Understanding your teenager's/tweenager’s (11-19 year olds) skin type is the first step in helping them develop a skincare routine that works for them. There are four main skin types: oily/acne-prone, dry, combination, and sensitive (we have left out normal skin types). In this blog, we'll cover how to identify each type and what types of skincare products and ingredients are best suited for each.

Oily Skin:

Oily skin is characterized by a shiny appearance, large pores, and a tendency to break out. To determine if your teenager has oily skin, you can use a clean piece of blotting paper or tissue to gently press against the skin on their forehead, nose, and chin. If the tissue is left with oil residue, your teenager most likely has oily skin. Another way to determine this, is get them to wash their face, and dry their skin – don’t apply any skincare. If they start to develop a shine, especially around the T-Zone  (forehead, nose, and chin) up to 30 minutes afterwards they likely have oily skin.

Products and ingredients for oily skin:

• Look for products labelled "lightweight " (AKA "non-comedogenic") which means they won't clog pores.
• Choose products with salicylic acid, a type of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), which can help unclog pores and reduce oiliness. Succinic acid is another trending ingredient that has the same levels of effectiveness but is gentler.
• Products containing clay or charcoal can help absorb excess oil.

Dry Skin:

Dry skin appears flaky and feels tight, especially after cleansing. To determine if your teenager has dry skin, you can ask them if their skin feels tight or if they have flaky patches, especially during the colder months.

Products and ingredients for dry skin:

• Look for products labelled "moisturising" or "hydrating" and be sure to choose products that contain ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter.
• Avoid products with drying alcohol or other drying ingredients, as they can further strip the skin of its natural oils.
• Use cleansers that are low foaming, gel based and are labelled ‘’gentle’’ or do not strip the skin.
• A weekly hydrating face mask can help soothe dry skin.

Combination Skin:

Combination skin is a mix of both oily and dry skin, with oiliness appearing in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and dryness appearing on the cheeks. To determine if your teenager has combination skin, follow the steps for identifying oily skin, but also pay attention to dry, flaky patches on the cheeks.

Products and ingredients for combination skin:

• Look for products that cater to both oily and dry skin, such as those labelled "balancing", "multi-functional’’, ‘’suitable for all skin types’’.
• Choose products with ingredients like niacinamide, which can help regulate oil production and improve the skin's natural moisture barrier.
• Products with gentle exfoliating ingredients, such as lactic acid, can help regulate oil production and unclog pores.

Sensitive Skin:

Sensitive skin is characterized by redness, itching, and burning. To determine if your teenager has sensitive skin, pay attention to any reactions they have after using new skincare products. If they experience redness, itching, or burning, they most likely have sensitive skin.

Products and ingredients for sensitive skin:

• Look for products labelled "sensitive skin" or "fragrance-free", ‘’hypoallergenic-fragrances’’ or ‘’suitable for sensitive skin’’.
• Choose products with gentle, non-irritating ingredients
• Look for products that have been tested on sensitive skin and been dermatologically approved to be suitable.
• Avoid products with heavy fragrances, dyes, and other potentially irritating ingredients.

Identifying your teenager's skin type is the first step in helping them develop a skincare routine that works for them. By understanding their skin type and choosing products with suitable ingredients, you can help them achieve healthy, glowing skin. Remember to always patch test new products before using them all over the face and consult a dermatologist if you have any concerns about your teenager's skin.

Some other information for skin types and spots see below:

NHS – overview of the spots a teen can experience - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/

Learn more about skin types - https://www.almirall.com/your-health/your-skin/types-of-skin

Oily skin

Bare addiction products have been formulated to be lightweight to reduce clogging pores and causing spots, as well as not drying the skin too much which can cause further oil production. Our range is also formulated to not irritate the skin. Ingredients used include Succinic Acid, and Salicylic acid which are great exfoliators that lift excess oil and unclog pores to manage oil levels as well as help reduce breakouts. We also incorporate niacinamide across the range to further help with managing oil levels.

Dry Skin

Dry skin can be caused by hormonal factors as well as external factors. Our range helps reduce external factors such as drying or irritating the skin, while also protecting the skin barrier to reduce skin being dried out. Our products include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter to rehydrate the skin as well as gentle exfoliators to smooth rough and flaky skin. In particular our cleanser has been formulated to be low foaming and gel based which doesn’t strip the skin, yet exfoliates gently and allows moisturises to be applied afterwards and absorbed more easily.

Combination skin

Our range has been developed with dermatologists to be multifunctional and therefore our routine is perfect for combination skin. Our cleanser uses salicylic acid, and our serum uses succinic acid to unclog pores and reduce oil in the T-Zone. The spot cream helps target red spots in problem areas, while the day and night cream rehydrate and rebalance the skin barrier to reduce dry and sensitive areas. Together our products work together to target problematic skin concerns.

Sensitive skin

Our range has been designed and tested on sensitive skin. Our cleanser, day cream and night cream all contain small amounts of hypoallergenic-fragrances, and our serum and spot cream are completely fragrance free. We have selected low irritation ingredients, and where some ingredients have caused some irritation in other products, we have used variations that reduce the irritation potential. Our ingredients have been chosen in conjunction with dermatologists and have been tested on young, sensitive skin.

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