“I’m putting on my skincare,” says 8-year-old TikToker Harper Booth, applying a dab of moisturizer with a serious expression. “Next is foundation,” she says, lifting a small brush. “And a little blush, just like mommy.”
Harper’s morning routine resembles that of an adult, with skincare products and endless makeup. Welcome to childhood in 2025, where routines once reserved for grown-ups have become part of kids’ everyday lives.
The past decade has seen a momentous shift in what defines childhood. Children have gravitated away from toys and playgrounds and toward screens and social media as the simple joys of play have been replaced by high-end fashion and “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) videos. At Ransom Everglades, the school culture of high achievement and strong peer influence amplifies this trend. Even the youngest RE students often feel compelled to follow the latest fashion and social media trends to fit in and maintain their image.
For many older RE students at the Upper School, childhood fashion meant bedazzled tees from Justice, rainbow-colored tutus, and jelly sandals from Claire’s. Accessories sparkled with glitter unicorns, and pastel backpacks were covered in sequins or patches of favorite cartoon characters.
Now, even before graduating elementary school, children are seeking out high-end brands like Lululemon leggings, Golden Goose sneakers, and Aritzia sweatpants, projecting a more “mature” image to fit in with social media standards.
“My sister is in 7th grade, and she’s already wearing clothes I didn’t start wearing until high school,” said Nina Galinsky ’26. “This trend of expensive and mature fashion makes kids focus too much on their appearance.”
Galinsky explained that social media is the root cause of this shift for her sister, who sees endless “outfit of the day” (OOTD) posts that transform clothing from simple self-expression into a symbol of social status.
Annabel Kaplan ’26 said this shift toward a ‘mature’ look among preteens reflects a trend even more prevalent among high school students: a transition from colorful, patterned backpacks to classy, monochromatic tote bags like Longchamp, which display conformity rather than individuality. “Hydro flasks and water bottles have shifted from vibrant stickers and bold colors to plain neutrals,” she said.
Social media’s influence on preteens extends beyond fashion, however, shaping skincare and makeup routines as well. Products once associated with teens and adults—like foundation, setting powders, and even retinol—are now part of young children’s daily habits. TikTok and Instagram trends, especially “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) videos, teach children how to apply foundation, bronzer, and setting spray.
Influencers like Alix Earle have popularized these trends, leading to a surge in cosmetic sales among preteens. Sephora has reported a significant increase in younger shoppers, with Pass By Analytics report noting a 21.78% rise in visits from Gen Z consumers, highlighting the brand’s growing appeal among younger demographics.
Within the RE community, the impact of GRWM culture is clear. One student, Xavi Awad ’29, ran a TikTok account where she shared her daily routines. “I made them because I wanted to see what it was like to wake up every day and be persistent with filming myself getting ready for the day or getting ready for bed,” she explained.
Awad’s videos, which mix beauty tutorials with personal reflections, gained popularity among peers and younger viewers. “Making the videos and entertaining [the] people watching them made me excited because it felt like people really enjoyed them,” she shared.
Although makeup and skincare can be a form of self-expression, they also fuel social expectations and insecurities, said Galinsky—and make children more dependent on beauty products. “This emphasis on conformity and consumer culture impacts young people’s identities and creativity, as they’re subjected to the pressures of influencer culture, which often outweighs self-expression,” she said.
Onlookers have also become concerned about the physical consequences of using adult beauty products. Retinol, for example, is a form of vitamin A commonly used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on aging skin, but it is too potent for the skin of children, causing rashes, irritation, and dryness. Associate Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneoius Surgery Dr. Jennifer Tang explained that “its mechanism of action is increased cell turnover, which causes irritant dermatitis (skin irritation) and can compromise our native skin barrier.” For this reason, dermatologists strongly advise against retinol use in young pediatric patients unless it is specifically prescribed for conditions like acne.
According to Common Sense Media, 50% of teens admit to feeling addicted to their devices, driven by the urge to respond instantly to notifications. But the pressures behind preteens adopting adult beauty routines go beyond the allure of social media alone. While platforms like TikTok and Instagram are the origins of these trends, peer pressure in real-life environments amplifies these influences. At RE, the desire to fit in and maintain a certain image makes students more susceptible to adopting the behaviors and preferences of their peers.
This dynamic even occurs in the field. “The PE shorts are super long, so most of us roll them up,” said RE student Reese Gluck ’31. For today’s preteens, even PE offers no escape from the pressure to follow a trend.
