The Budget Skincare Products 'MELTING' People's Skin?! 🧐 - When Beauty Turns Ugly

I love a good skincare bargain. I love a skincare product that emphasises the fact that you don’t need to spend a small fortune on your skincare routine in order to own good products and achieve what ever skincare goals you are after.
Unfortunately, there are some stories out there, horror stories, of people who have purchased skincare on a budget and have experience pretty devastating results.
Further perpetuating the myth that cheap, budget friendly and affordable skincare equals, dangerous skincare!
In todays When Beauty Turns Ugly I want to investigate some stories of budget friendly skincare brands gone wrong and see what could’ve potentially caused these negative reactions.
From a 'skin melting' Niacinamide serum and face scrub, to a super cheap sunscreen that put a child in hospital, are these cheap affordable products worth avoiding?
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[@serenjns]

Some people are just allergic to random stuff for no apparent reason. Weirdly, my brother is allergic to Hypoallergenic Dove soap, but not ordinary Dove soap.

[@JuniperWhiskeytart]

And not all allergies last forever. Sometimes you're allergic for a while and then your body moves on!

[@ruthiea729]

Everything hypoallergenic I react badly to and the “simple” range is horrendous on me! Normal more high end stuff I’m fine with but have very serious allergies and going on injections for them next month so you’d think the hypoallergenic range would be better but whatever they put in it is horrendous

[@krk6216]

It’s probably the masking fragrance in the sensitive version and he’s not allergic to the regular one

[@lexwithbub]

​@@JuniperWhiskeytartand you can develop reactivity over time. This is why whenever you get your hair bleached they do a patch test. Or you can use a product for years and years and gradually develop contact dermatitis.

[@olgahein4384]

Allergies are neither random nor are they for no apparent reason. There are always reasons for why they pop up and usually it's due to overexposure to a concetrated allergen over a long time or extreme overexposure for a short time - or the opposite, lack of exposure to things during the time when your immune system is building up. In my case it was the first, overexposure to perfume and all kinds of unnatural fragrances (deodorants, washing powder, cleaning detergents, make up and creams are full with perfume), that lead to a severe turpentine allergy. Just being in a room with someone wearing an AXE deodorant for a few minutes can give me a nosebleed, swollen eyes (cause the fat channels have dried up) and rashes, and that all will lead long term to either death by skin cancer (cause it's contact allergies, even aerial) or auto immune decease or immune system shutdown (cause it's a typical immune overreaction). Thanks to that, i have cross allergies (collophonium that is in powdered make up) and related allergies as well as cross reactions that also caused allergies (e.g. metall allergies, dye allergies and Benzocaine, which is widely used in medical advices to dull pain and stop bleading. I can't wear a bandaid cause of that, for example). I'm also on the verge of photosensitivity to allergy, i can't even be under normal household lights without 50+ sun protection cream - my skin starts to prickle and i get rashes and red spots immediately. As a child i never wore sunscreen and just got a pretty tan every summer and never had a sunburn.

[@slavexcalledxshiver]

A cosmetic nurse giving her kid those products is like your RN mum hooking you up to IV Mountain Dew.

[@Tara_Masika]

Wait. You can get Mountain Dew IVs?... 🤔🤭❤

[@slavexcalledxshiver]

@@Tara_Masika Oh lord what have I done. 😂

[@justilou1]

@@Tara_Masika No, we prefer Monster. Makes the curtains match the drapes.

[@JeSuisDeTexas]

Are curtains different from drapes where the Mountain releases Dew?! 😛

[@Aperson355]

This is very dramatic

[@sherylfenner1983]

The grapefruit probably made her more sensitive to the sun too.

[@LunarEleven]

Could be, but grapefruit won't necessarily cause photosensitivity. If it's steam distilled it's not phototoxic. A cheaper product will most likely use steam distillation because cold pressed oil is more expensive.

[@nany____]

And it's a face SCRUB, this child was ABSOLUTELY sanding their face down with this product, even adults do this

[@kikiTHEalien]

​@@nany____The Kmart serum is a scrub?

[@nany____]

@@kikiTHEalien no, but they used both products

[@Danisuzette]

The Aldi thing. Allergies are often genetic and EVERYTHING can be an allergen. They can also come and go depending on their own body chemistry at the time.

[@Crow_Smith]

This might explain my issue with some lotions where I could use it one day and have a reaction like they did - but I could use the same one, from the same bottle, like a week later and be totally fine.

[@justilou1]

And a reaction isn’t always an allergy

[@simlover00]

Yes allergies can be a part but it could be the ingredient itself or the percentage of it not being suitable for their age or skin area

[@justilou1]

@@simlover00 Oh for sure! That’s partly what I meant. You were totally right spelling it out.

[@Danisuzette]

@@Crow_Smith happens to me all the time. It's really common for sensitive skin. I can walk into a store that used pine sol and not touch anything and still have a skin reaction on my face, then sometimes nothing happens.

[@JLB0880]

“Hey! My daughter just almost died from anaphylactic shock from Aldi sunscreen! we’ve been in the emergency room for three hours! I know you got some too - test it on your 9 month old baby!!!” Sounds like a perfectly rational thing to do…..ok!

[@glitterbitesback]

Yeah that was a bit…scary. I feel like both mums should have thought about doing the patch test on a delicate part of their own skin to mimic a child’s skin. I don’t even think proper labs do testing on actual babies and kids. That would be unethical.

[@dark_baphomet]

Yeah I was like oh she's gonna get the mum to do it on herself. Oh the 9 month old baby? When you just went into hospital with an older child? Wtf???

[@M0rbidCuriositea]

My jaw DROPPED when I heard that. I can't believe the second mom actually went through with it.

[@horselover40]

I used to actually spend more on my skincare and Ive found the cheaper stuff actually works better for me( 15-20$range) . Ive also had less than ideal results, though luckily nothing so dramatic.You just have to be responsible, spot test test your products, and be age appropriate. At the end of the day, you are still putting stuff on your skin, and sometimes its not a good fit

[@daciasdiy1861]

Your daughters reaction isn't common so stop trying to project and make it seem as if everyone will almost die from sunscreen .

