Too young for online beauty trends

Videos and livestreams with beauty tips are quite common nowadays. But if the tutor is just 5 years old, we should think twice about embracing the trend.

In an age where online celebrities and influencers dominate so many social platforms, chances are children are being exposed online to endless beauty products. There, child celebrities are pushing lipsticks, mascara, rouge and foundation in their makeup courses.

"I just celebrated my 5th birthday, and now I am about to do this peach blossom makeup," said a 5-year-old in a voiceover for her online video beauty tutorial.

There are a number of online child celebrities hailed as "the youngest beauty bloggers online" and there are courses called "learning how to do makeup from adorable children" on social media platforms.

Applying and wearing makeup can become too adult of a pastime for kids who are still developing both physically and emotionally.

Cosmetics for kids sends a negative message about self-worth by putting too much emphasis on outer beauty at too early an age. Sometimes, in some of the online beauty courses, makeup equals a hypersexualization which can have dangerous long-term effects.

On the other hand, there's a great array of beauty products across many categories. It takes a lot of energy for kids to get familiar with using a certain type of cosmetics, depriving them of time better spent studying or playing outside.

Moreover, in many cases, social media gets addictive. Exposing children early on to makeup and "online fame" could become an unhealthy indulgence.

Many online influencers often say, "Your kindergarten peers are using these products, so ask your mother to buy them for you as well." Upon hearing such guidance, children as young as kindergarteners are quick to jump on the bandwagon.

Seeing beauty trends at such a young age also means youngsters face the anxiety and self-esteem issues surrounding body image far too early in life.

Though reminding children they are beautiful just as they are can't always compete with the allure of the steady stream of marketers and influencers promising virtual perfection, parents and schools should still serve as guides for kids, instilling within them a more multidimensional perspective that instead gets to the heart of what real beauty entails.