Is the Anti-Aging Industry Doing More Harm than Good?
Has anyone also been a victim of their mom smothering so much sunscreen on their face as a kid that they looked like a ghost? Everytime that happened, I distinctly remember conjuring a look of disgust at the cream on my face while my mom just shook her head and chastised “You’ll thank me later”. I guess her methods worked though, because now I apply sunscreen to my face every day without avail, fearing skin cancer and wrinkles. While sunscreen is one of the better known skincare basics, there is a vast plethora of serums, moisturizers, exfoliants, and creams that the anti-aging/beauty industry pushes on consumers, especially younger women. Where should the line be drawn in the amount of products we use? And at what point is the anti-aging industry causing more harm than good?
In recent years, the anti-aging industry encompasses a clinical and commercial industry that promotes anti-aging products, programs, and treatments that are marketed to “prevent” and slow aging. It is projected to be valued at around 93 billion by 2027, and just last year, 49% of drug store skin sales were made by consumers under the age of 14. You may have seen the #SephoraKids trend on TikTok and Instagram that showcases this. Using anything more than a simple cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen seems absurd at such young ages. Although it is typical for people to begin using mild anti-aging products in their 20s, such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, the American Academy of Dermatologists (AAD) recommends people to adopt a true anti-aging skin care routine in their 40s, which is a long shot from age 14! In addition, according to dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy, premature use of anti-aging skin-care can damage the skin barrier and cause permanent scarring, opposite of the intended effect. The overuse of anti-aging products applies to the adult population as well. So much so that the European Union recently set new restrictions to the amount of retinol (a common Vitamin A-deriving anti-aging ingredient) that can be contained in over-the-counter products to prevent the risk of vitamin A toxicity, which can result in significant organ damage. This unnecessarily early and superfluous use of anti-aging products reveal an unfortunate realities of industry marketing—— preying on women's self-perceptions and unrealistic societal standards, exacerbating issues of self-esteem and mental health.
Credit: Jenna Solomon
Besides having negative implications on health, the anti-aging industry also socially and psychologically affects the self-image of consumers. As examined in a recent article, Usage Patterns and Self-Esteem of Female Consumers of Antiaging Cosmetic Products, “higher usage frequency of products that reduce skin laxity was positively correlated with self-esteem”. This notion illustrates that women using anti-aging products tend to interweave self-esteem with outward appearance. It was also found that women with lower tendencies of perfectionism (measured by the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale) often have higher self-esteem. Indeed, the modern industry can promote a certain idealistic aesthetic that tricks the human mind into striving for it, tying it to self-worth. When results align with societal beauty standards, a positive self-image results, however, when results are “unsatisfactory”, it can result in psychological distress. This internalization of unrealistic standards of youth affects people of all ages, clouding mental and physical well-being.
Unfortunately, I have slim hope that society will ever escape its influence from superficial beauty standards—— I, myself am swayed by this toxic culture. There is also an underlying intersection between consumerism, social media, and gender roles, that needs to be further addressed. Despite this, there have been trends and ideologies that stray away from these unattainable ideals. Lastly, let us be reminded that growing older is a natural, and inevitable part of life. We’re not superhumans needing to turn back time! I invite everyone to prioritize kindness, holistic well-being, and the wisdom and grace that comes with age.
By Chloe Wang | She/her/hers | Blog Committee Member
References
Azaldin, M. (2024, June 27). #SkinSchool: Everything you need to know about the EU's retinol regulation. Harper's Bazaar. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/skincare/a61417945/eu-retinol-ban/
Evangelista M, Mota S, Almeida IF, Pereira MG. Usage Patterns and Self-Esteem of Female Consumers of Antiaging Cosmetic Products. Cosmetics. 2022; 9(3):49. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics9030049
Gecker, J. (2024, August 31). Young girls are using anti-aging products they see on social media. The harm is more than skin deep. CityNews Everywhere. https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/08/31/young-girls-are-using-anti-aging-products-they-see-on-social-media-the-harm-is-more-than-skin-deep/
Lewsley, J. (2022, February 8). Which anti-aging products work best, and when should you start using them?. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/when-to-start-using-anti-aging-products
Mikulic, M. (2024, November 14). Anti-aging - Statistics & Facts. Statista. www.statista.com/topics/10423/anti-aging/#topicOverview
Olson, J. M., Ameer, M. A., & Goyal, A. (2023, September 2). Vitamin A toxicity. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532916/
The aging and anti-aging industries (2017). University of Victoria: The Online Academic Community. http://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/outcaltl/the-aging-and-anti-aging-industries/#:~:text=The%20anti%2Daging%20industry%20emphasizes,and%20pharmaceutical%20and%20cosmetic%20corporations
