A good, gentle, not expensive face wash for DS1's teenage skin?

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Does anyone have a recommendation.

His skin is a bit ropey TBH. Lots of blackheads and small whiteheaded pimples. Not what I would call proper acne (yet)

IME, of having similar skin as a teenager, many of the products sold for oily spotty skin are too harsh and can actually make things worse. Can anyone recommend something really gentle?

ATM, at best, it's only being splashed with water, so I don't want to spend a fortune, as I have my doubts as to whether it will actually be used but feel I should give him something.

The St Ives apricot scrubs are good for blackheads and generally making your skin improved, and are natural scrubby bits so kinder than some other products

Freederm sensitive skin wash is very good or simple refreshing facial wash gel.

I found the neutrogena visibly clear oil free gel cleared my skin and wasn't harsh at all, it's cheap too. If you wanted to pay a bit more I'd look at the la roche posay effaclir range and murad do a brilliant range for acne.

My DS likes Neutrogena (he has a quite sensitive skin, some shampoos will cause a reaction on his face where they rinse off)
He uses a textured cotton wool pad night/morning and the wash in the shower.

(Though during the school holidays he's reverted back to his manky ways so his skin has suffered due to his idleness)

Cetaphil. Absolutely amazing. I tried everything for my acne but this is the one thing that helped. It's around 6-8 quid a bottle but it lasts for ages!

Oh and it's extremely gentle

A Clarisonic face brush with the corresponding brush head and cleanser will work wonders.

Neutrogena pink one :) salicylic acid in it which is great for skin you describe

Sebamed is great. Try Boots.

What ever you do don't use simple neutrogena pink one ( blackhead it think?) which smells of grapefruit is nice! Also witch blemish stick is good at treating spots etc

Cetaphil, amazing and really cheap as the bottles are huge.

I'd steer clear of anything scrub as either the particles do nothing at all, or are to harsh. You want salicylic acid to chemically exfoliate, not to physically scrub stuff off.

No cleanser is going to do much as the ingredients are in contact with your skin for such a short space of time. If he'll do more of a routine you can look at Effaclar Duo but if he's being typical teenage boy just washing his face may be too much

I bought Simple for my DS. What's wrong with it? I use it when travelling. No issues.

Bonsoir - the OP said inexpensive! The Clarisonic is not what I would call inexpensive! . I also can't see a teen boy using it! Or maybe that's just mine?

Wilkos do a tea-tree face wash and they, also, do a blackhead removing one with little pearls in. They are made by "Skinology" and about 99p, usually 2 for £1.50. My. kids have used them for ages and they are as good as any other.

If they get a bad breakout, I buy them a tea-tree foaming wash from the body's hop.

Quinoderm - it is quite harsh on my DS but if he has an isolated spot, he puts some on overnight (it can bleach fabric though)

Great, thanks for all the suggestions - am off to Boots.

I'm not sure what's wrong with Simple either. My own skin is better than it has ever been since I gave up anti-aging creams and switched to their £3 moisturiser. For a cleanser I use the hot cloth method with aqueous cream but DS1 doesn't like the smell or consistency. I can see his point TBH, but it does the job for me.

My DDs have found Freedom and this one by Biore to be better than anything else. The latter seems v harsh to me but dd2's skin has never been better and when dd1 came home from uni she borrowed it once and now keeps stealing it from dd2 (when she's not stealing my Clarins)!

Freederm not Freedom!

I've used Holland and Barrett Dr Organic Tea Tree Face Wash for a while now and it's good. No scrubby things that might have the effect of over stimulating the sebaceous glands and it lasts ages. Think it's 6.50 for a big tube but they very often have 3for2 and penny sale offers.

I'd suggest not using scrubs with grainy bits in. Instead I'd suggest using an acid exfoliator like Pixi Glow Tonic (it's around £16).

Dermatologist recommended Cetaphil for my DD, as it's so gentle. Just the face wash, no need to moisturise unless skin appears dry apparently.

Cetaphil. I should have shares in this, as I recommend it to everyone!

DS and DD use E45 facial wash - both have very sensitive skin. DD has lovely clear skin, DS uses facial wash and gel from the doctor.

DS uses micellar water. He's just starting with the spottiness. Am pondering possible alternatives...

Australia Body Care skin wash. The tea-tree has anti-bac properties.

Cetaphil or Sam farmer. Ds is 13 and same. He likes the Sam farmer and the moisturiser the best.