Skincare “Routeen” for Teens
AM- (*Primary goals are to protect your skin from exposure to sunlight & pollutants)
Wash your face to cleanse & remove oils.
(—-> Use toner here, if interested (restores pH balance in the skin).
2. Apply a moisturizer to hydrate your skin & provide a smoother
surface.
3. Apply sunscreen, SPF 30+ (sun protection factor 30 or higher is best)
to protect against harmful UV damage, which would otherwise
cause a sunburn, premature aging with wrinkles & darkening of skin
color.
4. Apply makeup (if you’d like).
Throughout the day, remember to:
*Drink water! Drink before you feel thirsty or mild signs of dehydration like headache, fatigue and dizziness.
**Always wash off chlorine! (Especially to my year-round swimmer nieces and friends!)
*Change your clothing if you’re unable to shower & change after vigorous exercising/sweating. Sweaty clothing harbors bacteria, clogs your pores and increases the likelihood of body acne, rashes and bad odor.
*Reapply sunscreen for continued sun exposure and outdoor swimming.
PM- (*Primary goals are to hydrate and restore healthy skin)
Remove all makeup.
(*Pro tip I learned from my sister Renee- buy black washcloths and hand towels to avoid the mascara and eyeliner imprints! I’ve converted and am a huge fan!)
Wash your face with a cleanser/ consider an exfoliating cleanser to clean deep/large pores.
(*Pores are tricky, they actually get bigger when they are clogged from sweat, dirt and makeup).
Apply a thin layer of Retinol. -Thin enough you don’t have residual white cream.
(*Retinol is a rich ingredient that helps to fight signs of aging at a deep cellular level, promotes the production of collagen and elastin, reduces pore congestion, regulates the production of oil and works against inflammation).
Apply a moisturizer, to re-hydrate the dehydrated skin.
Get adequate rest.
(*Teens need more sleep, approx 9-9 1/2 hours per night. Additional sleep helps with physical growth spurts, brain development & helps reduce the likelihood of depression.)
—-> Consider a 30 min nap after school/ school activities if needed.
Reduce “screen time” before bed to rest your eyes & allow your melatonin to increase and promote sleep.
(*Melatonin is a hormone in your body that plays a role in sleep. The production and release of melatonin in the brain is connected to time of day, increasing when it's dark and decreasing when it's light.)
—-> You can schedule your phone to go into night mode to soften the display and brightness of the screen color.
*If you have acne or other concerns, speak with your parents or a trusted adult & connect with your nurse practitioner or doctor to discuss options for your specific concern and/or acne management. There are many options available for most ailments, including possible prescription topical or medication to take by mouth.
*There are many nice over-the-counter options for skincare but I’m happy to share tips, tricks and medical grade skincare products that I find are especially beneficial.
