Walmarts Geo Girl a Horrible Idea
With WalMart’s launch of a new makeup line with “tweens” in mind, one Tampa dermatologist says the line, called Geo Girl, sends the wrong message to those girls aged eight to 12.
“Targeting young girls about cosmetics sets them up for disaster,” says Tampa dermatologist Dr. Seth Forman. “It prioritizes the superficial aspects of life, instead of important issues.”
The pre-teen makeup industry is booming, and brings in more than $24 million each year. The new Geo Girl line will feature eye shadow, blush, mascara and lip gloss, as well as skin care products like a facial wash and exfoliator.
“Exfoliators are not necessary for kids that young,” says the Tampa dermatologist. “Harsh cleansers and scrubs could do more damage than good.”
Dr. Forman says allowing children to wear makeup at such a young age can also be damaging to their self-esteem.
“It puts too much focus on image,” he says. “That is why we have young girls with anorexia, bulimia and other psycho social disorders. By marketing beauty products to these girls, it may promote even more of these disorders.”
WalMart has released a statement about the makeup saying, “The geo-girl line was developed in partnership with our customers to give parents a healthier, age-appropriate option for their tween girls who ask about wearing makeup.”
For more on Dr. Seth Forman or Tampa dermatology, please visit www.formanderm.com.
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Comments
My daughter is 15 and started wearing makeup when she was thirteen. I don’t think that people should be blaming stuff on this makeup brand. It is the parents jobs to decide whether it is ok to be exposed to makeup or not.
If my eight year old girl was asking about wearing make up I’d tell her she’s too young, not go buy “tween appropriate” make up!