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Did you know that many skincare products that are advertised to be gentle on teenage skin contain drying alcohol and pore-blocking silicones and petrochemicals? Using these pore-clogging ingredients not only covers your skin in cling film but also upsets the balance of your skin.
Finding gentle and effective skincare products for teenagers who are dealing with an assortment of hormonal changes is not easy. Shopping for skincare products for teenagers can be very tricky, especially if they are dealing with skin issues such as persistent acne, excess oil, dark spots, blackheads, dryness, and the likes. Although these changes are normal, chances are teenagers are still understanding their skin type and need fast solutions to these skin issues.
Top Skin Issues That Teenagers Face
Teenagers usually struggle with a wide range of skin issues due to hormonal fluctuations, lifestyle factors, and genetic predispositions. Puberty is the number one cause of the exacerbation of these issues as it comes with increased sebum (oil) production.
This excess oil clogs pores, causes excessive shine and makes the skin appear greasy. It also contributes to the prevalence of acne, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and cysts. Let’s not forget that the aftereffects of acne such as scarring and hyperpigmentation are a whole set of skin care issues that teenagers may also need to navigate.
As a result, teenagers need to start using products with active ingredients that are safe and effective. And natural skincare products are packed full of these ingredients.
Why Natural Skincare Products Are Best For Teenage Skin
The skin, being the largest organ in our bodies, absorbs up to 60% of what we put on it. This means that it’s never too soon to create a skincare routine that includes natural skincare products for teenage skin.
Despite these, we understand that shopping for skincare can be complicated for anyone at any life stage, especially with the noise of social media marketing in this age. As a result, teenagers in particular who are mostly targeted by the endless TikTok trending routines can be easily convinced to try products that contain ingredients that may be harmful to their tender skin.
So, how can teenagers sift through the particularly popular skincare brands on Instagram and TikTok that have aesthetically pleasing packaging, to find products that are suited to teenage skin? We are here to make this important decision-making process easier.
When Teenagers Should Start A Skincare Routine
Puberty doesn’t start at the same time for everyone and skin types vary with everyone, As a result, there is no consensus on the exact age when teenagers should start establishing a skincare routine. Despite this, dermatologists usually advise that healthy skincare habits and routines be introduced as early as 9 years old. This is because this is usually the period when many children engage in physical activities like sports, dance and other athletics activities. A skincare routine that’s established early enough can help to reduce the potential for skin issues that are caused by sweat-clogged pores.
The Best Skincare Routine For Teenage Skin
Generally, a good skincare routine for teenagers should include a gentle cleansing product, a lightweight moisturising product and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30+. Pair that routine with a skincare habit that can be as simple as showering daily and washing your face twice a day and you’ve got a winner. That’s all that your skin needs at this stage.
- Step 1: Gentle Cleanser
- Step 2: Any recommended treatment products
- Step 3: Moisturiser
- Step 4: Sunscreen
That said, you should avoid anything that contains retinol or exfoliating acids and scrubs unless a doctor expressly prescribes it. Why? Because those types of products are formulated for mature skin (to help speed up skin cell turnover) and can be extremely irritating and damaging to the skin barrier of teenage skin.
The consensus from most dermatologists is for teenagers to use gentle, skin-barrier-loving ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, and sunscreen. For teenagers with particular skin issues, it is recommended to include gentle products that target such issues.
Treating Particular Skincare Issues For Teenagers
If you’re dealing with breakouts, use cleansing products that contain acne-fighting ingredients that gently exfoliate the skin, oil-free moisturising products, and non-greasy sunscreen will help. A pimple patch can also help protect the skin barrier and prevent face-picking that’s typical with teenagers.
If you have hyperpigmentation or acne-prone skin, you can incorporate other skincare products into your daily regimen. Add an acne serum with pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid, hydrating ingredients like niacinamide, and brightening ingredients like Vitamin C to treat dark spots.
Have oily skin? Try adding a toner which can gently exfoliate and remove residue. If you are an older teenager (16 years +), retinoids will help to regulate your oil production, improve cell turnover, decrease inflammation, and prevent scarring.
That said, we’ve rounded up a list of the best natural skincare products that are safer for teenage skin.
Natural Skincare Products For Cleansing Teenage Skin
Along with combatting issues such as acne as a result of hormonal changes, pollution is also a reason to start skincare young as teenagers’ skin is exposed to various pollutants, making a proper skincare routine crucial to cleanse the skin of dirt and pollutants.
Adequate cleansing is crucial for preventing bacteria from accumulating on the surface of your skin while preparing it to absorb moisture and necessary ingredients. The best cleansing products for teenage skin should be gentle and include ingredients that promote moisture retention, and help the skin stay soft and hydrated while removing dirt, oil and other impurities. Some great natural products for cleansing teenage skin are:
This pack of gentle cleansing soaps includes sample sizes of Kanda’s Charcoal, Tea, Rose, and Neem soaps. You get the opportunity to try four different soaps and decide which one you like the most. The sample sizes are also great for those who want to sample the soaps without buying the bigger sizes.
Made with the highly nourishing and moisturizing Ghee (known as Man Shanu in Northern Nigeria), the Ghee Soap is rich in omega 3,6 and 9, and contains vitamins A, D, E and K which gives the skin a rich luxurious and healthy feel. It is an everyday soap that gently cleanses the skin to reveal your skin’s natural glow and is great for skin of all ages.
Other great gentle cleansing soaps for teenage skin are the Lavender, Mint and Baobab soaps.
Natural Skincare Products For Moisturising Teenage Skin
Moisturising helps to lock much-needed moisture in the skin and this is necessary for whenever you bathe or just wash your face. The ideal moisturiser for teenage skin should promote proper skin hydration and help balance your skin’s microbiome, leading to fewer acne breakouts and less inflammation.
To achieve this, your moisturiser should contain rich, fortifying ingredients that deeply penetrate the skin barrier. To achieve this, we recommend using moisturising balms because they include natural ingredients that penetrate the skin and treat varying skin issues from within. A great natural product for moisturising teenage skin is:
The Shea Body Balm is made with mild, nutty, and woody-scented shea butter that locks in hydration and keeps the skin soft, supple, and moisturized. It is full of anti-bacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can protect and nourish your skin.
Sunscreen For Protecting Teenage Skin
You must round up your skincare routine with sunscreen. Religiously apply it on your face daily! Why? Because the sun gives off harsh UV rays that can cause damage to your skin, making it dry, unbalanced, and reflecting the signs of ageing earlier. So, apply it and reapply it as often as possible when you’re outdoors in the sun.
Other Tips for Treating Teenage Skin
As you shop for the best natural skincare products for your teenage skin and implement a skincare routine that enforces the benefits of the natural ingredients in these products, you should also:
- Decrease your intake of sugary and processed foods, get enough sleep, and drink enough water.
- Be consistent in using the products and routines that work for you. Be consistent in using sunscreen and moisturising after every wash.
Kanda soaps, balms, and oils work together to balance your skin and give you a naturally gorgeous complexion and skin texture. You may not see results overnight when you start using natural skincare products, but in a couple of months, you’re bound to see a difference. Lastly, consult your doctor to review your persistent skincare concerns, and to recommend prescription-strength treatment that’s tailored to your individualised skin type.