As beauty lovers, there’s nothing we believe in more than the importance of looking after your skin—and that means starting early. The bane of many a teen’s existence is a face full of pimples, and we’re the first to say that a blemish or a bad skin day is enough to get your confidence down in high school. A spotty complexion may cause low self esteem, teasing, and a lifetime of insecurities. Your early teens are prime time to really start loving your body, looking after yourself, and paying attention to your complexion. A proper regimen—cleansing, toning, and moisturizing—is the easiest way to begin, and the occasional spot treatment and face mask doesn’t hurt either. Luckily, you don’t have to raid your parents’ medicine cabinets for their tried-and tested; myriad gentle formulas exist for the younger set. For more serious skin issues, nothing replaces a trip to the dermatologist, but start with these basics and you’ll be skin set for life.
1. Cleanser
We’re almost tired of telling you to clean your face, but this can be one of the most important steps in reducing blemishes (as well as changing your pillowcase regularly, where bacteria can build!). We love the creamy consistency of Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser, which contains an extremely high amount of amino acids to encourage cell reproduction and boost hydration and radiance. For sleepovers and camping trips, stash a bag of Yes To Tomatoes Blemish Clearing Facial Towelettes in your bag—the lycopene in tomatoes helps to prevent acne.
2. Moisturizer
For younger skin (which tends to be oilier from stark hormonal changes), it’s best to opt for an oil-free moisturizer. You’ll still be getting a good dose of hydration, but the light formula won’t clog your pores. Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Moisturizer is a great starter.
3. Spot Treatment
When a blemish appears, the only thing you want to do is squeeze—resist we tell you! Instead, try an industry loved skin-saver such as Kate Somerville’s 24 Hour Pimple Punisher. The double-ended product works both as an immediate anti-inflammatory and overnight treatment on problem spots. Apply a small dot of the clay at night (and when you feel the pimple appearing) and the clear gel (which contains salicylic acid to kill bacteria) during the day.
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Comments
Aug 25, 2012
Susan J.
sometimes less is more. my daughter has had pretty bad acne concentrated on her forehead for a at least a year and recently she started using banana peel, 3 times a day, washer her face with a mild cleanser at night and her acne has cleared up tremendously, aloe vera straight from the plant helps too. sometimes all those chemicals just make things worse.
Nov 16, 2012
John M.
Aug 23, 2012
Krystal C.
Sadly, I was told the wrong info when I was a teen and was using products far too harsh for my skin, which made my skin even worse :(
Aug 22, 2012
Janna G.
At 31, I sure wish I had all the kind of skin care information that's available to teens nowadays... would have probably made a big difference... Don't forget your SPF!!
Aug 24, 2012
Mandy E.
Aug 22, 2012
Michelle L.
I am surprised at the lack of sun protection mentioned in the article. Young girls can incorporate a quality spf in their regimen. We all know what the sun does to the skin for premature aging, and protection early helps solve a lot of problems later. Philosophy makes some great moisturizers with spf.
Aug 22, 2012
Teresa C.
That's great! It's important to prioritize and learn where to spend and splurge at a younger age. Just make sure to be a smart consumer. Compare ingredient decks and active ingredient percentages. As a cosmetic chemist, I can tell you that MANY prestige brands source their ingredients from the same companies that drugstore brands do. Do your research and know when it's worth it.
PS. Philosophy and Clinique are two of my fav brands too! I've been using Clinique skincare for about a decade :)
Aug 21, 2012
Rachel T.
This is a great regimen and something I try to stick to as a teen. While some prices of skincare may be steep, I choose to invest my money in Philosophy and Clinique and other "prestige" skincare brands. I'd rather spend my money on that and have clear skin.
Aug 21, 2012
Teresa C.
Salicylic acid doesn't kill bacteria, it is a chemical exfoliant that dissolves dead skin and debris to unclog pores.
I agree with the previous poster that a few of these products may have a steep price for teens. As a teenager I used Phisoderm cleanser and moisturizers and treatments from University Medical's Acne Free line. They worked well.
Aug 21, 2012
Jean P.
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser may be great but is too cost prohibitive for most teens. When I was in high school, I stuck to drugstore stuff like Neutrogena and Noxema, and they worked fine. :) To this day I sorely miss Neutrogena's Clear Pore Treatment - I'm convinced it helped keep me blemish free in my teens.