How sad: children with cosmeticorexia (how has childhood changed?)

I  can’t say that I am thrilled on the name of the condition as it seems to stem from anorexia or perhaps it does not. Anyway, I do not like to see children so fixated with cosmetics

My mum used to dress me and my sister up as young children and take photos and that was her thing, but it never made it into other people’s hands and I never went outside with it. It doesn’t seem in the photos that I was comfortable with it.

It seems a bit that the girl in that article may be being manipulated by an industry and adults. There are laws to govern minors working and I am not sure how this passes. It should come under that law. I think that it is strange if adults are among her subscribers.  The mother is a bit putting her daughter out to work. Are some parents wanting a friend or to be a parent.

I know in some countries children do pageants  getting dressed up and things. I am cannot say that I am fond of them.

This wasn’t really a problem for me in my childhood and I think that the majority of children seem ok.

You can get dolls heads that come with makeup.  

It's very sad the levels of advertising kids are subject to. These products aren't good for them at all, they obviously don't test them on children so the effects won't be known till it's too late.

There was some advertising when I was growing up -my younger sister had a girls magazine which had stuff like makeup tips. When I was 18 she helped me buy makeup and showed me how to use it before I went to uni, so I suppose there is a balance. I just think it's gone too far these days and kids don't get a break from it.

I have some general thoughts about the world- it's crazy and it's really hard to stay healthy and well these days. We are being bombed by all kind of poisons and addictive things. Recently Youtube showed me something new on my wall- exyreme obese people,  addicted to junk food. I was so shocked when I saw that picture that I clicked it because I couldn't believe it's real. Yes it is. I feel for these people trapped between a moment of pleasure and a life of pain. It is the food. And it is their choice. You can choose to snack apples or carrots (my favourite) you don't have to choose double cheeseburger, xxl pack of fries and pizza and I don't know how much more. Even if someonecsnt cook its still not a valid reason. I actually stuck in loops like I'm so shocked it stuck in my head last two days. I hope it will go quickly. I remember myself after my pregnancy,  I was exhausted and out of exhaustion started eating more sweets. The result was visible. My mom told me these are hormones for sure. I just nodded because I had no energy for discussion,  but I told myself: no, these are not hormones,  but too much of chocolate and cookies. I was far from that extreme that these people are. But what I can see, many or maybe most of these companies sell us "wonders" and pleasures to make us sick, addicted and dependent. Then the next one who makes money out of sick people is big pharmacy. And I wanna be clear-its nor that we don't need medicine or vaccines etc. But they won't replace healthy lifestyle. These children use creams that they don't need and shouldn't use. Who knows, what will be the long term consequence after few decades? 

12 is an awkward age from what I remember about myself and my own children, you're not really a child and not really on the path to adulthood yet either. It's difficult to navigate as a child and as a parent. I remember my  daughter at the age of about 10 asking me to buy her a bikini, I said no, that bikinis were for women and that she could start to have the things that belong to women, after she became one and gradually. My daughter's 43 now, but even then before the internet there were things like silky "sexy" nighties for little girls, my daughter wanted them partly because I wore stuff like that, but I wouldn't let her.

Honestly I think parenting is anxiety causing full stop, I'm not sure there was ever a golden age when children were children, I think it only really existed in Enid Blyton books. It also depends on where you grow up, the financial situation of your parents and all sorts of stuff.

It seems odd to think now that people of my parents generation mostly left school at 14 and were in work, the year before I left school it was 15 and my year was 16. 

I remember a lot of conflict with my parents about what I was allowed to do or wear, I'm sure if I were a child now I wouldn't be allowed a phone at all, or only a dumb phone that could calls an texts and those would be scrutinised. When phones did come along and were cheaper, I did buy one for my daughter who was 16 at the time, because she was old enough to go out of an evening and I didn't want her walking about unable to call for help if she needed it.

I'd hate to be a kid today.  I can't even imagine wearing make-up at the age of 7.  I was never into that stuff due to my gender dysphoria.

I already mentioned ‘pretend lipstick’ on this thread. The other pretend things that spring to mind were cigarettes which were sweets. I preferred the pretend cigarettes which were like short straws. You filled the ‘straw’ with talcum powder and blew to make ‘smoke’ come out. My mother used to buy me these even though she was a non-smoker.

If anyone wants to add how they feel childhood has changed from when they were young I'd be interested to hear.

The only makeup I was allowed near when I was a child was ‘pretend lipstick’ that came with comics. I wasn’t in to that either.

It’s truly sad that children are doing this and it’s causing so much anxiety. 

All children should have as carefree a life as possible.

12 Year Olds Aren’t Kids Anymore… And It’s TERRIFYING

this links to what is spoken about - says skin care and makeup number 1 hobby for preteen girls

pinkchocoholic said:

as well as teaching kids how to be kids as well!

️

yeah 

as well as teaching kids how to be kids as well!

pinkchocoholic said:

girls as young as 8 had come in trying to find the best makeup and the assistant even agreed it was ridiculous

Maybe a lowest age limit on buying could be an idea

I remember at that age I was into toys and games, not makeup etc. 

I tried some makeup when I was about 13-15 but couldn't stand it 

I remember once when me and mum were in boots finding a cleanser the assistant said girls as young as 8 had come in trying to find the best makeup and the assistant even agreed it was ridiculous

Oh dear

I don't watch it now but a youtube person I only watched a couple of times did some 'babysitting' videos and the kids were 5-8 I think that she did it with - they would always want to go into the beauty section and get makeup etc (this was like a year ago)

TheCatWoman said:

I guess if they have followers online then the whole thing is monitised?

The article says that the family earn £50k + a year on social media.

For those buying the products I wonder how they fund them.

'These products are not cheap. One study examined 100 TikToks made by under 18s, and found that the average cost of the skincare routines they had posted was £125. Depending on use, they might need to be replenished every three or four months.'

Its crazy, I wasn't allowed to use deoderant until I was about 14, let alone a regime like that. Honestly though, I think that the parents should be putting a stop to all this, and no body should be making money from it, I guess if they have followers online then the whole thing is monitised?

I'm Marianne and I are old enough to remember the only lotion or cream you were allowed to use, was calamine lotion for insect bites and germaline for cuts

I fear that childhood (as we know it) no longer exists. 

I read this too. It's unbelievable - for example, a 10 year old [with flawless skin] using a wide range of products, with her mother's encouragment. Another negative effect of social media.