Skin can be challenging sometimes – especially during the teen years. Here is some skincare advice to help you achieve your best skin!
Gently wash your skin morning and evening (try not to go to bed without washing your face) with a mild cleanser! Hard scrubbing can irritate your skin. Rinse skin thoroughly after washing. It’s also a good idea to wash your face after strenuous exercise if you get very sweaty.
Moisturizer is important – even for oily skin! Moisturizer helps oily skin self-regulate its oil output. If you have sensitive skin, look for fragrance-free products.
If you wear makeup, it’s a good idea to choose foundations and blushes that are oil-free in order to help prevent clogged pores.
Use sunscreen every day (no matter how light or dark your skin color is) – even in the winter and when the weather is cloudy! Not only will it help protect you from skin cancer, you will end up with less wrinkles and dark spots when you are older. Make sure to reapply it after swimming or sweating and every 2 hours regardless. Don’t forget your lip balm with sunscreen too!
Your hands are full of bacteria so try to avoid touching your face during the day and try your best not to pick at zits! If skin breakouts are bothering you, there are a number of over-the-counter products with ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and topical retinol that can help. It can take time for these products to work and not all products will work for everyone. If your breakouts don’t improve within 2 months it may be time to see a dermatologist.
Here is a little information about the 3 types of breakouts:
- Whiteheads are formed when a hair follicle is clogged with oil and skin cells.
- When the plugged up “stuff” comes to the surface and air reaches it – it turns black and becomes a blackhead (blackheads aren’t caused by dirt).
- When one of the plugged follicles breaks, the area around it swells up and turns into a red bump. When this happens close to the skin’s surface it becomes a pimple and when it happens deep down it becomes a larger pimple or a cyst.
To get your best skin – make sure to drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet. The more healthy foods you consume, the better your skin will look long term. Try to avoid too many sugary, processed foods and fried foods and eat lots of fruits and vegetables!
And above all – just remember to love yourself no matter if you are having a bad skin day or a good skin day. You are unique and beautiful!
CCPL has many books that discuss skincare for all ages… check them out here!
