Decoding Teen Skincare

 

It can hard to decode teen skincare needs. If you leave it up to your youth, with no knowledge, or incorrect ‘Tik Tok’ knowledge of which skincare ingredients are suitable for them, they risk purchasing products that may not address their specific skin concerns or, worse, cause irritation and damage. Without proper guidance, they’ll be swayed by marketing hype or attractive packaging, leading to impulsive buys of potent active ingredients that their skin isn’t prepared for. On the flip side, the products you’re using as a parent are likely for ageing and drier skin, and also not suitable for them.

Using skincare products without understanding their ingredients can pose significant risks for teenagers. Many active ingredients, such as retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), can bring about adverse effects. Teens, who all have delicate young skin, may see short term results from these products, but almost always end in issues like skin irritation, redness, dryness and sensitivity.

Furthermore, combining incompatible ingredients or using products too frequently can result in over-exfoliation, compromised skin barriers, and increased sensitivity to environmental factors like UV rays. This lack of understanding can exacerbate skin problems instead of improving them, making it crucial for teenagers to educate themselves or seek guidance from skincare professionals before incorporating active ingredients into their routines.

 

Actual Teen Skincare Needs

The answer is very simple – not much.

But we also understand how teens think, and we understand that how they display their skin care in their bedroom is just as important as what they use on their face! So to them, a cleanser and a moisturiser is just not going to cut it. They want serums! Bring on face masks! They want it all.

So let’s look at a good routine that the modern day teen would approve of…

A gentle cleanser

For normal skin, a gentle cleanser is perfect. For acne prone skin, an enzyme based cleanser. Enzymes break larger molecules into smaller ones, breaking up dead skin, excess oil and blackheads. Enzymes in our skin care are all naturally derived from plants.

Using an AHA or Salicylic based cleanser is for severe acne and should only be used under supervision of a skin care therapist. AHA’s and Salicylic purchased from a supermarket or department store will be unstable, causing severe irritation and further breakouts. Consider checking with us if you think your teen skincare routine should include this.

We recommend: Aspect Purastat 5 for an everyday gentle cleanser that removes makeup and dirt or the Young Natives Warrior Kit – Clean, an Enzyme based cleanser perfect for treating and preventing acne, breakouts and congestion.

 

A Facial Mist

Super hydrating, or exfoliating, facial mists are a lovely product to add into your teen skincare routine as it makes them feel like they have more steps, without causing irritations. Spray over after cleansing to lock in moisture, combat acne or set makeup – there are two we recommend:

Osmosis Infuse works well on all skin types. Helping to purify, nourish, soothe and heal skin, all while improving the penetration of your serums into your skin. Young Natives Warrior Kit – Reset is an enzyme based mist that kills bacteria, exfoliates the skin and adds hydration. A must have for those with acne and/or congestion.

 

Vitamin B

Not essential, but we all know a teen loves a serum and the good thing about vitamin B is that it is suitable for all skin types and shouldn’t cause irritation, unlike vitamin C which can be harder for young skins to tolerate. Vitamin B will brighten the skin, regulate oil production (great for those with acne) as well as protect the skin against free radical damage (from the sun and pollutants).

But when looking at serums, it really is quality over quantity.

Using a department store serum usually means that the active ingredient (the vitamin B in this case) is an unstable molecule. This means that it will oxidise when exposed to light or when the package is opened, rendering the ingredient useless. Department store or supermarket brands usually lack the necessary stabilisers and proper packaging to protect the active ingredient, leading to rapid degradation and loss of effectiveness. As a result, irritation will most likely occur. Even though a department store brand may still be over $100, it is really the advertising they are throwing all their money at, not the ingredients.

We love: Medik8 Hydr8 B5 for normal skin types. The benefit of this one is that it also contains hyaluronic acid, which binds water molecules together, plumping and hydrating the skin. There is also some Vitamin B in there too, for the regulation of oil and pigmentation production as well as offering the brightening effects. We also love our own range, Young Natives Vit B. This light gel-based serum absorbs straight into the skin and feels so lovely. Containing 5% Niacinamide which has been proven to work on problematic skins by balancing oil flow, reducing pore size and improving uneven skin tone. Combined with Liquorice and White Willow Bark (Natural Salicylic Acid) this serum is the perfect addition for any teens (and adults) with problem, oily, or combination skins. Plus, this serum is unscented so it’s suitable for all users.

