My daughter is 12 years old and has started developing. So far her face is clear, but I would like to know what she can use to wash and care for her face now, before the oil and acne start! My sense is to just use Dove soap, but I wonder if anyone has any other ideas.
Well, Let's see. I went through acne as a teenager, I struggled with acne for years , found a good facial regimen and managed to keep my skin clear without the help of a dermatologist. Clear skin is about knowing your skin type and treating your skin based on that skin type. First decide if she is normal, dry, oily, or combination. Then choose products specifically for that skin type. The key is to cleanse, and moiturizer. Also she old enough apply a sun block to her face every day. Sun block is the key to maintaining youthful skin. Talk to your pediatrician about what brands he/she suggest. She is still very young, so be gentle and stay away from harsh products like neutrogena, which will probably chemically burn her skin. Dove is fine for a baby, but it may leave behind a residue that may clog Her pores.Try St. Ives. It's cheap and it works as a gentle cleanser/scrub. BE prepared to switch to a more comPlex line of products when she gets older, like Arbonne, Biore' or look into organic lines. But teach her the fundementals of healthy skin. CLEANSE, MOISURIZE, EXFOLIATE, AND SUN BLOCK... EVERYDAY. AND NEVER EVER GO TO SLEEP WITH MAKE UP ON. That is a huge no, no. As long as she keeps her skin clean and uses a gentle but effective line of products she will be fine. Now if she becomes acne prone anyway, than PROACTIV OR DERMATOLOIST. Good luck
I'm a huge believer in using products that are more natural/organic based. There won't be all those caustic chemicals that irritate skin and we're relying on nature rather than man made ingredients.
I have a cleanser +toner in one product that I use and LOVE. It doesn't dry out my skin like most do and it's made with safe ingredients. There is also a line of products specifically for acne. I have it, but I don't have to use it much b/c my skin is pretty normal. But it's VERY affordable when you look at all the other products out there for acne. they're so darn expensive. I think this product (4 items) is only around $15.00 or something.
If you're also looking for these types of products, just send me a message and I can share more details with you. Good luck.
Jamie
I'm an Avon Rep and since I was a pre-teen my mother purchased Avon Clear Skin and as I got older I been using that product and Avon Solution also. It really depends on the skin (dry, sensitive or oily) would give me more of an insight on which produce would work best for your child. Feel free to give me a call and I will try my best to match the right facial treatment for your child.
Thank You
China
[email protected]
340-5989
I started my daughter, who is now 13, on Neutregena. It is mild but helps with any oil problems.
Good luck!!
I would suggest just plain old soap and water. Have her wash her face at least twice a day. Normally she will get a few pimples around her cycle. If it should get out of control, I use Proactive Solution. This is awesome stuff and it works. I am 44 and I still use it.
Karen
www.2goodcandles.com
Hi! "Purpose" makes a nice, gentle face wash that she might like to try. I think before she starts having problems, you are fortunate in that you don't have to worry about it much! One other thing you might want to do, though, is get sun screen esp. made for faces for her to use during the summer. Regular sun screens can clog their pores. (She can use regular sun screen on the rest of her body -- just not her face)
Good morning Adrienne. Happy New Year! Wow it is freezing again this morning!! Hope that snow they are talking about stays away-although I know the kids would love to have it. So how long have you been back in the work force? How are you doing juggling the many hats that you wear. Some days I do better than others. Anyway to answer your question about skin care...Have you ever heard of Arbonne? Well I would recommend looking into it. They have a wonderful line that is geared toward younger skin call Arbonne Intelligence Not-So-Basic. It is fabulous. It is botanically based, hypoallergenic, no mineral oil, no animal products/by-products etc. It is very gently and light but cleans and protects the skin very well. Please message me if you'd like to learn more. Hope you stay warm today! Make it a good one!
Maribeth
703-999-2901
My kids (now 18 and 16) went through the same thing, as most teens do. You're smart to be proactive about this. I did a lot of research. Keeping the face clean and hydrated is important. Also, the websites (there are a lot -- check them out) stressed the importance of clean pillow cases and keeping hands off the face. Google "acne" and you'll find some super helpful websites.
Hi Adrienne,
I also have two chiildren, a 12-year old daughter and an 8-year old son. I do marketing for a wellness company that manufactures all of the products you need for personal care as well as cleaning. The products are all without harmful chemicals. Part of that line is an inexpensive combination toner, cleanser that is great for young ladies to use to get in the habit of taking care of their skin. Then if they do have a break-out, we have a great acne fighting kit for about $15 that works great! I'd love to share more about it with you. If you are intersted, please e-mail me at [email protected]. Also you can see the reviews of my company in the Business Directory under Wellness Company. I am in Manchester MD. Good luck!
