Gentle perfect skin care for 13 year old

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Apologies if this has been asked before, but dd 13 has combination skin quite dry and sensitive, with a few small pimples under the surface, but nothing severe at all, you'd have to look up close to see them.

She’d like to start a basic skincare routine, and I’m wondering if this is necessary at her age, since her skin seems mostly fine (just a bit sensitive and dry).

She would prefer products that are as natural and non-irritating as possible. I’ve heard good things about La Roche-Posay, Vichy, and CeraVe.

Are there any other moisturisers or lotions you’d recommend? Does she need to cleanse every day? She doesn’t wear makeup yet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

100% she should have a basic skincare routine at 13 especially with pimples and dry skin. Those brands you mention are good, pixi is another nice one and super facialist is another more affordable nice one.

But keep islt simple. Definitely a cleanser as you need to wash away build up of oils, sweat, air pollution etc. Then moisturise. I'd say just those two, morning and night, with a nice brand with no harsh active ingredients. Also avoid 'foaming' cleansers as they dry the skin.

I like the superfacialist salicylic acid wash. Then a nice moisturiser from any brand you mention. If she starts wearing makeup, make sure she washes the makeup off first with an oil or balm, and then uses the cleanser.

Edited for typos

If CeraVe. should she first try the one for combination skin or dry skin? Or would something like La Roche or Vichy be more gentle?

I'm honestly not convinced. Most of these products are not actually effective in combatting hormonal acne and I don't like sending the message to girls that to be a proper woman you have to be doing 'skincare'. My approach would be to use moisturiser if your skin is dry and see a pharmacist if you have acne.

She doesn't have acne, but her skin is dry (and sensitive/'thin').

Have just read that Vichy has more additives, fragrance etc, which is probably best avoided.

Definitely don't go for the salicylic acid in that case - it will be too harsh for her skin.

The salicylic acid in the cleanser I recommended is very mild, but equally you could go for something gentle. It's not about 'being a woman' but as you get older you have more oils in your skin, and everyone needs to wash off sweat, air pollution etc. But when you wash you remove a lot of moisture so then you add it back in with a moisturiser. It doesn't need to be complicated

I'm 39 and have never had a skincare routine, and now still have perfectly normal functional skin which looks exactly the same as all the skincare people the same age as me. I wash it with water and a soft cloth. My DH does the same and his skin is just fine too.

If you have an actual skin condition, such as seb derm or more serious acne, obviously that's different. I admit that when I was a teenager I briefly used some type of cleanser for mild acne, although I don't think it did anything.

My slightly out there advice is that if she wants to try anything, to try it on half her face! Be scientific about it, use the new product(s) for six weeks on half her face, and see which side of her face feels best.

Caudalie and Nuxe are two French brands which are very good.

I’d suggest a cleanse, tone moisturise and spf routine with anything else she likes like masks. Korean skincare might be an option too.

I have heard of caudalie. What about the Bubble skin care range? Just a marketing gimmick aimed at young teens? Or are the lotions and cleansers ok?

Still undecided. What do your daughters use?

I have a 12 year old son so I’ve also been looking introducing a gentle skincare routine to him.
I’d recommend reading Caroline Hirons’ teen skincare book which I’ve found helpful. Brands-wise, have a look at teen brands like Sam Farmer, Spots and Stripes, Bubble; and organic brands like Green People.
I’d avoid bringing any actives into a routine at this stage as you don’t want new product overload and disrupt her skin. With my son (who also has quite dry skin) I have just started him on a gentle cleanser (Cerave hydrating cleanser) with a flannel, and a gentle plain moisturiser. SPF will be next.

thanks @PopScene00 which moisturiser is your ds using?

My 11 year old favours Byoma or Bubble. I use CeraVe myself and she sometimes uses my facewash. She has the odd pimple and I just want her to get into the habit of actually cleaning her face in the evening rather than giving her a complex about her skin. She is using these three products at the moment.

www.boots.com/byoma-barrier-boosting-beginners-10353751?traffic=paid.shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21096115648&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwSS8wF5r4Xh-_g8Aj7ePR66B&gclid=CjwKCAiA2PrMBhA4EiwAwpHyC-Hw9KJK3L8-IWxOm7igoi-AvM_v_PUUyOxEXLC8NV-XDBdfkXjb9RoCCiIQAvD_BwE

My daughter is the same age with dry sensitive skin. Cerave hydrating cleanser is great and a byoma moisturiser (either the rich one or the gel one). She uses a Aveeno serum also buts that’s an added step for extra moisture. Fragrance free products are best to avoid irritation :)

I would keep it simple and focus on cleansing and moisturiser & make sure she uses spf every day. A routine should look something like:

AM
Gentle cleanser if oily or wash face with water
Moisturiser & SPF

PM
Cleanse
Treat breakouts if needed
Moisturise

You can't go wrong with Byoma. A lot of teens like Byoma jelly cleanser but if she has dry skin she might like something like the Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser or foaming cleanser. I personally find Cerave cleansers dry my skin out too much but I love their moisturiser. La Roche Posay effaclar gel cleanser is good for those who feel oily in the mornings but if she is dry she may only need to cleanse in the evening, not in the morning.

For a moisturiser I would look at Cerave moisturiser with spf 30 or 50 for the morning. Eucerin oil control is also really good but she may not need that.

For the evening then either Aveeno Calm & Restore, Geek & Gorgeous Hydration Station, Byoma moisturiser (gel if oily, rich cream if dry) or Bubble balancing moisturiser. She can also use one of these in the morning too but if so I would combine it with |Byoma Ultralight Face fluid for the spf.

If she has issues with breakouts then La Roche Posay Effaclar duo is good to treat them (don;t use everyday only when she has a breakout) but if she doesn't get on with salycyclic acid then try Anua 10+ azelaic acid or The Ordinary Sulphur as a treatment for more sensitive skins

As she heads into her late teens she could add something like a niacinimide serum

Bubble is pretty good but Byoma I would say is better.

I always recommend Nip + Fab on skincare threads, it has dramatically changed my skin for the better over the past 2 years. They also have a teen range but I haven’t looked at it in detail to see if it might be right for her but their products are reasonably priced and actually work. Would certainly recommend you have a look.

Nip and Fab is overkill for a teen and contains things she shouldn't be putting on her face at that age. It is very important to protect the ski barrier.

Whatever you do if a product says it contains retinol or retinal avoid like the plague. And no Drunk Elephant. She also does not need vitamin C yet (especially if sensitive) or peptides which are the things that often make products more expensive. Ceramides and niacinimides in creams is fine.