For years, when we’ve thought about physical appearance and low self-esteem, the national conversation has focused on teenage girls and women. But that’s only half the story. Teenage boys are just as susceptible to pressure to fit a certain look, and even tweens are getting messages about their appearance.
And they’re taking those messages to heart: according to Piper Sandler’s spring 2024 “Taking Stock with Teens”, teenage spending on beauty is at its highest level since 2018, growing 8 percent year-over-year to reach $339 per person annually. For teen and tween boys specifically, skin care products have seen a boost, with nearly half of teen boys in the U.S. aged 12-17 saying they’ve used products for their face in the last 12 months, according to recent data by Mintel.
Websites and apps designed to give advice on maximizing hotness are all over the place. One of the most popular, called “Umax — Become Hot,” is currently among the top 100 apps in Apple’s app store’s “lifestyle” category , and offers paid users critiques of their looks using AI. It scores users’ selfies and offers tips on improving their looks, rating things that can’t truly be changed without drastic measures, like cheekbones and jawlines.
One of our Gen Z panelists admitted to getting into skincare because of his younger brother. Zach, 20, told SheKnows, “It’s kind of funny because my brother, he’s 12, is really deep into skin care because of TikTok and I’m not, but I just started going into his room and asking him questions.” Leanza notes that it’s a red flag when teen boys become anxious or obsessed with their looks, or when they start spending excessive amounts of money on products. Likewise, parents should seek help if teen boys start to avoid social situations because of their insecurities.
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