In this day and age, skincare and makeup are constantly being advertised to girls and women alike, but how helpful is it? There are many brands that have become iconic and popular products for teenage girls. However, when you start to look into the ingredients and market that these brands want to reach, you’ll realize that a lot of the famous brands market towards older audiences with more mature skin.
Most people are easily influenced when they see a product that does wonders on a persons’ skin, so naturally young teen girls start to purchase expensive skincare products used by their favorite influencers. When girls go and buy these internet viral products, they often don’t do the proper research, which can cause them to buy things that are not meant for their skin or can harm it. One example of this is Drunk Elephant, which is going viral on TikTok for its nice packaging and “fantastic results” – and its hefty price tag. Even though Drunk Elephant has a great name online, many dermatologists and experts are starting to question the ingredients in Drunk Elephant’s products, as well as the demographic they make skincare for.
Teenage girls have more sensitive skin that typically needs protection from the sun and products that help fight acne and oil overproduction. Retinoids, retinols, and other strong products can be used to prevent acne, but typically are better when prescribed by a professional. Using these viral “miracle” products can actually damage the skin barrier, which is one of the causes of sensitive, acne-prone skin. The skin barrier is vital, and is what protects the body from harmful external threats. Instead of using harsh skincare that contains concentrated ingredients to fight acne and blemishes, try out natural, clean products that help build up the skin barrier and keep it healthy. The skin barrier knows its purpose, so helping it stay healthy will do more than any retinoid will.
Before purchasing popular products from famous brands, try to do research on both your skin and on the issues that the product targets, as well as the skin types and age groups that the brand markets towards.

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5967208/#:~:text=The%20skin%20barrier%20is%20important,of%20water%20from%20the%20body.
https://www.glowgirl.net/drunk-elephant-skincare-review#:~:text=Drunk%20Elephant%20released%20their%20very,to%20peel%20like%20a%20lizard.