Tween and Teen Skincare: What do they really need?

Finding good skincare for a teenager can be difficult, especially when you have no idea where to start! If that sounds like the dilemma you are in, hopefully this article can help.

Sephora Kids:

It’s hard to discuss skincare for the tweens and teens without discussing the “Sephora Kids”. If you don’t already know, “Sephora Kids” are younger teens and tweens that have essentially been let loose at Sephora with zero parental supervision. Now, this doesn’t necessarily sound bad until you hear all of the horror stories from employees and other (usually adult) customers. A lot of these kids are running around destroying sample products and apparently now products that people are supposed to buy. Throwing what is basically a hissy fit in the stores if other customers don’t hand over a product that is in their hand/basket that the child wants. Screaming and in general just being rude and bratty if their parents won’t buy them almost $1000 worth in products. All of the culminated makes a very bad shopping experience for other customers, and quite frankly I am a little scared to step foot in Sephora the next time one of my perfumes runs out! This isn’t to say that every kid in Sephora is bad, however enough are causing an issue to the point that it is making employee’s lives miserable while they are at work.

So why are ten year-olds in Sephora anyways? TikTok and social media in general has started to gain a younger and younger audience over the years, and we are seeing the results of that. It seems like those awkward tween and teen years where we all had braces, had very… let’s call it unique fashion sense, and had zero clue how to properly apply makeup are gone. Kids are being pressured to look and act much older than they actually are, and part of that is being influenced to buy skincare that is not appropriate for their age. Drunk Elephant and Glow Recipe are currently the trending brands on social media, and these literal children are now flocking to Sephora to pick them up. Both brands have great packaging and a lot of people enjoy their products so I absolutely understand the social media hype around them as well. Having never tried their products however, I can’t speak to how effective they are. What I can speak to is how inappropriate these brands are for younger skin.

Both brands contain a lot of actives in each of their products, actives that are not necessary for such young skin. By using these products so young, I can almost guarantee that when these kids grow up they are going to be dealing with a lot of skin issues.

If not Sephora, then where?

Okay, you get it, just another skincare blogger ranting about how awful Sephora is for younger teens. So where in the world can you find good skincare then?! You absolutely can find good skincare for your tween or teen at Sephora, but I wouldn’t say those brands are necessary. If your child has a skin condition like acne, eczema, or psoriasis there may actually be a few beneficial brands at Sephora that you can try. What you want to look for are products with gentle ingredients. No exfoliating acids, no retinol, and there really isn’t a need for Vitamin C either. If you are not wanting to spend half of your life savings on skincare for your child that has minimal to no skin issues, CeraVe and Aveeno are great brands to give a try. What you choose from these brands is going to depend on where your child’s skin is at, but the cost to entry is much lower and bonus, you can find them while you do your regular grocery shopping. As great as it would be to get your child on expensive skincare right from the start, it isn’t necessary and quite frankly isn’t manageable for most parents. If however, you are able to afford expensive skincare, go to a med spa or esthetician that specializes in skincare. I have priced it out, Sephora skincare is more expensive over time than professional skincare, and professional skincare will be more beneficial for your child’s skin as long as you are using a good brand.

What to look for:

So we are avoiding most Sephora skincare, potentially going to a med spa or esthetician for advice, but if you aren’t seeing a professional, where do you start?

We somewhat already discussed this, but to reiterate, you want gentle skincare for your tween or teen. There is no reason for someone so young to be using exfoliating acids, retinols, or things like vitamin C if they do not have any skin issues. If your child has severe acne, there may be a need to use something like retinol, but in that case please go to a dermatologist so you can have proper guidance! Realistically, all you need before you are in your mid twenties is a good cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Your cleanser should be fairly gentle, and don’t forget to get an oil or balm cleanser to remove the makeup/ sunscreen before doing the main cleanse in the evening. Moisturizer should be pretty basic as well, think lightweight or sensitive skin, and a broad spectrum SPF 30+ should round out the routine.

Why shouldn’t my tween/ teen use actives?

I absolutely understand the allure of using anti-aging skincare. The earlier they start the better right? Unfortunately this isn’t the case with an active age management routine and can actually cause problems in the long run. Most active age management routines are designed to encourage cellular turnover and collagen production, neither of which tweens and teens need. For the most part, this is the prime for their skin! Starting a heavy hitting age management routine that early just isn’t necessary and may lead to over sensitized skin by the time they actually should be starting an age management routine.

But wait my child has acne!

If your child has acne, I want you to take everything I said about no acids or retinols and throw it out the window! I know, I know, I’m sorry! But just like you shouldn’t be using the same routine your 13 year old has, 13 year-olds with acne shouldn’t be using the same routine as their counterpart that has clear skin. Teens with acne will still only be doing a three to four step routine, just make sure their products are targeted to their skin’s needs. Look for a cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, a lightweight moisturizer, and finish the morning off with broad spectrum SPF 30+. In the evening an oil or balm cleanser to get rid of any makeup/ sunscreen, followed by the salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide cleanser, then a retinol (consider going to a dermatologist for this!) and finish with a lightweight moisturizer.

At the end of the day your child’s skincare routine should be tailored to their needs, and try to make it an enjoyable experience for them so that they are consistent with it.