Being a teenager is difficult. It feels like everyone is telling you what to do, how to behave, and which products to buy. Because of this, it can be hard for teens to know how to properly care for their skin.
This guide goes in-depth on teen skincare routines for girls and boys. That’s right — teens benefit from healthy skincare routines regardless of gender identity.
Keep this information in mind and pass it along to your teen so they can make the most out of their skincare routine!
Believe it or not, there are biological differences between teenagers’ and adults’ skin.
Teenagers’ bodies go through so much change so rapidly that their skin is bound to react. As a result, most teenagers struggle with acne and other skin problems.
Skin problems can get frustrating, especially when your teen thinks they’re using all the right products. Why can’t their skin get on board, too?
Here are some of the reasons skin just won’t behave as a teenager.
During the teenage years, hormones run wild. Teenage bodies are figuring out how to transition from childhood to adulthood — and this is not always fun for the skin.
Most hormonal changes that occur in teenagers boost the production of sebum, the skin’s natural oil. Excess sebum makes it easier for pores to clog up, which leads to acne breakouts.
Hormonal changes can also cause redness and blotchiness, which are equally as frustrating as acne.
Teen skin is abundant with collagen, the structural protein that keeps your complexion firm and youthful. During the transition from a teenager to an adult, the body produces less collagen each year.
Because of this natural fluctuation in collagen production, skin is often the most resilient and elastic as a teenager. Teenagers may not be worried about skin aging yet, but now is the time to take advantage of boosted collagen levels.
If teenage skin experiences any problems, it bounces back quicker than adult skin. Teens should take their increased collagen levels into account when forming a skincare routine.
Teenagers tend to sweat more, and it’s not just because they are busy and running between activities often. The sweat glands of teenagers are more active in response to hormonal changes in their bodies.
Your teenager might be frustrated with how much they sweat. Excessive sweating (also known as hyperhidrosis) can lead to embarrassing smells, acne breakouts, and damp clothing.
The good news is that this is likely temporary. Most young adults do not produce as much sweat as young teens do, so excessive sweating will likely resolve on its own as your teen gets older.
Teenagers are pretty busy. They may not be interested in the finer details of skincare — and you might struggle to get them to read this article. However, their skincare routine will dictate the health and appearance of their skin into their 20s and 30s.
There are ways to create a convenient teen skincare routine that doesn’t take too much of your money and your teen’s time. Consider these core elements when you help your teen build their routine.
Your teen’s skin may be tough now, but that doesn’t mean they should use harsh products that are drying and irritating. Gentle cleansers can target acne and blackheads just as effectively as harsh ones — in fact, they’re often more effective.
When your teen uses a harsh, irritating cleanser, their skin responds by producing more natural oils. This can actually make acne worse and strip the skin’s moisture barrier.
Your teen should use a cleanser that is free of sulfates, parabens, and other harsh chemicals to start their routine off the right way.
Many acne-prone teens think that moisturizing their skin will clog their pores and lead to more breakouts. This is not the case.
Moisturizer is important for everyone, whether they have oily skin or a desert-dry complexion.
After using a cleanser, the skin’s natural moisture barrier is depleted. Skin requires some form of moisturization to restore that barrier and avoid overproducing oil.
If your teen’s skin suffers from frequent breakouts and blackheads, try giving them a lightweight moisturizer. These products will not clog their pores, but they do keep skin healthy and hydrated.
Your teen might not have the time or motivation to carry out a full skincare routine every morning and night. However, they should at least complete the core steps to keep their skin in good shape.
In order to remain consistent with their skincare routine, teens should use the following daily:
These are the minimum steps required for healthy, nourished teen skin.
The more consistent your teen is, the better their skin will fare in the long run. A healthy teen skincare routine can combat aging, dryness, and sun damage as they get older.
Most teens think of skincare as a hobby for girls, but this couldn’t be further from the truth — teenage boys need slightly more care to maintain glowing, healthy skin.
The differences between teen girl skin and teen boy skin are minor, but they do affect skincare routines.
Boys experience a rise in testosterone, the male sex hormone, during their teenage years. Increased testosterone can make sweat and oil glands larger, which leads to oily skin and breakouts. Acne tends to be worse for teenage boys than for teenage girls.
Follow this guide to teen skincare for each gender to care for the skin’s natural differences.
Teenage girls should focus on all of the same core elements of skincare as boys. These include a cleanser, spot treatments, moisturizer, and daily SPF.
Some girls find that their skin is more delicate and experiences more redness than their male peers. This is because of an increase in estrogen during puberty and the teen years.
To avoid dryness, irritation, and blotchiness, teen girls should avoid alcohol-based products. Many mainstream facial cleansers include alcohol to target acne, but this can be too harsh on the skin.
Teenage girls also benefit from using water-based moisturizers. These moisturizers are nongreasy and absorb quickly, but they still provide all of the typical hydrating benefits. Best of all, water is the most natural ingredient out there!
If your teen struggles with intense acne, they should try using a toner with all-natural ingredients. Toner will even their skin tone and help shrink their pores, which reduces the chance they will clog.
For their morning skincare routine, teenage girls should follow these steps:
Not everyone completes a morning skincare routine, but many teens find it helpful for replenishing their moisture barriers and protecting their skin from sun damage.
In the evening, teenage girls should follow these skincare steps:
These steps will help keep your teen’s complexion glowing, radiant, and healthy!
Skincare is not just for girls! Teenage boys can — and should — follow a simple, healthy skincare routine.
We recommend keeping your teen’s skincare products in the shower, where they will be more likely to use them consistently. This is especially true for facial cleansers — they can be applied before or after using body wash.
A morning or evening skincare routine for teenage guys should include these steps:
In the morning before school, we recommend a white face sunscreen that dries clear. This will prevent premature skin aging, which affects guys just as much as girls in their later years.
Since teenage guys tend to experience more acne than girls, it is a good idea to invest in a high-quality clarifying body wash. This will help combat acne that misses your teen’s face and lands on their shoulders, back, neck, and chest.
At Whish Beauty, we believe that all ages and genders deserve clean, cruelty-free, gentle skincare products.
Your teen may not recognize the importance of skincare now, but they will love our variety of delicious smelling botanical products.
Our collections of face masks, lip treatments, serums, and moisturizers will help keep your teen’s skin healthy and nourished for years to come.
Shop Whish Beauty for the cleanest, gentlest skincare out there!