Is Your Teen Asking You About Skincare? Start Here

As a qualified dermal therapist, teen and tween skincare is a topic I could talk about all day – in fact, I kind of already do.

We were all once teens as well, so I totally understand the pressure on 12-16-year-olds to have all the latest beauty products and gadgets because all of their friends have them, or the influencers they follow use them (who are most likely not in their teens).

Surely some of you reading this remember how cool it was to wear Roxy and Dobson’s or Trigger tracksuit pants? Ah, how times have changed.

I don’t think we should be discouraging teens/tweens from having an interest in skincare, our skin is our largest organ after all, and if it means they’re going to wear daily sunscreen at a young age, then I’m here for it.

But what is absolutely not required on teen/tween skin are active, resurfacing ingredients in their skincare.

Luckily, Adore Beauty has just launched both a teen category to shop from, as well as skincare brand tbh, known for their host of effective, acne-targeted products.

BTW we have a video on this exact topic if you're more of a watch person than a read person:

These ingredients are simply not required for teenage skin.

Retinoids, for one (which you may know as vitamin A or retinol) are largely used for anti-ageing purposes, and when used incorrectly can cause significant irritation and barrier impairment which not only leads to concerns like dehydration but can potentially make the skin more susceptible to infection/breakouts, slowed healing and post-inflammatory scarring.

Instances of dermatitis are also common.

Our exfoliating acids like AHAs (eg glycolic acid) and BHAs (eg salicylic acid) are also not appropriate. Between 12 and 16 years old, our skin cell turnover rate averages 14-28 days – meaning cell turnover doesn’t need to be accelerated, it’s already at its peak!

Over-exfoliating can lead to similar concerns as mentioned above.

Vitamin C, especially formulas containing high concentrations of L-ascorbic acid, may also be overstimulating on teen skin and cause irritation, redness and inflammation.

Cleanser, moisturiser, SPF. It’s that simple.

If the teen in your life insists on serums, some popular ingredients that are generally appropriate for teen skin include hyaluronic acid (hydrating, not resurfacing), niacinamide (barrier-supporting, hydrating, oil-balancing) and ceramides (hydrating, barrier supporting).

If your teen/tween is experiencing skin concerns like acne or congestion (like blackheads, closed comedones), discussing their concerns with an expert like a dermatologist or dermal therapist is key.

We can advise on appropriate ingredients, products and treatments that would be suited to their skin, and ensure we are supporting barrier function at the same time to mitigate any irritation or damage.

Say we’ve got a teen who’s experiencing some oiliness through the T-zone, a few blackheads here and there, and they’re actively trying to prevent closed comedones on their forehead (aka a pretty common teenage skin I deal with in my teen consults).

I’ve often recommended products from tbh for my own clients, so let’s pick out a few of their products for this example below:

Cleanser: tbh Skincare acne hack anti-bacterial cleanser 125mL

Ensuring the skin is effectively cleansed morning and night in an oilier, congestion-prone skin is really important, but we don’t want to completely strip the skin – this is a mistake a lot of people make and they end up in a vicious cycle of barrier impairment and worsening breakouts.

This creamy cleanser by tbh offers antibacterial properties, without the use of potentially drying ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, making it an excellent gentle option for teens to use morning and night.

Moisturiser: tbh Skincare thirst trap face moisturiser 100mL

Moisturisers often ignite fear in anyone who’s breakout-prone, but keeping the skin hydrated, even when you’re oilier, is critical.

Designed for combination to oily skin, this affordable moisturiser provides lightweight hydration with ingredients like squalane, vitamin E and glycerin, ensuring barrier function is well-supported.

It can be used as an AM and PM moisturiser and layers well under both sunscreen and makeup.

The biggest bonus is that it’s priced under $35 (don’t let your teen try to tell you they need a $60 moisturiser – they don’t).

Sunscreen: tbh Skincare skin shady SPF50+ face moisturiser 100mL

Once again designed with teen skin in mind, this SPF50+ moisturising sunscreen with a matte finish is ideal for combination to oily skins. Enriched with vitamin E and glycerin, it offers broad-spectrum protection and doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin.

I couldn’t talk about tbh without also mentioning their hero product, which is of course the tbh Skincare acne hack spot treatment 30mL

This spot treatment is unlike most others as it doesn’t contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, it’s a patented antibacterial complex that helps to treat and prevent breakouts without drying out the skin. This would also be appropriate to use on teen skin where required.

Tbh isn't just for teens though, we love it for all ages! Watch the below video for more info:

So, I invite you to start memorising the contents of this article ahead of your next trip to the shops, so you can recite it as you pull your teenager away from the enticing walls of skincare at your local shopping centre.

And feel free to browse the products in the teen category, curated by Adore Beauty’s team.