In recent years, skincare has become increasingly popular among people, especially among younger generations. As such, most students at Chamblee High School have heard of its growing influence, regardless of their participation.
“I didn’t want a skincare routine originally,” said Ell Bowers (‘26), “but on social media, I saw everyone [had one]. They said, ‘You have to have skincare. It’s really good for your skin.’”
Alternatively, some students have yet to give in to this fad due to the financial toll it takes to maintain a routine.
“I see everybody’s routines [on social media]. I think they’re fun, but they’re also really expensive, and I don’t have the money for that,” said Maya Fernandez (‘29).
In addition, some students don’t believe that building a personalized routine would have a large enough effect on them or their appearance.
“I just don’t care that much, and my face looks fine as it is,” said Gwyn Harrison (‘27).
Some acknowledge the positive results a skincare routine can produce for others, but still don’t feel the need to participate themselves.
“[The effects of having a skincare routine] really just depend on how obsessed they are. I think it’s reasonable for someone to have a dedicated routine if that’s what they need,” said Kazuki Wells (‘27).
Many hold the opinion that teens and tweens don’t need extensive and complicated skin routines, aligning with the viewpoint of doctors at UCLA Health.
“I think the seven-year-olds that go into Sephora and buy all the Drunk Elephant products are [too obsessed], but there’s nothing wrong with a regular skincare routine,” said Fernandez.
Many students at Chamblee have been exposed to these trends and have added or amended their routines accordingly, with each student targeting different concerns.
“[I use] Panoxyl face wash at night, which is an acne face wash. I don’t have sensitive skin or acne breakouts very often, so it’s more as a precaution,” said Keira Bassett (‘27).
A large number of students decided what products to use based on their specific medical skin conditions, along with a few who did so after visiting dermatologists.
“I have had keratosis pilaris since I was a kid. That means I have little keratin deposits at every hair follicle. That makes my skin very red and a lot more bumpy, so I use urea cream for that,” said Mary Lynne Traynelis (‘26).
Along with spreading information about skin conditions and treatments, social media has also influenced specific products that some students use.
“[Social media] has [affected my routine], but not negatively,” said Mona Taylor (‘29). “I’ve gotten a lot of information about what I should be doing to take care of my skin, so I think it’s been really beneficial for me.”
All in all, it seems that many students at Chamblee High School are maintaining skin routines for various reasons, but at the end of the day, many students find that skincare is about being happy and healthy.
“Sometimes,” said Traynelis, “skin care is just about feeling good instead of actually helping your skin.”
