Acne can sometimes feel frustrating, especially when you're trying to figure out what works for your skin. Whether you're dealing with occasional breakouts, persistent blackheads, or more painful spots, the good news is that the right ingredients can make a real difference – without resorting to harsh treatments.
There are gentle, effective options that work with your skin rather than against it. In this guide, we'll walk you through the natural ingredients that can help manage teen acne, plus what to avoid, so you can feel more confident in your skin care choices.
At a glance:
- Acne is common in teens, and proper care can help to support more balanced skin
- Willow Bark, Tea Tree, Prebiotics, Witch Hazel and Green Tea are 5 natural ingredients which can help problem skin in teens
- We use these ingredients in Oy Clear Skin Goals Gift Set to provide gentle, effective skin care for teens
- When choosing skin care for teens, avoid ethyl alcohol, SLS, synthetic fragrances, lanolin, and mineral oil, which can irritate or clog skin
Acne myths and misconceptions
An estimated 80% of people experience teen acne and this common skin condition is a totally normal part of growing up. Teenagers can experience acne to varying degrees, ranging from a few blackheads and pimples to painful cysts that can leave permanent scars.
Despite being such a common condition, teen acne can have a major impact on confidence levels and self-esteem. If you’ve experienced teenage acne, you’ll understand how upsetting it can be and how tempting it is to turn to drastic measures and harsh treatments to get rid of spots.
As well as looking at the best natural skin care ingredients for teens with acne, we also reveal some of the most common acne myths and misconceptions.
Shop for teen skin care products
Top natural ingredients for teen acne
Here are five natural anti-blemish powerhouse ingredients to look for when selecting the best skin care for teen acne:
1. Willow Bark
Willow Bark is a rich source of naturally occurring salicylic acid, which has long been used to enhance skin cell turnover, smooth the skin and balance the skin’s natural sebum production.
Willow Bark extract offers the same benefits as salicylic acid, but doesn’t irritate or dry out your skin. It’s naturally anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce redness and calm angry spots.
It also has a powerful action against acne-forming bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes, which helps to prevent future breakouts.
2. Tea Tree
Tea Tree is a very effective natural anti-blemish ingredient and has long been used to treat acne and infection, thanks to its strong antibacterial properties. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centre, Tea Tree Oil is just as effective as benzyl peroxide at treating acne, but has fewer side effects.
Using pure Tea Tree Oil may be too harsh for people with sensitive skin, so we recommend choosing products that contain Tea Tree as part of an expert blend of natural actives.
3. Prebiotics
Compared to adult skin, teenage skin typically produces more sebum, the substance that acne bacteria feed on. An overgrowth of acne bacteria upsets the delicate skin balance, restricts the growth of healthy, beneficial bacteria.
This can lead to a range of acne symptoms including blackheads, pustules and cysts.
To counteract acne-causing bacteria, you need to increase the number of beneficial bacteria on the skin. Prebiotics feed and support the growth of beneficial bacteria, restrict bad bacteria and help to restore a clear complexion with a healthy balance
4. Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel Extract has very effective astringent properties, helping to refine your pores, control excess oil and help prevent new blemishes from forming. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to reduce the size of existing spots and calm angry breakouts.
5. Green Tea
Green Tea isn’t just for drinking, it’s also the ideal ingredient in skin care for teens with acne. Green Tea is rich in powerful antioxidants that protect the skin against oxidative damage and help to reduce inflammation of the skin.
When sebum undergoes oxidative damage, this can lead to clogged pores and blackheads. By reducing oxidative stress, Green Tea can help to prevent blackheads and pimples from forming.
Ingredients teens with acne should avoid
While the right ingredients can support acne-prone skin, some ingredients commonly found in teenage skin care can actually make breakouts worse. If you're prone to acne, you might wish to avoid the following ingredients in your skin care:
1. Ethyl alcohol (denatured alcohol/ethanol)
Often found in face washes and “oil-control” products, ethyl alcohol gives a quick-drying, matte finish, but that comes at a cost. It strips away natural oils, weakens the skin barrier and triggers even more sebum production, which can lead to additional breakouts and irritation over time.
We never use these types of drying alcohol in any of our products, instead we use natural, soothing ingredients that nourish the skin, such as Aloe Vera.
2. Synthetic fragrances and perfumes
Artificial fragrance is one of the most common causes of allergy to skin care products. If you are sensitive to it, you may find that it can aggravate your skin barrier and leave it open to irritation.
You may find that your skin can tolerate essential oils. They have heaps of benefits for skin that may be prone to spots, which is why we use them in our Organic Young range.
However if you have super sensitive or reactive skin, you should choose fragrance-free skin care products, like our scent free skin care range.
