Talking to my teen about their skincare!
Whoa, how in the world do we start the conversation about teen skincare? This can be a ride, right? I have some thoughts for you!
Teen Skincare….I have no idea what to do with my kids skin! This is not an easy task. Mostly because raising a teenager today is hard enough without having to add ANOTHER conversation that involves teaching, preaching, or guiding them to do something. Which, we all know leads to eye rolling, sighing, and probably walking away from the conversation completely!
Am I right? I want to share with you just some really simple concepts that you can try with your teens. I promise you, none of these ideas will involve long extended conversations, just simple suggestions and a small dose of empowerment for them to take care of their skin!
First things first….
HOW TO INTRODUCE A SKINCARE ROUTINE WITH OUT THE FIGHT!
First and foremost, BASIC IS KEY! Your teen does not want to hear 10,001 reasons why they should be taking care of their skin! So, introduce simple steps....3 steps!
CLEANSE: a simple exfoliating cleanser that can sit in the shower, and they can grab it and wash in the shower!
TONE: a natural + clean toner, simply put on the counter in the bathroom, accessible when they get out of the shower, try it next to their deodorant!
MOISTURIZE! This is a tough one, when kids have oily skin they think they don't need moisturizer. So, using a simple OIL-free moisturizer, placed right next to the toner. Just remember, less is more, small sound bites of knowledge.
Yeah, my kid will not do this!
HOW TO COMMUNICATE THE INFO!
Teens do not want lots of words. Relate to them! Affirming statements! Relate to their experience and then offer something that is simple and if they want to learn more they can ask. Put the power in their hands!
"I bet it is super frustrating to be dealing with those breakouts!"
"If you are interested, I have put some exfoliating cleanser in the shower for you, that way you can just do it in the shower!"
"There is a charcoal mask in the cabinet, to keep it simple, you can just put some on your breakouts before bed. Simple and easy. If you need me, I am happy to help"
SIMPLE TRICKS!
I promise these little steps will help!
It really all comes down to getting small amounts of information to your kids without getting too invested and emotional about the conversation!
Simple tricks that can help your kiddo with those breakouts that drive them totally mad!!
Charcoal Masks! Charcoal is incredible for pulling toxins and junk out of the pores + it helps to shrink those pores too! BUT...most kids DO NOT want to lie around with a mask for 10 min. That is weird!! So....show them to place small amounts of the mask onto the specific breakouts and then just go to bed. NO ONE will see them!
Find masks or peels that can benefit and are safe for your kids skin! The key is finding the masks that take little to no maintenance around using it! What does that mean? There are certain masks and peels that can be so beneficial for acne, congested skin, and combination skin, so providing these as tools is a great way to educate your kid on how to be proactive about taking care of their skin. Use an overnight peel, this simply means they apply the mask and they go to bed! Yup, what teen doesnt want to put something on their face then just go to bed? It's perfect!
Spot treat! So, when your teen wakes in the morning and finds a ginormous zit on their face! Yeah, as a mom I definitely do not walk up and point out the fact that my son has a zit, and trust me…I am an esthetician… pop zits for my job! So, finding a spot treatment like a natural salicylic acid that is derived from wintergreen can help to break down dead skin cells and break it all down! It's all about just having that item available for them, on their dresser or next to their toothbrush and simply saying “hey, check this out, this can be super helpful for your skin! If ya need it, it's here for you!”
Treat your kid to a facial. Just a simple purifying facial, one that is only 30 min. They may be weirded out at first, but having someone else besides you talk to them about their skin concerns is always beneficial! Kids will share more and listen sometimes to the advice of others more than their parents! I know…annoying, right!
EMPOWERMENT!
Giving your kids the permission to take care of their own skin! Sometimes, even just getting your kids their own skin care kit. It's a perfect Christmas gift, or stocking stuffers for them. It becomes their own, they don’t need to share it with anyone else, and it empowers them to have their own regimen that no one else will interfere with.
And, in all honesty…if your kids never washed their faces before, and now, maybe they are doing it 1-2 a week….that is progress and growth!
When you can share with your kids that you are so impressed with their progress, or making a compliment that their skin is looking great, this is the ticket! They WILL hear you, they WILL take in that compliment. They WILL roll their eyes at you too! Hey, that is ok, they are slowly learning what it takes to take care of themselves! Showing them how these choices have worked! Providing these natural skin alternatives are so important because they are overloaded with social media promoting toxic skincare with lots of super toxic ingredients….that is a whole additional post!!!:)
LAST TIDBIT….this one could be more from you as a parent….
Nourishment! So, the one thing that is going to mess with your child's skin the most is….
Drum roll please…..
SUGAR!!!!
So, what I would invite you to explore is incorporating more healthy fat and protein in their bodies!
More fat and protein aids in healthy hormones!
Healthy hormones for our kids is key!! This means they will in turn have better skin! Sugar disrupts hormone production! So, when our kids are growing and hormone production is going at warp speed….it is like putting fuel on a fire!
Incorporate healthy nourishing foods. Feel free to share facts with your kids, but in truth, modeling healthy eating for yourself is going to show your kids the importance of doing this for themselves. This is not something that they will say to you now, but in the long run, they are watching you!
LET’S MEET!
This is very overwhelming, and sometimes it is great to have someone to talk to and break down what the best situation is for you and your kids! So, always remember that you can have a complimentary 30 min consult with me regarding your skincare needs.
Take the opportunity to check out Beautycounter’s Friends and Family Sale! This is the time to check out that perfect regimen for your kids! 15% off site wide, and if you spend $250 or more you will get 20% off.
It is always an adventure with our teens, so this is just one way to make your journey with your kids just a little bit easier!