Social media has drastically changed how we interact with trends. Trends are no longer just quirky things we implement into our daily routine, they are now lifestyles and identities. And one of the biggest trends that have popped up over the past few years has been skincare. The trend originally started as a rejection of the heavy, painted on makeup of twenty-teens, a way to embrace more natural features and improve our skin from the inside out. But especially in the past few months, the primary market has shifted from women in their 20s and 30s, to teenagers and young girls. Thus, a lot of information about this skincare trend has come from the medium these girls use the most, social media. 

Skincare influencers can make a complex topic of ingredients, facial chemistry and genetics easy and digestible, with how to videos and lists with “5 skincare tips for glass skin” or “What I wish I knew before starting skincare”. And these videos are entertaining to watch, making clear skin feel just in reach, if you just buy these products, or do these 10 steps. Sadly though, bad information spreads just as fast as good information and can easily convince these young girls to do or buy things that are terrible for their young skin. Oftentimes, the goal for these skincare videos is not to give genuine advice, but to get engagement. It's much easier to get someone to stay on a video with shocking claims than sound advice. Someone is more likely to continue watching a video that creates a new insecurity or provokes an emotional reaction because it's engaging. And without good advice to disprove the video, these girls believe wholeheartedly that the influencers with clear skin can help them reach their skincare goals, and put their trust in the things being said in the video. 

In the past few months a lot of controversy has popped up around the advice these girls have been given online, the main complaint being these products could be damaging their young skin. A lot of influencers promote the skincare brand Drunk Elephant as the pinnacle of skincare. Aside from being very expensive for teenagers, the ingredients in the products are way too strong for young skin, and yet, the ingredients are what influencers say are best for their skin. A lot of Drunk Elephant products have retinol in them, an anti-aging ingredient that should be used by people aged 25 and up. But you wouldn't know that going on TikTok or Instagram. Retinol is a key part of “preventative aging” skincare and girls as young as 10, are buying these products and using them. Or what about chemical peels? They use strong chemicals to remove the top layer of skin and promote cell turnover, and should only be administered by professionals at max once per month. But online, girls are being told they can do it themselves at home twice per month, every other week, once a week, or in one infamous video, once per day. This advice is dangerous, young girls and teenager’s skin is still developing and these harsh chemicals can have long term effects on the skin. Our skin barrier is important for retaining moisture in your face, protecting you from outside pollutants, and keeping out toxins and pathogens. These harmful chemicals threaten the skin barrier of these young girls, and could in the future cause the very problems they are looking to prevent, like premature aging. 

So, what can we do? Promoting, liking and engaging with content made by licensed professionals is always a good start. If someone is unsure about what products would be best for their unique skin, then a dermatologist or esthetician can help them decide what is right and wrong for them. Also, having conversations about internet safety with girls and teens is so important. Remind them that influencers are not their friends, and encourage them to research and fact check things they hear online. Care and empathy should always be used, these girls do not deserve to be shamed for learning bad information from adults they trusted to tell the truth. Encourage them to get facials instead of spending their money on expensive skincare that could damage their skin. Our salon has a teen facial for that exact reason. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful in their skin, and the more we encourage each other, practice self love for ourselves, and put good information out in the world, the better we make this world better for our daughters and all the young girls out there, who just can't wait to grow up.