Actor and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell has shared her first response to the backlash over her new skin care line for kids, saying it’s “not a beauty thing” and is more about “added comfort and extra hydration.”
On Nov. 6, Mitchell and Esther Song launched their new brand Rini, which means “children” in Korean, with “everyday” face masks for kids consisting of a hydrating hydrogel facial mask and an after-sun hydrogel facial mask.
The skin care products for children as young as ages 3 and up was met with some backlash online as commenters said children that young should not be introduced to skin care products or be confronted with beauty standards as toddlers.
Shay Mitchell responded to criticism that children are too young for her skin care line of face masks for kids as young as 3 years old.TODAY
Mitchell spoke in an exclusive interview with Jenna Bush Hager and Olivia Munn on TODAY on Nov. 19 about the response.
“I was a little surprised, but I think anything that involves kids, there should be a conversation around it,” Mitchell said. “I have a lot of questions as I’m sure you both do when anything involves our kids — with what they eat and what they put on their skin. So I didn’t think this would be anything different.”
“But this came from my experience being a mom, having two girls myself and seeing that there wasn’t anything out there I felt safe enough putting on their skin when they wanted to share in on this moment that I do,” she continued.
Mitchell is a mother to daughters ages 6 and 3. Jenna asked her about criticism that children should not be focused on their appearance at such a young age as far as skin care products are concerned.
“Absolutely and neither do I,” Mitchell said. “Truly skincare starts from birth. We moisturize, we soothe, we comfort their skin as newborns. This is the same thing, it’s just in a different format that’s just more fun, and I feel very age appropriate.”
“I think this is coming down to it not being a beauty thing,” she continued. “Kids don’t look at masks and think about fixing, they think about it being a cooling sensation and a shared moment.”
Mitchell also responded to a comment by a dermatologist contacted by NBC News who said the masks for kids push an agenda that skin needs to be fixed and makes them focus on imperfections at a young age.
“I don’t think masks are necessary for kids,” Mitchell said. “I also don’t think masks are necessary for us. But are they great for added comfort and extra hydration? Yes. And that’s all it is.”
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
