Do’s & don’ts of teen skincare: healthy habits for young skin

We explore the unique needs of teenage skin and what they should and shouldn’t be using.

Long gone are the days where simply washing your face and moisturising with a run-of-the-mill cream could be called a skincare routine. With the rise of social media skinfluencers sharing trendy new products with every post, skincare routines have become increasingly complicated and expensive.

However, with such unlimited choice of products, hacks and brands to choose from, also comes increased potential for skin damage and irritation – especially when you consider that many skincare influencers are dealing with ‘adult’ skin issues which require slightly different treatment compared to younger teen skin.

Many experts agree that when it comes to teenage skin and skincare for tweens, a ‘less is more’ approach is best for the products used in their daily routines.

Keep reading to see our do’s and don’ts of skincare for preteens and teenagers and to learn some healthy habits for young skin…

Why skincare matters for teens

While the advice leans towards simplicity when it comes to teen skincare, it’s still important for teenagers to build a solid routine that works well for their skin, which they can stick to consistently.

Hormonal fluctuations are a natural part of teenagehood, and these fluctuations can bring about typical teen skin problems – the main ones being acne, oily skin and blemishes. So, if you’re a teenager reading this, hopefully it brings you some comfort to know that it’s not just you going through ups and downs with your skin.

What’s more, in these youthful teenage years, the skin has ample amounts of collagen, a faster skin cell turnover rate and is at its most resilient. The skin is at peak firmness and it recovers from damage quickly – so a simple skincare routine is all teens need.

Having a basic teen skincare routine that prioritises hydration and protection for overall skin health is key rather than focusing on advanced ingredients that could do more harm than good

Do’s: healthy skincare habits for teens

Keep skin clean and fresh

Healthy skin is clean skin, so it’s important for teens to keep their skin clean and fresh to prevent the build-up of bacteria which may lead to skin issues.

We recommend using a gentle foaming, hydrating cleanser twice a day – once in the morning and once at night. Your morning cleanse will remove any product build-up that wasn’t absorbed from the night before, while the evening cleanse – arguably the most important – is when you can cleanse your skin of sweat, excess oil (sebum), pollution, make-up and SPF.

It’s recommended that teens avoid hard active ingredients or exfoliating acids, those with oily skin can opt for a cleanser with mild actives to help control breakouts. Try either salicylic acid (BHA) at a maximum of 2%  to dissolve the dead skin cells which can clog pores, or pick a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide , which kills the acne-causing bacteria, reduces inflammation and unclogs pores.

Moisturise regularly

Moisturising is an essential step for all skin types as it delivers essential hydration and nutrients to the skin, which helps maintain a healthy skin barrier. Even if you have oily, blemish-prone skin, it’s still important to moisturise. Skipping this crucial step can actually encourage the skin to produce more sebum to compensate for the lack of moisture, which exacerbates the oil-to-blemish cycle.

So, whether you have oily, blemish-prone or sensitive skin, opt for a lightweight, hydrating moisturiser that’s non-comedogenic (won’t clog your pores) to keep your skin hydrated. If you’re super oily and find moisturising creams too heavy, it’s worth looking for oil-free moisturisers or gel-based formulations for lightweight hydration that easily absorb into the skin.

Protect skin with SPF

You may or may not know this, but a broad-spectrum sunscreen should be a part of an everyday teen skincare routine, all year round – yep, even if you live in the UK where sunny days are limited. This is because while UVB rays which are responsible for skin burning are at their strongest in the summer months, UVA rays which are responsible for skin aging and increased risk of skin cancer are present all year-round. A broad-spectrum sunscreen at a sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or above will keep skin protected against UVA and UVB rays.

If you want to cut down the steps in your routine, or find layering multiple products feels too heavy and irritating, try a moisturiser that has SPF protection combined, to get the benefits of moisturiser and sun protection in a single product.

Don’ts: mistakes to avoid

Avoid over-washing

If you have oily, blemish-prone skin, you might be tempted to wash your face with a strong cleanser multiple times a day to get that ‘squeaky clean’ feeling. But over-washing your skin can strip it of its natural oils, which can lead to irritation and even more oil production to compensate for the lack of moisture.

Don’t share skincare products

‘Sharing is caring’ in most areas of life but we may have to caveat that when it comes to skincare (and make-up). That’s because sharing products – especially those that come in a tub, pot or roll-on packaging – can transfer bacteria from one person to another, which can lead to breakouts or infections.

And while we’re talking about hygiene, make sure to wash your hands before you do any form of skincare, touch your skin, or even rest your face in your hands, to prevent transferring bacteria from your hands to your face (just think what your hands might be carrying after you’ve been on public transport…)

Skip harsh products

Teenage skin can be more sensitive than adult skin and often cannot tolerate some of the formulas created for adults.

Teenagers should avoid using skincare products with harsh active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C and glycolic acid in any form  — from peels to scrubs, to toners and moisturisers. These ingredients can cause inflammation, irritation and severely compromise the skin barrier and overall skin health in teens.

We’d also advise avoiding products with lots of artificial fragrance, colour and drying alcohols. We’re not saying that ‘natural’ or organic skincare is better, but try to opt for products that that do their job without any unnecessary extras.

FAQ: teen skincare questions answered

Cleanse your skin twice a day with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and warm water. Use the pads of your fingers to work the cleanser all around your face and neck, taking extra care around the eye area before rinsing off with your hands or a soft face cloth. If you’re experiencing breakouts or have oily skin, you can incorporate a cleanser with salicylic acid (maximum 2%) or a benzoyl peroxide wash.

You should use a moisturiser twice a day, after you cleanse your face. During the day you can look for a lightweight hydrating moisturiser and if you want a little extra hydration at night, you can opt for a slightly thicker night cream to help strengthen your skin barrier.

Young skin is more sensitive to UV rays than adult skin, so it’s important to be prepared when going outside into the sun. Young skin is less able to repair cell damage caused by sun exposure, and research also shows than childhood sunburns can significantly increase the chances of skin cancer later in life, so it’s important to get teens into good sun safety habits as early as possible.

Building healthy skincare habits

These teen skincare tips are the building blocks to maintaining healthy-looking skin. The key to achieving and maintaining healthy-looking skin lies in simplicity and developing healthy skincare habits that can be stuck to on a consistent basis.

Try to remember that skincare is all about progress over perfection. As teens going through puberty, hormones are in constant flux. Oiliness and breakouts are normal part of the teenage experience. There’s no such thing as perfect skin but aiming for healthy skin is a great starting point.