There have been lots of articles in the media of late discussing the beauty habits of the pre-teen market, that is, young girls (and some boys) between the ages of 8 to 12 years.

These mini beauty bloggers are having a fine old time on TikTok sharing their latest skincare and makeup finds ranging from shiny lip gloss to Drunk Elephant moisturisers.

A friend shared her recent experience, when her eight-year-old daughter was gifted a Westfield voucher and headed straight to Mecca and bought a retinol cream.

Her mum promptly, and quite rightly, confiscated it and returned it to the store as retinol is a far too active ingredient for a child’s skin.

My first impulse was to think, ‘My goodness! What are they doing to their young, perfect complexions? This is silly.’ But then I cast my mind back to my 10-year-old self and there I was in my mum’s ensuite, giving myself lavish Lancôme facials and a strong red lip.

Of course young consumers shouldn’t be using acids on their skin, but I don’t think that brush-on, peel-off apricot face mask back in the 1970s – which smelt like paint thinners – was doing my skin much good either.

As I disappeared down a rabbit hole of watching nine-year-olds explain their beauty routine on YouTube, I wondered if readers might like to know what’s in my beauty bag. Given I’ve got a good 50 years’ head start.

I want to state upfront that I like expensive skin creams. Yes, I do know that a cheaper one would do the same thing, but I don’t care. So, currently I am using:

1. Rationale Integrity cleanser. The creamy one. I’m obsessed. It’s so hydrating you can skip moisturiser some days.
2. La Prairie moisturiser. Any one of them, they are phenomenal and smell like heaven.
3. By Terry mascara. I love Terry de Gunzburg’s makeup line and this mascara has the added benefit of a lash grow serum.
4. Chantecaille Brow Gel and tint, a brand created by another clever French woman, Sylvie Chantecaille. This gel clings to and defines every eyebrow hair you have left, which is worth paying a premium for.
5. Sisley eye pencil. I have been doing a lot of research on eyeliners and this one is very black, soft and smudges beautifully and stays put.
6. Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating gel cream, a great, everyday tinted moisturiser that contains an SPF 30.
7. Chanel CC cream foundation for evenings, as the coverage is slightly heavier but the light reflecting pigments are very flattering on a more mature skin.
8. Chanel Les 4 Ombres eyeshadow palette with matte greys, taupes and a plum shade, very subtle and long lasting.
9. Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in Seductress, a good pinkish brown all-rounder which stays on 24/7.
10. Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Face Palette of highlighters, bronzer and blush all in one. I just  sweep a tiny amount over my face for a little colour and shine.
11. Chanel No.5 eau de parfum. It’s pretty hard to beat this classic. 

I hope the eight-year-olds don’t discover it.