3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
SLS is a harsh foaming agent found in some cleansers and face washes. While it creates lots of lather, it also strips the skin of moisture, leaving it tight, irritated and more vulnerable to future breakouts as it can damage your skin’s natural barrier.
We never use SLS in our products, preferring to use natural alternatives like Yucca instead to create a rich foam that won’t disrupt your skin’s natural balance.
Our Oy Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash is a great choice for teens who are sensitive to SLS. Its beautifully frothy foam is actually created by the pump action – there are no foaming agents at all!
When it comes to encouraging a blemish-free complexion, this certified organic teen face wash simply knocks the spots off the rest! With Witch Hazel to balance oil and Tea Tree Leaf Extract and Willow Bark to calm, it thoroughly cleanses all skin types without drying sensitive skin.
Oy Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash 100ml
Deep cleanse pores with this certified organic face wash for teens236 kr
4. Lanolin
Lanolin is a rich, waxy substance that’s often used in moisturisers and lip balms. While it can be nourishing for dry skin, it is moderately comedogenic and can clog pores, making it unsuitable for acne-prone teens.
Some people are also allergic to lanolin, which can cause redness, itching and irritation. That’s one of the reasons you’ll never find lanolin in any of our products.
5. Mineral oil and petroleum jelly
These ingredients form a heavy barrier on the skin, which can lock in sweat, bacteria and sebum. For teens who are already experiencing congestion, this can intensify blocked pores and lead to more blackheads and pimples.
None of our products contain mineral oil or petroleum-based ingredients.
Natural products for teens with acne
We created Organic Young (Oy) by Green People specifically for teens who are tired of battling with their skin. We know how it feels to wake up to another breakout, to feel like you've tried everything, and to just want skin you can feel good about.
That's why Oy uses a blend of natural and effective actives that work gently to break the cycle of spots – without the harsh chemicals that can leave your skin feeling worse. Our range is designed to give you back your confidence, one clear day at a time.
SPOT CONTROL
Oy Clear Skin Goals Gift Set
Best-selling natural skin care gift set for teenagers and tweens
Oy Clear Skin Goals Gift Set
Best-selling natural skin care gift set for teenagers and tweens595 kr
The complete Oy range includes everything you need: an organic cleanser, face wash serum, moisturiser and concealer, plus a natural deodorant with powerful antibacterial action. Real solutions for real skin, made with ingredients you can trust.
Here are two of our top-sellers for teens with troubled skin:
Oy Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash
Oy Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash 100ml
Deep cleanse pores with this certified organic face wash for teens236 kr
Oy Clear Skin Moisturiser 50ml
Oy Clear Skin Cleansing Moisturiser 50ml
Soothe, clear and balance with this natural teenage moisturiser215 kr
Acne myths and misconceptions
Myth 1 - ‘acne is caused by poor hygiene’
Having good hygiene is important for maintaining healthy skin, but acne can affect anyone, even those with a meticulous skin care regime.
The exact cause of teen acne is unknown, but we do know that it occurs when excess androgen hormones cause oil glands in your pores to overproduce oil or sebum. When there is too much sebum, pores become blocked, forming the ideal environment for acne-causing bacteria to grow and cause infection, leading to breakouts.
Washing your face twice a day is fine, and it is important not to wash more than that, as it can lead to irritation. Always use a gentle face wash or cleanser, and rinse thoroughly with tepid water. Water that is too hot or cold can also aggravate acne.
Myth 2 - ‘spots need to be dried out’
Conventional anti-blemish skin care products often contain harsh chemicals, such as alcohol, SLS and benzoyl peroxide that dry out your skin. While this may help reduce existing breakouts, it can lead to a frustrating cycle of spots.
Drying your skin with harsh products strips away its natural, beneficial oils and damages your skin’s protective layer, called the acid mantle. This disruption causes your skin to overcompensate by producing even more oil as it tries to rebalance itself, which leads to clogged pores and more spots.
Managing breakouts with nourishing, natural skin care products that help to restore a natural sebum balance is a more effective long-term solution against spots.
Myth 3 – ‘acne is caused by eating chocolate and greasy food’
Many parents and teens hear that cutting out chocolate or fast food will clear up spots, but there’s no strong evidence that these foods directly cause acne.
Teen acne is primarily influenced by hormone fluctuations, which can lead to increased sebum and blocked pores. However, the NHS does state that a high-GI diet can be a possible trigger for acne[i].
So whilst there’s no need to completely ban favourite treats, it is good to support overall health and wellbeing by choosing a balanced diet that is rich in fruit and veg.
Discover our full range of natural teenage skin care products now. Our friendly UK customer care team is happy to help with any questions about ingredients and can be contacted on 01403 740350.
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