Does anyone else think that perfect skin is wasted on babies and children? It’s amazing how flawless their skin is…until puberty hits and it isn’t flawless any longer (except for those lucky few!). If you’re a parent, it can be overwhelming to know how to help them – when do you start? What products do you get? When do I need to bring them to the dermatologist? I hope this child to pre-teen skincare guide provides some answers to help you help them start their lifelong skin journey.
What Age Should My Child Start Using Skincare?
Unfortunately, there’s no magic age – every kid will be different. However, I would recommend using a physical based SPF on your child as soon as you’re comfortable. The sun is our #1 aging factor, and a physical based (zinc oxide) sunscreen creates a nice barrier to protect their precious skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. I recommend everyone wear sunscreen every day of the year – regardless of the weather.
When your child hits pre-puberty age (~8-12 depending on your child) you can start introducing a skincare routine for them to use. Even if their skin is still fine, starting the habit now will help them to be more independent when they do NEED more active skincare. Remember, taking care of your skin is not a gender specific activity – it’s great to teach any of your kids how to care for their skin! Read on for more info on products…
What Products Should My Child Use?
There are so many products out there, it can be hard to figure out what ones your child should use. As a licensed esthetician, I would recommend asking a trusted local esthetician what products they recommend. Does this mean you need to spend an arm and a leg on product? NO! You definitely don’t want to do that. But, this is a great time to teach your child HOW to use products and ensure they are using good quality ingredients on their delicate skin. With professional grade products (sold by a licensed professional – like an esthetician), a little goes a long way and it can be fun to teach them how to use the right amount.
With this said, you could go in for a facial yourself and have this discussion with your esthetician to see if they will recommend appropriate pre-teen skincare. They might recommend completely different products than me – and that’s OK! As long as you trust them, you (and your kid) are in good hands.
You might be thinking…I don’t have access to a licensed professional…I’m not in a place to invest in professional skincare. If this is the case, here’s another option for you.
I would recommend getting the following 3 products from Beauty Counter:
- Counterstart Cocoboost Moisturizer
- Counterstart Cococream Cleanser
- Countersun Daily Sheer Defense for Face – SPF 25
I recommend Beauty Counter because they are transparent in their practices and ingredients. Although I get asked a lot, I cannot in good conscious recommend any products from Target.
Pre-teen skincare routine (with guidelines if you want to do your own research on products):
- Cleanser (in the shower) – something cream based, hydrating and gentle with minimal ingredients
- Moisturizer – also something hydrating with minimal and non-comedogenic ingredients
- Sun protection – (mix with moisturizer in the AM) – active ingredients: zinc oxide (sometimes also with titanium dioxide)
What to do when they hit puberty:
Once their hormones start raging, and likely wreaking havoc on their skin, it can get more complicated. More specifics to come on this. However, at this point, I recommend bringing them into a local esthetician for a 30 min/express facial BEFORE visiting the dermatologist. A lot of symptoms can be managed with a good skincare routine. AND, if you had started them young, they’ll be prepared to be consistent and take action. An esthetician can help recommend an ideal routine, or targeted products to add to their current routine, for their exact skin type and conditions (oily acne, dry acne, other) – a dermatologist will not do this. They will likely prescribe intense medication (either oral or topical) – this shouldn’t be your first line of defense. If medication is needed, and you have a good esthetician, they will refer you to the dermatologist when/if appropriate.
Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help answer. My Instagram and Facebook DMs are always open!