Swedish pharmacy has banned the sale of anti-aging skin care products to children. Guardian. Available at https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/20/swedish-pharmacy-bans-sale-of-anti-aging- From possible skin care to children
4. J. Neumann (April 5, 2024). Skincare-obsessed tweens make brands say, “Don’t buy my stuff.” Bloomberg. Available at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-05/sephora-kids-trend-sparks-warning-from-brands-tweens-don-t-buy?embedded-checkout=true&leadSource= possibleuverify%20wall
5. E. Blakemore (April 3, 2024). How does our fear of aging affect our children’s mental health? National Geographic. Available at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/sephora-kids-mental-health-aging
6. Taylor, M. (2024, January 22). Sephora Kids and the rapidly growing business of beauty products for children. BBC. Available at https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240119-sephora-kids-and-the-booming-business-of-beauty-products-for-children
7. Marsh, S. (2024, April 20). “The Kardashians share their skin care routines,” says an expert on Gen Z’s aging obsessions. Guardian. Available at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/20/young-people-skincare-gen-z-ageing-fixation
8. Rao, D. (2024, April 3). Here is a generation that will never grow old. 1 week. Available at https://theweek.com/health/youth-anti-aging-social-media
9. Global cosmetics industry. (May 8, 2023). 9 Favorite Beauty Brands of Generation Alpha. https://www.gcimagazine.com/consumers-markets/article/22909333/gen-alphas-9-favorite-beauty-brands
10. Global cosmetics industry. (May 1, 2024). Teens x beauty, growing love. Available at https://www.gcimagazine.com/consumers-markets/article/22892620/teens-x-beauty-a-growing-love-affair
