Do's and Don'ts for ALL Skin Types: How to Create a Simple & Affordable Teen Skincare Routine
The topic of today's blog post is a teen skincare routine. Remember when we were younger and our skin was baby-soft and clear, then BAM! High school begins with raging hormones, and our faces are suddenly covered in these strange little juicy lumps.
Oh...acne!
We're probably all baffled and unsure what to do with it, and how to get it back to normal. Am I using too many products? What do I actually need? Why does my face sting? Do I need to exfoliate? What are AHAs and BHAs? Are these components too strong? What is all this gibberish?
The truth is that we don't need all of these toxic substances and high-end skincare products in our bathrooms. You'll be fine if you learn to take care of the fundamentals. "Can you tell me what the fundamentals are?"
This is precisely what we'll be discussing in today's post.
Biology of Teen Skin
We'll start with biology because it's crucial to understand what's generating these changes in our skin in the first place, and then we'll dive into the key causes and triggers of teen acne. We'll also go through everything you'll need for a simple yet effective teen skincare routine, as well as some popular and affordable products.
Skin Layers
The epidermis and dermis are the two primary layers of our skin, and they both serve different purposes to maintain our skin looking happy and healthy.
Epidermis:
Our physical eyes view the epidermis, which is the outermost layer. It may appear strange, but what we see are a lot of dead skin cells that are constantly shedding all over our body.
Cell turnover is a natural exfoliation process that helps to push up and develop new skin by removing the top layer of dead skin. The cell turnover of an adolescent is like a well-oiled machine that never stops turning! However, as we get older, the rate of cell turnover slows down, especially in our 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond. What difference does it make?
When it comes to the vitality of our skin, shedding is crucial, which explains why your lovely teenage faces are plumper and less dull without even trying.
Dermis:
Collagen and elastin, two extremely specialized and powerful proteins that work together to give you that youthful plumpness we've been talking about, are found in the dermis. Fortunately, you teenagers still have accelerated production of both collagen and elastin, so you can wake up every day looking like you've lived forever.
Also, while you're a teen, your skin is the thickest, and since it's so thick and resilient, you can better defend yourself from accidents, invading substances, and other environmental variables. However, even if we have youth and plumpness on our side, some of us can develop pimples, breakouts, or acne, which can appear everywhere and anywhere. You name it: cheeks, chin, forehead, etc.
What Is Acne and Why Does It Exist?
Hair follicles cover half of your skin, from the dermis to the epidermis. Sebaceous glands create sebum, an oily substance that moisturizes the hair and skin, within these follicles. Your pores can get clogged as a result of an excess of sebum combined with a buildup of dead skin cells and dirt, triggering an inflammatory response and, in rare cases, bacteria, resulting in a swollen infected area around the follicle. It'll be over before you know it! It's a pimple!
So, before you freak out and shut yourself off from the rest of the world, know that teen acne is very common, especially at this age. But why is it the case?
One word... Hormones!
When adolescents go through puberty, their hormones, or androgens, skyrocket. The sebaceous or oil glands swell at least several times their normal size as a result of the hormone surge. This causes an increase in sebum production, which can lead to blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts in the future.
While hormones play an important part, there's also the extra layer of stress. Stress creates inflammation in the body, which can make existing pimples even more inflamed, lengthening the time it takes for pimples to heal, which isn't good.
Acne is brought on by a variety of causes, one of which is heredity. If multiple members of your family suffer from acne, you're more likely to have the condition yourself. It's not because you inherited a specific gene, but because you might have oily skin or immunological responses that trigger more frequent breakouts.
Let's talk about what you probably clicked on this site for now that we know the foundations of what makes up naturally youthful skin:
How to Build a Skincare Routine?
There are three key points to remember:
1. When it comes to skincare, more isn't always better, and this is true for everyone (not just teenagers).
2. Find out what your skin type is genetically so you can design a routine from there.
3. Figure out what works best for you, which is crucial.
Nighttime Schedule
No matter how old you are, cleaning is the most vital step in any skincare routine. The last thing you want to do is go to bed with a layer of oil, sweat, filth, grit, and bacteria on your face. You should select a better choice. To different skin types, gentle means different things.
If you have dry skin, for example, you should avoid cleansers with an overpowering perfume or fragrance. You should also look at the consistency and choose a milky, gel, or creamy cleanser rather than a foaming cleanser because they are far more nutritious to the skin.
Gentle cleansers for oily skin, on the other hand, can signify a lot of various things. Foaming cleansers perform significantly better for oily skin types to remove excess sebum build-up, especially because teen cell turnover is extremely fast.
If you have oily skin, make sure you cleanse thoroughly so your pores don't become clogged and cause outbreaks. To help break down any additional junk in the pores, consider mild cleansers with salicylic acid.
Look for non-comedogenic products, which are formulated in such a manner that they won't clog pores, which is another piece of advice for all skin types. We feel that you don't need to use any scrubs (physical exfoliants) on your sensitive skin because it already does the job.
