The UK Cosmetics, Toiletries and Perfumery Association (CTPA) has issued a guide to skin care for parents of children aged eight to 14.
SkinCare Simplified – A Parent’s Guide, developed in partnership with consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto, is designed to inform children on how to care about their skin in an age-appropriate way.
It contains several sections addressing the most frequent questions raised by parents, including general advice on skin care for young people of different age groups, questions on common skin issues and information on ingredients and labelling.
The guidance comes as a CTPA survey of 2,000 UK parents of children aged 8-14 found skin care conversations are now a regular occurrence for 85% of parents, and nearly a third (32%) discuss it several times a week.
According to parents, young people today show greater interest in skin care than they themselves did at the same age (65%) and, notably, 42% admit their child knows more about skin care than they do.
When it comes to choosing and purchasing products, parents feel that their children are influenced by social media (33%) and peers (28%), but primarily by themselves, the parent (54%).
Through this campaign, the CTPA clearly reiterates its position that anti-ageing products or complex routines should not be used on young people’s skin as they are not designed for this purpose.
Instead, SkinCare Simplified - A Parent’s Guide recommends, as key advice, to keep skin care simple for young people by:
- Gentle cleansing: Wash the face, or if needed use a cleanser suitable for children or for family use to keep the skin clean.
- Moisturising: If needed, use a lightweight moisturiser to keep the skin hydrated.
- Sun protection: Protect exposed skin when the weather requires it, including using a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and has UVA protection..
Dr Emma Meredith OBE, Director-General of the CTPA, said: “The CTPA, as the voice of the UK cosmetics and personal care industry, does not support young people using anti-ageing products or complex and unnecessary routines.
“With this campaign, we want to play our part in helping address this societal trend. Our aim is to ensure that product are used appropriately for each age range, helping young people understand how to develop healthy and age appropriate skin hygiene habits and supporting parents in discussions with their children.”
