Skin care regime for 11 year old with sensitive skin

[ScarlettDarling]

My almost 12 year old is very much in the throes of puberty and her current 'regime' of washing her face with a wet face cloth isn't really cutting the mustard any more!

She is getting a few blackheads and the odd blemish. No 'proper' spots. She also has quite sensitive skin and is prone to rashes and itchy patches.

I'm not really sure what products to buy for her. She doesn't seem to need the typical teen 'Clearasil' type stuff and I don't want to buy anything harsh that she could react to. Does anyone have any suggestions, preferably for a facial wash and moisturiser.

Thanks.

I'm not sure but my 10yo has started to get pores around his nose so I dampen a cotton pad and add just I touch of mercier water and give him a wipe.

Hi OP I have very sensitive skin and when I was about that age I started using ‘simple’ and it suits me very well - so much so I’m still using it 20+ years later and I have lovely skin, never wear foundation etc (it’s also worth mentioning that i only use soap and water and moisturiser) if she has sensitive skin then try and steer her clear of getting in the cycle of using lots of products, it’s worth trying her with ‘simple’ to see if it suits her.

Simple sounds good Op.

Simple could be good. She obviously doesn't wear makeup so doesn't need anything heavy duty, but she needs more than just water. Thanks.

I think less is more really.

My skin has been awful over the years (acne prone and sensitive) .. and I've come to realise that gentle is the way forward.
I was using a face wash with a bit of 'scrub' type stuff in and that made my skin a lot worse. I use that about once a week now but just use Simple face wash the rest of the time.

I also like Eucerin products (can get them in boots or Lloyd's chemist - often on 3 for 2) and they work well for me too. The night creams are nice.

Vitamin E range from Superdrug saved my skin a couple of years ago. It's incredibly soothing. I think they do a range for teenage skins (green packaging) as well. It's excellent value for money. I peeled and was red raw after trying the moisture bomb stuff from Garnier (ha, moisture my butt) and the vitamin E moisturisers literally stopped my face from peeling off...

Body Shop have some nice skincare ranges including for sensitive skin.

I've got my DS into a La Roche Posay routine. Flaming cleanser, toner and moisturiser. His forehead whiteheads have disappeared and his nose blackheads are getting smaller. It's not cheap but I got it from boots on 3 for 2.
DH is a bit miffed that DS is a cleanse-tone-moisturiser but who gives a shit.

foaming cleanser. A flaming one might not be great

Try avene extremely gentle cleanser with their skin recovery cream (they do a rich version or just the original). La Roche posay toleriane ultra fluid is also a good moisturiser

My DD has used simple moisturize face wash,she stole mine to start with.When she started getting spots she tried different washes but the dried her skin too much.She now uses Simple face wash and Acnicide cream on spots.

La Roche Possay Effeclar range is very good and gentle (but a bit expensive!). The 3 pack of foaming cleanser, toner and duo cream is v good.

I got my 11 yr old the La Roche Posay trio pack as a Christmas stocking filler after a recommendation on here,her skin is looking great

Thanks for all the suggestions, lots to look at. The La Roche posay Toleriane range looks good for very sensitive skin, might try that. She's recently had a fungal infection round her nose (nice eh?!) and the cream the doctor prescribed has left her skin flaky and dry, so she needs something very gentle.

Oh and kalefire I'm very impressed at your ds doing his cleanse/tone/ moisturise routine. I struggle to get my 14 year old ds to slap a bit of clearasil on!

I'm quietly impressed too Op but he's at the age where he's started noticing that girls are really rather lovely so wants to optimise his chances of getting asked for his snapchat (or whatever the kids in the streets are on nowadays) lol

ScarlettDarling my daughter has a fungal rash around her nose at the minute too-do you mind me asking did the cream from the doctor work and if so what it was, apologies for thread hijack!

Simple has always been anything but, ditto Clinique. Both v harsh.

La Roche Posay has something for everyone- dd has used the Effaclar range (for oily, typical teenage skin) and it transformed her skin.

Of all the lotions and potions that my eldest DS and DD have tried and used, the best we've found are Avene extremely gentle Cleanser, Avene Skin Recovery Cream, Simple Replenishing Rich lotion and Lush Fresh Farmacy (it's a soap that's calamine baser and really gentle, but also good for spots).

ChiefPotterer the GP prescribed Canesten hydrocortisone cream. When I read the leaflet it said not to be used on the face so I rang the doctor who said it's ok to be used there if prescribed (as it's also available over the counter.)

Yes, it's definitely worked. We've been using it very sparingly for about ten days. The blotchy, scaly redness is gone. Her skin is a bit flaky now though which can apparently be a side effect of the cream! So now I want something very gentle to try to settle her skin down.

My 10 year old was getting blackheads so is now using micellar water and it's really helped.

Here everything other than cetaphil was too harsh as a cleanser, incl LRP and Avene,

DD uses cetpahil with a hot muslin to wipe it off, LRP tourmaline moisturiser plus bio oil gel in really red angry dry bits when they happen.

For flaky angry skin the cetaphil massaged on and gently wiped off by me plus bio oil gel sparingly applied calmed things down in a couple of days.

I have very sensitive skin and at a dermatologist's recommendation use aqueous cream as a make up remover and cetaphil cleanser in the mornings. Cetaphil also do fragrance free moisturiser including one with an spf. If your DD's skin does get more than the odd blackhead or spot I would see a doctor rather than use over the counter products.

Cerave hydrating cleanser.

Incredibly gentle, perfect for pre teens, no nasties or perfumes and will clean the skin.

You'll find it in most chemist or online, usually up near where the diprobase is.

How about cold cream cleanser with rose water toner. Both available from boots and both gentle but affective If you find she needs more for spots then a strong toner like clean and clear could be added.