Sephora stores around the country are being attacked. Displays are being ruined, products are being wasted, testers are being vandalized, and employees are being harassed by Sephora’s newest enemy: 10-year-olds.

“Sephora 10-year-olds,” a term originating on TikTok to describe the girls going into these makeup stores and searching for makeup and skincare products that are not recommended for their age.

These young girls have been walking to Sephora and demanding employees bring them to the Drunk Elephant or Rare Beauty sections after seeing products go viral on TikTok. Drunk Elephant, a skincare brand that has gained popularity through social media, contains ingredients such as retinol, niacinamide, and peptides that could be harmful to the skin of a 10-year-old.

The average cost for a small bottle of these skincare products is over $50. Parents should not be spending hundreds of dollars on products that could potentially harm their children’s skin. Just because the products are trendy and they see influencers using and promoting them does not mean that these products will be good for them. A 10-year-old does not need to be putting anti-aging serum on every night, considering at that age they are yet to hit puberty.

Although parents should be doing more research when it comes to buying skincare for their kids, they should also not be letting their kids run wild in the stores.

Many Sephora employees have made TikToks about their experiences with the 10-year-olds being disrespectful and demanding when they come into the stores. Since the products are so sought after, many stores are sold out and the 10-year-olds take it out on the employees, who are not paid enough to have to deal with this. 

Kids have also come in to play with the testers that are out and mix the different products, but then leave the store a mess.

“They’re very reckless. They’re so media influenced and they think that destroying everything in the store is cool when it’s not,” senior Kylie Szymczak said.

Parents need to start disciplining their children more because not only is it hurting the employees, but also the other customers who are trying to shop.

10-year-olds in the early 2000s used to live very different lives. Makeup products used to be Lipsmackers lip balm and eyeshadow pallets from Claire’s, which would cost less than $10. The younger generations are being influenced by social media and are growing up too fast. They should not be taking makeup and skincare advice from influencers who are at least 10 years older than they are.

“I get it because they get influenced by social media and we didn’t have that when we were younger. They should try to realize that they’re too young for that stuff right now,” junior Lauren Overhage said.

Not only could this physically harm their sensitive skin, but they are also comparing themselves to people on social media. This can lead to even more problems with their self-esteem and mental health. 

“I think it’s really sad because, not only are they destroying Sephora’s property, it’s just really immature but kids of that young age shouldn’t be allowed to have makeup and skincare. It promotes really bad body image,” sophomore Emma Darnall said.

Parents need to teach these kids that eventually they will be able to shop at Sephora and use these products, but right now they are too young. 

“If they’re 10 they should be playing with dolls instead of playing with expensive makeup,” Overhage said.

Their childhood is already going by so fast, they do not deserve to have it shortened even more. Parents need to do their part to keep their kids away from Sephora and all the influence they are getting from social media. Take these 10-year-olds to the park. Let them be kids.