Recently, I came across an interesting article about how Generation Z may be aging faster, or at least look older, than the generation that came before them, the Millennials.

I’ve written about my fascination with the generations before, and as a proud member of the ageless generation, X, I went down the rabbit hole. I wasn’t too far into the article when a rather snarky comment was made about a generation using “that apricot scrub” and likening it to sandpaper.

Whoa! That attack felt rather personal. Those of us of a certain age know exactly what “that apricot scrub” is and were (and maybe are) proud users.

I didn’t think too much more about it until a few days later when I was adding that very scrub to my basket at the store and my Gen Alpha daughter absolutely freaked out. “Mom! Put that back on the shelf right now! I can’t allow you to continue using that stuff!” shrieked E.

Besides, I wasn’t using the actual “apricot scrub.” I was using its twin sister, which supposedly wards off blackheads and other unsightly blemishes. Sure, it still has the consistency of 60 grit sandpaper, but it’s totally not the same thing.

I dragged her over to the large mirror on the makeup counter. You know the one. It enlarges absolutely every pore at least 10 times. “Who uses the sandpaper and who uses 80 different as recommended by TikTok facial products,” I demanded.

It really wasn’t a fair comparison. One of is dealing with the throes of teenage skin and the other with the train wreck that is menopausal skin. Neither of them should be enlarged under fluorescent lighting. Also, the comparison would only benefit me if she didn’t inspect my hairline, my underarm or, for Pete’s sake, even my left hip, for the wacky places acne now decides to pop up on my body.

Of course, she just rolled her eyes and went back to browsing for some of the 15 different products she prefers to use, none of which could be used in a wood shop. I decided to stand by the “it’s not broken so I won’t fix it” mantra and hung onto my selection. I have been blessed with relatively “normal” skin. Rather than constant acne, my zits have usually presented themselves one at a time. Granted they were rather spectacular, individually, but relatively easy to cover up when necessary. Of course, I decided to trash my genetic predisposition to nice skin by spending entirely too much time in the sun, without SPF, much to E’s horror.

Honestly, I think she’d leave the house without clothing on before she’d go out without her SPF, and that’s a good thing. I had no concept of that when I was her age and all the crèmes on the makeup counter aren’t going to fix that damage now.

We certainly grew up with different attitudes toward skin care, not the least of which is being smacked in the face with products and “results” constantly on social media. I’ve been very careful to make sure that she’s not using products that are made for older skin, and she is much more into skin care than she is into makeup or altering her appearance in other ways.

Gone are the days when you washed your face with Noxzema before bed and then lathered yourself up with Ponds. Now, E gets up early to follow her regime and religiously follows another one before she goes to bed. I do have to admire her commitment to skin care. I would never be willing to lose sleep over it.

While I do have to hand it to the geniuses who use social media platforms to target this younger generation, and the allure of stores like Sephora and Ulta, I think it’s worth it for younger people to have the awareness that my generation never had about the damage that too much sun can do to your skin.

I deeply regretted not paying more attention when I had a 1-inch square cut out of the bottom of my foot a few years ago, due to a suspicious spot.

It gets old, staring at my many moles and birthmarks, wondering if they look just a little bit different from what they did a few weeks ago. Wondering if this is the year that the dermatologist decides that my odd freckles need to go. I’m trying to work outside constantly, in this heat, without risking even more exposure. I’m glad E is taking steps now to ward off this stress in her future.

E also received high praise for her hair care process from her stylist, who repeatedly marveled at how healthy and thick her hair is. While a lot of it has to do with genetics, and diet, the positive reinforcement about how she takes care of herself is not a bad thing at all.

For her birthday this year, E asked for a monthly subscription to a skin care “sample” service. Every month, she gets a gift of five different samples. She can tailor the subscription to what she is interested in, so mainly skin and hair care, but every once in a while she adds a lightly colored lip gloss or eye shadow.

I have to say, I’m always a bit curious when it arrives in the mail.

Not curious enough to start up my own subscription, of course, but there is always a chance that she might take pity on me and donate to the cause of breaking my 1990s beauty routine.

Liz Pinkey’s column appears on Saturdays in the Times News.