Scientists warn of a trend: children and teens frequently use beauty products promising lighter, brighter skin, raising health concerns. How young is too young, and can self-care be taken too far? Scientists raise these questions as the trend continues to spread online.
Beauty products have long boosted confidence. However, should a seven-year-old use dozens of skincare products daily?
Social Media’s Influence
Unfortunately, a new study from Northwestern University, published in the journal Pediatrics, has revealed that teenagers who have become obsessed with social media and “get-ready-with-me” videos are damaging their health in their quest for glowing, glass, and clear skin.
Corresponding study author, Dr. Molly Hales, a postdoctoral research fellow and a board-certified dermatologist at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, broke down some of the alarming numbers and facts she uncovered while working on the matter.
Hales stated that, according to a survey she conducted in 2024, more than three-quarters of parents (76%) reported that their 7- to 17-year-old girls have a skincare routine. Both Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian‘s daughters, North and Penelope, used social media to demonstrate their skin routines when they were pre-teens.
The expert did not mince her words, saying things had gotten out of control. She revealed, “It’s problematic to show girls devoting this much time and attention to their skin.”
For this study, Dr. Hales and a group of researchers created multiple TikTok accounts and pretended to be teens in search of the Fountain of Youth. According to The New York Post, the scientists collected “100 unique videos suggested in the ‘For You’ tab. They analyzed the demographics of content creators, the products used, and the total cost of routines.” The researchers were left stunned to discover that girls between the ages of 7 and 18 are using an average of six facial beauty products simultaneously. The products featured in the top-viewed videos contained an average of 11 active ingredients.
The Dangers Of Overuse
In one video that stood out for all the wrong reasons, a teen girl on a mission to achieve perfect skin applied 10 products to her face in under six minutes. Needless to say, the young woman did not obtain the results she desired. Hales pointed to the obvious: the overuse of beauty products harmed the teen.
The health specialist was alarmed after witnessing a young influencer develop a visible skin reaction, which included burning and significant discomfort from applying too many products that contained conflicting active ingredients. Increased sun sensitivity and the development of permanent skin allergies are also the consequences of using too many products.
The Financial Burden
Another adverse effect of the consumption-driven craze is drained bank accounts. According to the study, children and teens are spending a significant amount on beauty products, with an average monthly spend of $168. The burgeoning trend has others throwing $500 per month on beauty products, often forgetting the most important one: sunscreen.
Sun protection has proven to prevent long-term damage, including skin cancer, yet only 26% of teens include sun protection in their daytime skincare routines.
Mental And Emotional Toll
Too much focus on a beauty regimen can also cause mental harm and even lead to lower self-esteem. Senior study author, Dr. Tara Lagu, an adjunct lecturer of medicine and medical social sciences at Feinberg, remarks that the unrealistic pressure to conform to impossible beauty standards is concerning.
Lagu shared, “The pursuit of health has become a kind of virtue in our society, but the ideal of ‘health’ is also very wrapped up in ideals of beauty, thinness, and whiteness. The insidious thing about ‘skincare’ is that it claims to be about health.”
Hales concluded, “We’re setting a very high standard for these girls.”
A spokesperson for TikTok defended the platform, stating that it only accepts users 13 and older and deletes creators who are caught lying about their age.
