Start With What’s Going In

You know my philosophy: skincare doesn’t begin and end in the bathroom. What we put into our bodies matters, too. Sometimes, the fridge and kitchen cupboards can tell us quite a bit.

Take an honest look at what your child or teenager is eating and drinking regularly:

• Lots of fast food and ultra-processed foods?
• A steady stream of refined sugar?
• Energy drinks, sodas, or too much caffeine?
• Very little whole, nutrient-dense food?
• Foods that you’ve noticed simply don’t agree with them?

This isn’t about making food scary or creating a long list of “bad” foods. It’s about teaching them early that what they eat can affect how they feel.

I think that’s such an important lesson to give kids while they’re young: some foods may taste great in the moment, but nourishing your body well gives it the nutrients it needs to function at its best. Feeling good means having the energy to play, go out with friends, play sports, go to that concert, and actually enjoy your life.

Start shifting the balance toward real food, good nutrition, and better everyday habits. Those are lessons that will serve them long after the teenage breakouts disappear.

Then Look at What’s Going on Them

Their face isn’t the only thing coming into contact with their skin every day.

Take a peek at the ingredient lists on their:

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Hair and styling products
• Makeup
• Laundry detergent

I prefer simpler, thoughtfully formulated personal-care products and, whenever possible, avoiding heavily perfumed skin and body products.

We tend to think of “skincare” as whatever is in the bottles sitting next to the bathroom sink. But everything they use regularly—from shampoo to laundry detergent—can become part of the bigger picture, especially if their skin is sensitive or easily irritated.

Find Moments to Get Them Off the Screen

Fresh air is still free.

Encourage them to move their bodies, get outside, get enough sleep—I realize that one can be a challenge with teenagers—and drink plenty of water.

If plain water is a struggle, make it more appealing. Add fruit, make an herbal iced tea, or find another low-sugar option they’ll actually drink.

None of this sounds nearly as exciting as the newest viral skincare ingredient, but these everyday habits matter. And unlike a skincare trend, they’re habits they can take with them for life.

The simple routine

If They Need Skincare, Keep It Simple

For most young skin, I’m firmly in the less-is-more camp.

Start with gentle cleansing. Our PHYTO-BIOTIC TONER can be a nice next step to leave the skin feeling fresh and hydrated without piling on unnecessary products.

Explore the Toner →

If blemishes start making an appearance, CLARIFYING SERUM may be a useful addition for breakout-prone skin.

Explore the Serum →

For older teens whose skin is ready for exfoliation, our 5X RESURFACING PEEL PADS are another option. Because these are exfoliating pads, I’d introduce them carefully and follow the product directions rather than adding them to every young person’s routine.

Explore the Peel Pads →

Their skincare needs will change as they grow. For now, simple and gentle is often just right.

And Finally: Hands Off

This is one lesson I would teach early: hands off the breakouts.

Pimples happen. Picking, poking, and squeezing can make an already irritated spot look angrier and increase the chance of lingering marks.

If their skin needs a little extra attention, this is where I love the idea of an occasional professional facial. A qualified esthetician can properly cleanse the skin, address clogged pores, and perform extractions appropriately when needed—especially during the teen years, when oil production can increase significantly.

A professional facial every few months can also become an opportunity to teach them how to care for their skin rather than making them feel self-conscious about it.

And I think that distinction matters.

We don’t want kids growing up believing that every pore, pimple, or change in their skin is a problem that needs to be “fixed.”

Young skin usually doesn’t need more. It needs consistency, good habits, gentle care, and a little patience while those hormones do what hormones do.