The Power of ‘Skinfluencers’

It’s hard to ignore the ever-growing presence of tweens and teenagers in the country's makeup stores. Not only are they flooding the physical space, but young influencers’ ‘Get Ready with Me’ videos have shot up in popularity in the last 12 months. The mental and physical harm that this content is causing to Australia’s young people is becoming apparent. However, some are realising the power of these influencers and how they can be utilised to help reduce one of Australia’s biggest killers, skin cancer.

What are Skinfluencers?

Skinfluencers are content creators on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, posting videos that show their skincare routine. These influencers also often post ‘Get Ready with Me’ videos, taking the viewer through the creator’s selection of outfit, hairstyle, make-up and skincare. Videos like these often include paid sponsorship, where creators are asked to showcase and promote a specific product to their audience. Furthermore, their videos are usually angled towards young people, ranging in age from 10 to 25. Most of this audience is subsequently ‘influenced’ to purchase and use these products, regardless of age or skin needs. With such a broad audience and varying skin types, the issues associated with promoting specific products have begun to arise.

 Physical Health Concerns

The foremost issue dermatologists and doctors are seeing is the damage these products do to young people’s skin. These products have been designed for older people with fully formed skin and collagen barriers. However, when used on younger and less-developed skin, they can experience adverse effects. Young people are presenting to medical professionals with allergic reactions and dermatitis of the face. These come with dry, sore and scaly skin, causing tweens and young people great pain. Furthermore, the ingredients in these products are made for people over the age of twenty when their skin is losing collagen, which requires anti-aging ingredients. However, when people with skin younger than this use these products, they experience the opposite effect. Ingredients like salicylic acid, retinol, and peptides can damage the skin instead of helping it and further irritate it. Due to how the algorithm is set up on social media platforms, young people can find it hard to decipher the content directed to them, their dermatological needs, and those aimed at an older audience.

 Mental Health Concerns

However, these pressures can also lead to mental health challenges, as evident in the mental health crisis that young people are facing. There are growing concerns over the rise of AI in its ability to further allow content creators to give the illusion of ‘perfect’ skin when, in actuality, it has been computer-generated. Online influencers promote ideas such as ‘glass skin’, which is the idea of having smooth and even-toned skin that appears as though it is glass. With a quick Google search, it is apparent how many articles and magazines have ‘top tips to getting glass skin’. However, dermatologists say the best way to get glass skin is through makeup, filters and ‘Photoshop’. This can be challenging for anyone to decipher and understand that what is being promoted is actually unattainable. What this demonstrates is that the ‘expectation’ to have perfect, glowing skin and the pressures that young people are under to achieve that will result in a never-ending cycle of not feeling good enough or not understanding why their skin doesn’t look a certain way.

 Financial Concerns

Not only this but many products being pushed by Skinfluencers are incredibly expensive. With some costing hundreds of dollars, pressure is placed not only on teens but also on their families to be able to afford them. With the price points of these products not being achievable for many young adults, the feeling of missing out and not fitting in is exacerbated.  

 Benefits to ‘Skinfluencers’

However, while the harms of Skinfluncers are clear, organisations are also starting to realise their benefit. The ‘Cancer Council’ in Australia has begun working with influencers to spread messages regarding sun safety and skin cancer. The ‘End the Trend’ campaign was seen by millions with influencers making almost 200,000 posts under the hashtag. It asked influencers and their audiences to ditch fake tan and bronzing products to highlight the stigma that is placed on pale skin, forcing many young people to turn to tanning. ‘‘1 in 3 young Australians (aged 18-30) think suntanning is fine for people of their age,” according to the ‘Cancer Council’, highlighting the need for a campaign like this one. This is evidence of how the power and reach of Skinfluencers can be utilised to teach the next generation of young Aussies to protect their skin.

 Final Thoughts

While the harms of Skinfluencers are apparent, due to not only the physical but also mental harm and stress that these videos can place on young people, it is also becoming clear how this power can be used for good. There is no immediate solution to this problem, but it is essential that young people get professional advice when choosing their skin products. In reality, young people really only need a face wash, a sunscreen of over 30 SPF and a moisturiser if their skin is feeling dry. However, I am not a medical professional, so seeking medical advice regarding dermatological concerns is best. Furthermore, considering why a young person may want a skincare routine and what they hope to achieve is important in finding products or advice to best solve their needs. Skinfluencers have taken over the internet, but it is important to remember that not everything you see online is real. For Skinfluencers, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ in shaping the minds of the next generation.

Sources Used:

Cancer Council 2024, Why We Need to End The Trend, www.cancer.org.au, viewed 8 May 2024, <https://www.cancer.org.au/end-the-trend/why-we-need-to-end-the-trend>.

Instagram 2024, #endthetrend, www.instagram.com, viewed 8 May 2024, <https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/endthetrend/>.

Matthews, C 2024, Skinfluencers, Behind The News, viewed 8 May 2024, <https://www.abc.net.au/btn/classroom/skinfluencers/103542508>.

McHugh, D 2024, Are TikTok ‘skinfluencers’ the key to reducing skin cancer rates in Australia?, Are TikTok, viewed 8 May 2024, <https://www.surgeons.org/News/media-releases/Are-TikTok-skinfluencers-the-key-to-reducing-skin-cancer-rates-in-Australia>.

Osborne, T 2024, ‘Kids are spending big on skincare not meant for them and the risk of damage is real’, ABC News, 20 February, viewed 8 May 2024, <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-21/sephora-kids-should-tweens-teens-use-adult-skincare-products/103488660>.

Racho, J 2021, What Is Glass Skin and How to Get It, Dermstore, viewed 8 May 2024, <https://www.dermstore.com/blog/what-is-glass-skin/>.

Rigby, M 2023, ‘Health professionals warn the expensive skincare products your tween wants for Christmas could be harming them’, ABC News, 7 December, viewed 8 May 2024, <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-08/skincare-tween-christmas-influencer-parent-psychology/103197666>.

UCLA Health 2024, Kids into skincare may be at risk from influencers promoting inappropriate products, www.uclahealth.org, viewed 8 May 2024, <https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/kids-skincare-dermatologists-advice#:~:text=But%20for%20tweens%20and%20teens>.