Teen skin needs less than the internet says. A gentle cleanser, a light moisturizer and sunscreen cover the basics, and clean Canadian brands make that easy to build. Here is what to look for, what to leave out, and where to start.
By the Shop Canadian Beauty team · Updated
Four things teens and parents ask about most, and what to look for on a label.
Spots and a shiny T-zone are common as hormones change. Wash gently morning and night, choose a light moisturizer that does not feel greasy, and skip harsh scrubs. Painful, scarring or stubborn acne is a job for a doctor or dermatologist.
New products can sting or leave skin red. Look for short ingredient lists and no added fragrance, and try one new product at a time with a patch test first.
Face wash and cold air can leave skin feeling tight. Pick a cleanser that feels comfortable afterward and add a light cream or balm.
Social media sells ten-step routines. Three steps done every day work better than ten done once: cleanse, moisturize, sunscreen.
A gentle cleanser, morning and night. Skin should feel comfortable afterward, not tight.
A light moisturizer or facial oil. Add a hydrating mist if skin feels dry.
Not sure where to start? A set covers the basics in one purchase.
Then sunscreen every morning: Canadian sun care.
Five that show up in teen-friendly routines, and why.
NiacinamideThe quiet all-rounder: a form of vitamin B3 that strengthens skin and plays well with everything else.
Hyaluronic AcidA moisture magnet that holds many times its weight in water.
SqualaneA weightless oil that mirrors one of skin’s own lipids, so it sinks in without a trace.
Aloe VeraThe cooling gel inside a succulent’s leaf, a long-time favourite for hydration.
GlycerinThe humble humectant that pulls water into skin.In our directory, not yet in the shop.
Three things cover it: a gentle cleanser, a light moisturizer, and sunscreen in the morning. Most teens do not need serums, acids or retinol. Clean Canadian brands tend to keep ingredient lists short, which makes it easier to spot something that bothers skin.
They can be too strong for young skin and are not part of a basic routine. If your teen wants to try one, talk to a dermatologist or pharmacist first.
If breakouts are painful, leave marks or scars, or have not improved after a few weeks of a gentle routine, see a doctor or dermatologist. Skincare from our shop is not a treatment for acne.
Clean is a marketing word that each brand defines for itself. Read the ingredient list, look for short lists without added fragrance, and check the brand's own page to see how it makes its products.
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A note for parents. The routine here is short on purpose: a gentle cleanser, a light moisturizer and sunscreen cover most of what a teen needs day to day, and fewer products means fewer things to react to. Choose fragrance-free where you can, add one product at a time, and patch test first. If breakouts are painful, leave marks or are weighing on how your teen feels about school and friends, a family doctor or dermatologist can help in ways a shop can't. We describe what brands say about their products, not medical results.
Related guides: Clean beauty, Everyday makeup, Mature skin.
