Blog Archives

Beauty: Is Makeup Standard?

5/18/2026

Photo: Courtesy of Fashion Magazine. (https://fashionmagazine.com/beauty-grooming/kids-and-makeup/)

There’s a growing pressure for girls to look older, polished, and camera-ready before they’ve even had the chance to fully grow into themselves. What used to feel like play makeup and lip gloss at sleepovers has, for some girls, turned into contouring routines, skincare hauls, lash appointments, and beauty standards shaped by social media algorithms before they’ve even reached high school.

According to freelance writer, Kaya O'Rouke, "Over Winter Break, I went to Sephora with my mom to get a new eyeliner that I wanted to try. I left shocked by what I saw. The store was packed with pre-teen girls who pushed and shoved their way through crowds of people, searching for Drunk Elephant products, anti-aging creams, and everything in between. I have heard about the phenomenon of Gen Alpha infiltrating Sephora stores, but I did not know the severity of the situation until I was right in the middle of the war zone.

TikTok coined the term “Sephora Kids” at the end of 2023 with multiple videos of young girls shopping in groups in Sephoras across the United States. The girls were rude to the employees and other customers and left the display and sample counters in shambles, and used ridiculous profanity, the kind that would have gotten my mouth washed out with soap as a kid. Their actions seemed to imply that the world exists purely with the intention to serve their needs and nobody else’s."

The conversation isn’t really about makeup itself; it’s about why so many girls feel like they need it so early, and what happens when childhood starts competing with performance, appearance, and online validation.

Let's Write: What is the "right" age to start wearing makeup and why?

INSTRUCTIONS

1. INCLUDE: Last Name, First Initial, AND Class Block. You do not have to include an email address or a website.

2. Respond to the post. Read the entire post, including watching any videos or reading any articles attached. Do not post vague or ambiguous commentary. Your post should have depth, be thoughtful, and provide specific, meaningful insight. Make sure it addresses the topic and encourages reflection, discussion, or a connection.

3. You MUST comment on at least TWO other posts from any student in any class. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.

4. Language. Do NOT use profanity. Vague or repeated responses will not be accepted in your post or replies.

5. Disrespectful comments will not be accepted and will result in a zero whether you do the assignment or not.

REMINDERS

**Set a weekly alarm or calendar timer. Whatever you do to remember other important events, I'd do the same for this assignment.

**Don't wait until the last minute. Telling me that you didn't do the assignment on Friday because you broke your leg, for example, on Thursday will not do anything for you when you've had a week. Be responsible and accountable.

**How to post. Click in the top right hand corner or the lower left hand corner where it says Comments to access the discussion board. Once there, scroll to the bottom of the page to post a Reply. After, choose comments from at least two students from any class and Reply to what they wrote.

CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you do not write your name correctly, and I don't see your work, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you use profanity, you will not receive credit for the work. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.

Due Fri., May 22, 11:59 p.m. CST

3 Comments

No Degree? No Content.

5/11/2026

As of October 25, 2025, the Chines government has passed a new law requiring influencers to hold a degree in the topics they discuss in their content, according to the English edition of the Economic Times.

Now, if someone wants to talk about or give advice or tips about specialized subjects, they have to prove verifiable credentials such as professional qualifications, official certification, or degrees in those fields.

According to Forbes contributor, Tim Bajarin, when a fitness influencer with millions of followers recommends unproven supplements, or a finance guru without credentials advises followers on retirement strategies, the potential for harm is real and measurable.

The policy primarily targets areas considered high-risk to public safety, financial stability, or social order including:

Finance and investing
Health, medicine, nutrition, and mental health
Education and test preparation
Law and legal advice
News and political commentary
Real estate and housing advice
Insurance and taxes
Child psychology and parenting guidance
Science and technology claims
Cryptocurrency and trading
Automotive repair and mechanical instruction
Beauty, skincare, and cosmetic procedures
Fitness training and rehabilitation
Traditional medicine and herbal remedies
Business coaching and entrepreneurship advice

So, for example, in China, an influencer could get online and show their makeup routine, but if they were to give skincare advice or recommend their favorite treatment for skin conditions, they would have to could require credentials. In addition, showing off a car build as entertainment is acceptable, but explaining to someone how to install an engine or giving advice on technical repair or safety advice would land you in serious legal trouble.

The goal is to separate entertainment and personal opinion from content presented as expert guidance in order to protect the general public from harm. However, reports suggest that the new rule has sparked debate that it might harm creativity and limit freedom of speech.

Let's write! What are you thoughts on this ban? Should the United States do the same?

SCOTUS Guts Voting Rights

5/4/2026

The Ultimate Demolition: that’s how some people are describing what the Supreme Court of the United States has done to parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

When Congress passed that law, it was meant to address barriers that had long kept many Black Americans, especially in the South, from fully participating in elections like literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation.

It didn’t take long to see how some of the South’s most powerful white politicians responded to those changes. They worked to maintain control of the political process, often finding ways to limit access despite the law.

Over time, the Voting Rights Act became one of the key protections for voters who had historically been excluded. Recently, however, the Supreme Court weakened parts of that law, specifically provisions that were designed to prevent voting practices that could disadvantage certain groups.

Critics argue that this change could give some racial minorities like Latino voters, Native American voters, and Asian American voters "less opportunity than other members of the electorate" to elect candidates they support.

Supporters of the decision see it differently. Some describe it as a modernization of the law, arguing that conditions today are not the same as they were in 1965. They believe that racism is small and barely exist, so they feel that states should have more control over their own election processes.

Others view the decision as a rollback of protections that were put in place to address longstanding inequalities. Roland Martin, journalist, has argued that, "white folk don't tell each other not to vote, even when they are unhappy with the candidates or outcomes." However, people within Black communities "discourage participation, saying things like "it doesn’t matter" or "I’m sitting this one out," even though when Obama got elected in 2008, it was documented as the highest Black voter turnout ever in history, and he won. According to Martin, we saw the consequences of Black people voting then, adn we are seeing the consequences of thinking our vote doesn't matter, now.

Let's Write! What do you think about the Supreme Court’s decision and Roland Martin's fact-based opinion, and what do you think it will mean moving forward?

Mixed Ink

Mixed Ink is our class blog, the window into our souls. It was designed to improve students' writing, critical thinking and communication skills by giving them a platform to provide meaningful content based on their interpretation of what they see.

Although the students receive a grade based on a rubric for completing this assignment, they are not graded on complexity of thought. This is a place where students of all levels can freely, confidently and creatively express themselves and their opinions in a nonjudgmental platform. They are required to respond to and critique each other, but degradation, slander, lewdness, etc., will not be tolerated.

Bridge Builders

All subjects are vital to learning, but English is the bridge of communication. So let's build the arch, one word at a time...

Grading Rubric

Learning Objectives

Communicate effectively
Be aware of current events
Write concisely
Boost critical thinking skills
Be accountable
Follow directions
Have a voice about what goes on in the world around you