MOM!!!! Take me to Sephora!
- Maggie Duplace Schmieder
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
If you like me, are the mom of tweens or teens you have absolutely heard this in your house, likely on repeat. Full disclosure, I have farmed this job out to my husband for a variety of reasons. 1. My allergies and nose can't handle the myriad of scents that infiltrate my senses upon arrival and 2. I am tired of trying to explain what is "clean", what is not, what is necessary for their skin at this age and what is not, or why I am not spending $45 on chemical laden cr*p only to find it tucked into some drawer in their room unused and wasted. According to a recent Beauty Matters study, teens spent a record high on beauty products this past year averaging $347.
The tween and teen skincare and makeup craze was one born out of easily impressed, fresh young brains being influenced to follow the next big trends. Unfortunately for them and you, that is a never ending revolving door and nothing ever lasts.
What contributes to a skincare or makeup brand going viral? Is it the actual product? Usually, no. It is the influencer or content creator who has captured our eyes and ears telling us how great it is. Dr. Sonal Shah, MD tell us that "Products are recommended on social media, often with paid promotions by influencers whose reviews may come with some bias. “Social media can provide a wealth of information, but it’s crucial to follow trusted sources," (Science of Health, 2024). The toll this takes packs a punch- this leads to wasted money, wasted products, and unfortunately, often exposing our loved ones to things that aren't really great at all. I can proudly say that I have never paid an influencer on social media to endorse Bitty Balm!
So what should your children avoid?
Harsh Exfoliators- this strips skin of its moisture barrier and can lead to skin irritation.
Anti-Aging Products- save those suckers for those of us 35 and older. Most anti-aging ingredients are synthetic and chemically processed.
Buying a zillion of the new "MUST HAVES"- this is wasting your money and creating more environmental (and I mean in your house, too) waste.
So what DO your children need? The same gentle ingredients that your skin benefits from.
Natural Moisturizers- gentle ingredients like castor and marula oil that can keep skin hydrated.
Skin Protectants- like beeswax that can provide a barrier to support skin health.
Non-Comedogenic (HUH?) That is just a fancy way of saying ingredients that don't clog pores, like jojoba oil and vitamin E.
Parents who can talk to them about better options for them and their skin and help them find brands that align with the cool vibe they are still looking for and want.
Find a list of Bitty Balm ingredients here!
So where does that leave us? It leaves us with products like Bitty Balm and other skincare products that are filled only with essential ingredients to support performance, meaning does the lipstick actually color your lips and smooth over skin? Does your cleanser remove the day's dirt and makeup? And there are some really amazing products out there that never reach the influencer's hands. We have to do our own research and our own shopping to find what works for us!
The reasons above are the exact reasons I founded Bitty Balm. I had an acquaintance see this recent Instagram post about why I created Bitty Balm and she had
NO IDEA that it was my actual product.
NO idea that I went to work formulating it and branding it and building this.
NO idea that I still make it and sell it from that place that houses those tweens that I call Ebby and Wynnie.
NO idea that it all started because of a "MOM!!!! TAKE ME TO SEPHORA!"
Turns out my daughters and I both need the exact same things in our makeup. Clean color that can be used on our whole face that is safe for us all and that we feel confident wearing.
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