What to Know
Shay Mitchell recently launched Rini, her skincare line that is specially formulated for children, but so far, the reception to the line doesn’t seem to be going quite how she planned. So many parents were up in arms about the line, with many calling it “unnecessary” for kids who can just get cleaned up with soap and water.
Now, the former You star is responding to the backlash for the first time, clarifying exactly what her intent is with the new products — and why she thinks people got it totally wrong.
Shay’s skincare products have already caused a bit of controversy.
Earlier this month, Shay revealed her first products: kid-friendly face masks, including some that look like animal faces, like unicorns and pandas.
“This has been three years in the making, inspired by my girls, their curiosity, and all the little moments that made me realize how early it starts,” she wrote. “From birthday parties and face paint to wanting to do “what mommy does” with her face masks … it was only a matter of time.”
The comments on her post were a bit brutal, though.
“Just because they want to ‘do what mommy does’ doesn’t mean they should,” one commenter wrote, while another chimed in, “So yet again we are subjecting little girls (didn’t see a boy on the picture) to adult behaviors. Got it!”
Now, she’s speaking out.
During an appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends, Shay admitted she was “surprised” by the reaction.
“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 said.
She added, “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.”
She said it’s not really a “beauty thing.”
Instead, it’s more about the pampering experience.
“I don’t think masks are necessary for kids,” Shay 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.”
Shay wants her daughters to form a healthy relationship with skincare.
In her mind, doing skincare with her daughters — who include Atlas, 6, and Rome, 3 — is “really about self care and taking that moment.”
“And I think for me, it really is a positive introduction into a healthy relationship with skin care,” she said. “As conscious as they are about what they put in their bodies like eating, snacks, all of that. That’s the same thing with this. I want them to grow up and be conscious about what it is that they’re putting on their skin — anything that touches it.”
Time will tell if this changes the way people see her products, though. There was a lot of outrage…
ALSO READ: Shay Mitchell’s New Skincare for Kids Triggers Massive Social Media Backlash
