Children use expensive skin care products to prevent aging and fine lines. But experts in the Northeast say this may be futile.
During the holidays, Drunk Elephant skin care became a mainstay on wish lists, sending parents into beauty stores confused as to why their middle schoolers needed such expensive products.
The reason for this is social media, which not only popularized the brand but also the idea of developing a skin care regimen. According to research conducted by LendingTree, videos with the hashtag “skincare routine” have been viewed more than 76.4 billion times on TikTok, and Gen Z and Millennials spend more time on skin care than the average American. He is said to be spending money. Most Americans spend about $1,754 a year on cosmetics, but younger consumers spend more than $2,000 a year on hair and makeup.
Not surprisingly, the same study found that nearly half of Americans are influenced by social media when purchasing beauty products. This is why younger children are interested in Drunk Elephant, even though many of these products are aimed at reducing fine lines and tightening skin, a problem that teens don’t often face. Many parents said that
Some may wonder whether children should use these products. But Leila Delavi, associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern University, said that while these products can irritate young skin, they don’t cause damage. Furthermore, it fails to deliver on its anti-aging promise for children and adults.
“The thing about skincare in general is that a lot of it is marketing,” Delavi added. “It’s a story, it’s an anecdote. I strongly believe that there are certain products on the formula side that make a huge difference in collagen production and cell regeneration. You can’t get ahead of yourself.”
Although these treatments are touted to provide youthful-looking skin, they actually do nothing to the skin to prevent aging, which is a natural process, Delavi says.
Roger Giese, director of the Environmental Cancer Research Program and a professor of pharmacy at Northeastern University, said that despite the hype, aging over long periods of time is often difficult to study and its long-term effects are difficult to understand. He added that it is not very well known. time.
“I don’t think there’s been any clinical research done yet where we can say, ‘Okay, this really prevents aging,'” Gies says. “Data on aging is difficult to obtain because it takes so long to see results.”
With the exception of a few prescription retinols and serums, most of these high-end skin care serums and creams only hydrate the skin at best, Delavi added.
“Personally, I don’t think there’s much of a problem from a chemical standpoint with skin care as early as age 8 or 9,” she says. “[Skin care is]just a moisturizing regimen. The active ingredients in most anti-aging products are just enough to do surface-level activity and provide a level of very intense hydration that’s not very intense. …But at the end of the day, what’s really most important is protecting your skin from excessive sun exposure, moisturizing morning and night, and drinking water.”
These products can cause unnecessary stress on both the mind and wallet (especially for parents shopping for their children). It can also promote the kind of acne and inflammation that users want to avoid. Deravi said tweens and teens’ skin is likely to be more sensitive to products, and some products can cause irritation if they try them.
Another thing to consider is that not all products work for all skin types. Drunk Elephant products are all the rage, but this product may not be effective for some people, especially teens who are experiencing hormonal changes.
“Everyone has a different biology in their body,” Deravi said. “No two people’s cells respond the same way to any experience, whether it’s vitamin C or retinol. Everyone is very, very different.”
Delavi said the most important thing people can do for their skin is wear sunscreen. Too much exposure to UV rays can cause cellular changes that can lead to aging or worse, early signs of skin cancer.
“SPF is probably the most important thing you can do in the long run to prevent cell damage and wrinkle formation,” says Delavi. “Because once[that damage]happens, it’s irreversible. …Protect your skin with some kind of SPF every day and make sure you’re smart about what kind of sunscreen you use. please.”
