Sephora plays host to tween terrors as unhealthy beauty standards run amok
Rampant consumerism has claimed yet another victim, this time in the form of ill-mannered tween girls and their obsession with the popular cosmetic brand, Sephora. Makeup and skincare trends fluctuate often, new products being developed for people trying to find the best ways to prevent wrinkles, acne, and any sign of aging as they enter adulthood. Recently, both makeup and skincare lines have seen an increase in young adolescents buying out expensive products from brands like Drunk Elephant and Summer Fridays, which are surely out of the price range of the average allowance.
Unsurprisingly, this latest fad primarily involves young girls reviewing products that are said to prevent aging, despite being mere children themselves. It can definitely be said that social media has had a major impact on the upcoming generations, especially where current trends are concerned. Some say this is for the better, others believe it’s extremely damaging to young minds. The media’s ever-changing beauty standards make it easy to get lost in the pressure of trying to fit a mold that isn’t made for everyone.
Employees and other concerned members of society are also noticing the attitudes of the upcoming generation. These children have little to no respect for others, and tend to cause destruction wherever they go, specifically with makeup store’s tester products. Employees of these cosmetic stores have taken it upon themselves to share experiences in which they’ve been rudely treated by young tweens at their place of work. One of the aforementioned creators includes Natsodrizzy, who is an employee at a California Sephora. She shared how on one occasion, a young girl, roughly 8-10 years old, spent nearly $900 on perfumes and other forms of skincare. Nat explained that this young girl had been shopping alone while her mother explored the store and brought a basket nearly overflowing with products to the counter. When her mother attempted to reprimand her for her greediness, the young girl gave the excuse that it was okay to spend the large sum on products because she “wanted it,” despite the fact that they certainly were not necessary.
In response to the numerous videos regarding these so-called “Sephora Children,” people have started calling their local Sephoras, requesting that they set age restrictions so that those under 16have to be accompanied by an adult. This brings about the question whether the craze has gotten to too many people’s heads, considering the extreme measures they are taking. While there are children who abuse their access to samples, there are many who are well-mannered and simply want to shop. Why should these children be punished for the irresponsibility of a few others?
Some parents, on the other hand, fully agree with the request for restrictions and feel that children shouldn’t be allowed access to makeup in the first place, especially because of mental health concerns. Though these parents concerns regarding their children’s self esteem make sense, director of education and training at Baptist Behavioral Health and Wolfson Children’s Behavioral Health, Francesca Varallo, PsyD, claims that it’s not makeup itself that produces mental health concerns, it’s “the messaging around societal beauty standards – often tied to using cosmetics – that can potentially produce negative emotions.”
Though the Sephora craze is running rampant today among tweens, tomorrow there will be another fad that takes over both the internet and everyone’s wallets.
by Adele Faust
Published January 29 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue IV