Are you a spa professional looking to better assist your younger Clients? For most adolescents, creating an effective teen skin care routine to address areas of concern at this age is a challenge. From fluctuating hormones and the onset of acne to changes in skin texture and good skin hygiene, there’s a lot for younger Clients to consider. As a spa professional, you want to be equipped to provide teens with targeted skin care solutions and acne product suggestions. We’re doing a deep dive on the best teenage skin care products and what to incorporate into a routine to achieve a radiant complexion.

Top Skin Care Tips You Can Give to Teens

Similar to adult Clients, teenagers have a variety of skin concerns they want to address, including:

• Acne
• Oil production
• Skin sensitivity
• Dryness
• Large pores

Working alongside teenagers has a special advantage, too: you’re helping them develop a foundation for effective skin care habits for years to come. Sometimes less is more, and for teenagers, this couldn’t be more true. Whether they’re out there participating in sports, applying makeup, or just going through everyday routines, teenage skin goes through a lot in addition to the normal changes in hormones and oil overproduction. To create an effective teen skin care routine, consider recommending these tips:

Cleanse Skin Twice a Day 

Many young people getting into skin care may not know that the foundation for healthy skin starts with cleansing. For teenage Clients, cleansing the skin gently twice daily (no more than that) is recommended to help lift buildup and oil from the pores and minimize the development of breakouts and acne. It’s important to highlight the need for gently massaging cleanser into the skin. Over scrubbing or washing aggressively leads to skin irritation, excessive dryness and potentially more breakouts.

Always Wash Makeup Off Before Bed

Let’s remind teenage Clients that going to bed without washing makeup off is a big no-no. Aside from the oil production and natural debris buildup on the skin that occurs overnight, adding makeup to the mix leaves pores clogged and prone to pimples. For those who wear makeup, look for beauty products labeled noncomedogenic, which means it will not clog pores.

In a similar vein, never share makeup or makeup tools with anyone else. Bacteria found in the skin (and breakouts) can spread through the use of tools and cosmetics. To keep breakouts and bacteria to a minimum, it’s recommended to wash makeup brushes and sponges weekly and if any products don’t look or smell right, toss them.

Don’t Forget To Moisturize

Teenagers might be hesitant to moisturize because they think it will make skin oilier, but it’s an essential step to prevent skin from feeling irritated or dry. Because acne treatment can be drying, the consistent application of moisturizer is important to balance skin and keep it from drying out. As a spa professional, you’ll be able to recommend moisturizing products depending on the teen’s skin type. For most teens, a gel moisturizer is ideal because it’s nourishing, lightweight and buildable — meaning they can add more, as needed, depending on how their skin feels that day.

Get started early with sunscreen

Ask any adult what they wish they knew earlier about skin care and it’s almost always about protecting against sun damage! For your teenage Clients, educating them early about wearing sunscreen is key — especially as they are outdoors participating in sports and extra-curricular activities. Even if they’re indoors, sunscreen helps protect against UV rays that filter in through windows. Remind teens to avoid tanning beds and always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen (protects against UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of 30 or higher, even on cloudy days.  

Offer Extractions

By dislodging buildup in the skin caused by oil, dirt, sweat and pollution, extractions help to clear pores and give the skin a clear canvas. Our Product Support Team Lead, Alicia Hawthorne, advises that you remind young Clients that they should refrain from at-home extractions and seek the help of an esthetician or a dermatologist. 

“Although it can be tempting to attack breakouts, we strongly advise against any at-home picking and popping, as it can lead to inflammation, infections and scarring. Instead, visit a dermatologist or licensed esthetician who is equipped to extract blemishes successfully,” she says.

Exfoliation Is Very Helpful

To reduce breakouts and dullness, exfoliation is recommended in teen skin care routines to keep skin looking and feeling healthy. Advise Clients that over-exfoliation can make things worse, not better! With a gentle but effective chemical exfoliant, teens slough away dead skin cells, break down clogged debris, minimize excess oil and get deeper into pores for a thorough cleanse without harsh scrubbing. Since teenagers are typically more prone to acne and skin sensitivity, physical exfoliation is not generally recommended.

Address Concerns With Targeted Treatments

When teens need a little more attention to address certain concerns, that’s where targeted treatments come in. Targeted treatment formulas come with higher concentrations of powerful ingredients that can brighten dark spots, get rid of acne, or clear away irritating breakouts, while also soothing stressed skin. These spot treatments are done in addition to an everyday teen skin care routine, as needed.  

Masks are another great option to soothe irritated and inflamed-looking skin. The cooling sensation of a mask combined with active ingredients makes it an ideal spot treatment, or as an all-over skin treatment done once or twice a week before applying moisturizer or sunscreen. Keep reading to learn exactly what products we’d recommend for teens. 

Best Teen Skin Care Products

Clients always want to know which products to use that will leave their skin feeling healthy. Depending on their specific skin care needs, Eminence Organics products help address some of the most notable concerns and certain collections, such as the Clear Skin Starter Kit, which features some of the best products for teens.

The Stone Crop Gel Wash is a great starting point as it minimize redness, dry skin and is safe to use around the eyes. Plus, it’s ideal for those who need to remove makeup. Nourishing ingredients (such as soothing stone crop, chamomile and shea butter) in the Stone Crop Gel Wash helps even skin tone, which is something most hormonal skin types require.