The annual Piper Sandler Taking Stock with Teens® survey gives us a peek into how teens are spending their money and how it correlates to the economy. The most recent survey revealed that teen spending in the beauty industry has increased by 10% over the past year. This is the highest level recorded since 2007, when the survey first began.
Although the amount of money spent is alarming, especially given the state of the economy and the overall slowdown of spending in the beauty industry, the products teens are spending their money on is what we find most upsetting. It makes us wonder …
Do you know what your teens are spending their money on?
We’ve written before about the Sephora kids phenomenon (here and here), so it’s no surprise to us that the Piper Sandler survey shows that the top beauty shopping destination for teens is Sephora. The top brands teens are choosing include CeraVe for skin care (among both girls and boys) and e.l.f. Cosmetics for makeup. That means teens are spending their precious dollars (and their parents’ dollars!) on a slew of toxic products that may be wreaking havoc on their young bodies.
The proof is in the ingredients list.
The following products are just two examples from these popular brands that include harmful ingredients.
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Face Cleanser, Acne Treatment Face Wash:
- Benzoyl Peroxide: Recently associated with a recall of acne treatment products due to its ability to break down and form benzene, which is a toxic chemical widely recognized as a human carcinogen.
- Propylene Glycol: Linked with carcinogenic contamination 1,4-dioxane, known to affect liver and kidneys.
- Tetrasodium EDTA: Enhances absorption of product through skin, risking damage to skin barrier.
- Ethylhexylglycerin: An allergen that’s linked with formaldehyde contamination. Formaldehyde is linked with cancer, skin irritation, allergic reactions, joint pain, headaches, immune dysfunction, and menstrual disorders.
Elf’s Tik Tok trendy Lip Reviver Oil in crystal clear:
- Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer: A synthetic ingredient that can cause inflammation by blocking pores. Also a suspected environmental toxin, as it bioaccumulates in water sources.
- Fragrance (Parfum): Legally hides an untold number of toxins. Phthalates are commonly found in fragrance. In addition to potentially irritating skin and triggering allergies, phthalates are linked with birth defects, breast cancer, diabetes, obesity, autism, and ADHD.
- Caprylyl Glycol: Linked with carcinogenic contamination 1,4-dioxane, known to affect liver and kidneys.
Ingredient lists for other products and brands in teens’ list of top picks are no better — and often worse! — than these.
How to influence your teens’ spending.
Although the teenage years can be a struggle and social media and peer pressure are both strong influencers in teen behavior, there is hope. As a parent, your affinity for a brand has influence on your children, creates emotional attachment, and can carry over into your children’s adult lives.
Model good product choices and take time to explain your selections when your children are curious about them so they can understand why you use them. Let them know about the importance of reading labels and which ingredients to avoid and why.
Take the kids shopping.
Browse the online shop at Pure Haven together! Pure Haven is the leading manufacturer of guaranteed nontoxic products, offering a complete line of products made with only safe, effective ingredients that won’t harm you, your family, or the planet. With everything from skin care and makeup to bath and body products, hair care, safe scents, and even household cleaning products, we’ve got you and your teen covered!
Don’t let peer pressure and social media influencers sway your teen into dangerous spending and self-care habits. Show off your smarts with Pure Haven! Shop for safe, effective, nontoxic products now or email us if you need help placing an order or have any questions.
Sources:
Barber, L. (10 Apr 2025). Gen Z spend record amount on beauty, with e.l.f. Beauty and Sephora named top brands. Cosmetics Business.
Templeton, R. (14 Apr 2025). 2025 Teen Beauty Trends Are In – And They’re Not What Anyone Expected. msn.
Valles, S. (15 Apr 2025). Teen Beauty Spending Surges in 2025: Sephora, Bath & Body Works, and CeraVe Lead the Charge. msn.
Kovack, K. (22 Apr 2025). US Teen Beauty Spending Hits Record High | BeautyMatter.