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At the top wasnt a specific product, but an entire skin care brand: Drunk Elephant.
Channing Smith
And then it became about products you have to have.
Drunk Elephant was the first brand that she started talking about.
What does a nine-year-old need withniacinamide?
Maybe Santa would be more amenable?
Maybe there’s a Sephora at the North Pole?
Parents floodedInstagramwith questions about the safety of ingredients like peptides, acids, and retinol on youthful skin.
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Founded in 2013 by stay-at-home mom Tiffany Masterson, Drunk Elephant was created to solve Mastersons own skin issues.
The following year beauty giant Shiseido acquired Drunk Elephant for $845 million.
The most obvious answer is, obviously, social media.
They see it; they want it.
Forever in history, from the time girls were little, they were given what?
Dolls, he says.
What is a doll?
A doll is to be a mommy.
This is not new [behavior] to venture to be mature a little faster and test things out.
In today’s digital age this concept applies to influencers and online personalities.
According to Dr. Grant, children go through developmental stages.
It used to be your peers are your friend group, he says.
But now I call it the parasocial-mediaeffect.
Kids are [also] looking at influencers and their followers as their peers.
Little kids want what other little kids have, Wrapp says.
That’s pure and simple.
We’re all guilty of that, seeing what other people have and being interested in it.
But I don’t think she necessarily thinks it’s going to do anything for her skin.
We had a thing with the teacher, she says.
They’re like, Can she not bring it in?
Because all the kids get really distracted.
This friend has super-sensitive skin and gets rashes on her face, Pearlman says.
She put it on the rash, and it never came back.
Both Pearlmans and Wrapps daughters are not allowed on TikTok or Instagram.
There’s all these influencers that do makeup videos, but for children.
It’s not just normal makeup videos.
It’s starter makeup and it’s how to do makeup for 10-year-olds, basically.
Thedebatearound kids using Drunk Elephant has intensified in recent weeks.
This is backed by clinical data.
The detractors are referring to the products that contain acids, and rightly so.
Kids and tweens don’t need acids.
I’ve been reading that I chose the colors and packaging to target children.
The only difference is that I can try and be the voice of reason.
But I have to tell you, that when it comes down to me versus TikTok, TikTok wins.
It’s a truthKelly Attertondiscovered when creating her skin care brandRile, a line specifically created for young teens.
The formerAllurebeauty editor found a profound connection between social media, self-care, and self-ownership in adolescence.
It’s one of the reasons why I launched a brand in this space.
At a certain stage kids start to feel like they’re becoming who they are.
They want to take control over their life in the little measures that they’re allowed to.
This is why skin care resonates so deeply with children, who lack real autonomy in their daily life.
They don’t get to drive or pick where they’re going, Atterton adds.
They don’t get to choose their schedule, or much of anything.
Hydrating products like theBora Barrier Rich Repair Creamare fine, though Dr. Zeichner cautions not to overdo it.
Are they actively ruining their beautiful baby skin?
I don’t know if that’s proven.
Again, there are short-term issues associated with irritation from these ingredients.
However, Dr. Zeichner says extreme use could create long-term, chronic low-grade inflammation.
That inhibits wound healing responses, and that can contribute to premature aging, he says.
Ultimately, its up to parents to decide what their children can use.
Invite them to tell you.
Why is this suddenly important to you?
Where did you see this?
And explore with them together.
Once youve had this conversation, Dr. Grant says its okay to just say no.
Or let’s look at the ingredients, he says.
However, its important for kids to be realistic.
As adults, we understand our own budgets.
I don’t think kids understand money doesn’t grow on trees.
Considering most Drunk Elephant products clock in at over $50, budget is a more than reasonable excuse.
While skin care for children is a valid concept, its the cost thats actually up for debate.
