Janice R. Andrews
Unexpectedly, the “Sephora Kid,” the newest beauty craze for tweens and early teenagers, has sparked a heated discussion about parenting. Bethenny Frankel, the founder of Skinnygirl and a former Real Housewife, voiced her displeasure with the trend and raised concerns about young girls trying on and buying adult cosmetic items.
Videos of these youthful consumers showing off their expensive beauty purchases have been all over social media, especially TikTok, where they have racked up an impressive 226.3 million views. Frankel stressed the need to prevent raising pampered children while criticising the parenting that led to these purchasing sprees.
The debate has split the internet community: parents claim that their children have few places to hang out because of the dwindling parks, while adults are upset that younger consumers are ruining their Sephora experience.
After sharing a video of her 10-year-old daughter visiting Sephora, one mother, Stefanie Ann Eadie, received negative feedback. Despite its seeming innocence, the film attracted criticism, with some asking whether young girls should spend their money on makeup or on dolls instead of playing with toys.
Employees at Sephora have also weighed in on the discussion, giving personal accounts of working with minors and scolding parents for failing to set limits. Calls on parents to instill responsibility and etiquette in their children have intensified the issue.
She was so natural at wearing concealer. She didn’t have anything to hide.
Some contend that kids are greatly impacted by social media trends, which cause them to idolise beauty vloggers and purchase upscale goods. Dermatologists have expressed concerns regarding the appropriateness of allowing young children to use pricey skincare products and have issued warnings about potential skin harm.
Although Sephora hasn’t made an official comment on the situation, their website suggests that they are conscious of the needs of younger customers by including kid-friendly sites that offer recommendations for different beauty items. The ongoing debate raises concerns about the duties of retailers targeting younger consumers as well as parenting in the social media age.
