When was the first time you were told you needed to wash your face? Or the first time you bought your very own moisturiser or played with your first makeup kit? Probably when you were a young fresh-faced teen.
It can be overwhelming to find your world invaded by a slew of skin changes as puberty hits – oiliness, clogged pores, breakouts, things that you have never had problems with.
That’s where a lot of teenagers make their first misstep in overloading their skin with products they may not actually need in a frantic attempt to find a quick solution. When that doesn’t work out, the next to-go is foundation, concealer, makeup, anything that can help bring back a measure of confidence.
However, those lead to more pore-clogging issues, and many find themselves stuck in the rut of bad skin and more makeup.
For 24-year-old Zhang Hong, makeup used to be her frequent go-to as a teenager but improper cleansing left her skin troubled with acne problems.
Hear her story.
You can avoid these costly mistakes. We put together 4 back-to-basics tips for young skin (teens to early 20s) so you can be properly inducted into the world of skin care.
Tip #1: Know how your skin works
Our skin goes through a regular renewal cycle. It produces new skin cells and pushes older skin cells out from our skin surface. This process helps our skin to rejuvenate and recover quickly from wounds and scarring.
The skin of a teen or young adult performs this well, taking about 21 to 28 days to renew itself. As we mature, the speed of renewal slows down with those in their 30s ranging between 28 to 35 days.
As the skin is able to recover and rebound quite easily, young teens and young adults will find themselves needing lesser skin care help as compared to those with mature skin.
Tip #2: Know what happens in puberty
Hormonal changes in teenagers cause the activity of oil glands to spike, leading to more oiliness, pore clogs and pimples. Instead of washing out your face every time you feel that it’s oily (a common mistake!), a more important thing to do is to balance the oil sebum levels on your skin so your skin becomes more stable.
Tip #3: 3 simple steps – cleanse, moisturise, protect
Resist the urge to go on a skin care binge! Get into a regular basic routine and follow it diligently until your skin feels more stable.
Our real DR’s Secret user Dorina Wu tells us how she started trying out different skin care products at the young age of 12 only to end up with sensitive skin. The good news? She found a DR’s Secret routine that worked, followed it through diligently and is now free from sensitivity and acne issues.
Watch her story.
1. Cleanse
All great routines start with proper cleansing. Washing your face too often tends to dry out your skin, which spells more trouble for dry or dehydrated skin types.
Use a hydrating cleanser morning and night, one that doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight or squeaky clean after wash.
2. Moisturise
Feeding your skin with water helps it to function at its optimum and many skin problems present in young skin can actually be resolved with sufficient moisture.
If your skin type is dry, go for a thicker cream texture but if your skin feels oily, try a liquid-based or lightweight option.
We recommend DR’s Secret Toner T2, Moisturizer 6 and Refining Serum 9 to help get your skin on healthy hydration.
Tip:
- Use DR’s Secret Toner T2, Moisturizer 6, Refining Serum 9 in this order for dry skin to ensure enough hydration.
- Use DR’s Secret Refining Serum 9, Toner T2, Refining Serum 9 for oilier skin during puberty for sufficient lightweight hydration.
3. Protect
End off your day routine with sunscreen. If you are going to be outdoors, apply at least 2-3 layers each time and reapply after 3 hours for sufficient coverage. Starting early on sunscreen will help prevent sun spots and premature age spots. It also helps to preserve your skin elasticity, which means more bounce for a longer time.
Tip #4: One product at a time
What about acne solutions? Or brightening actives? Can I still use them? Yes, you can, but the wisdom here is to introduce them in one at a time.
Do not overload your skin with products all at once and avoid switching or swapping out your products every other day.
If you need some help with acne, we recommend applying DR’s Secret Spot Serum 8, a gentle blemish serum that can help soothe your troubled spots while balancing sebum levels. Try applying on the troubled areas first and only apply on the entire face if your face feels very oily.
Remember the younger your skin is, the less products it is likely to need. If you wish to target specific skin problems, add in one product to your basic routine and observe how your skin reacts before adding on another if necessary.
If you need further help with your skin concerns or for your teenager, feel free to check in with our DR’s Secret skin consultants who will be able to customise a routine suited to your skin type.