Shay Mitchell's Children's Skincare Reaps Spicy Criticism From A Skin Doctor

Shay Mitchell Releases Children's Skincare (Photo: Instagram/@shaymitchell)

JAKARTA - Actress Shay Mitchell, recently launched a Rini skin care line specifically for children starting at the age of 3. This product is inspired by her daughter who wants to imitate her mother's beauty routine, including the use of face masks.

Although the star of the Pretty Little Liars series claims that Rini's sheet mask is made with safe and soft materials that parents can trust, a dermatologist does not agree and thinks this product is inappropriate for children.

The 38-year-old mother of two confirmed that her mask has been tested by a dermatologist and is safe for sensitive skin. The products offered include daily face masks, hydrogel masks after exposure to the sun, hydrating face masks, and masks with animal themes.

Reporting from the New York Post page, Dr. Sandy Skettnicki, the author of Beyond Soap and co-host podcast Skin to It's a doubt about the safety of this product after seeing the list of materials.

"The form was clearly not suitable for children's skin," he told The Post.

"There are about 68 ingredients that are difficult to calculate all of them. Children's thin skins have to deal with so many of these chemicals. This has the potential to become irritant and allergen," he added.

Previously, Skettnicki warned children and adolescents could develop life-long allergies due to skin care routines that are too aggressive with too many active ingredients.

"The skin shielding layer has an important function, holds back moisture and blocks irritation," he said.

"If too much material is used, this layer can be damaged, opening up opportunities for redness, burning, itching, acne, to long-term sensitivity," he added.

Although Rini does not contain hard materials such as retinol or chemical exfoliators commonly used as adults, the list of long ingredients includes names that are difficult to pronounce such as cyanocobalamine (synthetic B12 vitamins), chamazulene (antioxidant), and cass kiss aluminum waste. ).

There should be positive things, the child's skin is thinner and sensitive. So gentle and age-appropriate products have a place. The problem is, this sheet mask has 68 ingredients, "explained Dr. Skutnicki.

"If there are only three ingredients such as sheet bamboo, HA, and panthenol to calm down, it can be accepted. But there are a lot of flower extracts. For a 3-year-old child? This can be an allergency and alergen," he added.

"This new business is about taking care of yourself and teaching children that taking care of yourself can be fun, soft, and safe," Mitchell said in an announcement of the product on Instagram.

But critics think this product is unnecessary.

"Children should play outside, come into contact with the ground, enjoy nature, plant crops, play games, not wear face masks," said Skutnicki.

"Do we really need other self-care products that make children feel the need to use them to feel good about themselves? Shame," he continued.

Dr. Jeffrey Karasik, a pediatrician at Northwell Health Physician Partners, New York is also skeptical.

I don't see the benefits. Although the ingredients may be safe, there are no clear health benefits. Social and emotional messages are also questioned. The target is clear for certain demographic groups," he said.

Apart from the dermatological issue, Skoknicki is worried about the messages children receive.

This is a really wrong message for small girls. Focus on this age should be skin health, not beauty standards. Avoiding sunlight is a major skin care," he added.

Some of Mitchell's followers on Instagram were enthusiastic about this launch selling individual masks for 5.99 US dollars - 6.99 US dollars (IDR 100,000 to IDR 116 thousand).

The introduction package for US$29 or Rp485,000 has sold out, as well as animal-themed packages for US$16 or Rp267 thousand with panda masks, puppys, and unicorns. However, many social media users express disapproval and confusion.

"So again we force little girls to imitate adult behavior. Understand!" wrote the netizen.

"Having perfect skin has become a new diet culture," said another netizen.

"It's worrying," said another netizen.

"It's clear to me why toddlers need face masks and skin care while sitting in front of the mirror? They should play, get dirty, and don't care about their skin. Really, this doesn't look necessary." other netizens complained.