It is never too early to start taking care of your skin. Preteen years are a good time to start a skincare regimen. At this age, children understand the importance of hygiene. Starting a skincare plan at an early age will introduce a healthy habit with benefits to be seen well into the future. Letโs create a skin care routine for 12-13 year olds.

Teenagers need a slightly different way from adults to take care of their skin.
As a preteen your skin start to feel more congested and oily, you are producing more sebum. If you have darker skin you should start taking care of your skin much earlier than caucasiens because any pimple could cause hyperpigmentation, and even with acne skin you have to be agressive faster than with caucasien skin. So if you take care of your skin correctly in the preteen years (10 to 14) hopefully you wont have to deal with hyperpigmentation and scaring in your teenage years.
What is exactly happening to your skin?
We can say that as your hormones increase, the size of your sebaceous glands increases and sebum production increases (natural oil of your skin). When this sebum starts to clog your pores, acne develops.
If the surface of the pore is closed and is bulging that is considered a white head. But if the pore is open and looks darker (then the sebum has oxidized) that is considered a black head. Black heads and white heads are a non inflammatory form of acne. This can start happening from 10 years old.
Also it is important to note the effect of stress on your skin. But the most important thing is your skin routine.
What skin care products can 12-13 year olds use to help there skin?
Morning routine:
Cleanse / Wash your face:

You should wash your face every morning with a non-comedogenic face wash that does not strip your skin like Micellar Gel Wash or Oil Melting Cleanser. Use any face wash that does not have soap in it.
Moisturize:

We love the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream over here (the original formula). Itโs great for oily skin and itโs non-comedogenic (i.e. it wonโt clog your pores).
Use sunscreen:
Night routine
Cleanse again:

You need to remove all the oils that you produces during the day, as well as the sunscreen, and all of the gunk that piled up on your skin. This time you need to gently double cleanse, but be careful not to strip your skin.
Donโt use anything thatโll dry up your skin like alcohols. Use your Micellar Gel Wash and follow it with the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser
Actives:
After cleaning your skin, you should use Niacinamide. This is the only active that we may safely recommend at this age. You can use products with a concentration of Niacinamide of around 10%.
The best ones are : The Ordinary, Paulaโs Choice or Naturium



Moisturize:
Donโt think that because you have oily skin tat you donโt need to moisturize. You should use the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (the original). But if after a week or two of using this routine you feel like your sebum is not under control you can use the SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin.
Itโs too early a this age to be applying any other acids or benzoyl peroxide so be careful.
What to avoid?
You should also know what triggers your acne and what to avoid:
- Donโt scrub your skin.
- If your playing sport, take your morning face routine with you. Wash your face after your activities and re-apply your moisturizer and sunscreen. You donโt want to keep sweat on the skin.
- Avoid liquid fondations as they tend to be comedogenic.
- Do not share makeup.
- At night time make sure that you properly cleansed your face and took all the makeup out.
- Do not put toothpaste on your kin, menthol can sensitize the skin.
- Do not squeeze your pimples. The temptation is strong, but itโll do you more harm than good.
- You need to stick with your skincare routine for at least 3 month to start seeing results. Skin needs time, be patient.
- And donโt forget skincare is self love
We can only give our opinion. For medical advice, please refer to your physician/dermatologist.
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