The best teen skincare routine – a medical guide

Help your teen choose the right products

As a parent, you may be wondering how you can help your teen build a safe skincare routine, having likely been faced with so many articles and social media accounts suggesting different routines! It can be confusing, so let’s here break it down for you in a guide that's created and verified by luna's team of medics 🙏

During puberty, the oil glands (called sebaceous glands) become more active and start to produce more oil (sebum). A build-up of sebum in the skin can lead to blocked pores and encourage the growth of harmful bacteria, resulting in acne.

A simple skincare routine should do three things:

• Cleanse
• Moisturise
• Provide sun protection

These three steps help maintain a healthy skin balance to prevent acne, acne marks, and sun damage. There are, of course, other things to consider like exfoliators, spot treatments, toners, and serums, but ultimately figuring out the best skincare routine will involve some trial and error and a teen shouldn't overload their skin too soon. This can cause more harm than good.

For teens influenced by viral beauty advice that may be doing harm, this resource on navigating TikTok skincare trends provides practical guidance.

Step 1: splash – this is your cleanse

A good facial cleanser is gentle with non-irritating ingredients to carefully wash away any excess dirt or oil. Encourage your teen to use a gentle cleanser in the morning and at night, making sure to gently lather it in circular motions on the skin.

Tips for choosing a cleanser...

• Look for cleansers labelled:

  • Hypoallergenic (doesn’t cause allergies)
  • Non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores)

• Avoid cleansers with:

  • Words like “scrub” as this is often too harsh for the skin
  • Fragrance, if possible, as this can be mildly irritating
  • A stripping feeling – if the skin feels tight and dry after cleansing, this is a sign that the cleanser may be too harsh and is stripping the skin of its natural oils

Step 2: slather – this is your moisturiser

The next step is a hydrating moisturiser to help replenish the skin after cleansing. Your teen should use a pea-sized amount of moisturiser every morning and evening after cleansing. Look for a moisturiser that is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. Avoid moisturisers with fragrance as it can lead to irritation.

Step 3: sun cream – this is your protection

Sun cream is an essential step in the morning as the sun’s rays can cause sun damage and premature skin ageing. It might sound unnecessary in less sunny climates, but the sun's rays are strong regardless of the weather. Additionally, sunlight can darken any pigmentation already present on the skin, meaning if your teen has acne that leaves dark marks, skipping sun cream means the marks take longer to fade away.

Tips for choosing sun cream:

• SPF: make sure it is at least SPF 30 with broad spectrum coverage, meaning it has both UVA and UVB protection
• Non-oily options: look for non-oily sun creams for acne-prone skin
• Higher SPF: if your teen has fair skin or skin that tends to burn rather than tan, go for SPF 50 for better protection

Ultimately, the best protection is staying out of the sun, but if your teen does choose to stay in the rays, ensure they have the right skin protection on their face and body to prevent damage.

Following this simple 3-step skincare routine should help keep your teen's skin balanced and healthy.

If your teen has any other skin concerns that are not improving, it is best to visit a pharmacist in the first instance to get tailored help and guidance.

And if you notice your teen becoming overly critical of their appearance due to skincare challenges, this guide on spotting low self-esteem in teenagers may help.

Why not support your teen with a luna subscription?

Our app, luna, has dedicated advice on this topic which can help them feel more empowered through adolescence.

You can think of luna as a modern, digital approach to wellbeing – it’s cost-effective, verified by doctors and safeguarding experts, and has a direct line into the biggest concerns facing teens today – so it’s actually addressing what they need advice on, when they need it.

If you’ve been looking for an antidote to the misinformation and negativity shared on social media or forums, you can get luna for your teen via our luna premium page for the price of a coffee each month or manage their subscription by downloading luna yourself and signing up as a parent (it's "we are luna" in app stores).