North West is 'so young' for so much skincare and make-up – it can 'cause problems'
WITH a beauty brand boss for a mother, it's no surprise that North West is more into make-up and skincare than the average 10-year-old.
However, that doesn't mean she should be the blueprint for other children, and a dermatologist has warned that videos of Kim Kardashian's daughter should not be treated as 'tutorials'.
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Kim and Kanye's eldest daughter, North, has been in the spotlight since birth, but has amassed a following on TikTok in recent years.
Although she often shares dance videos with friends, it's North's beauty looks that have gotten the most attention.
In February 2023, she showed super acceleration beauty and makeup routine.
It was full of expensive products, including Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer with Ceramides, $60, and Nooni Facial Cleansing Tool – Marshmallow Whip Maker, $10.
Of course, she also had her mother's line, with SKKN cleanser, toner, hyaluronic acid serum and eye cream.
Fast forward to January and Northie was posing for photos while you receive a professional facial.
In one of her most recent clipsshe painted her entire face and neck bright pink using her mother's extensive makeup collection.
CHILDREN'S GLOVES
Dr. Maya Thosani, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, spoke exclusively to The US Sun about the harmful effects of cosmetic overuse on developing skin.
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“When you talk about 10-year-olds, 12-year-olds, these teenagers, their skin is young, moist and supple and has everything it needs,” she said.
“It is absolutely luminous and shows no wrinkles, there is no lack of collagen.
“Many of the skin care products they use are way too harsh for them.
“They actually break down and ruin the skin barrier.
“In the long run, they'll actually have more problems later.”
As for the heavy makeup, Dr. Thosani explains that the technique North uses and the frequency with which she does it could damage her skin.
She just does it all the time… and it can just flare up and cause a lot of problems.
Dr. Maya Thosani
“She's layering all this makeup [products]She's having fun with it and that's great, but she's really still so young to be contributing to that,” Dr. Thosani said.
“And it's not necessarily for Halloween. She just does it all the time. It's very hard on the eyes, very hard on her skin, and it can just stir up and cause a lot of problems.”
Listen, KIM
Dr. Thosani advised Kim to make sure North is using the right products.
“I would say if Kim would do anything it would be to promote a skin care regimen that includes a gentle cleansing moisturizer and sunscreen,” she said.
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She added that Kim should make it clear to North that because her skin is older, it can tolerate more cleansers and serums than her daughter's.
“Young, beautiful skin doesn't require anything, let's keep it basic and just promote good habits,” she said.
SEPHORA TWEENS
North may be in the spotlight, but she's just one of many young girls nicknamed the “Sephora 10-year-olds” because of their obsession with the beauty giant.
Experts have warned that this trend isn't great for kids.
Dr. Thosani explained that most of the skincare products in Sephora are aimed at older people with a “need for more chemical and physical exfoliation.”
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Although many young teens are under the impression that such beauty products can help with problems such as acne, said Dr. Thosani that they have the opposite effect.
“In a lot of these cases, these are products that are more aimed at older people who need pore filling, skin filling and fine lines, and so are actually more reclusive,” she said.
According to the expert, most 10-year-olds don't need anything other than a basic skincare routine to tackle acne and should make an appointment with a dermatologist if the problem persists.
“It should be something like a gentle wash with salicylic acid as needed, and a good moisturizer that doesn't contain all the additives, that's all they need,” said Dr. Thosani.
She attributed the 10-year-old Sephora trend to social media influencers making extensive moves in their beauty routines.
“They're looking at these TikToks of famous people applying five, six or even eight layers of products, whether it's toners, astringents or double cleansing,” she said.
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“They have mini-fridges in their bathrooms so they can keep their products cold, and then they put on a special eye mask.
“The skin under the eyes is so delicate. You can't put this kind of thing on the skin at that young age, it will cause so much irritation and many more problems.”
THE ULTIMATE INFLUENCE
Dr. Thosani advised parents to ensure that children view North's videos as entertainment rather than tutorials.
“This decade-old beauty trend belongs to a celebrity and their child and is entertainment, so we can't forget that,” she said.
“So if parents have children who ask for that, it's OK to say, 'No, this isn't good for your skin.'
If you saw someone on one of those reality shows doing stupid things like jumping off a building or eating a fireball, you would never say to your child, “Oh, you better do that.”
Dr. Maya Thosani
'Part of the problem is that parents are into it [their] kid needs it because this famous person does it.”
Dr. Thosani likened this mindset to giving in to a dangerous or unhealthy request from your child simply because they asked for it.
“If you saw someone on one of those reality shows doing stupid things like jumping off a building or eating a fireball, you would never say to your child, 'Oh, you better do that,'” she said.
“You understand the entertainment value of jumping off a cliff or skydiving without a safety net, but that's not what we want to do with children and these products.
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“If we do things too young or too early, they get exposed and start a cycle of skin problems they might not have had otherwise.”
STAY OUT
Dr. Thosani has outlined the products that should be avoided altogether by pre-teens.
“Absolutely no retinol, no harsh cleansing exfoliators like the apricot scrubs,” she said.
“Retinols are in many of these anti-wrinkle products and are just not suitable for 10 year old skin. They are super aggressive, cause major irritation and cause breakouts and rashes.”
This can lead to hyperpigmentation or dark spots because younger children spend more time in the sun than most adults.
“It makes them more sensitive to the sun and these kids don't realize that they are running around at recess while we are not,” said Dr. Thosani.