Tween Girl Skin Care?

[JennaTX]

What do you use for your 11 year old daughter?

My DD has oily skin and she has started breaking out some basically around the T zone but also some on her cheeks.

I have dry skin and never had a problem with acne, so I am not sure which products would be the best for her.

She doesn't really wear makeup yet except for lip gloss and a little mascara.

Also with starting middle school is there something quick and easy to use after PE?

 

[Kimberle]

I recently bought the Clinic system (face wash/astrigent/moisteriser) for my 11yo. She'd been breaking out, too. It works pretty good and is gentle. She gets lazy though, and doesn't do it 2x per day.

I started w/ Clinic when I was young.

 

[MouseJunkie]

Honestly, I've tried them all and as an adult and when I was a teen, had the best luck with clean and clear. It's not too fancy, nor too expensive, but seems to work for me.

 

[DVCLiz]

My daughters liked the Clean and Clear products and also the Clinique system. Neither of them had problems with breaking out or oily skin but they both wanted to get into a regular routine of using skin care products, and those brands were the ones they liked over time.

They also liked the Philosophy products.

If I had a teen who couldn't control skin problems with one of the over the counter products I'd go to the dermatologist and get a prescription for something. No point in making girls feel self-conscious when there are so many ways to clear up teen skin.

 

[epcotprincess]

Philosophy products are excellent, but they are kind of spendy, particularly if you're not sure they'll work.

I think the best route to go is to try out some drug store favorites. Those usually end up working for people with normal, non-stubborn acne. They're also cost effective-- if she does't like a particular product you will only be out $5-6. My personal favorite is the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for Blemishes and Blackheads, or the St. Ives Warming Scrub. They're both very gentle. Regular old Clearasil is usually the first go-to for teens and works for many people.

For after gym, I would recommend the Oxy Daily Face Cleansing Wipes. They're like baby wipes, but for teens to use on their face if it becomes oily during the day. Here is the description from the website: OXY Daily Face Cleansing Wipes offer a quick and easy way to clean skin and prevent spots, blackheads and oily skin. They are proven to be effective in removing dirt and grease, helping keep pores clean*. They fit easily in the school bag and are great after sport, and are suitable for sensitive skin as they have been dermatologically tested.

If all of that fails, you may want to consider seeing a dermatologist. Many derms offer their own brands of face washes that are specially formulated to the patient's specific type of acne and skin. Make sure you keep an eye on her emotions, as acne in middle school is known to sometimes add to depression and feelings of lowered self-esteem (it's such a tricky age to begin with!)

Good luck to you and your dd!

 

[madmom1030]

My dd10 was using the clean and clear but it started to over dry her skin and she ended up with dry and peeling skin in the places she had break outs. I switched her last week to bioelements decongestant cleanser and then using my moisturizer (absolute moisturizer). This is what my esthetician recommended for her since it won't clog her pores. It isn't cheap but I have always found that skin care products that are more expensive always work better for me than the less expensive products.

 

[kristilew]

I started DD on Clean and Clear products around 11. I told her if she showed me that she could stick to a regular routine to keep her face clean, morning and night, for a year, then I'd let her start wearing real make up. She did it, so before school started this year (7th grade, almost 13), I took her to the Clinique counter and got her their whole system plus make up.

I thought the drugstore stuff was keeping her reasonably, well, clean and clear. But her skin looks amazing since she's been doing the Clinique! I wish I'd done it sooner.

The consultant was great. I called ahead and had a private conversation with her about how I wanted the emphasis on keeping skin clean and healthy, and that I wanted the make up age appropriate, light and understated. She did a fabulous job and really explained every little thing to DD, without talking down to her and without making it sound like I'd placed limits on things. And of course, DD listened so much better to someone else telling her all this stuff.

 

[suzcruz]

just took my DD12 to a dr. who "prescribed" cerave soap & mosturizer, along with a real prescription for epiduo, it seems to be working!