Skincare routine for teens

[sfg7892]

I struggled with horrible acne as a teenager, and I am hoping to help my girls (12 & 14 years old) avoid the same fate by getting them started on a good skin care routine. What do you suggest for acne prone teens with sensitive skin?

[lovelyleo99]

I would say a basic teen routine for acne is to cleanse 2x a day (assuming they have/will develop oily skin), treat acne, moisturize, and wear SPF. I would emphasize a double cleanse. I had heard of double cleansing as a teen and was like, "I can't put oil on my face; I will break out," and instead never realized I did not fully remove SPF or makeup = clogged pores. I prefer a cleansing balm over micellar water for the texture, but maybe buy a cheap version of both and let your girls test them out and see what they prefer, so they enjoy their routine. For the actual cleanser, I think something like the Vanicream cleanser or La Roche Posay hydrating cleanser are good options when used in conjunction with an exfoliating cleanser (aka Salicylic acid). The Ordinary makes one, as does CeraVe. Many people over-exfoliate their skin, so a cleanser that your girls can use three nights a week max would help a lot and begin to teach them not to overdo it. Then a spot treatment (I like benzoyl peroxide) if they break out. If they begin to pick, hydrocolloid patches can help them spot treat and not pick at the zit. The patches come in all sorts of fun shapes too. For oily skin, I think a gel-like moisturizer feels and works the best. My favorite is the Clinique Moisture Surge, but Neutrogena has a comparable one (Hydro Boost). A good drug store moisturizer overall, though, is La Roche Posay Toleraine moisturizer. Then finish with sunscreen. I wish someone had taught me to wear sunscreen, especially when using chemical actives and retinol. There are many different sunscreen options out there, I like tinted mineral sunscreens, but your daughters might like something that blends in easier (like the Supergoop Unseen Screen). Or, if you think they might not reapply in school or can't wash their hands to do it, have them apply sunscreen after their moisturizer and give them SPF powders. I LOVE the Tarte Sea Set and Protect (smells so good but does not irritate my skin). It also mattifies skin which can help if they're oily. Hopefully, using these products will help overall, at the bare minimum, teach your daughters how to stick to a good routine and wear sunscreen. If your daughters develop acne while maintaining a good skincare routine or seem to have very inflamed skin, I recommend visiting a derm. I, unfortunately, inherited mild acne from genetics. While acne for me as a teen was overproduction of oil and, to some extent, hormonal, I developed ance again in my early 20s. My derm was able to give me oral medication (not Accutane) to solve the problem issue. If your daughters don't see results and do get acne, seeing a derm quickly will really help because they can prescribe excellent medications if over-the-counter products do not work. It's not unusual to be prescribed retinol for acne at that age. 

It's really awesome you are looking into this for your daughters! A good foundation for skincare is critical in general and will carry with them for the rest of their lives.