When my 9-year-old asked for Drunk Elephant for Christmas, I presumed I’d misheard her. “What kind of stuffed elephant do you want? Like a Squishmallow one?” I attempted to clarify. “Moooommmmm. DRUNK Elephant. Not STUFFED elephant. I really want their hydration serum. Grace got some for her birthday.” And, just like that, I realized my daughter tripped past the $5 Lip Smacker phase and fell face-first into $60 skincare.
The “Sephora Kids” trend is here to stay, which means tweens (even those not wearing makeup yet) are likely asking for pricey beauty products this Christmas. As moms, we often feel torn between wanting to make our daughters happy on Christmas morning and keeping gifts age-appropriate (and within budget!). Here are 5 smart ways to handle a Sephora Kid’s wish list that will keep you both smiling.
What is a Sephora Kid?
A Sephora Kid is usually a tween or young teen (around ages 8 to 14) who’s suddenly obsessed with expensive skincare and beauty products from stores like Sephora or Ulta. We’re not talking glitter nail polish or cotton candy hairspray. These kids are asking for brands like Drunk Elephant, Glow Recipe, and Charlotte Tilbury, products originally designed (and priced) for adult women.
For moms, this trend can feel confusing and even a little overwhelming. But it also gives us one more way to talk to our daughters about self-worth, wise spending, and what true beauty means. Here are those 5 ways to handle your daughter’s Sephora Kid wishlist while still nurturing her heart.
1. Listen before you buy.
I buy my makeup in the grocery store aisle. No shame. So when my daughter started mentioning brands like Fenty Beauty and Rhode (and things like beauty blenders and lip butter), I needed her to translate. So I asked her a lot of questions (and yes, Googled more about serums and setting sprays than I ever cared to know). But, those chats opened the door to deeper conversations, like what she really connects beauty to, which for many young girls can be confidence, fitting in, and feeling just a little more “grown up.”
Here’s your mom win: Listening before doing anything else sets the stage to uncover the deeper reasons behind her Christmas wishlist. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple, “Oh, I’ve seen that one around. What do you like about it?” to get your daughter talking. Then you can keep the conversation going with questions like: “What do you enjoy about having a skincare routine?” Or, “How do you feel when you wear makeup versus when you stick with your natural look?”
2. Connect to the “why” behind the “want.”
That $9 mascara in my makeup bag looked pretty basic compared to the $31 one on my daughter’s Christmas wishlist, but the price wasn’t the real issue. For my daughter, she wanted to feel more confident and try what her friends were talking about. If I’d dismissed her request outright, I would have missed the chance to speak into what she was really seeking.
Here’s your mom win: Understanding why your daughter is asking for specific things helps you address her heart (and her wishlist). For example, if she’s seeking confidence, remind her that beauty products can be fun but don’t define her worth. If it’s fitting in, talk about what healthy friendships look
like. And if it’s about that cute boy in her class, it’s never too early to talk about relationships and dating. No matter the reasons, these moments help you affirm her while guiding her toward truths that last far longer than any beauty trend.
3. Set a budget boundary.
Christmas wishlists create real-life teachable moments about choices and priorities. Plus, involving older kids in budget conversations helps build their financial literacy skills. At 9, my daughter didn’t understand Excel spreadsheets, but she did understand that one $42 blush glow stick meant fewer gifts under the tree for her.
Here’s your mom win: Instead of delivering the classic momism, “Money doesn’t grow on trees” lecture, be transparent about your budget. Say something like, “We’ve budgeted $75 for your Christmas gifts this year. You can help me decide how to spend it, whether that’s one expensive item or several smaller ones. What matters most to you?”
Then let your daughter do the math. When she sees that the $60 skincare set leaves only $15 for everything else, she’ll likely recalibrate her priorities on her own. If she still chooses to ask for the expensive item, that’s her choice (and a valuable lesson about trade-offs).
4. Offer tween-friendly alternatives.
While it might seem like Sephora Kids are chasing a product, they’re most likely after the feeling that comes with it. It’s the ritual of applying something special, the cute packaging, and the thrill of doing something a little “adultish.” But, there are other ways to give your girl that experience without the price tag or lathering her skin with harsh ingredients.
Here’s your mom win: Suggest a kid-friendly skincare line like CeraVe or Burt’s Bees, a tinted lip balm instead of that lipstick with plumper, or a fun peel-off mask she can try with friends (or you!). You could even sign her up for a low-cost beauty subscription box. (Our daughter loved being gifted Ipsy.) These swaps let your tween experiment, feel special, and explore beauty rituals without being locked into pricey products designed for adults.
5. Focus on experience over stuff.
Research shows kids (ages 3-12) light up over toys and other tangible gifts, but by the teen years, experiences bring the greatest joy. And Sephora Kids are right in the middle of that shift, even if they can’t articulate that quite yet!
Here’s your mom win: Start a monthly “spa night” tradition when you both indulge in face masks, a steam treatment, and catch up. If she wants to feel pampered like the older girls, book a mother-daughter mani-pedi. Or snuggle up on the couch and watch YouTube beauty tutorials together. Then practice what you learn on each other.
Has your daughter asked for anything from Sephora yet? What’s been the hardest part of navigating this trend in your home?