[@justilou1]

Like you, I’m gobsmacked that the cosmetic nurse isn’t far too embarrassed by what happened to her kid after using the Kmart skincare to admit what she does for a living let alone imply that she is an expert on skincare. This sounds like a clear cut photosensitivity caused by citrus essential oil. Text book. Also… “I read the ingredients list” - and still put actives on my kid…. Sigh….

[@LadyGoddessSephiroth]

Grapefruit destroys my skin, and I'm 40. Why would she put this on a kid's face? It genuinely amazes me how incompetant a lot of medical proffessionals are.

[@blaah9999]

Was she a cosmetic nurse or an esthetician? you don’t have to be a nurse to be an esthetician in the US at least… 👀👀

[@hannahshark8080]

That kmart skincare looks awful, I saw the ingredient list on the blue hyaluronic range and laughed. Awful.

[@ironglaciers1988]

People are pretty stupid though. Nothing shocks me anymore.

[@mummysyummy1978]

@@LadyGoddessSephirothi can’t use anything with grapefruit either, or pineapple ,my skin goes bright red, feels hot to the touch and feels like its on fire😩

[@MissFreyja]

I think a deep dive into what makes something expensive would be SO interesting.

[@dime.overmatter]

I saw a La Mer cream for £1.7k reduced from £2k+ and the button said 69 people had bought it that day 😭 what is going on 😭 is this what we wanted from Capitalism?!

[@kerlitasso515]

Yes, that could be really interesting!

[@Frog_c0rpse]

Honestly it’s mostly just brand name. A drugstore brand niacinamide can cost….say £3. A more “luxury” brand name can have the same product, same ingredients, same volume of product in fact they can be made the EXACT same in the same lab but the same people but the packaging and name if where the cost comes from. And if you are like the cosmetic nurse that offers treatments etc then she has a motive to promote her own treatments that she can say youll need to go back for every week or 2 at her own prices rather than a cheap £3 treatment. I saw a caffeine eye treatment at the cosmetic spa that i went to priced at £48….small tube. £48. Boots has them for maybe £7. 😂

[@aldergreen]

@@Frog_c0rpse This. And packaging! A cream in a glass jar with a heavy plastic lid is way more expensive to a brand than the same cream in a light plastic tube or jar. Same for makeup: a heavy lipstick (they sometimes have a small weight at the bottom) is percieved as more luxurius than a light one; think about how good to hold is a Dior or MAC lipstick and how different is holding up a Essence one. Plus it is present an external (or secondary) packaging like a paper box? More cost for the product! See the previous example, MAC lipsticks are sold in nice carton boxes with all info written on it and the lipstick has just its name on the bottom, Essence lipsticks are sometimes pray-for-not-buying-an-already-opened-one and all the info is written on a sticky note on the primary packaging itself.

[@ffmadari]

Agreed. I want that video

[@Cyhcg5uhgb]

Who tf patch tests a 9 month old baby? What was that mother thinking?

[@cheekyb71]

Ooooo I know!! A mother who is concerned that an older child had a full, potentially fatal, reaction to a product and wanted to see if her younger child would react or not! I mean if I heard a friends kid reacted to the sunscreen I bought for my kid, then you can be damn sure I'm going to do a patch test before slathering it all over her tiny body!!!! What's wrong with you??

[@GalaxyCat3444]

​@@cheekyb71I think people are saying that it was strange to do a test at all on your weak, small baby? Like, just don't put that product on your baby if it put another kid you know in the hospital maybe? I would rather buy a new sunscreen or test it on myself than on the baby?

[@GalaxyCat3444]

​@@cheekyb71😅 They're not saying to slather it on the baby, calm down and reread the comment.

[@cheekyb71]

@GalaxyCat3444 because adult skin and infant skin are different, patch testing on yourself wouldn't give any indication of how your child's skin might react - and perhaps you should reread my comment. The first child was slathered all over without a patch test.... patch testing IS the correct thing to do before exposing yourself, or a child, to ANY cosmetic product. The first parent didn't do it, and it led to a severe and completely unnecessary reaction for a child

[@cheekyb71]

@@GalaxyCat3444 foolish keyboard warrior

[@abinnohr6497]

It's so annoying that people jump so quickly to warnings and lawsuits over what's CLEARLY allergies or contact dermatitis (which can often show up a few days after using a product, if it doesn't show signs immediately). If 1 out of 100 people have a reaction, that's not a red flag. People don't have common sense.

[@lizzi7128]

I'm a beauty and laser therapist in New Zealand, and we have Kmart and this range. I'm also bemused as to why she would let children play with this kind of thing. Cheap doesn't equate to poor or weak formulation, either. Let alone combined with our kind of sun "down under". What a strange woman.

[@Beeleeteecee]

Exactly. Skincare with actives is not something for children to play with. The girl probably mixed it with other products, put a ton of it on, followed with some sort of natural hack from TikTok… it’s not the brand’s fault here.

[@ChrystalVanDusseldorp]

When I was 18 in 2001, I started using a popular drugstore acne brand called Oxy 10. It was a 10% benzoyl peroxide line with cleanser, astringent pads, and moisturizer. After a few days I had huge burn patches on my cheeks, chin, and forehead. I stopped using it and my grandma gave me a jar of her Oil of Olay cream to soothe my skin. Even now at 41, I can only use Benzoyl Peroxide at max 5% as a spot treatment. If it gets on my regular skin I get red, itchy, flaky patches. I tend to use the salycylic acid acne patches now, CosEx is my favorite.

[@buildafineshrine]

definitely want to see a video on what goes into luxury vs. more affordable skincare! every time i order from e.l.f. i'm like WHAT at how good it is and everything has been under $20, if not under $10!!

[@Madmarsha]

I'd love to see this, too.

[@RamatoulieBo]

Same!!

[@SarinaValentinaxo]

So much mystery. Definitely a lot of gate keeping and recipe exposure.

[@stardustbunny4570]

for real, it would help so much with the stigma around buying cheap/affordable things compared to buying luxury ..

[@Miobambino]

Defo want to see this. It would be very interesting… 🤔

[@sassyw6237]

Our sun is so harsh in Australia. You can have no products on your face without sunscreen and you can burn so bad.

