Tween skincare is all about keeping things simple, fun, and effective. However, many tweens (and their parents) unknowingly make mistakes that can lead to breakouts, dryness, or irritation. The good news? These mistakes are easy to fix! Let’s go over the most common skincare slip-ups and how to correct them for happy, healthy skin.
Doing Too Much: Following Social Media Skincare Trends
The Mistake: Many tweens see viral skincare trends on TikTok or Instagram and assume they should try them all. Unfortunately, using too many products or following the wrong advice can overwhelm their skin and cause irritation.
How to Fix It: Teach tweens to be selective about what they see online. Not every skincare hack is dermatologist-approved, and less is often more when it comes to skincare. A simple, consistent routine will always work better than chasing the latest trend.
Doing Too Little: Assuming Perfect Skin Lasts Forever
The Mistake: Some parents and tweens believe tweens don’t need to care for their skin because they haven’t had issues yet. However, changes in the skin often start around age 9-12, with oil production increasing and breakouts becoming more common.
How to Fix It: Encourage tweens to build good skincare habits early. A simple routine of cleansing, moisturizing, and using sunscreen can help maintain healthy skin for years to come. Prevention is always easier than trying to fix skin problems later on!
Skipping the Moisturizer
The Mistake: Many tweens think that if they have oily or acne-prone skin, they should avoid moisturizer. But skipping this crucial step can actually make skin produce even more oil to compensate for the dryness.
How to Fix It: Choose a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer that hydrates without clogging pores. Look for ingredients like aloe and hyaluronic acid to keep tween skin balanced and smooth.
Using Harsh Products
The Mistake: Tweens often get excited about skincare trends and may use products that are too strong for their skin, like harsh exfoliators, strong acne treatments, or anti-aging ingredients meant for adults.
How to Fix It: Stick to gentle, tween-friendly skincare products that cleanse and protect without over-drying or irritating. Avoid products with high concentrations of acids or retinoids, which can be too intense for young skin.
Overwashing Their Face
The Mistake: Some tweens think that scrubbing their face multiple times a day will keep it super clean and acne-free. In reality, over-cleansing can strip the skin of natural oils and lead to irritation and dryness.
How to Fix It: Tweens should wash their face twice a day—once in the morning and once at night—with a mild cleanser. If they play sports or get sweaty, a quick rinse with lukewarm water can help, but there’s no need to overdo it.
Not Wearing Sunscreen
The Mistake: Many tweens skip sunscreen, thinking it’s only necessary for beach days. But UV rays can damage skin every day, leading to sunburn, premature aging, and an increased risk of skin issues later in life.
How to Fix It: Make sunscreen a daily habit! A lightweight SPF 30+ sunscreen should be applied every morning, even on cloudy days.
Touching Their Face Too Much
The Mistake: Tweens often touch their face throughout the day, whether it’s resting their chin on their hands, picking at pimples, or rubbing their eyes. This transfers dirt, bacteria, and oils onto the skin, leading to breakouts.
How to Fix It: Encourage tweens to keep their hands off their face as much as possible. If they need to touch their skin, washing their hands first can help reduce bacteria transfer.
Final Thoughts
Helping your tween develop a good skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. By avoiding these common mistakes, they can achieve balanced, healthy skin without irritation or breakouts. Be-Tween offers fun, gentle skincare products designed just for tweens, making it easy to build a simple and effective routine.
Shop Be-Tween’s skincare essentials here and give your tween the tools for happy, glowing skin!
