Teenage years are full of change and unfortunately for many teens, their skin shows these changes - from blackheads to breakouts, oily skin, sensitivity, these are all the common concerns we tackle when we are treating and educating teenagers about their skin. Over the years, I have come to see some common areas we need to help teenagers with around their basic home care habits:

1. Cleanse the skin morning and double cleanse the skin at night to remove sweat, oil, dirt and make up that is on our skin. This is especially important for the teenage girls wearing makeup.

2. Moisturise morning and night.  I often hear of teenagers avoiding moisturiser because their skin already feels oily. If we don't moisturise a skin, oil flow can increase to help compensate for the lack of moisturising on the skin. Even with this oil, our skin needs to be protected and kept hydrated and an oil-free moisturiser will fit best.

3. Avoid touching your face. Our hands come in to contact with so much during the day and the last thing we want to see is this dirt, bacteria etc to be transferred to the face.

4. Sporting Caps are a tricky one because we want to make sure their faces are protected from the sun however the sweat and oil and continual wear can create unwanted congestion and breakouts on the forehead area. Have a few caps that can be rotated and washed regularly to help with this.

5. A diet full of fresh fruit and veges and omega-3's will ensure they are giving their bodies the essential vitamins and minerals. This will all impact the skin. Teenagers love fast food, the soft drinks and sugar and all of us will notice changes in our skin if we have these eating habits on a daily basis (not just the teens). High levels of sugars and saturated fats can spike insulin levels which cause an increase in skin oils which contribute to the clogging of follicles... which then has an effect on the skin's complexion.

When taking care of teenage skin, we want to make sure the products they are using are targeting the common concerns for them plus, not too aggressive as their skin is so young.

Dermalogica's Clear Start range was created by the skin health experts at Dermalogica and perfect for teens and tweens age group. This is a skin care system of powerful, technology-driven formulas that deliver fast-acting, multitasking results for breakout-prone skin. Formulated without artificial fragrances or colours, Clear Start™ combines the best of science with nature to fight breakouts without stripping the skin. Every product contains active breakout-fighting ingredients and soothing natural botanicals that keep skin clear, hydrated and balanced.

It is simple, easy and effective and it's also fun, take a look...

For everyone, cleansing is the most important step in our home care routine. Cleansing every morning with the Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash and following with the Micro-Pore Mist helps cleanse the skin ready for the day. Most importantly we need to double cleanse at night - the first cleanse will remove dirt, oil, grime and the second cleanse will ensure the skin is left thoroughly clean.

Having clear skin is high on the list of must-haves with teenagers and their skin. Whilst the cell turnover is high in a teenage skin, we want to make sure the follicles are kept clear as this will increase the impactions which lead into the formation of breakouts. Salicylic Acid is a fantastic ingredient as it helps dissolve the debris in the follicles and increases the skin natural exfoliation process. Its gentle yet effective approach keeps teenage skin smooth and clear!

So many teens aren't moisturising their skin because "it makes my skin oilier and its already oily". The truth is without moisturiser, our oil flow increases to help compensate for the lack of moisture on our skin.

To get your teen started with a Kit, check out the Clear Start Breakouts Clearing Kit.

Still need guidance? We are here to help you and your teens with their skin. We offer complimentary Online Skin Consultations via email, Zoom and phone so reach out and one of our Skin Experts will be happy to help.