The mum of an 11-year-old Gen Alpha daughter has defended her choice to never say “no” to her when it comes to the world of makeup.
Gen Alpha influencers have been on the rise lately on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram. Though their love of skincare and makeup is somewhat controversial, with experts speaking out about the danger, there is clearly no stopping the legions of kids dedicated to the overhead lighting of Sephora.
Meet the moms who love their daughter’s passion for makeup
There has been a surge of activity online regarding Gen Alpha influencers and their sometimes aggressive love of skincare and makeup. Employees at massive retailers are reporting rude encounters with today’s youth, many of whom are splashing out hundreds of dollars on brands like Drunk Elephant, Glossier, and Rhode.
In a bid to combat the negative press, a range of moms spoke to the New York Post about how and why they support their child’s passion for beauty.
“Kids today are exposed to more than millennials and older generations due to social media,” Val, 39, explained. “I’m not going to tell her ‘No’ when it comes to makeup. But I will make sure she still looks 11 years old.”
Just for fun 😋#genalphainfluencers #genalpha
Another mum, 32-year-old Melissa Horne, prioritizes healthy practices during her daughter’s nighttime skincare routine.
“I love showing her how to take care of her skin at this young age,” she said. “Before bed, we use Garnier micellar water and a cleansing balm to remove the makeup, a Neutrogena wash, some vitamin E, and a new washcloth every night.”
Why is Gen Alpha’s love of makeup so controversial?
While exploring @JCPenney Beauty in Staten Island, I wanted to compile a mini product guide aimed at helping gen alpha, their parents and anyone else helping them shop. There are so many products to choose from, it can definitely be hard to know what’s right for you. Its important to pick products that cater to the specific needs of their younger skin. Things like gentle formulations, hypoallergenic options, and age-appropriate fun designs. Having experienced the desire to dive into beauty as a kid, I hope this guide helps anyone looking to build a starter kit for the younger generation. If you are new to makeup this is also a great place to start as well! Happy shopping, my beauty queens! 💋 #thelipsticklesbians #makeup #beauty #genalpha
The Gen Alpha makeup trend has largely drawn criticism because of the harmful ingredients contained in popular skincare products. Such products are usually marketed as “anti-aging” and “brightening” as they contain potentially damaging ingredients meant for adult skin like like retinol and acid.
“It’s worrying to see so many kids diving into skin-care routines that aren’t designed for them,” Dr Andrew Kane earlier told ITV. “The skin of children is very different to that of an adult and this means that the skin barrier is more sensitive to the active ingredients in these products. It can expose children to products which can cause long-term sensitivities or allergies.”
