Nearly 11 year old obsessed with skin care

[Oakstreet]

Getting on my nerves. As far as kids goes she isn't always on social media but all I hear is my friends have it! Fed up. Her dad ended up buying her some, so expensive too, she doesn't need it. I've tried telling her that it is a money spinning scam, and kids her age don't need it. She just doesn't listen, she really is like a stubborn teenager, but still a very a young child who shouldn't even be interested in this stuff. Anyone advice on how to talk to her?

From about the age of the OPs child, 10-11. Hormonal changes happen around then, some children start to get small spots,dry or greasy patches, some girls start their periods in the last year of primary school.

Yes warm water and a flannel is fine for younger children of course.

It’s been in the news I. The last few weeks how this trend could provide more harm than benefit

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/teens-anti-aging-skin-care-trend_l_659ec779e4b0525ad5b42d67/amp

Oh yes, my 12yo is all about the skincare, she got some for Xmas...the watermelon thing and the bum bum cream, nothing harmful but expensive! She has better products than me.....I think it's pretty harmless as long as you watch what you buy.

I'm baffled by people who think soap is somehow ok but cleanser not!

I got my daughter cerave because it's good for her skin/breakouts. She is a similar age. She thankfully doesn't buy into the things she sees and trends and trusts my advice. I get her things that suit her hair/skin. She does on occasion ask for expensive things (but is clueless to the cost) I normally recommend an alternative. It is tough and they do seem to care more about these things that I remember at that age.

^^ Exactly this!!!

Yes washing your face and putting on moisturiser is a good habit to cement but the focus of these videos is overwhelmingly about improving/preserving your youthful skin purely for aesthetic reasons! Being this focused on appearance so young can not be a positive surely.

I don’t think I’ve been brainwashed because I think faces should be washed with a suitable product.

Do you wash your hair with fairy liquid?
And why is soap ok by you and not a con too? Using an old fashioned product doesn’t mean it’s better, in fact they’re more likely to contain harsh ingredients and sulphates.

Do you wash your clothes in a mangle too or rub them against rocks in a stream to get rid of stains? Or have you been conned by “big-laundry” into using one of their machines that uses an effective cleansing product for clothes??

There are many inappropriate products for people to buy but a basic face wash and moisturiser is just sensible and won’t harm anyone.

Careful, if you suggest that washing your face and putting on moisturiser is a good habit it means you’ve been brainwashed apparently 😂

Is there anything in this thread to suggest the OP’s child has reached puberty? My DC2 was the same and it wasn’t “need” that was driving it, it was entirely social media driven and the packaging is pretty. DC1 had acne for a while, some stuff from the GP helped, it wasn’t Drunk Elephant etc. Has gone away now she’s a bit older and her hormones have stabilised. I’d prefer my young DC not to use SPF all over their face every day either, rather they got some vitamin D when they can. Load of bollocks to make women poorer.

DD has been telling me about the younger girls at school on buying this brand. I don't use it either and my skin is pretty clear, it's actually better than most my age and I survived on pretty basic cleanser and moisturisers. DD agrees it is not the right sort of thing for her at her age which does save me a lot of arguments

Are you asking why the 10 year old boys seem to have escaped the clutches of Big skincare on TikTok? Would those be the same 10 year old boys being exposed to the likes of Andrew Tate and assorted miscreants pushing misogyny as a lifestyle choice to aspire towards?

So the conclusion is social media is shit for young kids

For what it’s worth, I certainly didn’t have the ‘perfect skin’ many posters think all preteens have. I had acne from younger than ten (early, but not drastically so, puberty) and I expect more girls will experience the same now, than when I was a child, due to puberty starting earlier on average. I’m sure many 10-11 year olds DO need more than just ‘soap and water’ – not that they need actives and retinol either. But it shouldn’t be overlooked that many girls (probably more than boys, due to girls starting puberty earlier) that age will have acne that a cleanser and moisturiser will help.

Yep, young males are more likely to be pushed misogynistic and anti-feminist content on social media.

The whole thing is a toxic cesspit and children are basically defenceless against it.

Particularly if their parents are propping up the messaging.

I really do agree with this. It’s a nightmare.

Ageing is caused by getting older and not dying, I think you’ll find.

I really don’t want my 14 year old putting spf
on every day https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/vitamin_d

OK, whatever...

When I was this age I started using Pears cleanser and moisturiser. Not sure why it’s an issue?

It wasn’t about ageing or social media in 1980, just a different way of cleaning your face?

I wouldn’t put a blanket ban on it or be anti it. My 9yo has been obsessed with makeup and skin care for years, she dosnt get it from me. My 11yo has started to take an interest since starting high school.

Weve gone through skincare routines, I’ve talked about dos and don’ts and said what I’m happy with them using. I’ve explained why skin care is important, which it is and explained that there is a big difference in skin care they are designed for different skin types so what one person can use dosnt mean someone else can use it. This was easy to explain as all my DDs have different hair types so use different shampoos as well as one having bad eczema, so they understand it’s not a one size fits all.

I buy my DDs cleanser, face washes, make up remover and moisturiser with SPF. They love it and I don’t think it’s a bad idea to start getting them into a cleaning routine and applying moisturiser especially with spf.

They have makeup but there are rules, they only use what I ok, not for school, don’t share eye makeup and most importantly they clean it off properly. If they want to go out with their faces looking like clowns that’s up to them as long as they follow my rules, this includes cleaning their make up brushes too.

I did stop my DDs buying Bum Bum cream the other day because they saw it on YouTube. I’ve explained why they don’t need it, I got lots of oooss and ahh SS in the end I said look, showed them my cellulite and stretch marks and said this is what it’s for, not 2 little skinny kids who have beautifully clear skin. They have a nice range of creams to make them feel special but don’t need everything they see on you tube.

My 11 year old thankfully trusts me. Every breakout she’s had she’s got under control immediately by following my rules which first and foremost is keeping her skin clean.

This is tik tok bullshit

Your 11 year old should not be on ANY social media - why are you allowing it??? (and yes I have an 11 year old and I get the intense pestering but I am holding firm on tik tok for a long time and really Im not a strict parent in other ways)

As far as kids goes she isn't always on social media

Surely at age 10 she shouldn't be on social media at all?

Splashing some Pears and moisturiser across your face at 10 is wildly different to using actives with minimal insight about their appropriate application order, use, and frequency at 10 years old. Unlike 10 year olds back in the Pears days who probably thought no more of it thereafter, today's 10 year olds will begin the heady march from Niacinamide to the cosmetologist's chair because they've decided their chin isn't as pointy as the Skinfluencers shilling these products for a paycheck.

Same for me in the 90s it wasn’t a tik tok trend it was just a nice new product to clean my preteen skin.