In the world of skincare, the spotlight is increasingly shining on teenage skin, bombarded with a multitude of advice and product choices, many originating from unverified sources like social media platforms.
At SKINICIAN, we advocate starting skincare when puberty-related changes occur, typically around ages 12 to 14. We believe in gentle, nourishing solutions tailored to teens' needs, steering away from harsh treatments and focusing on empowering routines that enhance their natural beauty.
This guide delves into the complexities of teenage skin, highlighting its unique characteristics, and provides valuable tips for achieving and maintaining a healthy balance through a simple 3-4 step routine.
Our approach to teenage skin
With over 12 years of experience in the skincare industry, we offer a fresh perspective. It's crucial to recognise that teenage skin tends to be more sensitive than adult skin, emphasising the importance of a less-is-more approach when considering elaborate routines or harsh ingredients.
Here's why:
Teenage Skin Profile: Teen skin occupies a unique stage (remember, it's an organ), it's not akin to baby skin; it's still evolving. While hormonal shifts can trigger breakouts, teenage skin maintains a natural resilience yet is susceptible to irritation from aggressive products.
Avoiding Harsh Ingredients: Many popular skincare choices for teens contain potent acids and drying alcohols. These substances disrupt the skin barrier, potentially leading to dryness, inflammation, and exacerbating breakouts.
Embracing Simplicity: Teens don't require 10-15 steps! A simplified routine comprising a gentle cleanser, lightweight moisturiser with SPF, and targeted spot treatments (if necessary) often suffices for promoting healthy, happy skin.
Skincare routine for teens with oily skin
Oily skin is a common type marked by the overproduction of sebum, a natural oil vital for moisturising and protecting the skin, by the sebaceous glands. It often displays a shiny or greasy appearance, enlarged pores, and a propensity for blackheads and whiteheads. Excessive sebum production is influenced by genetics, hormones, stress, and diet, with incorrect product usage exacerbating dehydration leading to further oil production to compensate.
To manage oily skin effectively, it's crucial to grasp its root causes and adopt an appropriate skincare routine. Below, we offer a simple three-step routine tailored for oily skin:
Step 1:
Start your morning and night time skincare routine with a double cleanse of the Purifying Cleansing Gel. Infused with pore-refining elements, this gel effortlessly dissolves excess sebum, leaving your skin feeling calm and refreshed.
Step 2:
Following cleansing, incorporate the Purifying Toner into your morning and nightly skincare routine to effectively regulate oil production and reduce shine. A few spritzes of this toner provide your skin with essential nourishment, promoting a healthy and radiant complexion while also preventing breakouts.
Step 3:
Complete your morning skincare routine with the Purifying Moisturiser, offering broad-spectrum SPF30 sun protection along with effective oil control and breakout reduction. Formulated with mattifying properties, it ensures your skin remains smooth and shine-free all day long.
Top tips for managing oily skin as a teen
- Nourishment from within: Maintain a balanced diet and hydration by drinking plenty of water and eating foods rich in water content like fruits and vegetables. This helps keep your skin healthy and glowing from the inside out.
- Protect your skin: Protect your skin daily with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to shield against harmful UVA/UVB rays and bacteria. This regulates sebum production and minimises the risk of clogged pores.
- Treat your skin: Add the Purifying Green Clay Mask to your skincare routine 2-3 times a week for an extra boost. This mask helps to remove excess oil, purify your pores, and leave your skin looking smoother and clearer.
Skincare routine for teens with acne-prone skin
Acne-prone skin is marked by various lesions like pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts, stemming from factors like excess sebum, pore blockages, bacteria, hormones, and genetics. Its severity varies from mild breakouts to persistent cases needing medical attention, typically seen on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders.
When facing severe situations, seeking medical guidance is advised. Here, we offer a concise four-step routine for mild acne cases:
Step 1:
Begin with a double cleanse using the Revitalising Cleanser, formulated to be gentle on the skin, making it particularly ideal for irritated and inflamed skin. This cleanser expertly eliminates dirt, makeup, SPF, and impurities without stripping away essential moisture. Enriched with Grapeseed Oil and soothing elements, it ensures the skin feels both nourished and hydrated after each morning and night time use.
