My 13 year old daughter wants to use makeup to cover her acne

WestQueendom · 2025-10-05T20:57:29+00:00

My husband and I are on the fence about allowing our daughter to wear makeup to cover her acne. I've used and still use makeup to cover my acne. But I can't promise that my makeup hasn't made my acne use. My husband is worried that makeup will make her look older than her age. He's more in the "no" category than I am, but he said he will follow my lead. Being a teen is hard and I don't want to make things harder for her. I just don't know what to do.

Inastatus · 05/10/2025 22:01

I’d let her do it to help her confidence. My DD used to wear makeup at this age due to acne. She then had roaccutane and it cleared her skin beautifully.

Original poster

WestQueendom · 05/10/2025 22:03

Inastatus · 05/10/2025 22:01

I’d let her do it to help her confidence. My DD used to wear makeup at this age due to acne. She then had roaccutane and it cleared her skin beautifully.

I'm trying to get her on accutane.

I have used accutane 4 times. My acne has been relentless

OP posts:

Blinkingmarvellous · 05/10/2025 22:04

Maybe start with an age appropriate skin care routine? Mine uses byoma.
Or spots and stripes https://www.spots-and-stripes.com/products/clear-skin-set-for-girls?_pos=5&_psq=acne&_ss=e&_v=1.0

If that doesn’t help I'd be sympathetic about the make up at least when she's feeling self conscious - mind you that's probably most of the time! Hope things improve for her

Clear Skin Set For Girls

This spot zapping, blackhead busting, face cleansing trio is everything hormonal young teen girls skin needs. Helps to tackle acne in a gentle and natural way.

https://www.spots-and-stripes.com/products/clear-skin-set-for-girls?_pos=5&_psq=acne&_ss=e&_v=1.0

ChangeOfNameAujourdhui · 05/10/2025 22:04

oh bless her-she sounds really self-conscious. Why don’t you let her make sure that she gets a really good natural foundation or cover-up. She doesn’t need to have full make up-just something to give her a bit more confidence.

Original poster

WestQueendom · 05/10/2025 22:06

Blinkingmarvellous · 05/10/2025 22:04

Maybe start with an age appropriate skin care routine? Mine uses byoma.
Or spots and stripes https://www.spots-and-stripes.com/products/clear-skin-set-for-girls?_pos=5&_psq=acne&_ss=e&_v=1.0

If that doesn’t help I'd be sympathetic about the make up at least when she's feeling self conscious - mind you that's probably most of the time! Hope things improve for her

Thank you so much for the tip. I'll most certainly look into it.

OP posts:

Original poster

WestQueendom · 05/10/2025 22:07

ChangeOfNameAujourdhui · 05/10/2025 22:04

oh bless her-she sounds really self-conscious. Why don’t you let her make sure that she gets a really good natural foundation or cover-up. She doesn’t need to have full make up-just something to give her a bit more confidence.

I want to say yes but I'm afraid it will break her out more.

OP posts:

Zhu · 05/10/2025 22:08

I wouldn’t as it will make it worse. But I would take her to a dermatologist and get it sorted as soon as possible.

olympicsrock · 05/10/2025 22:11

At the very least let her use a medicated concealer. Poor girl. Of course she should be allowed to cover up angry red zits

Snippit · 05/10/2025 22:11

I took my daughter to the lovely ladies at the No7 counter in Boots. They helped her no end with advice and products, she’ll need non pore clogging products (comedogenic). It became an art at covering it up.

She’s nearly 30 now and still suffers a little, she uses the little tea tree infused spot patches they really help. It’s soul destroying, I’ve never suffered, I’m so very lucky, I’ve seen what it can do to a person’s confidence, not nice.

Beamur · 05/10/2025 22:11

I most definitely would let her. Damage to her self esteem is significant.
There's products she can use that won't make it worse.

Original poster

WestQueendom · 05/10/2025 22:13

Snippit · 05/10/2025 22:11

I took my daughter to the lovely ladies at the No7 counter in Boots. They helped her no end with advice and products, she’ll need non pore clogging products (comedogenic). It became an art at covering it up.

She’s nearly 30 now and still suffers a little, she uses the little tea tree infused spot patches they really help. It’s soul destroying, I’ve never suffered, I’m so very lucky, I’ve seen what it can do to a person’s confidence, not nice.

I'm glad you never had acne. As a 41 year old woman who still had acne, it's awful.

My heart breaks for my daughter. I am very familiar with how she feels.

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therewasafishinthepercolator · 05/10/2025 22:15

Let her. I have pcos so have had acne most of my life. I feel so self conscious when it's bad - i feel like i need my make up.

My dermatologist told me it will not make it worse. She had no issue with me wearing make up at all. Just make sure it is oil free and non-comedogenic. And it is removed thoroughly with a good cleansing routine. She might need to double cleanse to remove it all.

Google products and read reviews. Please don't stop her wearing make up if it will help her feel less self conscious.

Good luck with getting treatment. Roaccutane helped me when I was younger (has flared up again in middle age thanks to hormones) and DS 17 had good results with Duac. I hope she gets something that helps soon. In the meantime, yep, make up.