[@BR-og5rs]

Same here in NZ. That bloody hole in the ozone layer 😅

[@ruthiea729]

Australians are really bad about using sunscreen and most people in their early 20’s look late 30’s their skin is so damaged. 1 in 3 people have had skin cancer treated by the time they are 21 too but they still are very lazy about using sunscreen and staying out of the sun between 11-3

[@ruthiea729]

Body lotion is not for face! The name is in the title! 🤷‍♀️ stupid people

[@ruthiea729]

My sons have both had the same allergies as me so it’s clearly genetic

[@ruthiea729]

3 hours in the sun?!?! Of course the idiots got burned and the sunscreen wouldn’t have stoped that as it’s not a blinking complete block!

[@lindsey12345]

I can't believe that mother works with skin and was like actives? surely they can't hurt my child's skin! I also found it interesting that it was a week later that the child had issues, was she using it over the course of a week or just that night on the sleepover? Because if she stopped and it took a week for symptoms to appear, I wouldn't be blaming the skincare

[@clarisaxpianist]

I wouldn't be surprised if the child had continued using the products for that entire week after the sleepover

[@vvitch-mist20]

I feel like she should have noticed immediately that something was wrong with her child's skin. Like I'm not a nurse but I would notice if my daughter's face stayed slightly red. I would tell her to stop using the skincare, and that her face is too irritated. Fighting and screaming be damned.

[@toxxicx]

Not the mother asking another mother to test a potentially harmful product on their child

[@Tweetyeti]

PLEAAAAASE DO A DEEP DIVE into expensive vs affordable!!!

[@11_elleven]

I’m mostly curious as to why people see “body…(lotion)” or similar on packaging and immediately apply it to their face first. 😫

[@cheekyb71]

Well any dermatologist will tell you that you can use body lotion on your face.... most face lotions are just body lotions in tiny packages!!

[@Davsia]

This is what I thought! I definitely can't use body lotion on my face cos my face skin will react to it when my body doesn't so I would have assumed that is common sense

[@eleanorboggs3308]

​@@cheekyb71 moisturisers have less fragrances in them though, don't they? i completely agree with unscented ones, though!

[@bbyjscx]

Last time I checked, the face is a part of the body. No? 🤨

[@erinodonnell386]

Depending on the body moisturizer, you absolutely can. And as someone with very sensitive, acne prone, skin, I often do. The CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is great, face and body, if my skin is flipping out it’s my go to.

[@kenziedrummond6740]

Ok, Aussie here! Kmart skincare is supposed to be cheap and is hit and miss for example the same serum brand does a 3% glycolic acid and a 2% Salicylic acid- both are great if you just want those to add to your routine and affordable as well as being SUPER GENTLE compared to some of the crazy high percentages. Schools in Australia do preach suncare BUT DO NOT MANDATE IT typically- you are supposed to wear your hat ‘NO HAT, NOT PLAY’ but teachers aren’t everywhere and they’re kids. Australia has high cases of skin cancer even without sensitising products - that’s what this probably was. EXAMPLE the ordinary aha serum is banned for sale in Australia because of how sensitising it is. This is a kid your giving sensitising products to in SUMMER without mentioning sun care or anything. BTW 25yr old here - be smart parents

[@Miobambino]

It’s frustrating that an aesthetic nurse suggests that cheap isn’t as potent. If it says a percentage on the bottle, that’s what you’ll get. If the percentage isn’t displayed, more so on expensive products, that’s when I question the potency and efficacy. Also, I’ve had reactions to Aldi’s Lacura range too. I got a dupe of Garnier Micellar Water and it caused a nasty burning reaction, but I’m fine using the Garnier. I don’t have sensitive skin, so I was quite surprised 🤷🏻‍♀️💜🇬🇧

[@heysaras]

It’s not quite as simple as that. The formulation of that specific ingredient can matter as well as the overall formula for how deeply it can penetrate the skin.

[@PC1989]

Totally knew it when grapefruit (citrus) and summer sun was mentioned. All citrus fruits and extracts used topically will sensitize skin to the sun.

[@originofsky]

I'm an adult and even my skin cannot handle Niacinamide. I tried a couple years ago around age 21 to mix a VERY light amount of Niacinamide into my skincare @ the recommendation of a dermatologist, and it tore my skin up in the same way. Thankfully, after 2 or 3 days I knew to stop using it, since my skin started to sting and scale. But a child most likely wouldn't know that these reactions aren't part of the product "working". I have a friend who at a younger age, thought the tight feeling she got after using a clean & clear scrub 3 times a day meant that her oil production was decreasing (no moisturizer in sight!!). I don't think the first girl's mom was actually familiar with skincare products. You're right that anything with a percentage is NOT for children's use. Also, we do have Aldi in the US! It's very common here and very affordable (:

[@slorptalbott9759]

Aldi might be common in certain areas, but there's certainly none where I live lol. It's weird how different the us can be!

[@dinasilva9263]

I'm from Portugal and i also have Aldi, but i never bought skincare from them.

[@DominosAndHearts]

I'm an adult and mine can't handle hyaluronic acid 😅 I use it and it dried my oily skin out so bad it broke out in red bumps 😢

[@coffeecoffin598]

Yes I recently started using Niacinamide and thought it was working really well with my skin, last month I noticed the lines under my eyes( caused by allergies) had gotten deeper. A side effect of Niacinamide is Collagen loss and I didn't know because everyone talks about how safe it is 😢

[@maryeckel9682]

My local store only has a couple of the Lacura products.

[@kittylaroux17]

I would love a deep dive on what makes skincare cheap vs expensive. I know marketing and R&D has a lot to do with it, but I want the details! My favorite inexpensive skincare is the Elf Holy Hydration moisturizers, especially the SPF 30 - makes it really easy and affordable to wear my SPF every day! I also have some inexpensive serums from Pacifica, Good Molecules, and Inkey List!

[@Madmarsha]

Samesies! I always just say "I'm not paying for the packaging and the marketing" but I would like a more deep dive into what makes "high end" supposedly high end.

[@sianmilne4879]

Try watching labmuffin! She's a cosmetic chemist that talks about these things, but one reason is actives can be encapsulated or otherwise made more stable or more active at the same concentrations in more expensive products, but sometimes it is just packaging

[@rubymack14]

I work at MECCA which is basically Australia and New Zealand's Sephora and I am HORRIFIED at what parents are letting their children buy! Every day I find myself warning parents and the young children about the products they're picking up to buy, from the glow recipe watermelon toner to some children even asking for testers of Drunk Elephant's retinol! I've found some parents recently have started putting their foot down but only recently...

