In recent years, there has been a growing trend of children and young teenagers using complex skin care routines that are simply not designed for young skin. Influenced by social media and adult beauty trends, many children are being introduced to cleansers, exfoliants and harsh active ingredients, like Retinols, far earlier than their skin needs.
When I founded Green People almost 30 years ago, my aim was always to support the skin’s natural balance, not disrupt it. This belief is even more important when it comes to children and young people, whose skin is still developing and often far more reactive than adult skin.
In this guide, I want to share my beliefs around what tween and teen skin care should look like, and help you support your child in developing a healthy, confident approach to their beauty habits.
At a glance
- Children and teens do not need skin care products until their skin shows signs of needing extra support
- Water alone is often enough for cleansing young skin
- Using harsh or unnecessary products can disrupt the skin’s natural balance
- When skin care is needed, choose gentle, age-appropriate formulas
- Discover Oy Clear Skin Goals – our gentle, organic skin care set designed to support young skin with puberty skin problems
Is water enough for children’s skin?
For children with healthy skin, a multi-step routine simply is not necessary. In fact, for most children, water alone is enough to cleanse the face.
Until skin begins to show signs that it needs extra support, such as oiliness, blocked pores or occasional spots during puberty, or dryness caused by eczema or environmental factors, adding products can often do more harm than good.
Over-cleansing or layering unnecessary products can strip the skin’s natural protective barrier, leaving it more vulnerable to irritation and sensitivity. It may even trigger further over-production of sebum, creating further imbalance. This is something I have seen time and time again.
The risks of harsh or unnecessary products for children’s skin
Children’s skin is thinner and more reactive than adult skin. Using products that are too strong, or designed to ‘correct’ problems that do not yet exist, can lead to:
- Irritation and redness
- Increased sensitivity
- Increased sebum production
- Disruption of the skin’s natural balance and microbiome
Once skin becomes sensitised at a young age, it can be much harder to restore comfort and resilience later on. It can end up being a life-long battle with sensitive skin.
What age should children start using skin care products?
I believe children should start using skin care products when their skin genuinely needs extra help, which is usually during the onset of puberty.
As children move into their pre-teen and teenage years, hormonal changes can increase oil production and trigger occasional breakouts and blocked pores. This is the point at which gentle, supportive skin care can be helpful.
When choosing products for young skin, I always recommend keeping routines simple and avoiding ingredients that are unnecessarily harsh or disruptive. In particular, I advise avoiding:
- Ethyl alcohol (ethanol), which can dry and irritate
- Sodium lauryl sulphate, a harsh foaming agent
- Retinols and strong exfoliating acids
- Heavy synthetic fragrances
Instead, look for gentle cleansers and lightweight moisturisers made with skin-friendly ingredients that help support balance rather than strip the skin.
Discover Organic Young – gentle skin care for young skin
I developed our Organic Young (Oy) range with my daughter, Alexandra, specifically to support young skin during puberty. It is designed for pre-teens and teenagers who are starting to experience oiliness, occasional spots, blackheads or sensitivity, without overwhelming their skin.
Organic Young uses carefully selected natural ingredients such as Willow Bark, Witch Hazel, Rosehip and Green Tea to help keep skin clear, comfortable and resilient. As with all Green People products, I created this without harsh ingredients and with a focus on supporting the skin’s natural processes.
If you are concerned about essential oils, you may like to discover our scent-free skin care range, which is made entirely without fragrance.
Organic Young Clear Skin Goals routine
The Organic Young Clear Skin Goals gift set brings together three targeted products to help young skin stay fresh and balanced.
Designed with young skin in mind, it offers a simple, age-appropriate routine that helps support clearer-looking skin without overwhelming it. Each product works gently with the skin’s natural balance, making it an ideal introduction to skin care during puberty.
Oy Clear Skin Goals Gift Set
Best-selling natural skin care gift set for teenagers and tweens589.00 kr
Oy Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash
This gentle face wash helps remove excess oil and daily impurities without drying the skin. Formulated with soothing Aloe Vera and without foaming agents, the pump creates a light, frothy foam that cleanses effectively while helping to maintain the skin’s natural moisture balance.
Oy Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash 100ml
Deep cleanse pores with this certified organic face wash for teens233.00 kr
Oy Clear Skin Cleansing Moisturiser
This gentle moisturiser helps keep young skin soft and comfortable, making it ideal for teenagers who are new to using skin care.
Formulated with skin-friendly ingredients including organic Aloe Vera, Willow Bark and Rosehip, it supports a clear, hydrated and balanced complexion.
Oy Clear Skin Cleansing Moisturiser 50ml
Soothe, clear and balance with this natural teenage moisturiser213.00 kr
Oy Clear Skin Purifying Serum
This lightweight serum is designed to be applied directly to spots. Natural plant extracts help calm the appearance of redness while supporting clearer-looking skin, without the harshness often found in traditional spot products.
Oy Clear Skin Purifying Serum 30ml
Clear skin comes naturally with this skin-purifying serum for teens260.00 kr
Gentle protection for growing confidence – Oy Deodorant
As young people become more active, a gentle deodorant can also become an important part of daily self-care.
Oy Deodorant is formulated to be kind to young, sensitive underarm skin. It helps neutralise odour without blocking pores, using skin-friendly ingredients such as Prebiotics that respect the body’s natural processes. Free from harsh antiperspirant actives, it is a reassuring first deodorant for teenagers.
Oy Deodorant 75ml
Stay fresh with this certified organic roll-on deodorant for teens185.00 kr
Supporting skin for the long term
Introducing skin care at the right time, and in the right way, helps young people develop healthy habits and resilient skin for the future.
By keeping routines simple and choosing gentle, well-formulated products, we can help them support their skin through the changes of puberty and feel confident in caring for their complexion.
We hope that you have found this guide to children’s skin care helpful. If you'd like further advice about choosing products for your tween or teen, please contact our UK customer care team on 01403 740350; we're happy to help!
BY CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
This blog post has been written by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