When it comes to how often you should wash your face, the general rule is that you should wash your face once in the morning and once at night. If you have dry skin, you can skip the morning cleanse and just use your moisturizer instead.
It's best to get into the habit of cleansing twice a day, as recommended if you have oilier skin.
Cleansers:
For normal and dry skin, I recommend the following products:
For Dry Skin
1. One of my favorite oil-based cleansers is The Ordinary Squalene Cleanser. It's incredibly moisturizing while also being non-stripping.
2. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin
3. My all-time fave is KraveBeauty's Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser.
4. Hydrating Gentle Cleanser for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin by La Roche Posay
For Oily Skin
Now, here are some cleanser suggestions for those with oily skin.
1. CeraVe's Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser
2. CeraVe's Foaming Cleanser for Oily Skin
3. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Oily Skin
4. La Roche Posay's Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser
We're extremely fortunate while we're young since our skin and bodies already do a lot of the job for us. So, all you have to do is offer a little assistance. Protect and prevent your skin by nourishing it.
If you have dry skin, you probably already know that even a drop of water contacts your face, giving you that incredibly tight and slightly taut feeling, therefore moisturizer is a given, and it's necessary to nourish ourselves and our skin.
Moisturizers:
Moisturizers serve as a protective layer on top of your skin, preventing anything from the outside from penetrating and water from within your epidermis from escaping. It's similar to the orb that protects Wakanda from the outside world in Marvel. That's what you want for your skin.
Here are some moisturizers that are good for both normal and dry skin:
For Dry Skin:
1. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Gel Cream for Extra Dry Skin is fragrance-free and contains sodium hyaluronate, a moisturizing ingredient.
2. Calendula and chamomile extracts, both soothing to the skin, are found in Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream.
3. Oligo Hyaluronic Acid Calming Cream, which is ideal for sensitive and dry skin types and contains hyaluronic acid, which is known for its hydrating and moisturizing properties.
4. Skin & Lab's Barrierderm Intensive Cream includes fila seeds, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid to help repair the skin barrier and soothe sensitive skin.
5. Vitamins & Superfoods from Sweet Chef Moisture Boost is packed with vitamins A, B, C, and a slew of super foods including reishi mushroom, chia seeds, ginseng, and antioxidants to help soothe, nourish, and moisturize the skin.
For Oily Skin
Don't say to yourself, "I don't need to moisturize because my pores are already oozing oil." If you don't, your skin will believe it isn't getting enough nourishment and will tell your pores to produce even more oil, which isn't what we want.
Especially if you're using anti-acne solutions like over-the-counter spot treatments, drying lotions, or even prescription acne medication, all of which can be extremely damaging to the skin. You want to select a mild moisturizer that can nourish and soothe your skin.
Here are some moisturizers to try if you have oily or combination skin:
1. CeraVe's PM Moisturizer, which contains ceramides and niacinamide.
2. Garnier's SkinActive Green Tea Three-in-One Face Moisturizer, which is free of silicones, parabens, and mineral oils.
3. Simple's Water Hydrating Boost Gel
4. Bliss What a Melon Hydrator
5. Earth to Skin Manuka Gel Cream, which may be used both day and night despite the fact that it is marketed as a day cream.
For Acne-Prone Skin
There are several products for acne-prone skin:
1. Differin Soothing Moisturizer, which soothes the skin while fighting acne-causing germs.
2. Effaclar Mat from La Roche Posay, which contains salicylic acid to help target excess oil.
3. Skin & Lab's Medicica Calming Cream is a mild moisturizer with Centella Asiatica, which is excellent for calming redness, irritation, and sebum production.
With all of the product recommendations I just made for dry skin, normal skin, and oily-combo skin, it's worth noting that the majority of these products may be used both day and night.
Morning Schedule
The morning routine is very much the same, except you should ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS end with sunscreen or SPF. We always tell you guys to protect your skin from the sun because we understand how important it is. Trust us when we say that the sooner you begin this process, the nicer your skin will be in the long run. I wish we could travel back in time and start applying SPF to our skin when we were younger because the sun can quickly age your skin.
Moisturizers:
Here are some of our top picks for both normal and dry skin:
For Dry Skin
1. Aveeno Protect and Hydrate SPF30, which contains a lot of antioxidants and oat, which gives the skin while also providing it with the necessary protection and moisturization.
2. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer with Broad-Spectrum SPF 30, which is perfect for average skin and comes in a small 2.5-ounce container.
For Oily and Combination Skin
When looking for a sunscreen for oily or acne-prone skin, look for one that is oil-free and non-comedogenic, since this will prevent it from becoming too greasy and clogging your pores. Here are a few of my personal favorites.
1. CeraVe's AM Facial Moisturizer, which contains SPF 30, ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, as well as ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
2. Neutrogena's Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer with SPF 50, offers a lightweight, oil-free, non-comedogenic formula that can be used as a two-in-one, although it's always best to use both moisturizer and sunscreen for solid protection.
