Whatever happened to Barbie dolls? Did they stop being produced and instead were replaced with concealer? That’s probably a weird question, but the amount of young girls I see in Sephora instead of the toy section at Target is alarming.
The effects of products going viral on TikTok not only have adults running to the nearest beauty store but also very young girls. Brands like Drunk Elephant have gone viral for their aesthetic. Though most of the products from Drunk Elephant are safe for younger girls, the issue lies when ten-year-olds are buying harmful products like retinol. Retinol is a product used to reduce wrinkles and make the skin appear more youthful. It is recommended to start retinol in your mid-20s, so why is a pre-teen using it? Using retinol too early in life when the skin is still so sensitive makes the skin more irritated and susceptible to sun damage, which in turn makes them more likely to develop skin cancer. Other products like toner are no better either. When kids use toners, no matter what brand, it’s harsh and damaging and ends up causing more acne and wasting more money on skin care products. A famous “Sephora kid” is @Evelyngrwm, a recently turned 13-year-old who has been using brands like Drunk Elephant and products like toner. People have noticed that since her videos have started, her skin has only gotten worse, which is living proof that using the wrong skin care at an age where the skin is so easily damaged does more harm than good. So if one does decide to let their ten-year-old go crazy in Sephora, watch what they grab.
The issue is not only with the products but with the behavior. When these “Sephora kids” enter the store, chaos follows them. Workers in these stores have gone on TikTok to complain about the younger generation being disruptive and disrespectful in the store when trying out their new products. Stores have even gone as far as to take away the testers for certain brands because testers are being destroyed and making it so other guests cannot use them. Not only are the testers a concern, but there’s also a lack of manners towards workers and parents. It’s common for these kids to be rude as if their parents didn’t teach them the word “please,” and to scream at the top of their lungs when their parents refuse to spend $1,000 on products they don’t need. And maybe all blame can’t be placed on the kids, as their behavior reflects those around them, so perhaps the parents should be on blast for raising these evil spawns with no respect.
Ultimately, children simply do not need these products. It is damaging to their self-confidence to tell them at a young and impressionable age that they need to purchase expensive items to achieve “glass skin.” It is crucial to affirm the natural beauty of these young girls and make it clear that they don’t need retinol to “improve their skin” or “get rid of wrinkles” before they even have them.
To sum it up, these ten-year-olds have no place in a beauty store. When I was a kid, I went outside and played pretend with my Barbies. These kids are growing up way too fast and need to go back to the old days when kids were just kids, not beauty influencers. So parents, the next time you decide to take your ten-year-old to Sephora to buy a retinol, don’t. Turn around, walk out of the store, get into your car, drive to the nearest Target, go to the toy section, and get something from there instead.
