Teenagers are too worried about keeping their youthful faces forever. Collagen products, botox, and fillers are way too normalized amongst young women today.
Let’s talk about anti-aging products first. Anti-aging products contain potent ingredients like retinoids, high-dose vitamins and acids. These ingredients are designed for mature skin and can be harsh on younger, more sensitive skin, potentially leading to irritation, dryness and damage to the skin barrier rather than actually helping the skin remain youthful.
Also, young skin is still developing. The use of aggressive anti-aging products can disrupt the natural balance and health of the skin, leading to long-term issues. Not to mention, this focus on not aging affects the psychological aspect. No one should fear aging; everyone grows and ages; it’s just part of life.
Next, let’s talk about Botox and fillers. Botox and fillers were originally intended for individuals who are experiencing visible signs of aging: wrinkles, smile lines and crow’s feet. Now, procedures are now being used by people in their late teens and early twenties as a “preventative” measure. This fear of aging is creating insecurities in women that have never been there before. This is a trend largely driven by social media and influencers, which heavily filter images and unrealistic beauty standards.
There’s a bigger issue here, self worth is more and more being tied to appearance. Teenagers now feel that aging is something they need to “fix” and yet they don’t even have a wrinkle on their face yet.