Study Warns That Popular Beauty Trends Harm Tween and Teen Skin

The recent trend of “Get Ready With Me” videos on TikTok is drawing young viewers, including middle schoolers and even children as young as seven, into skincare routines that could pose risks. A new study from Northwestern Medicine, published in Pediatrics, highlights potential dangers, such as lifelong skin allergy from using a combination of products containing irritating ingredients like acids, retinoids, and fragrances.

The study found that girls between seven and 18 use an average of six skincare products daily, with some using more than a dozen. Despite spending an average of $168 a month on these routines, only 26% incorporate essential sunscreen protection. Overuse of active ingredients increases the risk of allergic contact dermatitis.

Researchers also noted concerning trends in the videos, including racial biases favoring lighter skin and promoting consumerism. These videos, which often provide no real health benefits, are hard to monitor due to TikTok’s algorithms. The study sheds light on how these routines can feed into ideals of beauty and health, entangled with social standards of thinness and whiteness.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, with further contributions from Northwestern authors.