The child influencers selling younger looking skin | The Global Story

Growing concerns over young people using anti-aging products, have prompted industry regulators in Italy to investigate claims that some brands are using young influencers to promote skincare products to other children. Investigators say that the practice is linked to the broader issue of ‘cosmeticorexia’ - a new term coined by some healthcare professionals to describe an obsession with skincare. The Global Story's Asma Khalid speaks to the BBC’s health and wellbeing reporter Ruth Clegg, about how harmful skincare is for the social media generation. New episodes of The Global Story are released daily. If you’re in the UK, listen on BBC Sounds. If you live outside the UK, listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. LINK: https://app.magellan.ai/listen_links/the-global-story-ytl Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news #BBCNews #tiktok #skincare 00:00 Introduction 02:58 Value of children's skincare and cosmetics industry 04:11 Teen skincare influencer Ellie-May and her family 08:00 How is this different to young people experimenting with makeup in the past? 08:51 What is cosmeticorexia? 10:45 Is this just a new label for an old problem? 13:52 "I wish I had taken care of my skin more when I was younger" 15:11 Are skincare brands actively involved with these influencers? 16:34 Regulators investigating brands 20:33 "Women's bodies have always been big business" 22:44 How Ellie-May's mother manages her social media