The ‘Sephora kid’ trend shows tweens are psyched about skincare. But their overzealous approach is raising concerns
Dr. Stacey Tull, a cosmetic dermatology specialist in Missouri, worries that preteens are falling for the hype without properly understanding popular skincare products, such as retinol, their usage and whether those products are actually suitable for younger skin. Retinol is a form of vitamin A and is a popular skincare ingredient that is used to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on aging skin.
Tweens definitely don’t need to use retinol, said Tull.
“Retinol came from retinoic acid, which is actually for acne but probably 20 years ago it took off as an anti-aging serum,” she said. “If tweens are having acne then they should see their doctors or dermatologist and get it prescribed rather than go for an anti-aging serum which does have some retinol, but the original intent is not to treat acne and it’s also in the wrong formulation to treat acne.”
By Parija Kavilanz, CNN
Updated 8:48 AM EDT, Tue March 12, 2024