Today in Focus The child skincare boom
Oct 28, 2024
Sali Hughes, The Guardian's resident beauty columnist and product creator, delves into the rising skincare obsession among children and teens. She discusses how societal pressures and social media, particularly TikTok, shape their routines and influence purchasing habits. The impact of high-end products and age-inappropriate marketing raises concerns about brand responsibility. Hughes emphasizes the need for proper education about skincare ingredients and encourages healthy habits with parental involvement for a more balanced approach to adolescent skincare.
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Nostalgic Beauty
- Helen Pidd reminisces about simpler teenage beauty routines involving affordable cosmetics from Boots and Miss Selfridge.
- This contrasts sharply with the current trend of expensive skincare.
Drunk Elephant Craze
- Helen Pidd's niece's fascination with Drunk Elephant highlights the brand's popularity among young people.
- A friend's stepdaughter was banned from Space NK for overspending, illustrating the financial burden of high-end skincare.
Luxury Objects
- Sali Hughes notes that Drunk Elephant's popularity among teens arose organically on TikTok, not through targeted marketing.
- Many teens treat these luxury products as ornaments for social media rather than practical skincare, raising questions about consumerism.