As an Esthetician and a mom of twin teenagers, I have found myself scrolling through TikTok to see what is going on in their social media world. I have recently been feeling frustrated by the often-misleading information on skin care treatments and products recommended by TikTok influencers, without a professional license or experience. There are many trendy products that go viral on social platforms, and they seem to be targeting the younger population of consumers.
The simple fact is that the big Beauty retailers like Sephora and Ulta Beauty simply don’t care about your skin or your teens skin. They only care about the millions they can take from the unaware and especially teenage customers with their parents’ credit card. Some of the products that have become all the rage on social media are not the skincare teens should be using.
3 Potentially Dangerous Ingredients to Keep Away from your Teens skin.
1. Retinol/Retinoids
This ingredient is at the top of the list! While retinol holds endless benefits for maturing skin, it can cause adverse effects for your teens. Overuse and not following instructions of only a pea size amount and using the huge pump size amounts influencers, leads to problems. These products increase the cellular turnover rate, and teens don’t need a higher cell turnover or thinner skin. Teens often seek out retinol in hopes of reducing breakouts. Retinol can be great for skin types that are in need of anti-aging, but for fragile and sensitized skin, it can lead to irritation and inflammation.”
2. Chemical Exfoliants
Teenagers may be dealing with inflammatory skin conditions as well as dry and sensitive skin. Exfoliating products are not always the answer. Aggressive face scrubs with large granules have the potential to create micro-tears in the skin, which can lead to a compromised skin barrier. Instead, smooth, and small granules or powders are better choices.
3. Fragrances
For the teens who don’t suffer from sensitive or problem skin, fragrances could have no effect on them. However, those with compromised or sensitive skin, especially those on retinol, fragrances have the potential to cause increased irritation or reactions. Fragrances contribute to a product’s appeal but may increase sensitivities and lead to irritation or dermatitis. Your Esthetician can recommend natural products that get their aromas from botanical extracts.
If you or your teen are not sure what is best for your skin type, book a complimentary consultation.
