Preppy Skincare: Pretty or Problematic?
Recently, young girls between the ages of 8 and 12 years old (primarily Generation Alpha) have started calling themselves “Preppy.” Preppy-ism is centered around wearing bright clothes and tennis skirts from brands like Lululemon, drinking out of Stanley cups, and using name-brand cosmetic/skincare products. The issue isn’t the aesthetic itself, but rather the expensive products meant for adults like Drunk Elephant, Dior, and Charlotte Tilbury. These products can range anywhere from $30 - $140, and it’s a big issue in the self-care community.
In the Preppy community, there’s a lot of pressure to be skinny and pretty, to wear makeup, and to own popular and trendy products. Almost every teenager struggles with body issues, and being pressured at such a young age is just considered normal. However, being only nine years old and getting made fun of for not being pretty or skinny enough is hard to watch. Kids force their parents to buy them overpriced cosmetics and skincare, trying to fix their “imperfections,” when, instead, they should be empowered and supported by their friends.
Children’s parents are spending hundreds of dollars on seemingly average products that are unnecessary to use as an adolescent. Certain products include ingredients like retinol, EDCs, AHA, and BHA, which, with repeated exposure, can cause serious health issues on and underneath young skin. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause hormonal imbalances, impair metabolism, and damage the skin barrier permanently. EDCs can even cause certain endocrine-related cancers.
Avoiding EDCs can be a challenge, especially when spending on a budget. Some consumers use an app called Yuka to scan products for toxic chemicals before they buy, but the app has its flaws. Many Yuka users complain about inconsistent ratings, false information, and needing a ‘Premium Membership’ to make the app perform basic functions.
Although Yuka is a good way to start learning about harmful products, it’s more effective and reliable to read the ingredients on the actual products. Common EDC ingredients to avoid include Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic acid, chemical UV filters, Parabens, Phthalates, and Triclosan.
It’s good that these children are learning to care for their skin, but using harsh chemicals and anti-aging products as a 10-year-old seems outrageous. Both Drunk Elephant’s and Dior’s websites even have sections dedicated to anti-aging products like eye cream and polypeptide-infused products. If a kid is uneducated, they could just grab one off the shelf. Good habits should be formed like cleansing, moisturizing, and being gentle with skin, rather than burning and damaging it with products meant for adults. A great example of a simple and gentle skincare routine is using a gentle CeraVe cleanser, an E.L.F. sunscreen, and a Bubble moisturizer, all combined for under $50.
So, what’s the solution? Instead of Drunk Elephant, try brands like Bubble and CeraVe. Instead of Charlotte Tilbury, try E.L.F. or Colourpop. Use gentle products for sensitive/young skin instead of harsh and damaging products meant for adults. Avoid EDCs and scan labels for ingredients. Be confident, everybody is beautiful just the way they are. Just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s healthy or smart to use. Remember, kids should be kids, and nothing short of it.
By Sophia Artigue