Sunscreen for All Skin Types:
1. Purito's Centella Green Level Safe Sunscreen
2. Krave Beauty's Beet Shield with SPF 50
A brief remark here: I love Purito and Krave Beauty sunscreens, and my skin is really dry, so I think they're the best. These two products are perfect for all skin types, whether you have dry, normal, dehydrated, sensitive, oily, or acne-prone skin.
What About Exfoliation?
Chemical exfoliants help to gently lift and buff away the dead skin that could be causing breakouts, which is why I love to talk about the benefits of exfoliating in the proper method with the appropriate ingredients. But, as I mentioned earlier, during your adolescent years, your skin is practically already doing that for you. You don't want to strip your skin prematurely or be overly harsh on it, and you don't want to utilize such potent ingredients for no purpose. If you're having trouble with breakouts, search for a cleanser or moisturizer that contains salicylic acid, commonly known as BHA, to penetrate the pores and break up the bacteria that are causing the outbreaks.
One thing to keep in mind is that taking salicylic acid every day will not miraculously cure teen acne, as it is dependent on hormones as well as what you consume, such as sweets, milk, cheese, or anything else...but that's so tasty!
What If I Want to Add a Product to My Routine?
If you want to add another product to your routine, try a toner that's designed to help hydrate the skin even more, because a little hydration never hurt anyone. It's something that everyone can benefit from, regardless of age.
I didn't start using toners until I was in my early twenties. I believed I was using Aveeno's sunscreen-moisturizer. I didn't understand what I had been missing out on till after college.
A word about the serum Serums are little vials of magic that contain potent active substances to combat certain skin problems. Because you're young, serums aren't necessary because you don't really need anti-aging, and you don't have a lot of sunspots, dark circles, discoloration, or hyperpigmentation to fix. Although toners and/or moisturizers can give some hydration and moisturization, serums can also do so.
As a result, serums aren't necessary for teenagers. Save your money and invest it in a good cleanser, moisturizer, or sunscreen.
Lifestyle Tips
Being a teen isn't always simple, especially when you're dealing with bumps and marks on your face. So, to make your transition a bit simpler and set you on the right road for clear, healthy skin, here are some recommendations and suggestions.
First and foremost, stay away from any of these so-called at-home acne remedies, including those that claim to eliminate pimples overnight.
One, pimples take at least a day to heal, and two, they'll merely dry out the region and irritate the skin further.
You might be desperate and search around your house for toothpaste or lemon... whatever you can find to heal that pre-prom zit. These natural cures are merely temporary fixes that can irritate your skin more the more you rely on them, and they don't address the root of the problem. The major message here is that fast remedies usually only solve the problem on the surface. It's always best to get to the base of the problem and cure it there, rather than trying to cover it up with a band-aid, lemon juice, or toothpaste.
Makeup:
Wearing makeup is OK. Wearing makeup is perfectly acceptable. However, if you do use cosmetics, it's critical that you maintain good hygiene. Your pores and skin will appreciate you. Make sure you remove your foundation, concealer, eye shadow, mascara, and anything else you've put on your face before going to bed, even if it's only sunscreen. Just remember to cleanse your face first. It may be tempting to just pass out and grab a few additional minutes of sleep, but you won't be thrilled when you wake up the next morning with a mountain-sized zit on your face.
Wash your brushes and sponges once in a while to keep them clean and bacteria away from your face. And never, ever, ever share your makeup since nothing screams "infection!" like soiled or used goods. Of course, we should always wash our hands before putting on makeup, and even before cleansing our faces, to avoid transferring nasty bacteria from the day's worth of items we've touched to our faces. Last but not least, in order to win the war against acne, you must sometimes look within.
Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet are two solid recommendations. This involves eating your vegetables, proteins, carbs, and healthy fats, as well as enjoying a little. Don't overindulge, but if you want a cookie or a donut now and then, that's fine. Don't deprive yourself of these foods or altogether eliminate them from your diet.
Managing Stress:
Try to find ways to channel and cope with your emotional tension when it comes to stress management. Any type of physical or deep breathing activity might help you relax and get that daily boost. Working out, going for a short jog, sitting down for five seconds to just focus on your breath, or even meditating are all good options.
I believe that if I had started meditating when I was a teenager, I would be a lot more... peaceful and serene person now. With that said, if you've tried everything, changed your diet, drank plenty of water, and used very soothing and hydrating non-drying products and still can't seem to get rid of the cute but unwanted growth on your face, it's time to see a dermatologist for professional advice on what you can do for your skin.
Conclusion
To sum up everything we've just discussed, the million-dollar question is: "Do teens really need toners, serums, or exfoliators?" Nope.
In the daytime, cleansing, moisturizing, and SPF are the three most important steps. We don't need to overcomplicate things because our faces are already doing a fantastic job of working their magic in our youth.
Keep it easy and take the time to learn more about your skin at the end of the day. It will be your lifelong companion, so get to know it thoroughly.
If you have any suggestions, please share them in the comments area below!
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