• I prefer not having my young daughter become a “Sephora kid,” someone overly fixated on cosmetics.
• I’m educating her at a young age about the risks associated with the beauty sector and ways she might harm her skin.
• I’m also showing her that beauty doesn’t depend on makeup, and filters create an illusion of perfection.

I’m passionate about skincare. It gives me such a great feeling every morning when I begin my day and also in the evenings as an extra-special indulgence. My fondness for it led me to cofound a company.
beauty brand
previously available at Target and Nordstrom.

However, when my daughter, who’s currently in pre-K, grows into a tween and requests that I purchase something for her
skincare or makeup products
I will continue to decline until she becomes more mature.

“Sephora Kids” refers to Generation Z and Generation Alpha children who have an intense fascination with skincare products. This trend has led major beauty retail chains to express concerns over young shoppers wreaking chaos in their outlets, while even summer camps are noticing this phenomenon.
banning tweens
from sneaking skincare inside.

Many
moms set rules
Regarding the skincare items their children might purchase, I don’t believe kids ought to use cosmetics or skincare products until they reach an older age. Here’s my reasoning.

I hope my daughter realizes that makeup does not define beauty.

My
young daughter
She has begun saying she wants to put on my makeup to enhance her beauty. I explain to her that makeup is intended to add glamour rather than increase attractiveness. I stress that she is naturally beautiful as she is.

It’s wonderful to appreciate makeup, but I hope she doesn’t grow up believing that she isn’t adequate unless certain products supposedly “enhance” her appearance.

We can attribute this perception to social media. Children are interacting with platforms that offer filters and AI modifications, making it simpler for them to alter their appearances.
skin look flawless
.

Research currently indicates that higher levels of
social media use
is linked to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem among teens.

I aim to steer clear of those issues as my daughter matures into a teenager, so I am starting to teach her now.

I am coaching my daughter on distinguishing between reality and fabrication when viewing screens. Whenever we watch something together, we discuss which filters might have been applied and ways to identify whether a video was entirely or partially generated by AI.

I wish this idea takes root in her mind, so every time she encounters a beauty influencer online, she will question whether those flawless appearances are due to filters or AI enhancements.

She will be far too young for most of those products.

When my daughter becomes a teenager, she won’t require
collagen-boosting ingredients
As young individuals’ skin is naturally rich in collagen, oxidative damage tends to occur much later.

If she inquires about which exfoliating brand I suggest, I’ll respond with “Avoid it” since scrubbing can harm her skin barrier, resulting in irritation and flaking.

If she comes across a popular skincare fad, I hope she asks herself, “Is this suitable for my skin?”

At present, clinical items designed for
aging skin
— such as retinol, peptides, and vitamin C — are currently popular. However, these items might cause more damage than benefit for younger skin.

She really needs to steer clear of excessive beauty consumption, which is a genuine problem.

I admit to excessive consumption, but I’m making an effort to instill better shopping habits in my daughter. She will understand that she doesn’t require four face washes and seven mascaras cluttering up her bathroom cabinet.

I hope she avoids pursuing the distraction.
dopamine rush
Of shopping or succumbing to “RFOMO” (retail fear of missing out).

Cosmetics and skincare items are extremely wasteful as well. Whenever she encounters a skincare product, I wish she would notice all the components that will end up being discarded and taking up room in landfills: the
plastic bottle and cap
, the dropper, and the squeeze bottle.

Before assuming I stand out as unusual in the beauty sector, consider this: even the
CEO of Sephora
concurs that teenagers truly require just these three items.

I have nothing against skincare or beauty products; I simply wish for my daughter’s initial encounter with a makeup counter to be suitable for her age—filled with education, empowerment, and self-assurance. By ensuring this, I aspire for her never to refer to herself as a “Sephora kid.”

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