To not buy preteen dd proper skincare products...?

[Sugarbeach]

And just make up some cheap natural face cleanser from porridge oats instead? Dd's changing and her skin needs a bit more than just water on a face cloth....to be honest I don't know where to start with skincare products for her, all the stuff seem too harsh or aimed at adults, and I didn't want to go down the road of buying a whole load of products which might not be suitable and I dread to think of all the chemicals...but maybe I'll have to if her skin worsens as she develops...but just not yet..fingers cross, hoping she has her dad's skin and ot mine....

I suppose an Aibu and wwyd.

If you want to avoid chemicals I'd go somewhere like lush - reasonable prices, tailored products and informed staff x

I started dd on Aimee which you can get in Boots or supermarkets. It was developed by someone especially for her teenage daughter.

She now uses

I agree...some of the teen face products would strip paint.

There's lots of nice organic skincare out there, and many of those do products specifically for teens, or ones suitable for their skin. You could do a bit of research into suitable brands in your budget and go out to look at some with her and turn it into a nice mother-daughter day. That's what my mum did when it became clear that my skin needed something more than just soap and water and I have lovely memories of that outing and her treating me like a grown-up and approaching those changes as something exciting and positive. Even if I did get the most dreadful acne regardless!

oh buy her some stuff. Try the body shop tea tree range, or neutrogena stuff is good. The pink grapefruit one is nice, as is the blue foaming cleanser. Avoid clearasil and the like like the plague.

the simple range is really good. my mum got me that when i was 11/12 because i was getting acne and had really sensitive skin.

Ive used simple face wipes since, well i cant even remember! Also no7 cleansers are brilliant i have such sensitive skin theyre the only products that dont turn my face bright red

My teenager uses Nutrogena, the pink grapefruit cleanser and oil free moisturiser. If he has a breakout he uses some of my La Roche Posay. Do get her something, spots are bad for morale.

Pop into Neals Yard. They have lots of leaflets and good advice about making your own cleansers. Their products will be better than the majority in the shops which won't be kind to such young skin.

Thanks for all the suggestions, good idea to go shopping together, we might go for some organic stuff that we can both use, like lush or Ren or Neal's Yard...she'll have to try all the testers as she is a very sensitive and tolerant to strong smells......that way I could use it up if she doesn't.

Tbh, the skin changes is just the start I'm in need if a bit of hand holding over the whole puberty talk thing, and what to expect parenting a preteen/teen in this day and age, how to protect them or help them deal with things....any books you would recommend or any tips?

If her skin is needing more than just water, I'd have a look at what is available. Not got to this stage yet, but think that there are bound to be decent products around that will help.

Ren is pretty chemcial-y, btw. The packaging's not glam, but Dr Hauschka is a lovely brand and v, v natural.

Chartreuse....what from the la Roche Posay range do you recommend? Bit confused about all the products...we use their sun cream for children, it's really good stuff and the only one I use on her face.

I like the Green People products for teens. DD uses some of them (she's not a teen yet, but their customer service dept told me the products are only natural and organic, so suitable for younger children too). lovely, and not too expensive. They are sold in various shops or take a look at their on-line shop (with DD).

Yes love dr Haushka products myself...i use their toner and rose day cream.

Now busy googling green people, body shop and neutrogena.....

Simple 'Refreshing' foaming face wash (in the clear green packaging) is very mild. It is also reasonably priced and often on offer.

I love the Evian products too, very fresh feeling and have never flared up my sensitive skin. As a pre/teenager tho, swore by the tea tree range at body shop xx

dd is a preteen with sensitive skin and I am sticking to water as long as possible.

Agree with the body shop.

Oh, and you will never avoid 'chemicals' - even things that are produced from organic natural ingredients have the same chemical reactions and processes (and water is a chemical - hydrogen hydroxide). You should be concerned about the action of the product, not the 'chemicals' it contains.

I have a friend with very bad excema and she swears by rubbing jojoba oil in, then wiping off with a hot flannel and patting a bit more on as a moisturiser. Says her skin has never looked so good. I'm going to try it as soon a4 I finish my current products

Sugarbeach I use the Effaclar cleanser and the Effaclar K gel on my oily T-zone and the Redermic UV on my dry cheeks. It is a brilliant range, I started using it after a dermatologist recommended it.

I use Lush Angels on Bare Skin for my very sensitive mush. It's really nice.

Body Shop stuff is full of parabens and sls's as is Neutrogena and most other mainstream brands. If you want to minimise the chemicals then I would recommend Faith in Nature, Neals Yard and Good Things.

I let my DD use some of my Liz Earle (bought prior to their changeover to Avon, I've heard it's not so good now), or SBC (Simply Beautiful Cosmetics) Collagen gel

DS (13yo) has some Boots Clear Skin (wash, scrub and clear gel) which is 'bloke friendly' (he would sooner eat his own spleen than use his Mother's skincare ).

Main problem is getting the little toad to USE it.