Social media skincare trends prompt lawmakers to impose age limit on purchases

INDIANAPOLIS (WTTV) – A social media trend is prompting lawmakers in California to introduce a bill that bans people under a certain age from purchasing specific skin care products.

It all started as part of what are called “Get Ready With Me” videos online where creators show their skincare and makeup routines.

The concerns started when young girls started to go into stores like Sephora and Ulta to buy “anti-aging products” so they could mimic the routines of people two and three times their age.

In some cases, girls as young as 9 and 10 years old are purchasing products that are labeled “anti-aging” but often are marketed for a younger audience.

A California lawmaker, Assemblymember Alex Lee, introduced a bill that would limit the age for people who were buying anti-aging products. He says the bill would “protect children from the unnecessary risks of anti-aging products.”

“Kids don’t need anti-aging products. The beauty industry knows that, and some companies have acknowledged the issue. But their statements — absent real and meaningful action — are performative and fall short of responsible behavior. We have to stop the beauty industry from exploiting our youth,” Lee said in a statement.

Last year, Lee introduced a bill with a 13-year-old age limit, that ultimately did not pass. His latest bill limits the age to 18-years-old.

He says that the cashier would ask for ID in order to purchase the skin care products at check out, similar to when making an alcohol purchase.

This trend has also caught the eyes of skin care experts in Indiana including Annemarie Anderson who owns The SKN Lab in Greenwood.

“A lot of these products that these young girls are using can be very harmful. There is a lot of active ingredients and especially with the combination in which they are using them, that is what makes it very dangerous,” said Anderson.

She says products made for anti-aging often include active ingredients like retinol which in itself is not bad. It is often recommended for adults who are treating fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture, scaring or even acne. However, Anderson says these products are not made for children’s skin.

“They see ‘anti-aging’ and they don’t think about the things that cause it to be anti-aging and it is those harsh chemicals. It can cause redness, it can cause irritation, it can cause worsening breakouts, it can damage their skin barrier, and it is bad for them.”

The FDA has approved retinols for people as young as 9 years old under the supervision of a professional.

Anderson says parents need to be aware of what is in the products that their kids are putting on their face.

“Parents need to look out for retinols especially. Retinols–what they do is they encourage cell turnover so they are taking that dead old skin off the face so that new skin can come. With young people they don’t have that old dead skin and it’s not necessary and they don’t need it,” says Anderson. “One of the major side effects from retinol even as an adult using retinol is going to be redness and irritation, something that is going to be even worse in a young adult or a young child whose skin isn’t ready for that.”

Anderson says protecting young skin is important. If your preteen wants to experience the luxuries of having a “skin care routine” keep it simple and gentle.

She recommends a gentle cleanser, an oil free moisturizer and an SPF.

If the California bill limiting the age of skincare purchases passes, it would be signed into law around October and take effect next year.

Before mixing active ingredients, especially for children, you should discuss your products with a professional.