[@isabellamorris7902]

A lot of parents probably don't realise what these ingredients even are or how they can sensitise their kids' skin. (Also imo some parents are vicariously vain through their kids and don't realise that child skin really doesn't need any skincare with actives, even to prevent acne etc)

[@Luna-Joy.]

As Robert would say "Cheap products aren't dangerous, FAKE products are!!" But yes i regards to these people having reactions, people can be allergic to literally anything!! That cosmetic nurse mother needs some more education because 3% niacinamide is an active, so i dont know how she thought " oh this is a cheap product so 3% doesn't actually mean 3% because its cheaper than a 50$ bottle that also has 3% on the label" like.... they dont put the percentage on the bottle to lie about it and formulate it with a lesser percentage just because its cheaper 😂 any active can be bad for childrens skin!! And also i know mutiple people who are allergic to chamomile so her saying its supoosed to be soothing, like yes it can be unless you have an allergy! Same goes for grapefruit, it can super reactive on some people's skin, its got nothing to do with being more affordable. 🙃

[@zannadunstrand6289]

Some pharmacys and skin care-resellers in Sweden have put a age limit on skin care like this (some have 15 and some have 18 as their limit) Espacially on ”advanced skincare” like products with active ingredients and like retinoids, AHA, BHA and so on. Some of them have also launched ”parent guides” wich teaches the parents wich skincare to buy for their kids and why the others are harmful for them. It even provades good arguments, info and pictures to show to their children to help them in the process to deny buying the harmful products and may help minimize the gnagging from the kids

[@badfairy9554]

I hope they start doing that in the UK soon.

[@ChrystalVanDusseldorp]

I hope the US starts too, but I'm not holding my breath. 😖

[@zannadunstrand6289]

@@ChrystalVanDusseldorp I sadly don’t think the US will do this in the first place 🥺🥺…..

[@zannadunstrand6289]

@@badfairy9554 …. I have much higher hopes for UK following this very good example then the US doing so. In Sweden they saw that like 10-12y/o started buying anti-aging stuff och really harsh active ingredients so the pharmacysts, dermatologists and aesthetic nurses and so on raised an alarm and the ones highest up in the pharmacys and companies listened and cared for our youths skin more then they cared about taking their money for ones. Very refreshing! 🫧🌸👊🏻

[@keeperofthe7keys1987]

They can fix that but not their immigration problem? 😂

[@nikki2370]

This is honestly why when my daughter, who is 11, asked for a skin care set I bought elf holy hydration. I did it so that I knew it was all hydrating products in the effort that she wasn't going to destroy her skin

[@lipstickzombie4981]

Look I'm a sneeze away from menopause and I still do skin tests with new skincare (I test those under my jaw, testing behind my ears isnt reliable as I use leave on hair products and wear several earrings). Sad reality that certain people discover new allergies as they age. 😞

[@unseeliej]

Omg, for real. I wasn't allergic to grass, until I suddenly was. Discovered I can't have oats as an adult, too. Was allergic to tomatoes as a kid, but don't react now. Immune reactions and sensitivities, whaddyagonnado?

[@Jennyonthehill7035]

"...a sneeze away from menopause..." 😁 Brilliant! Re late onset allergies - yes it's a thing. In my 40's I became allergic to cats and dogs - difficult when you're an animal lover with 2 dogs and 2 cats sleeping on your bed ....

[@NinasNon-Sense]

I don't know if I was just a weird child but I can't imagine giving a single shit about skin care at 11. I definitely wouldn't have wanted to spend my own money on it when I could have bought literally anything else. The only thing I used was steroid cream for exma and sun screen when I was forced to.

[@missdenisebee]

Me neither! I firmly categorized skincare as “old lady s**t” until my 30s, tbh😂 But skincare was also a lot more boring back in the day. Now, so much goes into making it exciting & fun, especially Kbeauty & Kbeauty-inspired brands. Grade schoolers being obsessed with skincare still feels SO bizarre to me, it’s giving little girls yet another thing to feel insecure about. I hope the trend calms down soon & these kids can stop worrying about anti-aging at freakin ELEVEN😭

[@NinasNon-Sense]

@@missdenisebee I've only been using it regularly for about a year and that's because I noticed fine lines appearing. It still feels like I'm getting scammed when ever I need to replace a moisturiser and I see the price. But if I'm paying for it I want to make sure it's actually doing its job.

[@mouse2390]

When I was that age there was no social media constantly barking that we needed this or that. When I got a little interested in my mid-teens I would just use my mom's Oil of Olay in the pink bottle.

[@pinkbubblesnake]

​@mouse2390 same, I grew up on the Internet and used it from age 9/10 but I was just watching dumb flash videos on albino black sheep and getting my daily omlette in Neopets. There wasn't this huge influencer culture but when I got into beauty youtube my shopping really increased. Tried to calm down with it but I've taken to skincare now, but absolutely refusing to try high end products there because I don't want to find out my HG moisturizer is £30 or more lol

[@ca678.4]

You weren’t weird. You were normal. And likely didn’t watch tiktok all day having your brain rot from all the ads being pushed. These kids wanting such skincare like actives at 11 spend all day consuming ads

[@alicein1984]

My kid has ridiculously sensitive skin, I learned very quickly I had to be careful with a lot of different products, even ones deemed for sensitive skin. I didn't think it was the product's fault however because that's just how her skin is. Some things work fine for her, most does not. So I'm careful & aware of what I'm buying for her, & anything new we always do a test first.

[@Anemicpanda]

e.l.f's Citrus toner made my skin burn and turn red. My skin is just sensitive towards Citrus stuff. I absolutely love e.l.f products, so I just switched to a different one. ❤

[@badfairy9554]

thank you.

[@jojomarch]

I was wringing my hands when the words 'niacinamide' and 'grapefruit' were used in the context of an 11 yo child. Yes! def do the other video you mentioned, great idea

[@shinaichica]

My best friend has rosacea, i have crazy sensitive skin. Some products i love irritate her skin and vice versa. I can't imagine just slapping a product on a baby and being like "let's see what happens"

[@crazy_cat_Lady88]

As a fellow Aussie, I don't know what the rules in Victorian schools are, but here in N.S.W all schools provide 50+ sunscreen and every class teacher ensures kids apply it before leaving the classroom. This only applies to primary schools, preschools and childcare centres. Personally I think parents should be more careful with skincare. These poor kids. We also have Aldis in Australia. ❤❤

[@melyndalegg7446]

When I was going to school for Esthetics we weren't really taught about ingredients. We were taught how to do the procedures in a safe/hygienic way.

