We’re as passionate about teen and tween body-care as we are about skincare. So, we love it when you ask us questions! And the truth is, some queries come up again and again…
So, we thought we’d put your most popular body questions - and our answers - in one place. Along with the products that we recommend.
Is my 8-year-old too young for Deodorant?
We get asked this question several times a week. Along with questions about how safe it is for young tweens to use deodorant. The parent is obviously surprised that their child has started to have body odour and a little worried about what to do. It’s true, most 8-year-olds don’t have any need for a deodorant, but it’s not uncommon for tweens to have body odour long before other signs of puberty appear (it’s caused by their apocrine sweat glands beginning to wake up). So, the answer is no, if your child is beginning to smell sweaty, they are not too young for deodorant!
The interesting part is their sweatiness will often be intermittent. They’ll be stinky one day and smelling like a flower the next. Either way, when odour appears, it’s normal and fixable with proper washing of armpits and a gentle deodorant. By gentle, we mean natural and definitely aluminium-free. The best scenario: use a deodorant actually formulated for young armpits, like our All-Natural Deodorant stick or our NEW All-Natural Deodorant Balm. That’s because adult deodorants, and particularly anti-perspirant deodorants, often contain harsh chemicals that we think are unsuitable for children to wear daily.
Our NEW All-Natural Deodorant Balm is gentle and effective on young skin
How can I encourage my 13-year-old son to wash regularly?
Teen boys and showering…we know it can be a challenge! But, once puberty hits, skipping or rushing the shower or bath doesn’t cut it anymore. Teen boy bodies have to be washed properly if they want to avoid being stinky.
We’ve written a whole blog post about getting teen boys to shower, but here are the highlights:
- Have a quiet chat with him about why washing regularly might be a good idea. Lots of boys are completely unaware that they’ve started to smell.
- Make sure he knows what proper washing involves. What parts of his body need special attention and how much product to use to be effective.
- Buy him his own products! Products that look and smell like they’re made for him. A body wash and shampoo are a good start (even better if one product does BOTH like our Clean Team Shampoo & Body Wash).
- Try to encourage a daily routine. Having a routine isn’t just great for how he smells. Studies show that doing anything regularly and daily is a game-changer for productivity, creativity and mental health.
What is the bumpy ‘chicken skin’ on my tween’s arms and legs?
Its official name is Keratosis Pilaris. It is a genetic and very common skin condition that seems to flare up when children hit puberty. It can also appear on their cheeks. You can leave KP, as it’s known, completely alone, as it’s harmless. But if it’s itchy, or making your tween/teen self-conscious, there are things you can do to keep it at bay.
Keratosis Pilaris is caused by an excess of keratin - a protective skin protein - that builds up and plugs the hair follicles. So, anything that helps exfoliate and gently removes those plugs will make a difference. That might be regular rubbing with a flannel to remove dead skin cells. Or using a topical exfoliator, particularly one that contains a superstar exfoliator like Salicylic Acid. The products to use? Our Gentle Exfoliating Liquid rubbed onto skin with a cotton pad or nightly washing with our Anti-Blemish Body will be very effective as both contain Salicylic Acid, which breaks down the excess keratin plugging the hair follicles.
Moisturising will also help Keratosis Pilaris - the more hydrating the cream the better (but look for one that says it’s non-comedogenic, which means it won’t block the pores). Our Brilliant Body Lotion is specially formulated for teen and tween skin with its antioxidant-rich plant oils, like Jojoba and Evening Primrose oil, to soothe, balance and moisturise delicate, teenage skin. It also has Witch Hazel and Lavender to reduce inflammation and zap bacteria.
Our 94% natural Anti-Blemish Body Wash zaps body acne and bumps while it cleans teen and tween skin.
What’s the best way to get rid of body acne?
Almost everyone going through puberty gets body acne in some shape or form. It’s annoying, embarrassing and it can be painful. The good news? It’s very treatable with the right products and the right changes to your daily routine.
Follow these simple steps and you’ll see a difference in a couple of weeks:
- Wash off that sweat! - Showering or bathing morning and night - and always after sport - is essential if you want a blemish-free body.
- Wear clean clothes - Bacteria likes sitting on dirty, sweaty clothes, so wash and change regularly any clothes and sports kit that sit close to your skin
- Wash your sheets and towels - left on or used for more than a week, towels and bed linen are a breeding ground for bacne causing bacteria.
- Exfoliate gently - body acne is caused by a build up of dead skin cells and oil that clog pores. Gently rubbing your skin with a clean flannel when you wash will help clear off that dead skin and sebum. Even more effective, use a body wash with Salicylic Acid - like our Anti-Blemish Body Wash - which can get deep into pores, downsize blemishes and leave acne-prone backs smoother and clearer.
When should my daughter start to shave?
There are no strict rules for when girls should start to shave. Puberty, and the hair growth that goes with it, can start as early as 8 or as late as 15 or 16. The most important thing: whether your tween/teen removes their body hair is totally up to them. They don’t have to shave just because their friends are doing it or you think they should. Our only piece of advice on timing is to make sure they are old enough to handle a razor safely. Oh, and make sure they are using a gentle, unscented shaving product and not a foam (which will dry their skin) like our Gentle Shaving Balm.
What’s can be done about the dry patches on my son’s body?
Dry patches seem to be common on tween and young teen bodies and are caused by a variety of things: hormonal shifts that alter the skin barrier function; environmental factors like dry air and cold weather; and over-washing with harsh soaps. As well as not quite growing out of childhood skin conditions like eczema. Easy fixes are switching to gentle, sulphate-free washes, which leave the skin balanced and soothed and taking shorter and not-so-hot baths. Moisturising straight after bathing will lock in moisture (take a look at our Brilliant Body Lotion). And using super-hydrating balms, like our Super Balm or Arnica Balm, to spot treat the driest areas.
You can find more advice on Teen and tween bodies, skin and hair in our Skin School and shop our Body products, specially formulated for young skin here.
