Jan.17 Children’s Beauty Care

Article:

Controversy as Beauty Brands Target Children

In November, Canadian actress Shay Mitchell joined a long list of celebrities with their own skincare brands. But what's different about Mitchell's brand, Rini, is that it's aimed at children from ages 3 and up.

The Rini skincare website mostly offers a range of facial sheet masks, many of which have cute animal faces on them. According to the website, all of the products, which are made in South Korea, are safe for children's skin and contain no fragrances.

Mitchell explains that the idea behind the brand is that children are naturally curious about skincare, "so we might as well offer gentle, safe products that parents can trust."

However, the brand's launch has caused controversy and debate over how appropriate it is for beauty brands to target children — especially as dermatologists say children don't need these products, and that a skincare obsession at a young age can have a number of negative effects.

Emma Wedgeworth, a dermatologist at London clinic 55 Harley Street, told The Guardian that this level of skincare just isn't necessary for young children. "At this age, skincare should be purely functional: gentle cleansing, moisturising if the skin is dry and sun protection," she said.

Rini isn't the only brand to target children, although many are more focused on older kids and teenagers. For example, US brand Evereden has achieved sales of over $100 million through products aimed at preteens.

These brands may be designed not to damage young skin, but general interest in skincare at a young age is seeing children using products that can cause them harm, including adult cosmetics that can give them rashes and burns.

Another issue is concern that skincare aimed at kids could make them worried about how they look at an age when they should just be enjoying their childhood.

As Pierre Vabres of the French Dermatology Society told a press conference in November: "Just as a child is not a miniature adult, a cosmetic is not a toy."
 

Questions:

What do you think about this article?

What are the benefits of beauty for children?

What are the disadvantages of beauty for children?

Did you care about beauty when you were a child?

If your son or daughter wanted to undergo cosmetic surgery, would you support it?

Except for cosmetic surgery, have you ever had a surgical operation?

Do you agree with men's makeup or not?

Jan.10 Dogs and Pets

Article:

Norway Bans Breeding of Two Popular Types of Dog

Norway has banned the breeding of English bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles spaniels after lawyers working for Animal Protection Norway argued that it's no longer possible to breed the dogs to be healthy.

"We need to change the way we breed dogs," Åshild Roaldset, the CEO of Animal Protection Norway, told Agence France-Presse. She explained that the way we breed dogs may have been okay 50 years ago, but it's not anymore.

Research has found that bulldogs suffer from a long list of health issues caused by breeding. For example, compared to about 100 years ago, today's English bulldogs have much shorter noses and legs, and bigger shoulders and heads, making it harder for them to breathe and walk.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel we know today was first bred in the 1920s. The dogs often have brains that are too big for their skulls, which can cause a number of painful symptoms and changes in behavior, as well as an extremely serious disease called syringomyelia.

Roaldset said these diseases couldn't be bred out of purebred dogs because there isn't enough genetic diversity. "And it's going to be painful for them because they're just going to get more and more diseases," she said.

While the ban stops people from breeding English bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles spaniels in Norway, it won't stop them from owning, selling, or buying them from other countries.

Organizations like the Norwegian Kennel Club worry that people will buy the dogs from breeders in countries that may have lower health standards, or from breeders who don’t care about the breeding ban.

Questions:

Did you know this problem? What do you think about this article?

Have you ever had a dog? or would you like to have a dog from now on?

Speaking of dogs, what thing comes to your mind first?

Which do you prefer, a dog or a cat? Why?

Do you have any good, bad or interesting memory about dogs, cats or any other animals?

Do you have a pet? What made you have that pet?

Have you ever had an exotic pet?

Do you have any allergies?

Zoos are entertaining and educational. But on the other hand, it is considered inhumane to keep animals in captivity. What is your opinion regarding this matter?

Conversation starters for Sunday meeting

・交通事故にあったことありますか？
　Have you ever been in a traffic accident?

・秘密の多い異性は魅力的に見えますか？
　Do people of the opposite gender who have many secrets seem attractive to you?

・もし1日だけ有名人になれるとしたら、誰になりたいですか？
　If you could become a famous celebrity for one day, who would you choose?

・いま立てている計画や目標などありますか？
　Do you have any plans or goals you are currently working on?

・いままで大人買いした経験はありますか？
　Have you ever splurged on something before?

・論理的思考と直感とどちらをより信用しますか？
　Which do you trust more: logical thinking or your intuition?

・新幹線や電車の中でご飯を食べますか？
　Do you eat meals on the Shinkansen or trains?

・貴方のよくある週末の過ごし方について教えて頂けますか？
　Could you tell me how you usually spend your weekends?

・最近の社会問題で何か関心や気になることはありますか？
　Is there any recent social issue that you are interested in or concerned about?

・今までの人生で何か思いきって挑戦したことはありますか？
　Have you ever taken a bold challenge in your life?