[@FoxxyFire-HellFrost]

When was that? Just curious.

[@melyndalegg7446]

@@FoxxyFire-HellFrost i got license in 2007. I do sometimes wonder if things have changed.

[@FoxxyFire-HellFrost]

@@melyndalegg7446 I got mine in 2013 and yes, we did learn what a lot of ingredients did. We learned about the different acids, what they were derived from, and what skin they were best suited for. We learned facial bone anatomy and the muscles of the neck and shoulders as well as what each treatment did for those areas. And yes, we learned what a lot of the chemicals in the skincare we used did. But, it also may be different by state since our teacher used to work in Texas and they were allowed to use lasers and injectables without any extra training so maybe that's also different?

[@nikkyk4839]

I don't think that the kmart skincare products are to blame entirely. Kids should not use skincare with active ingredients. Kids skin reacts differently to products than adult skin. I also wouldn't be surprised if the daughter continued to use the products after the sleepover. As a cosmetic nurse, she should have known better, she should feel embarrassed for this careless misjudgment.

[@laurenjb7]

Citrus and sun can be a brutal combo, even with sunscreen. I still have scars on my face from lime juice getting on my face in mexico 15 years ago. In the intense sun I got what appeared to be chemical burns on my face, and nasty blisters. The dermatologist said it was from the lime juice and sun

[@catelikesmakeup]

As an Australian who works in beauty retail I am genuinely exhausted from the amount of literal children that try and use skin care that is not for them. I am forever explaining to parents that their kid doesn't need and shouldn't be using certain things. I also see a lot of people blaming packaging and trying to say it's appealing to children when in my opinion I cannot see how the packing is aimed at kids. I also wouldn't touch kmart brand skincare with a ten foot pole, and likely never will. It baffles me that this mother who is supposed to have knowledge on skincare let her daughter buy and use those products. She hopefully should have been wearing sunscreen as schools are meant to provide it for children and sun safety is heavily advertised and readily available in most chemists, grocery stores and beauty stores.

[@pagaporvista569]

I'm allergic to plants in the ragweed family. Chamomile is a no-no for me but it's in most "sensitive" skin products.

[@sleepingisdifficult]

About the extra sensitive sunscreen- if you're a person with extra sensitive skin you need to approach anything as a potential risk. It sucks, but it's the world of sensitivities. People sometimes assume that anything labeled "sensitive " means it's somehow formulated for *their* sensitive skin and don't do patch tests / do incomplete patch tests (waiting 48-72 hrs for any sign of a reaction). I have certain sensitive detergents I avoid like the plague (I think it's the baby one that Tide has) because it causes some hives for me. My actual baby nephew can use it just fine ,but his mom (my sister in law) can't stand it either (both are sensitive like me. 🤷‍♀️

[@peggedyourdad9560]

I have very sensitive skin but it's also randomly reactive. I can use citrus and be fine but certain products like the Aveeno daily moisturizer, or Bioderma micellar water will cause crusty red rashes on my face. Pretty much all spf has set my skin off as well. However, I've managed to use the DermaGEEK gentle skin cleanser and just straight-up jojoba oil from the NOW brand as a moisturizer without issue.

[@maryeckel9682]

I tried several "sensitive" detergents before deciding that All Free & Clear is the best for me. A lot of the "sustainable" ones in little packets have baking soda, which my skin hates, so those are also a no go.

[@tiffanywilliams7763]

When I was 11 I was running around the woods with frizzy ponytailed hair & a scooby doo tshirt....it's odd to me that little kids are into skincare to this level.

[@miketyson_420]

a lot of it’s the internet. I spent way too much time online in my teens, stepping away from the internet is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. I just like KZbin docs 😂

[@lettievanhemert]

Ironically, my local Aldi is in a space that used to be a KMart. Yes, I’d love a video researching why some products cost more.

[@Madmarsha]

That's funny! lol Mine is in a former Toys R Us.

[@stardustbunny4570]

Yess please do a video on expensive cosmetics & cheap cosmetics, how each is manufactured & what makes them cost as much as either one does. I think I've got a vague idea based on what you've mentioned in the past, like same ingredients but different formulation to improve penetration/absorption but I doubt that's all, so would love a video expanding on that!

[@VeronicaSpark]

We ABSOLUTELY need a video about the different price ranges in skincare! The markup in the cosmetics industry in general is insane. Thank you, James! 😊

[@gabrielemcnicholl6174]

When I was a child, we had Nivea creme and thats it. We wouldn’t of been allowed to have skin care products. I agree with you, children shouldn’t have skincare products, way to young and it does damage their skin. Very sad that Mothers don’t see that.

[@steffyxx]

Us too and sunscreen.

[@eleanorboggs3308]

even nivea creme would make my skin burn and have me break out in hives when i would younger hahah!

[@ninabeena83]

A cosmetic nurse or esthetician is not a chemist, there is the difference. I know a lot of nurses that don’t know sh!t about the actual science behind skincare, or what the ingredients in a particular formulation can or should do for particular skin concern, or how it can quickly go left if used improperly.

[@AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Whenever I see articles on people having bad reactions to skin care and blaming the brand I automatically dismiss it until it becomes a trend of people using the same products and getting the same reaction. Everyone's skin is different, so is everyone's immune system. You could have a massive allergic reaction to a product that almost kills you or messes up your skin, but it just means you are allergic/sensitive to that ingredient, not that it is the brand's fault. Patch testing needs to be a warning put on every product you buy.

[@poeticfelony]

I'd love a video on what makes skincare expensive vs affordable. In the US we have Aldi too but I've never seen skincare there, but I usually don't go down that aisle as I only buy groceries there.

[@thisisavivistanaccount7866]

i’m in the US and i go to aldi often, they have skincare

[@peggedyourdad9560]

I have an Aldi in my area and the brand I see most of is Lacura. My mom loves the sunscreen but my skin hates it along with most products in general.

