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.

The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) said it had launched an investigation into the brands' owner, luxury goods giant LVMH, for possibly attempting to sell anti-ageing treatments to children under 10.

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.

LVMH said in a statement that it would "fully cooperate" with the authorities but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.

AGCM said its officers and Italy's financial police had carried out inspections of LVMH and Sephora's Italian headquarters on Thursday as part of its investigation.

It said 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" - those with an online following in the thousands.

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-ageing creams" to children under the age of 10.

Sephora, which has nearly 23 million followers on Instagram and more than two million on TikTok, has been at the centre of the "Sephora kids" social media trend, in which children share their skincare routines and purchases.

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]".

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.

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

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