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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Lifestyle
Emma Joyce

Cosmeticorexia: a worrying obsession with flawless skin or just a new term for an old problem?

Young girl holding frosted glass panel with beauty products in composite illustration.
A clinical program manager at the Butterfly Foundation says there has been a rise in patients showing ‘appearance-related distress’, including a ‘heightened focus on skin’, particularly among young people. Composite: Victoria Hart/Guardian Design

Sephora stores are being overrun with tweens pumping product testers. Eight-year-olds film themselves on “Sephora hauls” and GRWM (get ready with me) videos, applying collagen boosting serums and retinol creams for their nonexistent wrinkles. And party bags are stuffed with face masks and fluffy headbands, instead of glitter and gummy bears.

The rise of “Sephora kids” is a widely reported issue but the uptick of children “obsessed” with skincare has some experts concerned about the long-term effects of age-inappropriate products and increased occupation with appearance at such a pivotal age.

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