[@kathleenjessiman4166]

As someone who is allergic to a lot of things, I have always assumed it was me. Like skin care can be fine for 99.999% of people but if you are allergic, no amount of testing by the manufacturer or regulators will help you. It's absolutely important to patch test anything you are putting on your body, unless you are willing to risk an allergic reaction. As an adult I can decide to risk it, but children can't make an informed decision a lot of the time because they don't have the background knowledge or understanding to know better. I know that even if a parent tested a product and didn't react there is still a chance their child could, but so often allergies do run in families. It's wild to me that parents didn't atleast rub a small amount on their skin before putting it on their child. I also think it's ridiculous to have the Cosmetic Nurse Mother go to the media about a product with actives listed on the bottle and another one named after a known irritant, being to harsh for her litteral child. Additionally, she mentions nothing about the friend from the sleepover having the same issue (who is likely a similar age). It makes me wonder if it was an allergic reaction to one or both products. Not to mention either product may have been tolerated on its own, but starting them both at the same time could be alot for anyone skin who isn't use to actives/other more impactful ingredients. If I was that little girl my mom would have simply told me to stop using the products, and made me get rid if them or look into the ingredients to see what might have happened before letting me use them again, and before letting me buy any other products. (She would have done this 15 years ago when I was that age and there were even less publicly avalible resources at that time) Alternatively the little girl did get into her mother's products but didn't want to get in trouble and now it's too big for her to admit it.

[@spinalcat]

Trader Joe's in the US has amazing budget skincare! They have an Unseen Sunscreen dupe, a moisturizer that is $9 that is pretty comparable to a Clinique $60 moisturizer, lip masks, a watermelon overnight face mask, and those are just the ones I've tried so far!

[@Stalemarshmallow]

I love their mineral sunscreen.

[@maryeckel9682]

Trader Joe's is owned by Aldi.

[@ellieisanerd]

Everyone should do a skin patch test when trying a new product. Just to be safe. Especially if you haven't used much skin care before and you don't know what sensitivities you may have.

[@andreavaughn854]

Someone should create a children's skincare line, with nothing really in it, and call it Spazzy Monkey. They seem to like Drunk Elephant, and all kids love monkeys.

[@JamesWelsh]

Omg I filmed a video today saying the exact same thing! Water, aloe Vera and at a push hyaluronic acid 😅

[@judymcdougall]

Great content James. Maybe there should be an age reference on the packaging of these products such as not to be used on people under 13 years old. Or something similar ❤

[@bumblebeemer]

Er, I'm gonna say the bigger problem with the grapefruit scrub than the Vitamin C derivative was the actual ASCORBIC ACID in the scrub. Pure vitamin C. WTF? All of that together though, poor kid, no wonder she had a bad reaction.

[@heatherduke7703]

Depending on how far down the list, it's probably acting more as a preservative

[@hannahleigh5633]

My 8 year old daughter is getting into skincare kinda. But mainly because I've told her that if she wants to wear makeup, then she has to remove it properly. And elf is a great, cheap brand I can buy for us both. Along with my 13 year old son who's experiencing acne for the first time. I don't let them use actives and I've explained to them why. My son will use my spot treatment from time to time, but pimple patches are usually all he needs.

[@bridgetbrown1218]

I’m allergic to wheat and there are a lot of wheat derived ingredients that aren’t easy to spot. I can’t use a lot of moisturizers and makeup for this reason. I didn’t even realize that it was a thing I had to watch for until I saw products promoting that they were “gluten free”. If a person has a food allergy, they might not even know they’re allergic to a cosmetic until they patch test it. I’ve found out the hard way on more than one occasion 😅

[@mckenziehine6257]

we do have Aldi! never bought skincare from there, though. would love a video about what goes into determining the cost of products!

[@Miannemih]

I will say kids under the age of like three do tend to have beey sensitive skin. In the states you’re not supposed to even use real sunscreen on a child until after a year and so they make like baby sunscreen, but even the baby sunscreen, you can’t use until after six months old. Because they’re so sensitive so it’s just always best to use caution when putting anything on a child let alone like a baby or toddler

[@elidi7691]

Hi James, what might be interesting for some regarding the cheap vs. expensive discussion: at least in Germany (and supposedly in Europe), aldi has many of its products produced by reputable brand manufacturers. The formulations might be slightly modified, but apart from that, the quality is basically the same product for a much lesser price. It's possible because aldi as a supermarket chain can order huge quantities, which makes it interesting for brands to cooperate with them. Love your videos as I'm always in for some good research and information 💜🖤

[@dumbbitchenergy3942]

What keeps coming up here is that these mothers are putting products they themselves haven’t tested onto their literal babies and children. You have already said children are more sensitive to ingredients, and these mothers are the prime example of not caring enough to check before putting it out for their toddler to put on???

[@ek7647]

Omg yes! Why would anyone put a product on their baby if their friend’s baby is in the hospital because of the same product…

[@marlisseporras3132]

as a kid my mom only let me use an Avon strawberry peel off mask but once a couple of months and just because it was fun for me to peel it off

[@dumbbitchenergy3942]

@@marlisseporras3132 I used to do that too with a peel off thing because I was picking things as a child, but thats the bare minimum because peel offs are mostly “physical” exfoliants

[@greeneyedsoutherngirl6468]

My mom let me order the pink bubble bath from Avon and got me the lipsmackers lip balm when I was little. That’s as far as it went. Lol! I love my Mom so much! I miss her so much! 🩷♥️

[@novi_valley]

I'd like to see a video on what determines the price of a skincare product. Some of favorite cheapies are Ordinary and ELF. Also we do have Aldis and Kmarts in the colonies.

[@marianne8352]

Just worth being aware that although some people are sensitive to niacinamide, it’s actually recommended for baby/children’s skin and is in a lot of products specifically formulated for baby’s and children

[@mvsicl0ver]

stopping kids from saying first

[@peachminx]

not all heroes wear capes 🫡

[@nacereddinechallal4405]

First

[@Danisuzette]

🍪

[@vcka]

you have become the kid that says first

[@wearelegion1163]

So you're saying you're a grown adult acting like a child

[@demoncorejunior]

not all inexpensive products are dodgy, but many are because the cost of making the goods has to be lowered, and not all manufacturers are honest. this applies to skin care and every other kind of product

[@eleannakritikaki4811]

I love the 'when beauty turns ugly' series!

