Shay Mitchell just entered the chat again. The Pretty Little Liars alum and BÉIS founder has stepped into new territory with Rini, a skincare line made specifically for kids. Yup, you’re not seeing things. I said skincare for the kiddies.
Rini’s products are soft, pastel, and honestly, adorable. We’re talking gentle cleansers, light moisturizers, and sheet masks with cute animal faces. Basically, the type of thing that turns bath time into a mini spa day. Shay says the line is meant to make skincare fun and safe, giving kids a chance to learn about self-care early on.
But as soon as she announced it, social media lit up like a Wiz Khalifa concert.
“This makes me so sad! Let our kids be kids, please!” one commenter wrote on her Instagram. Another said, “Not to be a Debbie Downer, but this is ridiculous and clearly just consumerism for children. Kids don’t need skincare besides SPF and maybe a moisturizer.” And the one that made me kiki – even though it was harsh: “Because why should your body dysmorphia start in your teens when it could start as early as birth?” Ouch!
Whew. These streets are talking, baby.
Here’s the truth: both sides have a point. Critics argue that kids already have amazing skin, so what’s the point of selling them products they don’t need? Dermatologists have warned that starting too young can actually mess up that natural baby-soft barrier. There’s also a bigger conversation about how early we’re teaching little girls, and usually girls only, to worry about their looks.
On the flip side, the “Sephora Kids” trend has already taken over TikTok. You’ve got nine-year-olds whipping up ‘skincare smoothies’ with retinol and glycolic acid like they’re chemists in a mini lab, having no clue they’re probably wrecking their baby-soft skin in the process. So if it’s happening anyway, maybe Shay is just doing it the smart way by creating products that are gentle, dermatologist-tested, and actually made for prepubescent skin. Rini isn’t about anti-aging or perfection. It’s about clean, fun, and simple self-care. The packaging is cute, the ingredients are mild, and there’s something sweet about a mom and her kids doing a skincare routine together, as long as it stays about bonding and not insecurity.
Still, people aren’t wrong to question the message. One user commented, “So yet again we are subjecting little girls (didn’t see a boy in the picture) to adult behaviors. Got it!” And while I respect this person’s opinion, they’re actually wrong! If you go to the Rini website, you will actually see a little boy in a face mask right alongside the girls. Another said it just feels “dystopian.” But others think it’s harmless fun, a playful way to teach hygiene and confidence early.
At the end of the day, Shay Mitchell has sparked a major conversation. So what do you think, besties, is Rini crossing the line or just giving the next generation a head start on their glow?
XOXO,
Your Beautie Bestie
