Teenagers, Skin Cleanser for Boys. and First Make up for Girls

My son wrestled when he was in high school. He started having breakouts around age 14, before he was a wrestler. I found Defense Soap as a recommendation for wrestlers to help keep skin infections at bay (wrestlers have lots of skin to skin contact with each other and the mats, and are always getting rashes), and once he started using it I noticed that his face cleared up a good deal as well. Perhaps coincidental, but I tend to believe it was the soap. Or maybe his hygiene habits improved due to wrestling and *having* a *special* soap to use... Hard to tell with a teen. LOL

You can find it on Amazon.

My boys use the Nivea Mens skin care. Diet is VERY important to acne increase/decrease. My boys notice it when they drink more soda. More acne. Water and tea? Less acne.

I don't have any girls. I can't help you there. I use the Givenchy mascara, I get it at Sephora. It's $22 a tube. Since it's her first? I would use Maybelline or something a tad cheaper. I wouldn't do clear. That to me is a waste.

Teens are a different beast!! that's a true statement! I'll have 4 teenagers this year. YIKES!

The best thing for them both is to establish good facial cleansing routines every morning and evening.

I took my daughter to the dermatologist as a proactive approach. Around 12-18 most kids think parents are stupid and many times it helps to hear the same news from another adult or Dr. No worries tho, around 18-20 they realize how you are not so stupid!!' It's s miracle'!

Most dermatologist recommend Purpose and Cetaphil for cleansers. We use Clinique make up, cleansers and moisturizers because it's also recommended by Dr's. The Clinique rep (not sales person) is s great way to learn the basics and start with small steps.

Good luck!

My teen boys use Clean & Clear, the sensitive skin type. They have a 3 product set with face wash, toner, and moisturizer. Boys do not tend to compare notes with each other on what they use to keep zits at bay. They barely want to acknowledge that it's a thing.

Cover Girl has a clear mascara easily found at Walgreens Target, Walmart, etc. For those that wonder 'why clear' - I use it because my lashes are naturally very dark and I don't need pigments. The clear adds an enhancing reflection of the natural color.

I don't get the clear mascara. I stopped wearing mascara daily because it was irritating my eyes, and now I only use it for special occasions. I can't imagine putting it on if it wasn't going to show!

I would recommend a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream with an SPF. It is never to early to start moisturizing, and make-up is a great way to ensure she is wearing SPF. I wish there had been SPF products when I started out and I could have avoided so much sun damage over the years! Also tinted lip products with SPF.

I bought my son some OXY 5 and it seems to be doing the trick.

Like another mom said, my kids are theatre kids, so make-up is no big deal.

Is your daughter asking for makeup? Otherwise I don't think you should buy her anything, until she starts requesting it.

My daughter started wearing makeup at about 13 or 14. It was pretty minimal at that point. Lipstick and mascara. At about 16 she started the whole eyeliner thing which she did for a couple of years, and then returned to a more minimal look. She always looked tasteful.

I would concentrate more on getting your son into good habits - washing his face every night and in the morning with something gentle like cetaphil (most store carry a generic that works well). Some kids jump into cleansers that are too harsh, which can exacerbate problems.

For your daughter, what a fun stage. I remember how grown up I felt when an aunt gave me a small makeup bag for my 13th birthday. I did the same for my niece - clear mascara, lip gloss and bronzing powder. ELF is an online store that has very inexpensive makeup. They have a clear mascara for $2, plus a lot of lip glosses with or without tint in them.

I like the idea of setting them up with a 3 step kind of thing - some brands like Proactiv (mentioned below) make this easy.

For my teen with just a few blemishes (mostly because he's lazy about washing) we use Clean and Clear (from drugstore). He has eczema so we do have the Cetaphil cleanser for kids with eczema (in a pump). I find he just doesn't bother to use it, so he uses Dove soap, followed by an astringent/toner and then Clean and Clear has this clear gel (some salicylic acid in it) that they can use on a zit. It works for him.

You don't want to go too harsh when you start - can over dry and then make it worse - so there are types, we go for sensitive skin.

Make up - I started using Clinique when I was 16. They have a nice 3 step program too for cleaning/toning/protect. Kind of pricey to begin with.

Body Shop used to (years ago) have a clear mascara. I think really it was more a brow gel - in a mascara wand. It doesn't really do much for lashes except to clump them together if I recall. I'd probably get a very minimalist mascara (I have one from Clinique) that's called natural look or something (they have full volume to light). Most brands would probably have one like that.

My girls were in theatre so makeup was never a big deal to me.

Why bother with mascara though if it is clear? My girls both wear black mascara. I took my daughter's to the Clinique makeup counter at the mall when they started wearing makeup. They will teach your daughter how to apply it and tell her how to care for her skin.

Re: acne I really recommend you consult with a dermatologist...not the pediatrician. Acne can get bad very quickly and around here it takes 12 weeks to get a first appointment. A dermatologist will know specifically what kind of acne your son has and be able to identify appropriate treatments for his particular skin.

Soap and a good wash cloth work well for my son.
My Mom had me wait till I was 16 before I could wear makeup - but then I wasn't really interested in it much.
What makes you feel better about your kid growing up?
I look at kids who have great challenges - who may never really grow up and will have to be looked after by their parents or relatives until they die - and it makes me glad that our child has a shot at growing up fairly normally.
It's all a matter of perspective.
There are worse things than growing up.
Growing up is something to celebrate - but don't over do it.
She's 12 - not 21 just yet.

For the makeup -

Maybelline and ELF both make clear mascara / brow gel. Google it, can buy online. Definitely a nice "no-makeup makeup" product for a young teen.

