The Budding Beauty Obsession: Are Our Daughters Growing Up Too Fast?

In today’s world, it’s not uncommon to see young girls, some as young as nine, experimenting with makeup and skincare. What was once a harmless pastime of playing with mom’s lipstick has morphed into a full-blown trend, fueled by social media, celebrity influence, and a beauty industry eager to tap into a new market. But at what cost? Is this early exposure to beauty products and ideals shaping a generation obsessed with appearance, and is the industry preying on insecurities to line its pockets?

The Rise of the “Sephora Kids”

The term “Sephora Kids” has emerged to describe the growing number of tweens and young teens who are avid consumers of skincare and makeup, often emulating adult beauty routines. These young consumers are spending significant amounts of money on beauty products, with Gen Alpha accounting for $4.7 billion in beauty sales in 2023. This trend is fueled by social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where young influencers promote “must-have” products and skincare routines.

Vineeta Singh, CEO of Sugar Cosmetics, proudly shared how the age of first makeup purchases has dropped to single digits. A survey indicates that 65% of girls begin using makeup between the ages of 8 and 13. This early adoption is driven by factors like social media influence (19%) and feeling “ugly” (13%).

The Filter Effect: A Distorted Reality

The rise of beauty filters on social media has significantly impacted young girls’ perceptions of beauty. These filters create an illusion of perfection, erasing skin imperfections, altering facial features, and promoting unrealistic beauty standards.

A Harris Poll survey revealed that 69% of parents believe social media editing apps and beauty filters negatively influence their child’s body image. Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, a psychologist, notes that the pressure to be perfect, magnified by online images, can lead to anxiety and depression. Internal reviews by Facebook (Meta) in 2021 showed that 32% of American teen girls felt worse about their bodies after using Instagram, and 6% of American teen users with suicidal thoughts traced those feelings to the platform.

The constant exposure to filtered images can lead to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), where individuals obsess over perceived flaws in their appearance. As social media expert Muhammad Hussain warns, excessive use of these filters can result in a lack of self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and anxiety among teens.

The Industry’s Role: Marketing to Insecurities

Cosmetic brands are strategically targeting children as a new market, investing millions in research to understand their desires and trigger a fear of missing out. This targeted marketing normalizes makeup use at increasingly younger ages, turning a playful experiment into an expectation.

The global children’s personal care market was valued at $7.5 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow significantly. This growth is driven by increasing disposable incomes, a focus on personal grooming, and the pervasive influence of social media. Beauty brands collaborate with child influencers to co-create products, ensuring they appeal to a younger demographic.

However, many adult products are promoted alongside unrealistic expectations, focusing heavily on vanity rather than true self-care.

It’s tricky to point fingers at specific Muslim influencers for pushing unrealistic beauty ideals or over-the-top makeup because what one person considers “too much” is really a matter of opinion, and the Muslim community itself has lots of different views on this. But, let’s break down some of the issues that come up:

1. The Core Conflict:

Hijab vs. Modern Beauty Trends: Some people feel that certain Muslim influencers are kind of missing the point of hijab – which is about modesty and not drawing attention to yourself – when they wear a lot of makeup, model, and actively try to get attention online.
Western Beauty Ideals Creeping In: Another concern is when influencers seem to be copying Western beauty standards, and some feel that clashes with Islamic values.
Hijab as a Commodity: There’s also the worry that some influencers are turning the hijab into a product to be bought and sold, which takes away from its spiritual meaning.

2. What’s Causing Concern?

“Perfect” Images: Like many folks on social media, influencers often present a flawless image, which can make others feel bad about themselves and start comparing themselves. This is made worse by filters and editing.
Focus on Stuff: The promotion of buying things and consumerism goes against Islamic values of keeping things simple and being content with what you have.
Impact on Young Girls: Some worry that young Muslim girls might feel pressured to copy these influencers, which could weaken their connection to their religious identity.
A “Hijabi Look”: Some think certain influencers are creating a specific standard of beauty for hijabis, making others feel like their hijab isn’t “good enough”.
Not Showing Real Life: Influencers are sometimes criticized for not being real and not showing the challenges and imperfections that everyone deals with.

3. What Kind of Influencers Are We Talking About?

Hijabis with Heavy Makeup: The concern here is that it defeats the purpose of hijab, which is to not draw attention to one’s beauty.
“Modest Fashion” Obsessed with Trends: This is when the focus is still very much on outward appearance rather than inner character.
Promoting Cosmetic Procedures: This can create pressure to strive for an impossible level of physical perfection.
AI Muslim Influencers: Some find AI influencers problematic, especially if they perpetuate Eurocentric beauty ideals. For example, AI influencers who are “Moroccan Muslim” but have fair skin and European features are criticized for reinforcing impossible beauty standards for people of color.
Lack of Diversity: Some algorithms continue to show users images of women they cannot relate to, reproducing racist logics by welcoming and celebrating certain bodies more than others.

