Are you a mum of someone that falls into this all-important age group? Maybe your youngster is starting to experience the “joys” of oiliness and pimples?
Getting aneasy,healthyskincare regime down pat is paramount and can start teaching some great habits nice and early.
Tweens (ah to be 8-12 years old again...) and teenagers are at that critical age where they’re itching to be independent and are starting to take their looks more seriously.
We all know that a bad skin day is waaay worse than a bad hair day, right? Unfortunately the hoard of hormones in a teenager’s body can add to the likelihood of complexion imperfection.
A rise in hormones (particularly androgens) can cause excess oil production. This can lead to clogged pores, bacteria, inflammation, infection and yup, you guessed it—dreaded pimples! The best way to help your teenager avoid bad skin days is to teach them how to keep their skin in tip-top condition.
Teaching them a few healthy skin habits can empower them while also helping them to hang on to that smooth, fresh-faced complexion for longer.
Of course, tweens bore easily so the key to keeping their interest is to introduce them to a daily skincare regime that’s super simple.
Cleanse. Moisturise. Protect. It’s as easy as that!
Step 1 - Cleanse
Gently cleansing tween and teen skin skin twice daily is a must. This helps to get rid of dirt, build up of oil and dead skin cells, which can cause blocked pores, blackheads, and dreaded breakouts.
Younger skin can be much more sensitive than more “experienced” skin so it’s important to steer clear of harsh or irritating ingredients. Avoid soap, artificial fragrances and chemicals and instead choose natural.
Our Chirpy Charcoal Cleansing Gel is just what a teen’s skincare routine needs - no fuss, non-drying and most importantly blemish-busting :)
Even though you should be cleansing twice a day, this doesn’t always have to be using a traditional cleanser.
You can also introduce your teen to a Konjac Sponge. This fab face sponge is deep cleansing, chemical free, pH balanced and 100% natural. It gently removes dirt and can either be used with a cleanser or just with water for a freshen up in the morning, saving the Chirpy Charcoal for night time.
TIP: Make sure your little one washes their hair regularly. Why? The dirt or oil from their hair can easily be transferred onto their face, increasing the likelihood of clogged pores (i.e. more breakouts!).
Step 2 - Moisturise
No matter your age, it’s always a great idea to moisturise after cleansing. Applying a light natural moisturiser (like Perfectly Happy Light Anti-Oxidant Cream) morning and night can help balance teen and tween skin.
For older teens (especially those struggling with breakouts), you might also want to try a few drops of Black Seed Oil. It has proven itself as a stellar moisturiser option for acne-prone skin. We like to recommend this to the older teens because it does require a bit of self restraint to only use 2 drops!
TIP: Tweens and teens can skip this step in the mornings if they’re using a super nourishing sunscreen in Step 3 :)
Step 3 - Protect
Getting into the habit of sun protection is essential for healthy skin. The higher the SPF the better, but ultimately opt for a sunscreen that feels nice on your young’un’s skin. If it’s too greasy or overly thick, you’ll be up for a fight every time you try to apply it.
TIP: Lead by example. This applies to wearing sunscreen, just as much as it does to your own daily skin regimen. Spend time teaching your tween the dos and don’ts of healthy skincare and let them see you practicing what you preach. Your skin will thank you!
Bonus tips for teenage skin
- Pimple prone teenagers can add in a toner to help rebalance their skin after cleansing. The Woohoo Skincare Tickled Pink Perfecting Tonic is super gentle yet still very effective at reducing redness and controlling blemishes. Plus, it’s all natural. Of course ;)
- If you notice that your teenager is prone to the odd pimple, using Pig in Mud Mineral Mask for Normal, Dry and Sensitive Skin once or twice a week can help dry out blemishes, reduce redness and leave skin baby soft.
Did you know … we now have a sample pack just for teen skin!
Our sample pack for teen skin has super-sized samples of the products we recommended in our post.
The samples have 2+ weeks of product in there, so you get a really good chance to give them a good test drive before going all in for the full sized products. Plus the sample pack comes with free shipping and a $10 next purchase voucher (winning!).Get the teen sample pack here.
Happy skin. Happy teen. Happy parents =)
