If we just took care of our skin like we do our teeth—every day, starting when we are children—our skin would look so much better as we age. This very obvious statement was the impetus for W. Scott Prendergast to self-fund the creation of DermalYouth, the world’s first Children’s Skincare System. The simple daily system of super-safe formulations is backed by The Skin Cancer Foundation, and is dermatologist and pediatrician approved.
For too long, the skincare conversation has been addressed only at adults; DermalYouth is proud and unbelievably excited to be leading the conversation and building a category for children’s skincare.
Why is a skincare regimen so important for young children?
That’s such a great question, and taps into one of the primary reasons I started DermalYouth at all. In 2010, I accompanied my wife to a dermatologist appointment so I could understand a costly and painful laser treatment she was considering to reduce age spots and wrinkles. During the consult, the doctor said something that struck a chord with me: if we just took care of skin like we do our teeth—every day, starting when we are children—our skin would look so much better as we age. I found this to be very enlightening and started doing extensive research on skin damage and the children’s skincare market. I found out that 90% of skin damage is from the sun; 80% of lifetime UV exposure occurs before a child turns 18, and most alarming? One in five Americans WILL get skin cancer. There are 80 million children in the US, and $600 billion is spent on them annually. That’s 28 % of all daily per-person consumer spending, and by 2030, this generation is expected to account for 35% of consumer spending. The time is now to tap into this opportunity and give these up-and-coming consumers the tools they need to prevent this skin damage. DermalYouth is an effective, preventative skincare system for this generation that is as simple and quick as teeth brushing and, in my opinion, even more important.
DermalYouth is the first patented skincare system for children. Why has no one in the skincare industry taken advantage of this market?
I think part of the reason may be that only recently have we begun to understand just how early aging from UV damage occurs on the skin. Most people tend to equate “skincare” with preventing or softening the visible effects of aging after it’s visible (i.e., in adulthood) when in reality, the better approach is to do all we can to protect against and prevent this damage from occurring at all, and from a very young age. Because children’s skin is naturally vibrant and glowing, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking the only thing it needs is sunscreen at the beach or pool but the truth is, skin will stay naturally vibrant and glowing far longer if parents start considering skincare a regular part of their kid’s daily routine, just like teeth brushing.
Your products are meant for children aged 6 months to 18 years. Aren’t the needs of a teenager’s skin very different than a baby’s? How do you effectively deal with such a diverse range of skin conditions?
When we were formulating our products, we specifically chose ingredients that are proven to be beneficial and safe for babies and small children, as well as not exacerbate those skin conditions associated with children in their teenage years such as acne, redness, and breakouts. Our Skincare System features a fusion of supernatural fruit, seed, and botanical extracts such as borage seed oil (known for helping clear up acne), açai berry, pomegranate extract, Aloe Vera, and sweet almond oil to help nourish and hydrate without feeling too heavy or sticky on the skin. In fact, if you read our reviews, you’ll see that teenagers love our skincare system and many tell us it’s helped clear up their acne.
How do you ensure the safety and efficacy of your products?
It’s all about the ingredients. Our stringent formulation process uses only the finest, all-natural ingredients, fine-tuned for sensitive children’s skin. In addition to choosing ingredients known to be safe for and beneficial to the unique needs of children aged 6 months to 18 years old, all DermalYouth products have been FDA tested, as well as undergone the industry gold-standard safety test: Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT). Performed under the supervision of a dermatologist, HRIPT tests are conducted on between 50–100 people in a controlled laboratory setting, and help determine sensitivity or the potential for allergic reactions from a particular product. Because our products passed all these tests with flying colors, our line is also dermatologist and pediatrician approved, so parents can trust what they put on their child’s skin will be effective and safe.
What does your ingredients’ source chain look like? Are all your products completely natural?
At DermalYouth, we strive to be as natural as possible in both our supply chain and our formulations. All our products are made with a powerful blend of proven safe and natural ingredients such as shea butter, borage seed oil, raspberry ketones, blueberry extract, and sweet almond oil. Plus, we use organic, natural sunscreen agents (no chemicals or synthetics) and our fragrance comes from sweet almond oil. At DermalYouth, we are so committed to safe, natural ingredients, we don’t just say they are natural, we say they are super natural!
Tell us about your product formulation philosophy and development process.
We worked for 2-3 years with formulators, designers, and researchers to ensure every aspect of our products and packaging was perfect for children and parents. Not only are our ingredients safe and super natural and our formulas lightweight and easy to use, our components are specifically designed to stay clean! I know how frustrating it can be to see toothpaste or sunscreen gooped up all over the cap or sink. That’s why I worked with German engineers to create a patented technology that keeps our bottles and tubes clean and neat, no matter who is using them!
What about the current skincare industry makes it unsuitable for children?
I don’t think it’s a matter of the current skincare market being unsuitable for children; most of the skincare products on the market today are formulated to address skin needs that children simply don’t have yet, such as wrinkles, lines, dark spots, and rough texture. Plus, many of these products are made with robust amounts of intense, active ingredients that are just too harsh for a child’s delicate skin and, in my opinion, wasted on youthful skin, which just doesn’t need such active formulas yet.
With child-based skincare being an untapped market, how did this inform your initial funding strategy?
Well, considering I’ve self-funded this entire venture so far, I guess I’d have to say not much! Seriously, though, I have believed and still firmly believe in our mission and the DermalYouth initiative to make skincare a regular part of every child’s daily routine, just like teeth brushing. Parents are every day becoming more aware of and educated on the dangers of sun damage, and they are eager for easy, natural solutions that will address this issue while also fitting seamlessly into their routine, and that their kids will like and actually use. When it came to funding, I was determined to create a comprehensive line that would meet all the skincare needs of consumers at our targeted age, and also be affordable and appealing to consumers and retailers alike. I am certain our vision is going to succeed.
What was your business model when you first began? How has that evolved with your brand?
Like many start-ups, when DermalYouth first began, we were a lean operation, relying on word-of-mouth awareness and initially, available only via our own e-commerce website, which was great because it allowed us to grow organically and learn a lot of valuable lessons along the way about growth and scaling. Today, DermalYouth is available at select Nordstrom locations across the country (with rollout plans for future locations), as well as QVC Online, and also on our e-commerce site, which is thriving at www.dermalyouth.com. We are in active talks with some fabulous retailers and our mission of teaching everyday skincare and the absolute finest skincare products for children has been well received!
What do you see for the future of child-related skincare?
Limitless possibility! Up until now, the market was very fragmented with not a lot of players and no real focus, but today, I feel like the industry and retailers are starting to pay attention and recognize that children’s skincare is a huge part of the beauty marketplace overall, and needs targeted, trusted brands and products to set the standard and lead the way. For too long, the skincare conversation has been addressed only at adults; DermalYouth is proud and unbelievably excited to be leading this conversation.
