An Italian authority is investigating beauty brands Benefit and Sephora after they appeared to adopt a "particularly insidious" marketing strategy of using young influencers to market skincare to children.

意大利监管机构正在对美妆品牌贝玲妃和丝芙兰展开调查。此前，这两个品牌被指采取了一种“特别具有隐蔽性”的营销策略，即利用年轻的网红向儿童推销护肤品。

The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) said it had launched an investigation into the brands' owner, luxury goods giant LVMH, and had carried out inspections of LVMH and Sephora's Italian headquarters as part of its investigation.

意大利竞争管理局（AGCM）表示，已对这些品牌的母公司——奢侈品巨头 LVMH 展开调查，并作为调查的一部分，对 LVMH 和丝芙兰的意大利总部进行了检查。

It said the company's actions may have helped fuel so-called "cosmeticorexia" — an unhealthy obsession with skincare in young people, experts believe may be on the rise.

该机构表示，这些公司的行为可能加剧了所谓的“护肤品成瘾症”（cosmeticorexia）——专家认为，年轻人对护肤的一种病态痴迷正呈上升趋势。

The firms "may have failed to make clear" the cosmetics they sold were not intended for children, while "appearing instead to have encouraged their purchase through covert marketing strategies involving young micro-influencers".

这些公司“可能未能明确说明”其销售的化妆品并非针对儿童，反而“似乎通过涉及年轻微网红的隐秘营销策略，鼓励儿童购买”。

The investigation centres on "possible unfair commercial practices" linked to the premature use of adult cosmetics, including "encouraging the compulsive purchase of face masks, serums and anti-aging creams" to children under the age of 10.

此次调查的重点是与过早使用成人化妆品相关的“可能存在的不正当商业行为”，包括“鼓励 10 岁以下儿童强迫性购买面膜、精华液和抗衰老面霜”。

Sephora has nearly 23 million followers on Instagram and more than two million on TikTok. Hundreds of videos show children buying and showing off their skincare products under tags like "Sephora kids haul" and "Sephora kids GRWM [Get Ready With Me]".

丝芙兰在 Instagram 上拥有近 2300 万粉丝，在 TikTok 上拥有超过 200 万粉丝。数以百计的视频显示，孩子们在“丝芙兰儿童购物分享”和“丝芙兰儿童 GRWM”等标签下，展示他们购买的护肤品。

Both the AGCM and the British Association of Dermatologists have warned that skincare products can be harmful to children. Experts say they can cause irritation, allergic reactions and, in some cases, permanent skin problems.

意大利竞争管理局和英国皮肤科医生协会均警告称，护肤品可能对儿童有害。专家表示，这些产品可能导致过敏、皮肤刺激，在某些情况下还会导致永久性的皮肤问题。

The AGCM said important warnings for children on Sephora and Benefit products "may have been omitted or presented in a misleading manner".

意大利竞争管理局表示，丝芙兰和贝玲妃产品上针对儿童的重要警告“可能被遗漏，或以误导性的方式呈现”。

LVMH, which owns alcohol, fashion and jewellery brands, stated: "All the companies reaffirm their strict compliance with applicable Italian regulations."

旗下拥有酒类、时尚和珠宝品牌的 LVMH 集团表示：“所有公司均严正声明严格遵守意大利现行的相关法规。”