[@suzyh5874]

I once brought some cheap sheet masks from Boots to a birthday sleepover when I was a kid. We all had to take them off in less than a minute because they were tingling and burning. I was so embarrassed!

[@sleeptodream917]

Aldi (and Lidl, now that I think of it) are in the US! My go-to "cheap" products are Vaseline body lotion and aquaphor lip repair.

[@juliaa717]

I’d be very interested in a video about what distinguishes cheaper skincare to higher end, more expensive skincare! It’s something i’ve always been curious about.

[@wendylawrence-willer1438]

Aldi Lacura used to do a vitamin c and ferulic acid that was a dupe for Drunk Elephant, even down to the twist top packaging for £7.99. I loved it and was not happy when it was discontinued!

[@blazelutari8675]

As an aussie I can *kinda* see how she would get the "it's Kmart, it won't be amazing" train of thought, they are known for being cheaper than other places. That said... yeah skincare is still skincare and I would not be putting that grapefruit thing on my sensitive skin!

[@BigAlexgator]

We have Aldi in America but it’s honestly more like “budget” kind of messy and cheap. But it’s good stuff for sure! Just don’t know if they have cosmetics or not

[@wolfy8562]

That deep dive sounds like it would be amazing! I do wonder sometimes if more expensive products just up their prices for more profit rather then having better quality ingredients

[@ashr00m]

Her being a cosmetic nurse unfortunately doesn’t make her credible. My mother was a registered nurse who’s anti-vaxx and drinks urine for “health benefits.” Eventually she quit because she was required to get the COVID vaccines as a healthcare worker. She worked with geriatric patients. I don’t know how she kept her job for as long as she did.

[@alicehermioneannabeth]

also, toddler and infant's skin is just more sensitive then normal. I know that a big revelation in child's medicine is understanding that their bodies genuinely works different, not like "tiny adults" and products for them (such as drugs) need to be tested, individually, FOR them, if it needs different formulation, way of taking the drug, or only adjusting the amount. when I was an infant and toddler I had a benign reaction to pretty much everything. Now as an adult, I have don't remember having a reaction to stuff. my skin now is just reacting differently and less hyper.

[@sleepysartorialist]

12:30 allergies run in genetic lines. My dad and I have the same allergies.

[@BlueberryBatter]

We DO have Aldi in the US. It’s my go to for groceries and middle aisle surprises. I have stupidly sensitive skin- eczema, rosacea, allergic dermatitis, dry, aging, etc. I’ve had good luck with (most) Lacura products. Doesn’t mean that someone else wouldn’t have an uncomfortable reaction. I’m the only one who has my skin. Side note to the “all natural” category- I wanted so much to love Schmidt’s deodorant. First one I tried was the lavender/sage one. I had a horrid reaction to it, and tossed it. A few months down the line, and it was time to restock on my deodorant supply, and I thought that perhaps it was just the lavender that caused the reaction, so I bought a different scent. Anyway, long story short, I can’t handle it. Same with other, similar brands. Gave things a try. I’ve learned over time to discontinue use of anything immediately if I have even the slightest skin discomfort. Also, in terms of affordable skincare, my absolute favorite item is Mizon’s All In One Snail Cream. It’s around $20 USD, a little goes a long way.

[@user-er4yx8xf1m]

Just used the flow recipe PHA BHA toner for the first time today, my best skincare purchase of the year, it’s so freaking good

[@DebbieTDP]

Did you mean glow recipe watermelon toner?🤷🏻

[@welpppppppppppppp]

i mean i understand why an 11 year old might want to use skincare. by that age i was already getting cystic acne and even gave myself a chemical burn using actives that were available at the time because my parents also figured that items at the drugstore would be just fine. but i think the problem was when i was younger there wasn't as much information out there now about how to safely introduce actives especially for younger people who shouldn't be throwing every possible ingredient at the problem.

[@user-rz6wq6fu1e]

Ugh. Esthetician here (NYS Licensed) I can't speak for other countries or states but as far as NY is concerned I don't aquire my understanding of ingredients from brands-I went to school & studied it & was also taught how to continue to research ingredients....just saying there may be some derpy estheticians out there but not all of us are clueless brand whores

[@DebbieTDP]

@@lipstickzombie4981 you replied to the wrong comment 🤫🤭

[@DebbieTDP]

I don't think he meant to insult the whole category... But he was right in this mom case.

[@blaah9999]

I have friends that go to estheticians in the PNW and most of them all sell MLM style brands/products and it always felt icky to me. A bunch were also super antivaccine and “covid’s not real” type of people. I’d love to go get facials and stuff (If I could afford them) but I’ve always been apprehensive due to these types of estheticians locally. :(

[@user-rz6wq6fu1e]

@@blaah9999 so now we're saying estheticians are anti-vaxxers & MLM Cons? I mean yeah sure-you know we're probably the cause of Global Warming too🤔🫠🙃

[@lipstickzombie4981]

​@@DebbieTDPThank you, deleted the post. My router acting up again

[@meryitis]

Definitely would like to see some direct comparisons of cheep vs expensive cosmetics, take your time for video we can wait

[@adafihj6439]

Happy sunday everyone

[@mommachupacabra]

I'm allergic to PEG, so I have to read everything from toothpaste to flavorings to ointments to moisturizers. I've been having good luck with Gold Bond Pure Moisture Daily; I use it on my hands and arms. My face is the oily sort, hell in my teen years but rather nice now that I'm in my early 60's. So just on my arms. It also means looking out for sunscreen - my left arm has tattoos, so I found a bar type (similar to a deodorant stick) mineral based sunblock I use mostly on that arm. For my face in Arizona summers, I wear a Sunday Afternoon brand sunhat. They aren't cheap, but mine's over 20 years old and still looks good. Absolutely worth it.

[@Ecox51719]

I have a very severe allergy to aloe Vera, and have to be VERY careful about which products I use.

[@lemonsoda1]

Dude, It makes me so sad when these kids who have great skin destroy it to fit in. (I had acne breakouts from age 9 and got relentlessly bullied)

[@babyboyofc8126]

Happy easter to all who celebrate!

[@heatherduke7703]

Happy Easter!

[@ChloeShaliniArt]

Absolutely yes to that deep dive! Love your content & presentation, James, thank you 🤗

[@AbiLush]

Australia is hot af in summer and when using niacinamide you have to be careful in the sun she straight up sunburned herself, I'm pretty sure most niacin products mention that.

