Most of us believe at least one skincare myth. But learning what is fact and what is fiction in skincare is important, particularly where teen/tween skin is concerned. Getting it wrong can be the difference between good skin and unhappy skin.
That’s why, at Spots & Stripes, we're passionate about busting skincare myths and educating teens and tweens (and their parents!), so they understand how unique their skin is and learn how to look after it properly.
Here are some common teen skin myths and why we think they need to be busted:
ADULT PRODUCTS ARE SUITABLE FOR TEENS/TWEENS
Nope. Adult products, even those for sensitive skin, often contain ingredients - or levels of ingredients - that can irritate, overload and upset the balance of tween/teen skin. More worrying still, chemicals in traditional skincare and personal care can act as hormone disruptors, which is not good news for girls, in particular, entering puberty. And listen to this: until the age of 12, children’s skin is six times more susceptible to synthetic chemical penetration from haircare, skincare and bathing products. Scary. And enough of a reason to be particularly careful about what you allow on their skin - the same way you were when they were babies.
(There’s also the fact that many tweens/teens simply don’t want to use a product they’ve seen in their Mum and Dad’s bathroom. They’re an opinionated generation. They want their own stuff!).
TEEN SKINCARE ROUTINES NEEDS 7 STEPS
Absolutely not. We tell parents to keep tween and teen skincare routines as simple as possible. You might use six-plus products in your routine - and TikTok might encourage them to do the same - but a tween/teen really only needs two or three max. What are they?
- A very gentle cleansing lotion that cleans their skin, but leaves it soothed and completely balanced.
- A light moisturiser that won’t overload their skin.
- If they are beginning to get a few breakouts, a spot treatment that won’t dry out their skin.
Their skin is so naturally well-balanced that tweens and young teens might not even need a moisturiser, if they are using the right cleanser (and lots of dermatologists agree)! So, forget the serums and toners and all the other steps and stuff that aren’t needed and could irritate their young skin. Get the right cleanser, a simple moisturiser and a good spot zapper and they are sorted! (To make it easier for you, we have various combinations here. Our favourite basics are the Starter Skincare Set and The Glow Kit.)
ACNE PRODUCTS NEED TO DRY OUT THE SKIN TO WORK
Wrong. Even when you are spotty, you need to use gentle products. And the important word here is ‘gentle’. Teen/tween skin is still so delicate and child-like that you can't start hitting it with the big guns, even if it is misbehaving. That rules out any spot products that leaves the skin around the spot tight-feeling and dry. Why? Because if your skin feels that way, it’s irritated. Irritated skin produces more sebum and guess what that means? Yep, more spots!
It also rules out products with too many actives. While certain actives are going to help acne prone skin, if they’re used properly (ie Salicylic Acid), overdoing it on the actives - like Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Retinol - will irritate most tween/young teen’s skin, despite what TikTok tells you.
FOAMING FACE WASHES ARE BEST FOR TEEN SKIN
We don’t think so. Here’s why: foaming cleansers have traditionally used surfactants to clean the skin (it’s the surfactant that creates the foam). Surfactants are truly excellent at removing dirt, grease and sweat from the skin, but they can also strip away the skin’s natural oils, upset its moisture barrier and alter the skin’s natural pH. The result: dryness, irritation and inflammation (you’ll know this is happening if your skin feels ‘tight’ and looks shiny after cleansing). And a worsening of any skin conditions like acne, eczema or rosacea.
True, foaming cleansers have moved on a lot. And the best ones don’t use the harshest kind of surfactant (aka Sodium Lauryl sulphate or SLS). But they still foam and even with gentle surfactants, it’s very easy to upset the delicate balance of teen/tween skin. Our advice? Choose lotion or balm cleansers, which clean thoroughly without the use of foaming surfactants and often include soothing and moisturising ingredients to boost the skin barrier and calm any irritation.
IF YOUR SKIN IS OILY, YOU DON’T NEED TO MOISTURISE
Incorrect! It’s true that teen/tween skin is naturally well balanced and that, left to its own devices it doesn’t need a lot of extra hydration. But everything from cold weather, to too much sun, or harsh cleansing and anti-acne products that strip and dry, can upset that balance, even when the skin produces a lot of oil. That’s where moisturisers come in. Skip the moisturiser completely and your dehydrated skin will produce more sebum as it tries to protect your skin barrier.
The key, when your skin is oily, is to choose the right moisturiser. Look for one that’s light - gel or water cream moisturisers are perfect and delicious to use. Opt for one that contains ingredients that will protect your precious skin barrier (glycerine and hyaluronic acid are two) and check that it’s non-comedogenic - that means it contains no ingredients that will block your pores or aggravate your acne.
You can find out more about our Skincare, specially formulated for teen and tween skin here. And find answers to your questions about all things teen/tween skin, hair and bodies in our Skin School.
