Tweens and TikTok skincare: what a study of 100 videos found, and what kids need
A Pediatrics study of 100 skincare videos by 7-18 year olds found up to 21 irritating actives, sunscreen in only a quarter. Young skin needs cleanse, moisturise, protect.
- The 25 most-viewed videos averaged 11 potentially irritating active ingredients, up to 21, yet only about a quarter of videos included sunscreen.
- Children's and young teens' skin does not need anti-ageing actives such as retinoids, AHAs, BHAs or strong vitamin C.
- The basics are enough: a gentle cleanser, a light moisturiser and SPF 30+ sunscreen every morning.
- Stinging, burning, redness or peeling means stop that product. For acne or a rash that won't settle, see a doctor.
Plenty of children aged 7 to 12 watch “Get Ready With Me” skincare videos and want to copy them. A 2025 study in the journal Pediatrics looked at 100 of these videos and found routines with many products, several potentially irritating actives stacked on top of each other, and very little sunscreen. Young skin doesn’t need any of that: a gentle wash, a light moisturiser and sunscreen are enough.
What the study looked at and found
A US research team set up two new TikTok accounts registered as 13-year-olds and watched the recommended feed until they had 100 skincare videos made by creators aged 18 or under. They listed every product and every ingredient, then compared the ingredients with the Pediatric Baseline Series, the list of substances used to patch test children for allergies.
| What was measured | Result |
|---|---|
| Creator age | 7-18 years |
| Average views per video | about 1.1 million |
| Products per routine | 6 on average |
| Videos that included sunscreen | 26.2% (about 1 in 4) |
| Potentially irritating actives, 25 most-viewed videos | 11 on average, up to 21 |
| Inactive ingredients on the children’s patch-test list | 20 |
The authors concluded that these routines are costly, rarely include sunscreen, and expose children to a risk of irritation, allergic contact dermatitis and sun sensitivity, with little to no benefit for the children they target.
The problem isn’t that kids want to look after their skin. It’s that the products in the videos are designed for adult skin problems.
Why anti-ageing actives don’t suit young skin
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explains that tween and teen skin is thinner, more sensitive and more easily irritated. The actives that trend online, such as retinoids, AHAs, BHAs and vitamin C, are made to address wrinkles, dark spots and collagen loss, none of which are problems for young skin. Starting them early can lead to:
- redness, irritation, peeling or rashes
- a weakened skin barrier
- long-term sensitisation or allergies
That last point matters most. Allergic contact dermatitis is not the same as simple irritation: once the body has learned to react to an ingredient, it may react every time it meets it again. The AAP article notes that about 76% of the 25 most-viewed videos promoted products with known allergens, such as fragrance.
Worked example: counting the actives in a morning routine
Take a made-up five-step routine of the kind these videos show, and count the actives on each label (the routine is invented to show the method).
| Step | Actives on the label | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Exfoliating cleanser | salicylic acid | 1 |
| Toner | glycolic acid, lactic acid | 2 |
| Serum | ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid, niacinamide | 3 |
| Sheet mask | glycolic acid, retinol | 2 |
| Moisturiser | lactic acid, tocopherol (vitamin E) | 2 |
- Total: 1 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 10 actives, close to the study’s average of 11.
- Count only the exfoliating acids (AHA/BHA): salicylic 1 + glycolic 2 + lactic 2 = 5 doses in one morning.
- Glycolic acid appears in 2 products and lactic acid in 2. The child has no idea they are applying the same ingredient twice.
- There is no sunscreen at all, even though exfoliating acids can make skin more sensitive to the sun.
Compare that with a basic 3-product routine (gentle cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen) that needs no exfoliating acid at all.
What young skin actually needs
The AAP advice is “simple and gentle”, in three steps:
| Step | When | Look for | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleanse | Morning and night | A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser | Scrubs, alcohol, fragrance |
| Moisturise | Night | A light, non-comedogenic moisturiser: gel for oily skin, light cream for dry | Anti-ageing creams, active serums not prescribed by a doctor |
| Protect | Every morning, cloudy days too | Broad-spectrum SPF 30+; the AAP article suggests mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) | Sprays, which go on unevenly |
In a sunny climate, sunscreen is the one step worth doing every single day. For how much to use and when to reapply, see SPF vs PA, how much sunscreen and when to reapply. For working out skin type and a 3-step routine, see Know your skin type, then keep it to 3 steps.
If spots start appearing
Acne is common in teens, but it isn’t a reason to start a ten-step routine. Some acne treatments belong to the same families as the actives in the videos; the difference is choosing one that matches the type of acne, at a strength suited to the child’s age, and starting one product at a time. Ask a pharmacist or doctor first rather than picking from a video.
The AAP gives two rules of thumb:
- Don’t combine many actives. Add one product at a time.
- A product that stings or burns is a warning sign. Stop using it.
Before opening anything new, try it on a small patch of skin first. The method is in Patch test new products before you use them.
Common mistakes
| Doing this | What happens |
|---|---|
| Starting a whole video routine on the same day | If a reaction appears, you can’t tell which product caused it |
| Using an acid toner and an acid serum together | Acids stack up; skin gets irritated and peels |
| Skipping sunscreen because “I’m indoors” | Acids raise sun sensitivity, and sun damage adds up |
| Putting up with stinging because “it’s working” | Stinging is a warning, not proof it works |
| Using several fragranced products | More chances of allergic contact dermatitis |
| Borrowing an older sibling’s or parent’s anti-ageing product | Ingredients young skin doesn’t need |
Talking with kids about labels works better than a flat no. Help them see who each product is designed for.
The study raised one more issue: many videos send the message that skin must be smooth, bright and flawless. A child with spots, or with a different skin tone from the creators, may start to feel bad about themselves. It’s worth saying plainly that videos are shaped by lighting, angles and filters.
If a rash, redness, itching or peeling doesn’t improve after stopping a product, or acne becomes inflamed and painful, see a doctor. This article is not a diagnosis or treatment guide.
Sources
FAQ
My 10-year-old wants a routine like the ones in the videos. What should I do?
Let them have their own basic kit: a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, a light moisturiser and a sunscreen. Read labels together and explain that anti-ageing actives are designed for adult skin.
My child is getting spots. Can they use the acids or retinol from the videos?
Don't start from a video. Ask a pharmacist or doctor, who can choose an ingredient and strength that suit the child's age and type of acne, and introduce one product at a time.
If a product causes a reaction once, will it just go away?
Irritation usually settles once you stop the product. Allergic contact dermatitis is different: it can leave a lasting allergy to that ingredient. If a rash doesn't clear or keeps coming back, have a dermatologist check it.
General guidance. Products differ between brands: always follow the label. If you react to a product, see a doctor.