Teen Beauty Trends and Chemical Exposure: How Social Media Is Shaping Personal Care Product Use

Personal care products have become an increasingly important part of everyday life for teenagers. Skincare, haircare, cosmetics, fragrances, oral care products, and other beauty products are now widely used by adolescents, with social media playing a growing role in how young people discover and choose these products.

A new pilot study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology provides insight into these changing habits. Researchers examined personal care product use among 143 high school students in New Jersey and investigated whether social media engagement was associated with the number of products teenagers used.

The findings suggest that adolescent personal care product use can be extensive. They also point to a strong relationship between social media activity and product consumption.

How Many Personal Care Products Do Teenagers Use?

The study found a notable difference between male and female participants.

Female students reported using a median of 14 personal care products during the previous 24 hours, compared with 7 products among male students. This does not necessarily mean that every product contains a harmful chemical or that using more products automatically creates a health problem. Instead, the researchers used the number of products as an indicator of potential exposure to chemicals that can occur in personal care products.

Commonly used categories included oral care, haircare, facial skincare, body skincare, and fragrances.

Among participants, nearly all reported using oral care and body skincare products within the previous day. Facial skincare and haircare were also common. Fragrance use was reported by more than half of the students during the previous 24 hours.

The researchers noted that adolescents in this study had levels of personal care product use comparable with, and in some cases higher than, those reported in studies of adults.

Social Media May Influence Beauty and Skincare Habits

One of the most significant findings concerned social media.

The study found that several measures of social media engagement were associated with higher personal care product use. Teenagers who followed influencers with their own product lines reported using more products than those who did not.

Students who watched hair and beauty tutorials also tended to use more personal care products.

In the researchers' statistical analysis, following influencers with product lines was associated with approximately 30% greater product use, while watching hair or beauty tutorials was associated with approximately 40% greater use after accounting for several demographic factors.

The study also found an association between spending more time on social media and using more personal care products.

These findings are particularly relevant because beauty content is now integrated into many teenagers' daily online experiences. Tutorials, product reviews, "get ready with me" videos, skincare routines, sponsored content, and influencer recommendations can introduce young consumers to products they might not otherwise consider.

However, the researchers emphasized that the study was cross-sectional. That means it cannot establish that social media causes teenagers to use more products. It is also possible that teenagers who already have a strong interest in beauty products spend more time consuming related social media content.

Are Teenagers Checking Product Ingredients?

Another important finding was the relatively limited use of precautionary behaviors.

Although 41% of students said they avoided products containing certain chemicals, only about 19% said they usually or always read ingredient labels when choosing personal care products.

Even fewer participants, approximately 5%, reported regularly using health-focused product apps or websites.

This difference is significant because consumers may have difficulty evaluating long ingredient lists or understanding the safety implications of individual ingredients. Marketing terms such as "natural," "clean," "non-toxic," or "eco-friendly" can also influence purchasing decisions without necessarily providing a complete picture of a product's formulation.

The study found that students who frequently looked for natural, non-toxic, or eco-friendly ingredients tended to use fewer personal care products. Among female participants, routinely reading ingredient lists was also associated with lower product use.

Still, the authors caution that consumers should not be expected to carry the entire responsibility for chemical safety. Stronger product regulation and better information can play an important role in reducing unnecessary exposure.

Why Does Adolescent Chemical Exposure Matter?

Adolescence is an important period of physical development. Hormonal changes, growth, and reproductive maturation occur during these years, making adolescence an important stage for environmental health research.

Some chemicals used in consumer products have been investigated for potential endocrine-disrupting effects and other health concerns. Previous research has reported relationships between personal care product use and biomarkers of chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and phenols.

One earlier project, known as the HERMOSA study, examined personal care product use among adolescent girls in California. Researchers found that replacing commonly used products with alternatives designed to contain fewer chemicals of concern was followed by reductions in several urinary chemical biomarkers.

The new New Jersey study did not collect urine samples, so it cannot determine the chemical exposure levels of the participating teenagers. The number of products used should therefore not be interpreted as a direct measurement of chemical exposure.

Instead, the study adds important information about adolescent behavior and highlights areas that deserve further investigation.

Could Social Media Become Part of the Solution?

Interestingly, the same platforms that may encourage greater product consumption could potentially be used to promote healthier choices.

The researchers suggest that influencers and social media creators could become effective messengers for environmental health information. Teenagers already encounter product advice through social platforms, so scientifically accurate information could potentially reach young audiences through channels they already use.

For example, educational campaigns could explain how to interpret ingredient labels, distinguish advertising claims from evidence-based information, and make informed decisions about unnecessary product use.

The approach could be particularly effective if teenagers are involved in designing the campaigns. In the New Jersey study, high school students helped researchers develop the project, including the social media component. Their involvement demonstrates the value of youth participation in research that focuses on their everyday experiences.

What Parents and Teenagers Can Take From the Study

The findings do not mean teenagers should stop using skincare, cosmetics, hair products, or other personal care products.

Instead, the research highlights the importance of informed choices.

Parents and teenagers can consider several practical approaches:

• Avoid buying products simply because they are trending online.
• Pay attention to ingredient information rather than relying only on marketing claims.
• Be cautious about adopting complicated skincare routines promoted on social media.
• Consider whether every product in a routine is necessary.
• Remember that influencer recommendations can involve advertising or commercial relationships.
• Seek information from reliable scientific, medical, or regulatory sources when there are concerns about specific ingredients.

Most importantly, teenagers should not be made to feel anxious about normal personal care routines. The goal is informed decision-making, not fear.

What Happens Next?

The study was relatively small and focused primarily on students in one geographic region. Its participants also came largely from highly educated households, meaning the findings may not represent teenagers across the United States.

Because the research was observational, it cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship between social media and personal care product use.

Larger studies involving teenagers from different communities and socioeconomic backgrounds could provide a clearer picture. Future research could also combine product-use surveys with measurements of chemical biomarkers in urine or other biological samples.

The researchers ultimately point toward a broader opportunity: combining environmental health education with the digital spaces where teenagers already spend time.

As personal care routines become increasingly connected with social media culture, understanding how online content shapes product choices may become an important part of adolescent environmental health research.

Source

Barrett, E.S., Getz, K., Whitted, J. et al. Adolescent personal care product use and social media engagement: a pilot study in NJ high school students. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2026).

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. Individual products and ingredients can have different safety profiles. Readers should consult qualified healthcare or environmental health professionals for advice about specific health concerns.