As for lip gloss, for a 12-year-old I think you might want to go to the "Lip Smackers" website (google it, a Bonne Bell product) and just order a bunch of those in fun flavors. None have much tint but they are moisturizing and some have a hint of color (they are "famous" for a few, like the Dr. Pepper one). Like a more glamorous version of a Chapstick.

Beyond that, in terms of any other makeup, just give some thought (quietly, keep it to yourself) about what your daughter might "need". If she starts getting noticeable blemishes, consider buying her a concealer. If her face is very shiny, a little powder compact. Things like that.

I think it is fine and certainly possible for a young teen to learn how to put her "best face forward" without going overboard into the world of full makeup and "noticeable" products.

Is your son washing his face every morning and night? I find that a face cleanser with salicylic acid is the best for getting rid of acne. I don't think there are boy and girl products specifically. If his face continues to get worse then make an appt with a dermatologist.

It doesn't sound like your son's acne is advanced, so there are some easy at-home steps to take to keep it under control, or even clear it up. The normal recommendation is to follow at-home steps for 6 weeks, & if not improvement, or worsening, then to see a doctor for a referral to a different product.
1. Wash face twice daily & after strenuous exercise with a mild oil-free cleanser.
2. Avoid abrasive products & excessive cleansing
3. Wash hair often (3-4x week) with water based shampoo
4. Do not pick/squeeze any of the blemishes

Try the above for a week or 2 - if the blemishes do not clear up, or more appear, try using a product with benzoyl peroxide.
1. Use smallest amount necessary & start with a low-concentration product (2.5%)
2. Apply in small areas for 5-15 minutes (there may be stinging/burning sensation)
3. Can increase the length of time the product is left on the skin, and the concentration (up to 10%), weekly
4. Use up to 2 or 3 times daily

Hope that helps, and if the acne gets significantly worse even following the above, don't hesitate to see his doctor sooner than 6 weeks. T. :)

My friend has struggled with acne since his teen years. Now in his 40s, he will still get breakouts when under stress at work, which seems to be a new constant. He uses Clean & Clear with salicylic acid. I cannot use that stuff, I did once and my eyes swelled shut, my whole face was red, swollen, and burned. I have never struggled with acne but I needed something to wash my face with and I took some of his facial cleaner and it reacted poorly on me because I have sensitive skin. My ex would get boils on his back and acne around his neck. He would use Neutrogena's Oil Free Acne Wash. I don't know if your son is getting acne elsewhere, but that is an option.

By the way, my friend has like a concealer he dabs on to cover redness and scarring from acne. Maybe this is something that would help your son feel more comfortable if he has redness or pockmarks. I think it's also medicated, or it's non-comedogenic, at least. I think before doing all this though, I'd see a dermatologist. He could have a severe hormonal imbalance that will require more than just a facial cleanser. They also have stronger stuff (my friend in his horrid teen acne days would take a pill, for example) that your son may need.

As to your daughter, I would just get her some colored lip gloss in different shades. I had some light pink and dark pink ones, but I did not start wearing makeup at 12, I find that way too young. I was about 15-16. I actually was not interested in makeup but my mom thought I should start because other girls wore it and I was so awkward. She always said I was too pale so her thing was blush, and the colored lip gloss. I would get a Wet Shine Maybelline lip gloss, sometimes a glittery version of that, which they called "Diamonds" and put that on, she'd put the blush on, and that was it. I still use those colored lip glosses sometimes. I rarely use mascara, it seems to run if I blink and then I get raccoon eyes if I happen to also be sweating. You also have to be careful with mascara, it goes bad quickly and you can get pink eye from wearing mascara that is over 3 months old (been there, done that).

My daughter (13) and I both use Proactiv. If my 11 or 9 year old boys start to get acne, they will use the same product. It works like magic for us. I only know a few people who haven't had luck with it.

My daughter loves to get her makeup at Ulta or Sephora. It's pricey, but the better quality stuff is better for her skin. She has AMAZING skin for a 13 year old girl, and I'm sure it's because we don't buy her the cheap stuff to mess her up. If she's asking for makeup, take her to the store and let her pick what she wants.

I researched the symptoms our girl was having. She has bumpy skin. I got Dial Acne bar. It's clear and has Salicylic acid in it. Then she needs to moisturize a lot.

Her skin stays pretty clear. I think you need to find out what he has then treat it like professionals say.

Does your son have a routine? If not, he needs one that included washing his face at bedtime and especially in the AM after he has been sleeping all night letting the oils build up. Of course, the timing depends on showering times. Be sure to get him a face cleanser for the shower, too. If he strips the oils off of his face with regular soap, he'll be more prone to acne.

My daughter loves Claire's for lip gloss. Target will have clear mascara.

Whenever your daughter starts wearing makeup and whatever you use for your son, please make sure it is 'green' and 'safe'. Most American made cosmetics, personal care products and Johnson & Johnson products are NOT sold in European countries because of the toxins in them. There are many celebrities in California, now trying to get congress to approve measures so the FDA can pull products or recall products. Did you know it ONLY takes about 26 seconds for toxins and chemicals to enter our bloodstream.

Many years ago we didn't have the bad chemicals in products as we do now and cancer, skin disorders, allergies etc are becoming rampant. I use a website 'www.ewg.org/skindeep' before I purchase products if I have concerns.

I didn't do it ONLY once and ordered 'meaningful beauty'. The first day I used it, I got an awful headache. Didn't think anything of it. The 2nd day, I sneezed and coughed most of the day and on the 3rd day of use, I had what may have been a panic attack; body became heated and I thought I would pass out. I could only conclude, since that was the only thing I was using differently, it had to be the culprit. Looking at the brochure that came with it, it was full of parabens and lots of other chemicals my body hasn't had on it for 14-years. I looked for a quick fix and my body couldn't tolerate the product. Somehow, according to the commercial, I thought the product was manufactured in France, but later found out, it was not.