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Harmful Ingredients in Skincare Affecting Young People

In recent years the landscape of beauty products has been fast-evolving; largely driven by “skinfluencers” on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. It’s natural for young people to copy their idols. However, instead of drawing inspiration from friends or a favourite pop star, young people are now looking to social media influencers for guidance. TikTok in particular, opens them to more mature trends, fashion, and in many cases, skincare. The growing exposure to advanced skincare routines and anti-ageing products has raised significant concerns about harmful ingredients and their effects on younger skin.

A quick search reveals that kids as young as 8 are wreaking havoc in Sephora, leaving Drunk Elephant testers in disarray, employees furious, and older women ready to start an intergenerational war. It wouldn’t be so bad if the tweens were purchasing products aimed at their demographic, but so often, vitamin A-rich products like retinoids and anti-ageing creams can harm their delicate skin.

What is Causing the Shift?

Social Media and Skinfluencers

Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are leading perpetrators. The apps allow anyone to influence, regardless of experience or credibility, leading to a prevalent outbreak of misleading information. Moreover, paid ads blend seamlessly into the user’s feed, even with the mandatory “Paid Partnership Tag”. The subtle tagging makes it easy for users to mistake the paid, sponsored posts for genuine advice and reviews.

The influence of Gen Alpha and Marketing Tactics

It’s worth considering that these ads are designed to sell to well-informed adults, so it’s no surprise that more impressionable, young people are so heavily influenced. Skincare suppliers and manufacturers are also unlikely to change their marketing tactics. Whether this younger demographic was the target age range for the anti-ageing remedies or not, their influence is undeniable. In 2023 alone, according to AYTM, Gen Alpha spent 4.7 billion on skincare products!

Additionally, brands like Drunk Elephant and Sol de Janeiro have come under fire for marketing their anti-ageing products to younger people. When you look at the packaging it’s easy to see the appeal, especially with the vibrant colours and youthful typography. Some of these brands even use micro-influencers to target younger demographics. These influencers might only have around 100,000 followers on the platform, but they have a huge sway with their following!

It’s important to note that the risk to young people is not just in the health of their skin, but also in the dangerous modern narrative that ageing is a bad thing that should be avoided at all costs.

Why are Skincare Ingredients Harmful to Younger Skin?

Anti-ageing products simply are not designed for young skin. These products contain harsh chemicals and often vitamin A designed to increase cell turnover in mature skin types. For younger skin, and more sensitive skin barriers these ingredients can cause:

·       Irritation and dryness

·       Breakouts and Clogged Pores

·       Long-term Skin Sensitivity

The Solution

As harsh a truth as it is, it doesn’t seem like TikTok, Instagram or YouTube are going anywhere anytime soon, and neither are the unattainable beauty standards and colourful packaging. However, chemical distributors and skincare brands are working hard to create alternative solutions for the needs of younger, more delicate skin.

For example, Lawrence Industries, a top distributor of speciality chemicals for skin care, has introduced GlowEdge, a gentle but powerful skincare concept, aimed to target excess oil, and breakouts in young skin, without risking harm! The ingredients used by Lawrence Industries avoid overloading the skin with unnecessary or aggressive treatments and prioritise skin health. GlowEdge was unveiled at SCS Formulate, on a high-impact Quadrant2Design exhibition stand. SCS Formulate specialises in raw materials, ingredients, and formulation services for skin care and personal goods. The hope is that skincare brands will use the skincare concept from Lawrence Industries to create a practical gentle range for young skin!

Other influencers have also attempted to improve the industry. For example, Milly Bobby Brown, renowned Stranger Things actress, launched Florence By Mills, a gentle skincare brand with Gen Z and Gen Alpha in mind. The brand claims only to use “clean” ingredients and uses no phthalates, parabens, sulfates, or synthetic fragrances that can cause damage to the skin barrier.