What age do I introduce a beauty routine to DD?

[PippiL]

She is 8!

Always just washed her face with hot water and a flannel. But she is getting some teeny weeny blackheads, which she (quite rightly) won't let me squeeze.

Tried oil cleansing, which she enjoys, but is a faff.

Do I get her to wash with a gentle face wash? DH uses Simple so she could use that I guess. Does she need a moisturiser then?!

Or, do I just continue with hot flannel for now? Don't want to mess her skin up, as I suffered from acne when I was a teen and my mum had no idea how to deal with it. I ended up using all sorts of harsh spot creams, when I Really just needed a good routine.

I think it's better to use a face wash on the face to remove grease and dirt without causing dry skin like soap would do, for anyone. Just water doesn't actually remove sebum and dirt. So a sensitive, easy to use face wash is a good idea. And then sun screen.

It really strikes me that you'd never see a thread title "What age do I introduce a beauty routine to DS?"

Don't we all live in the same skin??

Am not having a dig at the OP, but it does say something about us as a society no?

Pippil, I shower daily. My face isn't like my armpits or other areas that actually get dirty. Whatever water runs over it in the shower is enough for me. I don't wear any makeup though so there is nothing to wash off iykwim. I am 32 and still get the odd "can I see ID please" at the checkout. Saying that my gran is 77 and still looks 60 so good genes maybe.

Face wash may be an idea for your dd.

I'm 46 and haven't introduced a 'beauty routine' yet.
Must be where I'm going wrong.

I felt a bit reading about future 'beauty routines' for 8 year olds.

When she is ready and asks for it. Buy gentle natural products when she is ready. Using clearisil as a teenager aggravated my skin which only calmed down once I started using living nature/neal's yard style products. Please let her be a kid a little longer - she will know when she feels ready for cleansing and moisturising.

I don't think an 8yo needs a beauty routine. I think you're doing the right thing by just washing with a warm flannel. I definitely wouldn't start introducing foaming cleansers etc as they just strip the skin and cause more problems. I had "problem skin" from a young age and used to try every kind of harsh foaming cleanser type product available. It definitely did more harm than good. I wish I'd just left well alone. When she's older I'd recommend sticking with OCM or using a really gentle cleanser and hot muslin/flannel. I like Lush Ultrabland.

Wasn't there some research saying nuns had the best skin or something similar? I certainly wouldn't want to start putting chemicals on young skin, or any for that matter until you start makeup and it's then necessary to remove it.

I have been wondering the same - my DD is nearly 10 - and I came to the conclusion that it will probably be when she starts wearing make up which won't be for a while. Until then 'normal' washing should be fine I think.

Sorry you're getting a hard time OP, I thought it was a perfectly reasonable question :)

My DD is nearly 10 and is fascinated by my skincare products and said she'd like some of her own. So I bought her a Powerberry set from Neals Yard and told her all about sun damage (they do a factor 40 for the face now). It was a lovely mother-daughter bonding thing. We have sessions in the bathroom together while DH reads DS a bedtime story. We make facepacks and body scrubs.

I'd recommend going for a more natural basic set, like Neals Yard or Liz Earle: a wash-off cleanser (used with muslin cloth), moisturiser, SPF for the daytime and some body wash. She also uses hair detangler and a Tangleteazer.

Personally, I was introduced to skincare at a similar age by my mother and I've always looked after my skin. It does show - I look far younger than friends of mine who are in their 30s and have never had a skincare routine.

By the way OP - perfectly reasonable / normal post. It never even occurred to me that there were any 'greater implications' re: body image / society etc.
There is nothing wrong with teaching your kids about keeping clean, protecting themselves in the sun and enjoying a pleasant relaxing experience together.
I will give my DS a similar chat when he's reaching puberty.

Do mothers wash 8 and 9 year old children's faces for them? There are at least two people on here who say they do. Is it common? (as in prevalent)

YES! I only stopped washing my 9 year old's (see above) 6 months ago. We did 6 months of me saying 'whoa - missed a bit!' and now she's fine...

I've never had children (as a matter of choice) but I'm sure I was let to get on with it from about 5 or 6. Sounds like my mum was slack.

I think it's a valid question to ask, especially as my mum never broached any such subject with me but dug away at my blackheads with relish regardless of whether I wanted her to or not not bitter at all

Maybe prevention is the way to go. If she does start to develop proper spots (IMO blackheads aren't so bad, unless they develop further) then gently explain that some foods like chocolate (or blue cheese for my DH) can make your skin react badly and that she may need to be careful about eating them.

If she continues to have a problem then I'd use the least caustic blackhead remover available (Clearasil is hardcore so maybe something like Witch or Simple) whenever she has a spate of spots. I never really had a routine myself -just emergency procedures for when my skin flared up. They seemed to work well.

I found the tea tree spot-on stick from Body Shop when I was 15 and still use it now for swift spot-killing - it's fantastic and very low-tech!

At 8 yrs old your DD may be on the edge of puberty anyway so AFAIC it's a relevant topic to discuss now. Good luck :)

Puberty at 8! My God my eyes are being opened on this thread!

I bought ds 11 a Neutrogena balck head remover wash and showed him the joys of a warm flannel and a proper wash!

I started my periods at 10 and had a friend who started at 9, fluffiphlox - it does happen!

I've got a DS and will be giving him a stern talk on skin maintenance and deodorant use when he gets to around 9 :)

I was 12 or 13 when i started my periods, Herrena in grammar school anyway. But that was about 300 years ago. Things have changed! I feel quite sorry for a 9 year old who has to bother with all that mallarkey.

fluffiphlox I know, poor kids....

DS is 9 and has some blackheads and a bumpy forehead. I also got him some Simple face wash to use in the shower and his skin has improved. He is a boy who would adore a beauty routine though

DD is the eldest. I will be having similar hygiene and skin care chat with DS when he starts to show signs of being pre-puberty.

In actual fact we have more or a skin are routine for him as he has excema so we have to moisturise twice a day.

Still getting mixed messages re face wash vs. no face wash.

I think the idea of buying her a sunscreen, perhaps a very gentle face specific one, is genius. Thanks krumbum
Never too young to think about sun protection, and if she gets into the routine of doing this every day she will be one step ahead.