Tween and teen skin - How to care for it.
Written by Tegan Frost - Divine Skin and Beauty
Teenagers are up against it when it comes to what to do for optimal skin health. Between Tiktok fads, the many influencers on social media and the abundance of celebrity skincare releases. You can't blame our teens for feeling overwhelmed and unsure what to use.
In this article, my aim is to help shed some light into the murky waters of teenage skin care, with practical advice on the key principals of
maintaining healthy skin.
Tip #1 - Cleanse your skin before bed!
This allows your skin to work magic while you sleep, the skin is so intelligent at repair and renewal when we give it the chance to do what it's designed to do. If you go to sleep with make up, this causes a build up in your pores, leading to drying the skin out and causes premature skin aging. Everything we do NOT want. Not to mention when we don't "cleanse the day off", who knows what kind of contamination we are taking into our beds at night. Environmental pollution sticks to make up and natural skin oils, and then get rubbed into our pillow at night.
If this isn't enough to convince you to cleanse, to quote my fellow Skin Therapist Robyn McAlpine, "who knows how many fart clouds you walk through at the supermarket without knowing it". So next time you're thinking about skipping the night cleanser, just remember this and I'm sure you will find the inspiration to get your cleanse on.
Tip #2 - Don't over exfoliate!
Over exfoliation is an epidemic. Less is more when it comes to exfoliation. It is just one way we can work to improve the appearance and texture of the skin. Working to improve the Keratinocyte life cycle and creating healthy functional skin is so much more beneficial long term for skin health. Trust me, put down the harsh exfoliation scrubs and tools, and trial out the steps in the article and enjoy improvement in skin texture and appearance.
Tip #3 - Fragrance and colour are not your friend!
If it looks pretty and smells pretty... Drop it and run; it is not good for your skin. Fragrance is the number one skin barrier sensitiser, and it has no benefit being in your skin care. The impact on the skin ranges from increased risk of pigmentation, to increased immune response leading to barrier related skin issues.
Tip #4 - Protect your skin with SPF.
"Protect your investment" is what I tell my clients. You don't want to work hard in all the areas listed in this article and then come undone with not protecting your skin from its harsh UV rays. It's the small over exposures that accumulate over our life time that can add up to increased skin damage, so having a solid SPF routine can be extremely beneficial. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and covering the skin with protective clothing layers are especially important in summer and high UV peak times.
Tip #5 - Eat for skin health.
Aim to eat for variety and a nutritionally dense diet. Avoiding processed foods, look for whole foods in their original form as often as possible. Healthy fats, Omegas. Supplementation is very beneficial to help support the diet, and working with a nutritionist can be worthwhile to help tailor to your individual needs.Hydration; it is the cheapest form of skincare and nothing can replace the effects and importance of a glass of water. Aim to get in your 8 glasses of water a day (or 1 glass for every 10kg you weight, increasing
more if you're sweating and active). Cheers to you and your hydrated skin.
Tip #6 - Mind Body and Soul.
Taking care of not only your physical body, but your mind and soul has a direct effect on the skins appearance. Our inner thoughts affect our health and wellbeing, and this result can determine how we show up in the world. Making sure we speak kindly to others, but also ourselves, is so important to our mental health and well being. You are the only person who can create your happiness, so make it a priority. Do something that brings you joy everyday to help balance the mental load. To quote Audrey Hepburn, "the beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul". You are worth investing in and are worthy of the effort it takes to care for your mind, body and soul.
Tip #7 - Use quality skin care, and utilise a professional skin therapist.
Good skin doesn't come from just one product, or one professorial facial. It's the things we do everyday that make the biggest difference. Working with a professional skin therapist and creating a long term relationship, can be extremely rewarding. They can work to support you through any skin challenges, and help you correct your course thought the different stages of life and seasonal changes. By taking the guessing game out of the skin care journey, they can help you to save money in the long term, avoiding falling victim to the latest fads and gimmick products.