*standing up* “Hi, my name is Kim, I’m 39 years old and I still get pimples”
Sucks to be me.
I remember being a tween and my sister taking me to the doctor to get some prescription cream for my pimply, tweenage skin. At the time it felt like overkill, but later on I realised that she was so mortified by her own zitty complexion she was simply trying to save me from the same fate.
Following that realisation, from an early age I’ve impressed upon my own daughter the importance of caring for her skin. Cleanse, tone, moisturise. Skin care every day. Sadly my tween has my oily complexion which apparently keeps wrinkles at bay for longer, but I’m yet to be convinced that’s not an old wives tale. What it does mean is pimples. Forever.
We’ve tried a few different things, and found the following to help – a little:
Body shop tea tree: we both use this! It’s a tea tree based toner that you shake to activate the minerals through the liquid and it really does wonders for both youthful and *cough* not-so-youthful skin. It costs about $16 and lasts months.
Facewash: you need to find a wash that works for your tween. Miss11 seems to respond to Garnier Pure 3-in-1 wash, scrub + mask. At under $10 this is a product that we’ve found through trial and error. Find the right one that works for your own tween boy or girl and stick to it – whilst hoping they don’t discontinue it!
Clean pillow case: now this may seem like common sense, but I’ve discovered that common sense is not so common nowadays (yes, I feel 80 years old saying that). Change your tween’s pillow case more regularly and see if it makes a difference. It may mean twice a week depending on their skin, but it works.
Hair products and clean hair: this is another one that really does work! A child who uses a lot of hair products and touches their hair then face, may find their skin improves if they a) wash their hair more regularly or b) change hair products.
Face wipes: You can spend an ABSOLUTE fortune on makeup remover or face wipes. I’m here to tell you that Huggies baby wipes do the same job at a fraction of the price. True story.
Moisturise: get your tween boys and girls in the habit of moisturising regularly. I’ve found this very difficult with my own daughter, but I am persisting. It’s that important. Find a tween-specific moisturiser for their more delicate skin, and remind them day in, day out. It will take a while for them to get the hang of regular moisturising but they’ll thank you for it in their latter years!
Teach them to avoid touching their face: I know if I sit with my chin in my hands, I will end up with bad skin around my chin. We need to teach our tweens the importance of clean skin, and how to take care of it throughout the day.
Do you have any products or tips that help tweens with their skin?
Share in the comments so we can pass them onto our own children!
Disclaimer: none of these are sponsored, gifted or affiliate links. They are purely products that have worked for the tween in my life.