Emily Chan applies lotion in her room on Sunday, May 5, 2024 in Palo Alto, California. Emily Chan and her mother Carol are sponsoring a state bill that could ban the sale of anti-aging cosmetics to children under 13. Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Emily Chan, a 14-year-old with an interest in skin care, thought that applying her mother’s high-end anti-aging products to her face could nourish her skin.
What she didn’t know was that the cream contained ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid. Both improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by increasing skin cell production, but they can also cause irritation that causes redness and itching, especially in younger skin.
The Palo Alto eighth-grader learned that the hard way when her face started to turn red and develop spots.
“I used her products without realizing that my skin was quite sensitive,” Emily said. “Now I have to be careful about the products I use.”
Although anti-aging products are generally aimed at people over 30, Emily said she often sees teenagers buying them and using them in videos on social media. That’s why she supports a bill introduced last month by state Rep. Alex Lee, a 28-year-old Milpitas Democrat. The bill would ban the sale of anti-aging skin care products and cosmetics containing certain ingredients, such as retinol, to children under 13. .
More and more children and teenagers are exposed to adult skin care products through social media and purchasing them at trendy retailers, a phenomenon that has been dubbed “Sephora Kids” after the popular beauty products store. The anti-aging products market is expected to reach 10.14 billion in 2023 and 16.38 billion by 2030, according to a January market research report.
Using products containing retinol or acids at a young age can cause eczema and irritant contact dermatitis, says Sunil Dhawan, a dermatologist at Milpitas and Fremont-based Dermatology Center.
“Increasingly, the children we see as patients are undergoing multiple treatments and activities for no good reason other than what they see on TikTok or Instagram,” Dhawan said. said. “It’s amazing how they refuse to accept the fact that their products are making their eczema worse. They use harsh retinol-based products that are not suitable for young children or young sensitive skin. Because it is.”
If passed, AB 2491 would prohibit things like placing notices next to products or online descriptions stating that they are not for children under 13, or requiring buyers to verify their age with an ID. It would require companies to take steps to comply.
“That’s why (this bill) goes after the sale of anti-aging products,” Lee said. “Because now it’s so easy for kids to walk up and buy it off the shelf.”
However, the Personal Care Products Council, a Washington, D.C.-based industry group that represents hundreds of global cosmetics and personal care product companies, opposed the bill and said it would “use legislative power to stop social media trends.” “This is a hastily drafted attempt to enforce the law.” All ingredients covered by this bill are safe when used at appropriate ages and as directed. ”
The bill recently passed the state’s Environmental Safety and Toxic Substances Committee and now goes to the Appropriations Committee, which reviews all bills that affect finances after passing through the Policy Committee.
The proposal is the first of its kind in California, but age-related cosmetic bans have been enacted in other jurisdictions. In March, Swedish pharmacy chain Apotek Hjaltat, which has about 390 pharmacies in Sweden, began restricting the sale of advanced skin care products such as retinol and alpha hydroxy acids to customers under 15.
Emily’s mother, Carol Chan, also supported the ban, but said stores should not sell anti-aging products to children. She hopes this bill will raise her awareness about the importance of checking product ingredients.
“We just see buzzwords like ‘anti-wrinkle’ and ‘anti-aging’ but don’t understand what ingredients are actually in them,” says Chan. “It’s scary; I don’t even realize it. I don’t think an 11-year-old or a 13-year-old is really considerate. “I just think it smells good, it feels good, and it’s free. It’s on the counter, so I’ll try it.
However, other young people have some concerns about implementing a total ban.
Noga Arditi, a 13-year-old from Palo Alto, believes preteens should be able to choose whether or not to purchase cosmetics.
“Kids should learn about
Palo Alto resident Ellen Payne said she would like to see more research done on the long-term effects of using anti-aging products on children before deciding whether to support the bill. .
“I would like to know more about the scientific basis for this bill,” she said. “The harmful effects[of anti-aging products]have on the skin further influence social and psychological effects.”
Her 12-year-old daughter Tessa, who is particular about using moisturizer and sunscreen, wonders why Sephora kids her age use such products in the first place.
“From the videos I’ve seen, they seem annoying. There’s really no need to use them,” she said. “They’re already pretty young. They don’t need to look young.”
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