Step 2:
After cleansing, integrate the Purifying Toner into your morning and nightly skincare routine for balanced oil production and reduced shine. This toner will help deliver essential nourishment, promoting a healthy, radiant complexion and help to prevent breakouts.
Step 3:
Following cleansing and toning, gently apply the Advanced Calming Serum to alleviate skin redness and inflammation, leaving your skin feeling soothed, cool and calm. This serum works to repair and fortify the skin's barrier, and can be used morning and night.
Step 4:
Complete your morning routine with the SPF50 Daily Defence Moisturiser, specifically beneficial to acne and sensitive skin types. This moisturiser features key ingredients such as Gossypium Herbaceum, clinically proven to reduce skin redness by 52% within two hours of application. Niacinamide works to decrease inflammation and minimise pores, with a clinically proven reduction in inflammatory acne by 60% over 8 weeks. Additionally, it offers blue light protection to further safeguard against UVA/UVB and blue light digital aggressors.
Persistent Acne
When dealing with persistent acne that takes a toll on a teenager's mental well-being, Retinol proves to be a valuable solution. It works by reducing excess oil production and accelerating the turnover of skin cells. It's important to start by consulting a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis of acne. The SKINICIAN Retinol Powerbalm Level 1 is specifically formulated to work its magic while you sleep, thanks to its blend of 0.1% pure retinol and peptides, effectively targeting acne and minimising the appearance of acne scars.
For teenage users, we recommend applying the product three nights a week to achieve the best results. If persistent acne is not visible, we do not recommend starting to use Retinol until your 30's.
Top tips for managing acne-prone skin as a teen
- Listen to Your Skin: Observe your skin's response to products and tweak your routine accordingly. Opt for gentle products to soothe irritation and aid in its natural healing process, simplifying your routine for better results.
- Treatment: Integrate the Revitalising Repair Mask into your routine 2-3 times a week for intensive repair. This mask effectively targets skin barrier damage, shields against environmental pollutants, and soothes irritated skin, leaving it calm and rejuvenated.
- Combatting oily skin with acne? Begin with the Revitalising Cleanser to calm inflamed and irritated skin. Once inflammation subsides, transition to the Purifying Cleanser for daily use, specially crafted to refine pores.
Skincare routine for teens with dry and normal (balanced) skin
Dry skin, marked by insufficient moisture and oil, exhibits various signs including dullness, patchiness, flakiness, and roughness. It may also feature redness, irritation, itchiness, and increased sensitivity, potentially resulting in cracked skin.
Normal skin is characterised by its smooth, balanced, and even-toned appearance, boasting small pores and a radiant glow. Neither excessively dry nor oily, normal skin maintains just the right moisture levels without any unwanted shine. To sustain normal skin, a straightforward skincare routine involving cleansing and moisturising is essential to uphold cleanliness and provide adequate protection.
Here, we provide three straightforward tips to effectively manage dry skin and maintain a balanced complexion:
Step 1:
Incorporate a double cleansing routine morning and night using the Revitalising Cleanser. This gentle and soothing milk cleanser effectively purifies the skin without causing dryness.
Step 2:
Next, follow up with Revitalising Toner, enriched with Vitamin C and Cucumber extract to brighten, enhance skin hydration, and soothe skin sensitivity. This versatile toner is suitable for both morning and evening use.
Step 3:
Complete your daytime routine by applying our Revitalising Day Moisturiser with SPF30 daily. This moisturiser deeply hydrates, provides sun protection, alleviates dryness, and soothes skin sensitivity for a nourished and protected complexion.
Top tips for managing dry skin as a teen
- Hydration Boost: Keep your skin hydrated and fresh by using products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid. This not only attracts water to your skin but also helps improve skin texture.
- Lock in Moisture: Prevent dryness by using products with vegetable collagen, oils, and moisturisers. These help seal in moisture and keep your skin feeling soft and supple.
- For an added dose of hydration, the Advanced Restoring Vitamin E Night Cream is enriched with a replenishing blend of ingredients that synergise with your skin's natural circadian repair system. This nourishing formulation deeply hydrates and revitalises the skin, ensuring a replenished and hydrated complexion.
Stay Hydrated Inside Out: Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and eat water-rich foods like fruits and veggies. A balanced diet and hydration will not only keep you healthy but also give your skin a natural glow.
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