Are Sephora Kids Damaging Their Skin? The Shocking Truth About Tweens Using Adult Skincare
The “Sephora Kids” trend is causing serious concern among skincare professionals and parents alike. A shocking new survey reveals that over 25% of UK children aged 9-12 (tweens) are now using adult skincare products containing potent active ingredients like retinol and AHAs – ingredients that can seriously damage developing young skin.
This alarming phenomenon, fueled by TikTok beauty influencers and eye-catching product packaging, has led to nearly half of tweens experiencing redness, irritation, and skin damage. As children as young as 7 share their skincare routines on social media, parents are left wondering: how did we get here, and more importantly, how can we protect our children’s skin?
In this blog post we’ll explore the dangerous “Sephora Kids” craze, examine the real impact on young skin, and provide our advice on age-appropriate skincare that actually protects rather than harms your child’s natural skin barrier.
#StaySkinSHARP campaign
When British skincare brand Pai carried out a survey of 1,500 girls (and their parents) about their use of skincare, we were absolutely shocked at the results. Did you know that more than 1 in 4 (25.7%) of UK children aged 9-12 are using adult skincare products containing strong active ingredients like retinol and AHAs?
This is a striking statistic. As a mum of two girls, I have always been grateful to schools and nurseries for drumming in the importance of using sunscreen when playing outdoors. Having said that, I remember being berated by my then 5 year old for not putting sunscreen on her when on our way to Waitrose by car! Perhaps a little extreme but she now has a good understanding of when it is important!
So, I suppose I always thought that the young generation will grow up with healthy skin, minimal sun damage and minimal premature ageing. Could we potentially be out of work in 20 years?! So hearing statistics like the one above – and I will share more with you – was kind of heartbreaking.
All credit to Pai Skincare for the good work they have done and people like Lisa Oxenham, who have stood up, called this out and shared the #StaySkinSHARP campaign. As a skincare specialist, a clinic owner, a registered clinical pharmacist and of course as a mum, I felt the need to make my voice heard too.
The Survey
The survey was carried out on tweens (children aged between 9-12) Let’s look at the results:
- Nearly half (44%) of tweens surveyed have developed redness, itching or irritation after using skincare products.
- 46% of tweens aged 9-12 are actively using multiple skincare products weekly (two-three products).
- 81% of parents claim to be aware of the ingredients in their child’s skincare, however 55% of tweens say they don’t check product labels themselves.
- 58% of tweens receive skincare as gifts, suggesting family and friends play a key role in product choices.
- 48.4% of tweens say they use skincare products because they want clearer, blemish-free skin.
- 59.8% of tweens still look to parents for skincare advice, suggesting there is an opportunity to guide this demographic toward safer choices.
Where is this interest coming from?
Unfortunately, tweens are scrolling through content creators’ beauty regimes on TikTok and YouTube and deciding that they should be using the same adult skincare products containing potent active ingredients. This is so different from the attraction to makeup that we all went through, as makeup didn’t damage our skin to any great extent. In fact it only covered up our beautiful young skin that we should have been showing off.
The new phenomenon of ‘Sephora Kids’ is driving this craze. Sephora is a US store that sells all things makeup and skincare. We have a few in the UK too. Charlotte Cripps in The Independent reports 7 year olds sharing their skincare regimes on TikTok. I have to admit, this makes me feel nauseous.
On top of this, we have brands with packaging that is so appealing to young girls with bright colours and images – perfect for content creation. Also, the use of fragrance such as watermelon or strawberry in an acid containing serum is just plain wrong. What adult woman wants a strawberry flavoured serum on their face?
What is the effect on young skin?
We’ve already touched on the fact that nearly half (44%) of tweens surveyed have developed redness, itching or irritation after using adult skincare products. This really is inevitable.
The skin barrier of a child this age is not fully developed and therefore not able to withstand the harsh effects of ingredients such as retinol or AHAs (alphahydroxy acids). With the disruption to the skin microbiome that this also causes, children’s skin is left more vulnerable to damage, stripped of essential moisture and prone to increased sensitivity and even conditions such as eczema.
What is the #StaySkinSHARP campaign?
Considering the cost of many of these skincare products that tweens are using, it is clear that parents are likely buying them. This leads us to believe that there is a knowledge gap. Let’s face it, many people I see in clinic have heard of Retinol but don’t know a great deal about it. How can we expect the majority of the population to know?
This is where the #StaySkinSHARP campaign comes in. This partnership between Pai Skincare and the British Skin Foundation aims to help parents learn more about different ingredients and support their conversations with their children about skincare.
So what should tweens do for their skin?
The answer is very little. They should clean their skin and if they would like to use a gentle cleanser, that’s ok. They should have a moisturiser and sunscreen – that’s it. When children hit their teens, we can see the onset of acne and of course that will be treated appropriately. However teenage skin is much more developed than that of tweens. It is also appropriate to mention that some children suffer from eczema and will use certain products under the care of a medical professional.
Aesthetic Pharmacist Iki’s Take On Children Using Skincare
“Reading this survey has made me feel very unsettled. I have a 7 year old daughter who knows nothing about skincare, despite the job I do and with her coming along to the clinic from time to time. In fact she likes to tease me when she sees me applying my products.
“Oh mummy, you’re putting your skincare products on again!” (said in a funny voice with an eye-roll)
I cannot even imagine her wanting to use active skincare on her face. The thought horrifies me.
However, irrespective of my experience, this is clearly a major problem. I’m so pleased that the #StaySkinSHARP campaign has launched but it does need to be shared far and wide. We will be sharing the campaign on our social media and I ask you all to share it on – you never know who it might help to inform.
If I could sit down with a tween, I would explain that having an interest in looking after their skin is great, however – skincare should not be based on trends. I would also stress the lack of qualifications of many content creators and ‘skin experts’.
If your child is using active skincare, we are always happy to have a chat. Also, we would encourage you to check out the #StaySkinSHARP campaign.”