Hollerationinthedancerieeee · 05/10/2025 22:18

Please let her. As others have said, use something that won’t irritate her skin further. I know just how this feels and my heart goes out to her. Anything to help boost her self esteem.

indoorplantqueen · 05/10/2025 22:19

My DD’s acne has cleared up using salcura products (all natural ingredients I believe) not that expensive either.
I would allow her to wear make up . TBH some make up at 13 is normal anyway regardless of acne.

Original poster

WestQueendom · 05/10/2025 22:20

therewasafishinthepercolator · 05/10/2025 22:15

Let her. I have pcos so have had acne most of my life. I feel so self conscious when it's bad - i feel like i need my make up.

My dermatologist told me it will not make it worse. She had no issue with me wearing make up at all. Just make sure it is oil free and non-comedogenic. And it is removed thoroughly with a good cleansing routine. She might need to double cleanse to remove it all.

Google products and read reviews. Please don't stop her wearing make up if it will help her feel less self conscious.

Good luck with getting treatment. Roaccutane helped me when I was younger (has flared up again in middle age thanks to hormones) and DS 17 had good results with Duac. I hope she gets something that helps soon. In the meantime, yep, make up.

I think I just needed a push to say yes. I had already bought tons of makeup opinions for her in anticipation of my final decision.

For me, I would rather wear makeup that breaks me out than to go to work without makeup. I have warned her that makeup may break her out and she still says she wants to wear it.

I'm just sad that my daughter has to go through this. It sucks.

OP posts:

ErrolTheDragon · 05/10/2025 22:26

I had acne, particularly bad as a teen, turned out to be due to PCOS. I really wish I’d had concealer and maybe foundation then.
….cross post, good decision OP.

ConBatulations · 05/10/2025 22:27

There are BB creams that are made for oily and acne prone skin so would try that rather than a full foundation. Assume she is getting prescription treatment from the GP so just check they are ok to use together.

Summerluvin1 · 05/10/2025 22:27

I'm 37 and I never had acne but very red cheeks caused by KP and make-up was like a magic wand for me. The confidence I got wearing it was off the chart and without it I wouldn't leave the house. Yes it was shit but it helped me so much. Please let her wear even some concealer just to boost her confidence.

therewasafishinthepercolator · 05/10/2025 22:27

WestQueendom · 05/10/2025 22:20

I think I just needed a push to say yes. I had already bought tons of makeup opinions for her in anticipation of my final decision.

For me, I would rather wear makeup that breaks me out than to go to work without makeup. I have warned her that makeup may break her out and she still says she wants to wear it.

I'm just sad that my daughter has to go through this. It sucks.

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It really is. I feel for both of you. Its hard seeing them struggle with it. Keep pushing the dr to get her treatment. Hopefully she'll get somewhere soon!

I never wanted my kids to have acne like I had (currently have. Bloody peri! 😬) but unfortunately DS17 has it pretty bad if he's off Duac and he doesn't really have the option to cover it.

I find the worst bit about it is feeling like you have zero control over it. You're trying everything and it makes no difference. Getting the right dr who listens is so important. Good luck. She'll get there!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 05/10/2025 22:32

Of course let her. Something like bare minerals

Original poster

WestQueendom · 05/10/2025 22:35

therewasafishinthepercolator · 05/10/2025 22:27

It really is. I feel for both of you. Its hard seeing them struggle with it. Keep pushing the dr to get her treatment. Hopefully she'll get somewhere soon!

I never wanted my kids to have acne like I had (currently have. Bloody peri! 😬) but unfortunately DS17 has it pretty bad if he's off Duac and he doesn't really have the option to cover it.

I find the worst bit about it is feeling like you have zero control over it. You're trying everything and it makes no difference. Getting the right dr who listens is so important. Good luck. She'll get there!

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I really hope we find something to clear her acne soon. But if we don't, what should I say to her to help her feel better ?

OP posts:

Hollerationinthedancerieeee · 05/10/2025 22:38

WestQueendom · 05/10/2025 22:20

I think I just needed a push to say yes. I had already bought tons of makeup opinions for her in anticipation of my final decision.

For me, I would rather wear makeup that breaks me out than to go to work without makeup. I have warned her that makeup may break her out and she still says she wants to wear it.

I'm just sad that my daughter has to go through this. It sucks.

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Bless you, it does suck. For both of you. You sound like a lovely supportive mum, which is what she needs. I don’t have much in the way of advice, just solidarity ❤️

Teathecolourofcreosote · 05/10/2025 22:48

I found mineral make up really good.

It is light so not obvious but takes away the red angry look much better than heavy liquid foundation.

She doesn't have to go for a full made up look but there's no point in her suffering the dent to her self confidence.

begone25 · 05/10/2025 22:48

I’d try a Lumie Clear red light therapy lamp first (you can get them for around £25 on eBay) it’s a combination of red and blue led light proven to help acne prone skin.

bumbaloo · 05/10/2025 23:05

Mineral foundations don’t tend to make acne worse. Do a little research. There are products that are non comedogenic and non irritating.

The issue with make up tends to be poor cleansing rather than the makeup itself. Get her on a non drying cleansing regime and mineral foundation and teach her to use very sparingly to just take down the red rather than try to obliterate all traces as that will leave her looking caked on and that looks very bad

My 13 year old daughter wants to use makeup to cover her acne

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