Not Your Mom’s Guide to Teen Skincare
The rumors are true, your teen’s skincare routine does matter.
Prom and graduation season is upon us, and so are trending prom skincare routines on Tiktok.
As we’ve seen the rise of online skincare trends, preteens and teens being concerned about their skin is not new despite what the media tries to communicate. While access to skincare products inappropriate for teen skin has become more accessible, the desire to prevent aging and breakouts is not a new phenomenon among the youth.
If you are a parent to a preteen or teen, approving the right skincare products for their skin is crucial to their skin’s health. Though they may want a trendy product recommended by their favorite YouTuber, it may do more damage than good to their skin in the long run. Here are three tips for navigating the world of skincare with your teen…
#1: No, do not let them use retinol
Our skin is our body’s largest organ. Like other organs in our body, our skin experiences cellular turnover. Cellular turnover in the skin is one of the main reasons our skin may appear more youthful or mature. The more our skin experiences cellular turnover, the less aged our skin will appear. For example, more young kids and teens have a cellular turnover as quick as 11-14 days. The collagen in their skin is abundant, making young skin remarkably resilient. Once their skin reaches its early twenties, their cellular turnover only happens around once a month. In their late twenties and early thirties, the cellular turnover occurs every other month. This cycle continues until cellular turnover is more rare than frequent, resulting in mature, textured skin.
This is where retinol comes into the picture. Retinol (Vitamin A) is a highly active, anti-aging ingredient used in many popular skincare products today. While there is no right age for retinol, professionals agree that teens should focus on nourishing the skin, and avoid aggressive anti-aging ingredients. In fact, the use of retinol too soon can have the reverse effect, resulting in more texture, fine lines, and breakouts.
Next time your teen reaches for retinol, here are some alternative ingredients that are better suited for nourishing their already youthful skin…
#2: Prioritize sunscreen
There’s a high chance your teen is going to want to bake in the sun to achieve their summer break tan. The greatest threat to our skin’s health regardless of age is exposure to UV rays. Thanks to modern science, there are plenty of skincare and makeup options that now contain SPF and sun protection in them. Some of these products are even trending on TikTok!
Next time your skincare-obsessed teen is begging for new products, treat them to results-based products that are still trendy.
#3: Addressing acne
It’s time we address the elephant in the room. And yes, acne is an elephant in the room. 85% of teenagers struggle with an acnaic skin condition.
Though we may have shielded our memory from our teenage years, your teen is going through massive hormonal changes. Hormones called androgens are surging inside of your teen. Androgens tend to accelerate oil production in the skin. The more oil being produced, the more likely pores will begin to clog and form acne lesions.
Your teen’s hormones may feel uncontrollable, but their skin’s oil production can be tackled with the guidance of a licensed esthetician. With facials specifically created for acneic skin, to a customized at-home skincare regimen, working with an esthetician will boost your teen’s confidence. And maybe even fix some pimples! Estheticians will also be able to help you determine when it is time to see a dermatologist as well.
As a parent, here are some esthetician-approved practices that will help your teen’s oil production apart from their skincare…
Get them a fidget toy so they avoid touching their face frequently
Wash their pillowcases twice a month
Clean their phones, earbuds, and other electronics held near the face daily
We hope this guide helps you navigate the skincare world with your teen. We advise encouraging your teen to trust an esthetician over their favorite lifestyle influencer for skincare advice.