In the latest fallout from our culture’s obsession with vanity and identity politics disguised as “health,” a troubling new study out of Northwestern University reveals that young girls—some as young as **seven years old**—are burning through their parents’ wallets and damaging their skin all for the approval of TikTok.
Fueled by so-called “Get Ready With Me” beauty videos, these pre-teens are now slathering on **dozens of skincare products**, chasing the latest influencer-endorsed trends without understanding the science—or the risk—behind what they’re doing. The peer-reviewed study, published in *Pediatrics*, found that girls aged 7 to 18 are routinely applying **six or more products daily**, with some using more than a dozen at a time. Their monthly spending? An average of **\$168**, with some kids spending **over \$500** just to emulate the “perfect” look promoted by social media.
But behind the filters and pastel packaging lies something far less glamorous: **redness, burning, rashes, and long-term skin damage**. According to Dr. Molly Hales, a board-certified dermatologist and lead researcher, the problem stems from young girls blindly mixing active ingredients, often duplicating or combining incompatible ones without even realizing it. In one video analyzed, a 13-year-old TikToker applied 10 products in six minutes—and visibly suffered a skin reaction during filming.
It’s not just physical harm. There’s a deeper, more corrosive effect playing out here: the **mental and emotional manipulation of girls** by a culture obsessed with impossible beauty standards. These videos don’t just promote clear skin—they peddle a vision of “health” that prioritizes **thinness, whiteness, and cosmetic perfection** over self-worth, confidence, or actual well-being.
“The insidious thing about skincare is that it claims to be about health,” Hales said. “But in reality, it’s about conformity—conforming to the media’s definition of beauty.”
Only **26%** of the skincare regimens studied included sunscreen—ironically the one product that could actually protect these girls from long-term harm like skin cancer. Instead, most routines focused on luxury serums and acids that may be far too harsh for developing skin. And still, leftist culture warriors push this as “empowerment.”
Woke influencers aren’t helping. The study found many videos emphasized “lighter, brighter skin,” sending a not-so-subtle message that natural, youthful appearances aren’t enough unless filtered through the lens of commercialized, Western beauty ideals.
While TikTok claims to have safeguards—reminding media outlets that its platform is “only for users 13 and up”—the reality is that these girls are being shaped and sold to by a billion-dollar industry, under the watchful eye of corporate giants who profit from self-doubt.
It’s time for parents to wake up. This isn’t just about skincare—it’s about the left’s broader assault on childhood, self-image, and traditional values. Our daughters don’t need 12-step routines or \$100 moisturizers. They need **confidence, boundaries, and the freedom to grow up without being brainwashed by influencers who care more about clicks than consequences**.
Let kids be kids again—and let’s start pushing back against a culture that calls exploitation “empowerment.”