4. Things to Keep in Mind:

It’s Subjective: What one person considers “too much” makeup or an “unrealistic” standard is really just a matter of opinion.
What’s Their Intention? It’s important to think about what the influencer is trying to do. Are they trying to promote harmful ideas, or are they just sharing their personal style?
Different Views: The Muslim community is diverse, and there are different interpretations of what modesty and beauty mean.

Ultimately, it’s important to be able to think critically and understand how social media and influencer culture work so you can navigate it in a healthy way.

What Makes Someone Seem Older?

A few things can contribute to this perception:

Cosmetic Stuff: All those fillers and Botox treatments, especially when started super young, can sometimes backfire and age you faster. Overdoing things like lip fillers or buccal fat removal (removing fat from your cheeks) can also make you look older.
Skincare Overload: It sounds weird, but young people using tons of anti-aging products can actually damage their skin and cause premature aging or even scarring.
Makeup Tricks: Heavy contouring can create a dramatic look, but it can also add years to your face.
Fashion Choices: Sometimes, just dressing in a very mature or sophisticated style can make a younger person appear older.
The Social Media Effect: Social media sets up crazy expectations for perfect skin, pushing young people to try anti-aging stuff way too early. Plus, all those video calls and constantly seeing yourself on screen can make you hyper-aware of every little flaw.

Who Are People Talking About?

It’s tougher to pinpoint specific Muslim influencers and celebrities who are consistently discussed in this context. However, here are some well-known Muslim influencers and celebrities in various fields – fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment – who are prominent on social media:

Influencers in Modest Fashion & Lifestyle: Leena Snoubar, Habiba Da Silva, Ascia Al Faraj, Dina Tokio, Summer Albarcha, Maria Alia, Basma K, Sabina Hannan.
Celebrities: Bella Hadid, Zayn Malik, DJ Khaled, Mahershala Ali, Hasan Minhaj, Riz Ahmed, Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes, Iman Abdulmajid, Dr. Oz.

Is Gen Z Really Aging Faster?

Dermatologists say no, not biologically. But it seems like a lot of people think Gen Z looks older, and it’s probably due to the factors I mentioned above. Social media plays a big role, with Gen Z relying on it for skincare advice, which can lead to this trend of “prejuvenation” – trying to prevent aging before it even starts!

The Islamic Perspective: Balancing Adornment and Modesty

Islam recognises the importance of beauty and adornment as part of human nature. The Quran states, “O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid” [al-A’raf: 31]. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Indeed, Allah is beautiful and loves beauty”.

However, Islam emphasises the importance of modesty, righteousness, and balancing inner and outer beauty. The Quran advises women on modesty and covering their adornments, as in Surah An-Nur (24:31). The purpose of clothing is to conceal and adorn, with the “clothing of righteousness” being the best.

Scholars note that Islam encourages women to maintain an attractive appearance for their husbands. Adornment should not be displayed to those men with whom they must cover themselves according to Islamic law.

The Quran uses the word “zina” ( زينة ) in connection with a woman’s beauty, referring to that which beautifies or enhances beauty. Adornment can be intellectual, mental, and physical, with intellectual and mental adornment including good manners and virtues.

Strategies for Parents: Guiding Our Daughters

Parents play a crucial role in helping their daughters develop a healthy self-image and navigate the pressures of the beauty industry. Here are some strategies:

Promote a positive self-image: Focus on your child’s strengths, talents, and character rather than just their appearance.
Encourage healthy self-esteem: Help your child learn to do things, praise efforts, be honest, and be a good role model.
Limit social media exposure: Monitor your child’s social media activity and discuss the unrealistic beauty standards often portrayed online.
Teach critical thinking: Help your child understand how filters and editing apps alter images and create a false sense of reality.
Foster open communication: Create a safe space for your child to express their feelings and concerns about their appearance.
Encourage healthy friendships: Teach your child that the best friends are those who treat them well and lift them up.
Promote self-care: Encourage activities that promote mental and physical well-being, such as exercise, hobbies, and spending time in nature.
Educate about skincare: Teach your children about proper skincare and the potential harm of using adult products.
Model healthy behaviour: Show your child that you value yourself for who you are, not just for how you look.
Show unconditional love: Providing them with a sense of security and helps them know they are valued for who they are.

A Personal Dua

Oh Allah, guide our children to recognise true beauty, the beauty of character, kindness, and inner strength. Protect them from the harmful influences of the world, and help them to value themselves for who they are, not for how they look. Grant us the wisdom to guide them on a path of righteousness and self-acceptance. Ameen.

By understanding the pressures our daughters face and providing them with the tools to navigate these challenges, we can help them develop a healthy relationship with beauty and a strong sense of self-worth.

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