California’s Ban on Anti-Aging Skincare for Kids: A Wake-Up Call for the Beauty Industry?

California’s Bold Move to Protect Young Skin: A Step in the Right Direction?

The obsession with anti-aging skincare among young children—dubbed the Sephora Kids trend—has taken the beauty industry by storm. Now, California lawmakers are stepping in. Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San José) has introduced a bill that would ban the sale of potent anti-aging products to shoppers under 18. The proposed law targets ingredients like retinoids, retinol, glycolic acid, and vitamin C, which dermatologists say are too harsh for young, developing skin.

But is this really new?

Marzia Rahmani, founder of Real Skin Retinue and author of Savef Skin, has been vocal about the overuse of actives like vitamin C and glycolic acid for years. In her book, published in 2023, she delves into the dangers of blindly following skincare trends without understanding what the skin actually needs. Marzia has long warned that many so-called miracle ingredients can be counterproductive, especially for sensitive and melanin-rich skin.

The rise of Sephora Kids is yet another example of marketing shaping beauty habits—often at the expense of proper skin health. Marzia has always emphasized that skincare should be about preservation, not excess. This bill echoes what she and other industry professionals have been advocating: responsible skincare starts with education.

As California takes steps to curb unnecessary and potentially harmful skincare use among children, it’s time to rethink our approach. Shouldn’t we be teaching the next generation about healthy skin rather than bombarding them with the idea that they need anti-aging products before they’ve even hit adulthood?

Perhaps the best skincare advice for young teens isn’t another serum—but the wisdom of experts who have been questioning the industry all along.