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?
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
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
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