 

Moisturiser

Of course every teen skincare routine needs a moisturiser, and the trick is to get one that is not too heavy and one without active ingredients – just a regular hydrator.

We recommend: Young Natives Warrior Kit – Hydrate. A lightweight daily lotion suitable for all skin types, this dual action moisturiser effectively hydrates the skin whilst key actives Papaya & White Willow Bark work to gradually dissolve dead skin cells. With daily use, skin remains refreshed, resurfaced and decongested. Aromatic essential oils of Lime, Orange and Bergamot leave a light, fresh scent on the skin. This moisturiser can be used on all skin types. Another great general use moisturiser for young skin is Aspect Sheer Hydration, as it is simply this. A lightweight hydration with hyaluronic that can be used by younger skin.

 

Exfoliation and Masks

This is a tricky one, as it seems that teens like to strip their skin within an inch of its life, resulting in a compromised barrier, which leads to irritation, sensitivity and redness – even breakouts.

So if you’re investing in an exfoliator for your teen, they need to understand that less is usually more, and by using a facial mist such as those recommended, then a separate exfoliator is not necessary. But if your teen has thicker oily skin that is congested, then a weekly exfoliation is a good idea. We love Airy Day Bright Nights Sleep Mask for its gentle exfoliation using all natural ingredients – plus your teen will love the packaging (and you will love the price!). If they just want a ‘pampering’ mask, then the Airy Day Night Rain Sleep Mask is a lovely option. Once again, the price is sweet, but your teen will love the hydrating feel and the watermelon fragrance. For as little as $10, these also make lovely gifts for your teens friends.

 

Spot Treatments

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, pesky pimples still appear. That’s where targeted spot treatments come in handy. These treatments can quickly reduce inflammation and speed up healing time when used correctly. However, it’s crucial to choose spot treatments that are gentle and won’t cause additional irritation. For teens, it can be easy to over-do spot treatments thinking it will correct the problem faster by using more.

For an effective spot treatment, look for products containing tea tree or salicylic acid in low concentrations. These ingredients help to unclog pores and reduce bacteria on the skin, making them effective at treating individual pimples. It’s essential to apply these treatments only on the affected areas to avoid over-drying the surrounding skin. There are some stronger spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide, but these products can over-dry your teen’s skin and potentially create a bigger ongoing problem with acne. They should be used with care following medical advice, not just because your teen has one pimple and a friend is using it!

We recommend: Aspect Stop Spot, which contains salicylic acid and is affordably priced. This spot treatment is a great way to use salicylic acid without applying it all over your skin, making it accessible to a younger market without being too harsh. Young Natives Warrior Kit – SOS contains Tea Tree, making it perfect for typical teenage hormonal acne, providing the necessary attention without over-drying or damaging young skin.

 

Always add SPF into your teen skincare routine!

Such a good idea to get your teen into a good routine of using SPF, especially on their face. And with improved formulations, SPF now just feels like another moisturiser. With pretty packaging and soft sweet scents, we love Airy Day as some of their SPF’s also combine a tint, leaving skin looking fresh, with just enough coverage that they won’t need a foundation. We Are Feel Good is another range we all love. With cool packaging and SPF 50+, this range is great for the whole family, and at good prices. We’re passionate about looking after skin, and we stock these brands as we know just how hard it is to use sunscreen every day when you don’t like the feel. It can seem even worse when your skin is oily and you have acne. These brands create products that feels like a moisturiser, not greasy or sticky!

 

LED Devices

And for the very lucky teen with acne, you can’t go past an at-home LED device. The Airy Day Bright On is an excellent choice as your teen can use the blue light to treat acne while you can use the red for rejuvenation!

 

Skin Care for teens is really having its moment, and finding solutions that are free from harsh chemicals, gentle on the skin and effective is tricky, so we hope you found this article helpful. And remember, you can always reach out to our staff in the clinic for a more tailored approach to your teens skin, we are always available to help you find the right solution.

 

Best Teen Skincare Products

If you need any help in choosing your skin care, you can email us at info@theskincareclinic.com.au.

 

 

 

 

 

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