Why Teens Are Obsessed with 10-Step Skin Care Routine?

In 2025, TikTok’s teen skin care craze is more than a beauty trend, it’s a cultural phenomenon.

A new study reviewed 100 TikTok videos posted by creators aged 7 to 18 and found that the average routine consisted of six steps and cost around $168 per month, with some exceeding $500.

These routines, often performed on camera in “Get Ready With Me” style videos, feature anti-aging serums, chemical exfoliants, and luxury creams, products never intended for children.

What stands out isn’t just the product complexity, but the purpose. Most featured teens had clear skin and weren’t addressing acne or skin conditions. Instead, skin care has become a form of expression and content, a curated ritual of aesthetic identity.

The science is often ignored, but the performance is precise: glossy packaging, 6 AM alarms, and language borrowed from adult beauty culture.

Only one in four routines included sunscreen, while many relied heavily on fragrances and known irritants. Still, the trend shows no signs of slowing. For Gen Alpha, skin care is no longer about skin. It’s about lifestyle, branding, and belonging, layered one serum at a time.