The Teen Beauty Tell-All

"The numbers, as they say, don't lie - and right now, they're painting quite the picture. U.S. teens are becoming serious beauty consumers earlier than any past generation, spending, on average, an eye-watering $374 on it per a year, according to one study. That figure will likely only balloon further: Teens' spending on makeup, skincare, and fragrance increased 23% in 2023 alone, according to another."

"But there's more to the story: Teens aren't toddlers. They're smart and self-aware, and they carefully consider their inputs and consumption habits. The nuance, complexity, and contradiction of individual experience just gets lost in the data. So while it's clear they are, to some degree, products of their social media saturated environment - precocious experts on the nuances of migrating filler and contouring techniques - they all experience their world a little differently."

"Tell me about your relationship with beauty and makeup. Maddie, 18: I'm the youngest of nine. My parents were really big evangelicals, so for the longest time makeup was a big no-no. It was seen as something you aren't doing unless you're trying to get attention from someone else. But I have always loved makeup. My oldest sibling got me my first makeup palette on my 11th birthday."

U.S. teenagers are spending substantially more on beauty products, averaging $374 annually, with spending on makeup, skincare, and fragrance rising 23% in 2023. Social media exposure shapes many teens into early adopters of beauty techniques and trends. Individual teens respond differently to this influence, weighing concerns about platforms like Instagram against personal preferences and budgets. Product choices range from luxury brand-name items to affordable drugstore alternatives. Persistent personal concerns include acne, body image, and breast size. A focus group of girls ages 13 to 18 revealed varied morning routines, differing trust in influencers, and personal backgrounds shaping makeup attitudes.

Read at Bustle