I don't have any girls old enough to consider those things yet, but thought I might put in my suggestion. I have never had "bad" skin, but have always tried searching for some light face soup/cleanser for my skin. I used Suave face soap for a while...it worked perfectly, but seems to not be available anymore. Then I tried Olay, and it works just as well. They clean the face, but aren't too strong, doesn't dry it out. You could try those? They are both in a hand pump type of plastic bottle, like lotion would come in.
Kari
My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong everybody!) is that acne is unavoidable, but it is manageable. I faced serious acne problems as a teen and tried everything. What I realized after years of trying every soap, and acne medicine was that my skin was actually reacting to them. I had a friend with NO ACNE who told me that he and all his sisters avoided very bad acne by using no soap whatsoever. I was shocked by this, but tried it myself and found that my skin was far less sensitive, meaning it broke out less frequently and less seriously. So, I would suggest laying off the soap, which dries out skin and encourages production of more oil, and just encourage her to rinse her face with warm water and pat it dry each morning.
I'm sure someone will probably want to dispute this, but it really worked for me!
I think I'm jumping in this discussion a little late, but I know of a few good face washes and thought I'd share. I've always given my daughter Olay Foaming Face Wash and her skin hasn't had many breakouts (it also comes in a sensitive skin formula). Also, Cetaphil is a really mild cleanser recommended by our doctor. If you really want to splurge, you can try the Arbonne skin care system, which I believe has special products for teen skin. Their products are great for mommies too!
Hi Adrienne, Arbonne International is a 28 year old company that formulates over 400 products in Switzerland and manufactures them in the USA. What sets Arbonne apart is that the products are botanically based, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, contain no animal products or by-products, no mineral oil and no dyes or chemical fragrances. The products are sold through Independent Consultants, like me, and contain less than 1% preservatives. They are pure, safe and beneficial. Arbonne has a Clear Advantge line for acne and blemishes but I wouldn't recommend using that until blemishes begin to appear. What I would recommend for your 12 year old daughter now is the Arbonne Baby Care line. My son is almost 11 and he uses it. The Hair & Body Wash is a gentle, ultra-mild, tear-free cleanser for hair and delicate skin. The line also includes Body Lotion, Sunscreen SPF 30+ and Body Oil. These products would also be nice for your son. (I put the Hair & Body Wash in a clear plastic bottle for my son because he didn't like the "Baby" idea.) The fact is, even adults with sensitive skin use this line and love it! Visit www.wholelifewellness.com for more information. Or, contact me directly and I'll be more than happy to help you.
Arbonne also has awesome products for moms and dads. You can order online and the products are delivered to your door.
I hope this helps and I look forward to hearing from you.
My pediatrician recommended Dove for my daughter from birth. That was 38 years ago... she has never had any real problems, has a lovely complection and is still using Dove!
Adrienne, Dove is a good idea but the best idea is limit her sugar intake, that is what really causes acne. And make sure that she drinks plenty of water because that keeps her clean inside and out. Water is the best! Also it is not to early for your son to drink plenty of water also because boys will get acne sooner than girls.
The best "advice" I can give is to refer you to an excellent book by Paula Begoun. "Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me" is the title and she has a new edition out. For previous editions, I would go to the library. She gives practical skin care routines and talks about the myths and realities of skin care. Plus, she reviews most cosmetic companies/products based on ingredient lists and overall performance. Kind of like a dictionary or encyclopedia for skincare. The product I use is Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser. It's basic and animal cruelty free (important to me). Paula Begoun also has a website: http://cosmeticscop.com Click on "learn" at the left for some reviews, etc. Paula has created her own line as well which I have not tried as of yet. Good luck!
Hi Adrienne,
I see that you've had many response, but just wanted to agree with the response about limiting sugar-what a difference that makes! Change pillow cases daily if she starts having problems. Another little tip, wipe your phones down regularly with alcohol. May sound crazy, but we tend to hold them against our face and you get everyone's oil & dirt that has built up.
If she starts having problems, my kids and I use Proactive. Poor guys inherited my acne prone skin. Works very well with only 2% benzoyl peroxide, instead of the 10% in most anti-acne products. They make a really nice oil-free moisturizer that is SPF 15. (Should you ever want to try it, look for a Proactive kiosk at a mall where you can purchase a kit without having to sign up for their auto-mail program. A better way to try it out.)
Use a non-comodogenic (won't clog pores) sunscreen on her face daily-she will thank you
later when she still has beautiful skin (and no skin cancer).
-Tami
If you have a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant near you, and you can find one at www.marykay.com there is a product called Velocity. It is designed just for teens. Great product.
I would recommend Cetaphil (or even the cheaper store brand knock-off). I would NOT recommend soap. Plain old soap dries out the skin and causes the skin to create more oil to compensate, thus creating pimples. Use something mild and encourage good hygiene.