[@jennaaustin1683]

my 11 year old (at the time) has used niacinamide serum (the ordinary one) to help skin healing and clearing after small break outs. i have super sensitive skin and I use the same thing and have for years. everyone's skin is different but we had absolutely no issues (no prolonged use just during clearing and healing) and it massively helps my kids skin. they don't use any scrubs also I'm alergic to most citrus so we don't use those sorts of ingredients either and they use sunscreen during the summer.(UK) i think these products can be used safely and effectively on younger skin just be aware of what products are mixing with them and when they might actually be needed (like the small break outs they can get due to puberty) vs just because their friends are into skin care. id also add being cheaper skin care has never been a problem when you take time to assess the ingredients and are aware of the use.

[@thisisavivistanaccount7866]

It’s just irresponsible for mothers to blame “cheap” product. An expensive product would have had the same effect bc the fact of the matter is children don’t need harsh actives regardless of prices. Not doing a patch test before using a new product is WILD. I don’t want to mom shame, but it just seems like these mothers aren’t doing their due diligence in this particular area of childcare.

[@mouse2390]

High-end stuff usually has a ton of fragrance too which is a huge reason I won't buy it.

[@PiXie232]

It very well could have been either the niacinimide or sodium hyaluronate. I’ve had *severe* reactions to sodium hyaluronate/hyaluronic acid before. My face looked very similar to her daughter’s.. it was a hyaluronic acid face mist from Biossance that did it, I finally figured out. I would have never have thought I was sensitive to it otherwise given its popularity. And I’ve read many comments from people who have bad reactions to niacinimide as well. Especially given the fact she was using a 3% solution, which can cause irritation especially to those who are sensitive to it. And I’m sure the Vit C and fragrance didn’t help either. I wonder if she was wearing sunscreen after doing her skincare because that could have contributed to it (being in the hot Australian sun with your skin already sensitive due to certain ingredients..) But it had nothing to do with “cheap” skincare. It was obviously certain ingredient(s) that irritated her skin. It’s hard to figure out especially in the beginning what your skin can tolerate and what it can’t.. especially if you’re using a lot of products. Parents should definitely be vigilant about doing patch tests on their kids before they allow them to use those products on themselves. Great video James:)❤ And I think that’s a great idea for a video.. (what you mentioned)

[@crystalsegee3072]

Happy easter to all. Stay blessed. Mr.James this is another video you had me on the edge of my seat watching.. p.s I did insta you.

[@JuniperWhiskeytart]

Yes, deep dive on expensive vs affordable skincare!! I, technically, believe in affordable skincare, but its so hard not to be drawn in by the "good stuff." Unless it's worth it!! Oh, the dilemma!! I need my skincare nerves soothed a bit, James! ❤

[@efrain908]

I can’t believe I missed out on that great deal with Round Labs 😣🥺

[@psychcjs]

Same!!! By the time I saw it, the link just went to the home page 😭

[@hlam2328]

Me too

[@mimz02]

It’s not under £10 (usually) but I LOVE Cetaphil and CeraVe. They’re fragrance free, good for sensitive skin and good for people with eczema. I don’t have eczema but my mom and 2 of my best friends do and they’ve used both and have really enjoyed them. I have combination skin where my T-zone is super oily but everywhere else tends to get really dry but with those 2 products (especially the hydrating cleanser) they make my skin feel so hydrated and soft! In recent weeks, since getting the hydrating cleanser, I’ve noticed that when I’ve forgotten to moisturise my face after cleansing, it doesn’t feel dry at all, the whole day my face felt healthy and hydrated and, even though it’s targeted towards “normal to dry” skin, my T-zone hasn’t felt overly oily. Ofc, yes, it still gets oily but definitely less than it did with other brands of face wash (e.g: the body shop, Superdrug’s own brand, dove or Nivea) I highly recommend! Edit: also, would love to know your thoughts, James, on CeraVe and cetaphil, do they have a good background/history, I can’t find anything online so hoping that’s a good sign 😅

[@Beeleeteecee]

I bet the 11 year old was doing all kinds of five minute crafty, natural TikTok-y skincare hacks to go along with her niacinamide and grapefruit mask while playing spa at her sleepover. It isn’t fair of her mom to blame the brand. Skincare aren’t toys.

[@ABC-rr5hl]

Thanks for talking about allergies/sensitivities responsibly. When consumers develop a reaction to an ingredient, they commonly blame the entire brand and start bashing it and tell others not to use the brand anymore. We need better education in the public regarding reactions to skincare ingredients.

[@KiPisMe]

Wait. Sorry...another comment..... "Hey girl, im in the hospital with my kid. Yeah. She's almost dying and we think its from that sunscreen we both bought. Would you test it on your 9 month old?" Absolutely NOT! I'll try it on myself, but not the baby!

[@jojomarch]

My under £10 favourites; Neutrogena lip balm in a stick, Superdrug's own shower gel in almond (I think it's the naturals range and its so rich and moisturising, usually on offer too), Good Molecules retinol cream in the pink metal tube, Scottish Fine Soaps handwash (the one in TK with the cow on the front). I've never forgiven Aldi for discontinuing their massive Fig candles, they were so good (the fig and cassis one is not th same).

[@virginiadare1587]

Where there are K-Marts in the US, they are somehow both cheap and overpriced. I would be horrified if even my nieces were using anything other than a basic skin care routine of cleanser, moisturizer & SPF (They're 17 & 22 and live in Colorado.)

[@sianmilne4879]

Maybe some salicylic acid toner or mandelic acid serum for acne 😜

[@peggedyourdad9560]

So, no hydrating, brightening (Not the same as lightening), or soothing serums then? Skincare is fine as long as you aren't an ignoramus.

[@EmL-kg5gn]

Apparently US kmart and kmart in Australia and New Zealand are completely different stores! They have the same name, but aren’t the same company

[@isi4556]

A deepdive video about product pricing would be really good! That sounds very interesting and I've never seen it being talked about

[@rachelepfeiffer6147]

I'm sorry, did you say Mel-BORN? It's Mel-BIN

[@Emma-jf3uy]

Weleda skin food is my ride or die. I have sensitive, reactive dry skin and nothing works as well as this for me. Also great if I’ve overdone it on the retinol.