The following is excerpted from an online article posted by Parents
Parents has been covering the rise of skincare trends for youth in the last few years. It’s clear these trends are not going anywhere: A recent NIQ report finds that today’s tweens and teens are getting into beauty at younger ages, with these groups now driving beauty growth by 12.4%.
The interest is heavily influenced by social media. A March 2025 report from Razorfish found 75% of Gen Alpha is interested in beauty content on social media, while 38% create their own beauty content, including “Get Ready With Me” videos.2 It’s important to note that these trends are touching both girls and boys. The Razorfish report found that 69% of Gen Alpha boys want to prevent wrinkles and 25% have a skincare routine including up to five products.
Experts are concerned. They’ve told Parents that these trends can harm youth’s skin since it typically doesn’t require many of the ingredients promoted in these beauty trends. “A gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and daily SPF are often more than enough to support healthy skin,” Kristin Baird, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology of the Rockies, previously shared. “When in doubt, consult a dermatologist before jumping into any trend you see online.”
A 2025 report published in Pediatrics doubles down on the harms associated with TikTok skincare regimens, explaining that they offer little benefit and may expose youth to harm, including irritation, allergy, and sun damage.3
On top of that, these beauty trends can also affect young people’s mental health. “The psychological impacts of videos like these—especially when watched in bulk and without other videos that show more authentic and diverse videos and bodies—are increased mental preoccupation, and internalization of unrealistic beauty standards,” Grace Lautman, CN, LMHC, nutritionist and teen eating disorder therapist, said. These trends can lead to issues with body image and self-worth, and fuel anxiety and depression.
If your child is truly into skincare, don’t panic. Help them understand what’s healthy for them, and what’s not. A pediatric dermatologist can be a great source for what products they should use and which ones to avoid.
Importantly, if you notice that their skincare interest (or social media use in general) is impacting their everyday life, such as their grades, sleep, or friendships, it’s important to step in to help prevent a mental health issue.
Source: Parents
https://www.parents.com/fake-kids-skincare-brand-12121008