Deemed "Sephora kids," today's youth are storming beauty stores for skin care products that were never designed for them. Teens spent 33% more on cosmetics and 19% more on skin care in 2023 than 2022, said a report by Piper Sandler. 

Background 
The products coveted by today's youth include ingredients like vitamin C and retinol. "It's worrying to see so many kids diving into skin care routines that aren't designed for them," said dermatologist Dr. Andrew Kane to ITV News.

Many place responsibility on influencers and cosmetic companies. "Skin care and some of these brands have just become a status symbol," said dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy to USA Today.

"Many of the trendy creams are harmless, but there are concerns around products designed specifically for older skin," said ITV News. "Strong ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, hydroxy acid and anything labeled as 'brightening' or 'anti-aging' can cause lasting damage if used incorrectly."

Young skin has "plenty of collagen and fast cell turnover … and hasn't accumulated much damage," said Axios. Skin care is important for all ages, but strong chemicals are not required for young skin. 

The latest
"With filters, people don't really seem to realize what skin looks like," Michelle Wong, a cosmetic chemist, said to Axios. Instead, normal textures in the skin are viewed as flawed. A 2021 study of 200 American teens said that "87% use a filter on social media and nearly 1 in 5 use a beauty filter on every single one of their posts."

The fear of growing old has also spilled into younger adults. "A growing number of people under 30 in the U.S. are shelling out thousands of dollars for cosmetic procedures including fillers, skin resurfacing treatments and neuromodulator injections like Botox," said CNN. 

Nonetheless, dismissing the younger generation's concerns is not optimal. "Gen Z and Alpha's interest in skin care may well represent … a longing for self-care and purpose during volatile times," said Dr. Daniel Glazer, a clinical psychologist and the co-founder of Therapy Rooms, to Salon. 

The maternal mortality crisis among Black mothers is a well-documented issue that health care advocates have been ringing the alarm about for years. In recent years, more Black women have turned to birth doulas for support throughout their pregnancies and to assist in overcoming disparities in health care and bridging the care gap between Black women and other health care professionals. 

What are birth doulas and what do they do?
Doulas are trained professionals who provide "continuous physical, emotional and informational support" for pregnant clients before, during and sometimes shortly after childbirth, said DONA International, a nonprofit organization initially known as Doulas of North America. 

While midwives and doulas have overlapping duties, there is a critical difference between them. "Midwives provide medical care, and doulas don't," Maureen Salamon, the executive editor of Harvard Women's Health Watch, said in a Harvard Health Publishing post. Doulas do not perform medical tasks, but they help laboring women "remain comfortable and calm" by employing various methods that include "suggesting comfort measures and optimal positions for labor and pushing," Salamon said. 

How can doulas help improve Black maternal health?
Doulas who are integrated into the communities they serve can provide "culturally and linguistically congruent care," said a blog from Drexel University College of Medicine's Women's Health Education Program. Black women's health organizations have identified this factor as an "essential aspect of the birthing experience." 

Studies have shown that some of the mistreatment Black women face is a systemic issue influenced by racial bias. "I do notice that once a doula walks in the room, [that type of racially motivated mistreatment] is less likely to happen," doula Ebonie Karma Tudor said to CNN. 

While doulas are providing what many consider to be a necessary service for Black mothers, maternal health advocates say the "high stakes, high demand and short supply" has led to rising burnout, said The Washington Post. It is because doulas are not supposed to be "emergency triage care in every situation," but "that's what we're expecting of doulas right now," said Kanika Harris, the senior director of maternal and child health at the Black Women's Health Imperative, to the Post.