Things to look for when buying your teenager skincare products

Getting your teenager to take care of their skin is by no means an easy job. To add to that, the fact that most teenagers end up spending loads of money on expensive products that promise to keep skin young and flawless, but in reality, hardly ever deliver.

Despite buying new products which promise to deliver, often you notice more spots on your kid, more oily patches to deal with and dreadful-looking zits that can really put a dent in their confidence. Finding the right products for your kid can be a challenge, and often they come to you for help – well, we are here to help you!

When buying your teenager skincare products, have you ever stopped to look at the ingredients of the products you are about to spend your hard-earned money on? Bingo! We just identified the key culprit.

If you look for these primary ingredients in the skincare products you buy, then you simply can’t go wrong:

The next time you go shopping for your kid’s skincare stack, just make sure you check for these ingredients in order to keep their spot-prone skin young, smooth and healthy:

You will find this ingredient in most good-quality skincare product that claims to treat acne, spots and pimples. Salicylic acid is an essential ingredient to look for because it is highly effective in unclogging pores and reducing the appearance of whiteheads as well as blackheads. It can also reduce rough and textured skin, making it look, feel and appear smoother.

Given salicylic acid’s anti-inflammatory properties, you’ll find that it gently cleanses the skin and is ideal for oily, dry and combination skin. It reduces the appearance of blemishes by balancing the skin’s oil levels and keeps pores open which prevents bacterial growth and potential breakouts. Make sure your chosen product contains at least 2% salicylic acid as this is the percentage that provides the most scientifically-backed proven results.

Skincare products containing hyaluronic acid is are superior because they help bring out flawless-looking skin. Have you wondered why that is? Simple: hydration!

Our body is capable of making this acid on its own, and it is commonly found under the skin, connective tissues and within joint fluid. If your products contain this miracle ingredient, then you can bet you’ll teenage son or daughter will have skin that looks smooth, rejuvenated and hydrated all the time.

Hyaluronic acid is also great to deal with pimples, blackheads and other skin impurities. Its moisturising properties provide the skin with the hydration it demands, and that too without clogging pores. Particularly if your kid has dry skin, then this super-amazing ingredient can be life-changing, and the effects can especially be seen in the dry winter months.

Niacinamide is an active ingredient in many leading skincare products and is suitable for not just all skin types but also all ages. Make it a part of your child’s morning and evening routine to get consistent results. Those who have used skincare products with Niacinamide as one of the active ingredients have reported fresher, better rejuvenated and more hydrated skin as well as a reduction in the irritability caused by acne and clogged pores.

When combined with other ingredients like zinc, for instance, the skin’s sebum levels can be easily balanced with a reduction in the appearance of enlarged pores. When the skin’s oil production levels are in check, your kid won’t have to deal with as many spots.

Niacinamide’s ‘hero’ benefit, however, lies in the way it makes the skin barrier stronger. This barrier is the first line of defence against pollutants, irritants, UV rays and other environmental stressors which can weaken the skin with age. So, this fantastic ingredient is something you’d want your child to have in their skincare products as it increases the production of ceramides – that good stuff which helps the skin build a strong barrier to resist all kinds of environmental pollutants.

If your child has oily skin, then you’re probably thinking: Oily skin doesn’t require a moisturiser. Well, think again – a moisturiser is still needed to seal in the moisture that’s already under the skin. And just because your kid is already using a moisturiser doesn’t mean that their skin will automatically become oilier or start to produce more oil than normal.

But there is a catch: with oily skin, you certainly don’t want your kid to add more oil on top of that to clog pores and cause breakouts. So what you want to do is always go for an oil-free and lightweight moisturising formula. Always look for the word “non-comedogenic” on the moisturiser you’re about to buy as it means that it won’t cause the skin to produce more oil or block pores.

All in all, the key thing to remember is hydration. No matter how much oil the skin produces, if it’s dehydrated, then your kid’s skin won’t have the lubrication it requires to look and feel great throughout the day. An oil-free moisturiser, therefore, is the key. 

The Bare Addiction range has been formulated specifically for young skin and has used the aforementioned ingredients and more that are proven to be safe, gentle and effective. View our range, our ingredients and product story here.

Many over-the-counter skincare products today add a lot of fillers to make the bottle size larger but in the end, it does nothing more than cause undue harm to the skin. These typically include:

Parabens include an entire family of chemicals that are used in skincare products to preserve their shelf-life. From masks and night creams to face washes and facial cleansers, they are found in many low-quality skincare products that have not been properly tested.

They are very harmful because they can disrupt your body’s hormonal balance. You can read more about the harmful effects of Parabens here and here.

These are chemicals used to boost the softness and flexibility of plastics used in skincare products. They can be very dangerous, especially for teenage skin and can, again, cause serious hormonal balance issues. Avoid at every chance you get!

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or often Sodium Laurenth Sulfate, is an absolute no-no because it can cause irritation on the skin, triggering a variety of allergies – bad news for any teenager who’s got acne or spot-prone skin.

BHT are synthetic antioxidants used to make products last longer while they sit on shelves. Unfortunately, they can cause hormone disruptions and even adversely affect the liver.

It doesn’t sound that scary at first, right? But any kind of strong fragrance or perfume is a sneaky way for companies to add nasties and fillers in their products just to give them more volume.

“Fragrances” often contain tonnes of chemicals which can cause allergies, hormonal disruptions and even reproductive health issues. Beware of natural fragrances too, as these may sound better for your skin but can actually carry more allergens and are used in greater quantities than synthetic fragrances. Be careful when choosing fragranced skincare!

SPF protection in skincare products is absolutely necessary, not just for protecting the skin against those harmful, skin cancer-causing rays but also against the formation of fine lines and wrinkles in future.

Plus, a broad spectrum SPF moisturiser and sunscreen will target the spots which cause bacteria and lead to breakouts, and it helps control the skin’s shine, so that it never produces too much oil, but stays hydrated.

The Bare Addiction line contains none of these added nasties as we have gone to great lengths to ensure that our products contain only natural and synthetic ingredients which are proven to be safe and boost skin health. When we have had to use fragrances – let’s be honest, natural products don’t always smell nice – we have gone for the highest quality synthetic fragrance only. Plus, we use small percentages of these fragrances compared to natural alternatives. They are also safer for the skin as they are better refined, tested and contain less allergens.