An Easy Skin Care Routine For Acne-Prone Teens

Being a teenager is a tough gig. Don’t get us wrong, that half-a-decade window in our life can be some of the best times but it can also bring with it some of the most trying. Whether you’re approaching it, in the midst of it, or looking back, it’s no secret that adolescence is a challenging time to navigate. Although many things are a “rite of passage” for teenagers — growth spurts, school formals, getting your driver’s licence — there’s one that doesn’t have to be: acne.

Apologies to every high school movie that shows an awkward, gangly teenager covered in red, angry breakouts, because we’re flipping the script on this stereotype. First of all because with the right topical and ingestible ingredients we can manage acne breakouts, and second of all because it’s wreaking havoc on the confidence of people who need it the most.

Unsure what we mean by that? Well, according to research SkinB5 conducted for the brand’s #skinpositive campaign*, 95 per cent of young Australians (2,010 Aussies aged 18 and over) admitted to feeling self-conscious because of their skin, with a quarter being bullied and one in four being scarred for life because of the hurtful comments they have received about their skin.

So if your (or your teen’s) self-confidence is being impacted by acne, you’re not alone.

What causes teenage acne?

Typically an imbalance of hormones and increase in oil production. Not being dirty, unhealthy or gross.

Skin care routine for teenage acne

Step one: Cleanse

Let us be clear: washing the face (twice) daily is an effective and essential method for helping to clear existing acne breakouts and even prevent new ones from forming. But it takes patience.

Ever tried to clear acne by any means necessary before a big event? And as a result left your skin stripped with a damaged skin barrier, doing more harm than good?

It’s for this reason that the overproduction of oil shouldn’t be tackled by ridding the skin of every last drop of moisture in sight — this can actually trick our face into thinking we need oil and in turn, exacerbates the problem tenfold.

Selecting a formulation like the SkinB5 Acne Control Cleansing Mousse ($24.95 at Skin B5) which balances acne-fighting active ingredients like salicylic acid with skin-soothing ingredients like green tea and aloe vera, will work to eliminate redness, refine the skin’s texture and keep things calm and clean in the most gentle yet effective way.

Top tip: Just because your teen has spent a day at school with no makeup on, doesn’t mean they get a free pass to skip their nighttime cleansing routine. Though washing off makeup at the end of the day is a surefire way to prevent pimples from forming, eliminating dirt, oil, sweat and dead skin is just as (if not more) important. Besides, do you only brush your teeth if you’ve eaten sugar that day? We sure hope not.

Step two: Essence

Now that your cleanser has cleared out the excess dirt, oil and sebum, it’s time to hydrate, protect and soften the skin. And what better way to do so then by applying the unsung hero of hydration and nourishment: an essence.

Seeking out a product like the SkinB5™ Australian Botanicals Hydration Essence ($29.95 at SkinB5), will ensure that all the right calming ingredients like Kakadu plum and mountain pepper berry are getting where they need to — AKA deep within your pores.

Step three: Exfoliate

At the risk of confusing you, it’s important to remember that there are exfoliators and then there are exfoliators. Abrasive? No. Nourishing and bacteria-fighting? Yes. So, how on earth do you find the perfect one? Easy. We’re going to tell you. Once or twice a week enlist the help of a chemical exfoliator like the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant ($36.95 at Paula’s Choice).

Step four: Moisturise

The right moisturiser will lock in essential hydration, keeping acne-prone skin hydrated and redness calm. Though oily skin and acne are two peas in a pod, it’s a common misconception that the skin can’t also be dry. As many acne-fighting ingredients look to clear and unclog congestion, it’s important to use something like the SkinB5 Acne Control Moisturiser ($24.95 at SkinB5) to properly nourish and rehydrate daily. It’s been specifically formulated to soothe inflammation and give skin the best chance to heal, using a blend of vitamin B5, jojoba, aloe vera and vitamin E.

Top tip: Don’t underestimate the power of nourishing from the inside out, too. Just as a bruise is the physical side effect of knocking your knee, a pimple or breakout is the consequence of an imbalance within your body. Though an effective skin care routine will work towards managing breakouts topically, it’s important to also target the root cause of acne, which begins from the inside.

To help make this easy, SkinB5 introduced a first of its kind daily vitamin, the SkinB5 Extra Strength Acne Control Vitamins ($34.95 at SkinB5), which harnesses the efficacy of high-dose vitamin B5 in its patented SB5-BIOTRX™ to help fight acne. Forget strange-tasting smoothies, these easy-to-take vitamins also include vitamin A, B3, B9, H, zinc, silicea and nettle all in one little tablet.

Step five: SPF (AM)

All Aussie’s need to wear a daily SPF 50+. Whatever your skin type or condition, it’s a non-negotiable. In saying that, if your skin is acne-prone, we do recommend selecting a weightless formula that won’t exacerbate your easily-irritated skin. Our top recommendations for sunscreen that’s kind to oily skin are the SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial Defense SPF 50+ ($55 at Adore Beauty) and Cetaphil Sun Ultra-light Lotion SPF50+ ($18.49 at Chemist Warehouse).

Step six: Patch

And just because you’ve followed steps one through five doesn’t mean you’ll magically never get another pimple. So, for the days that one pops up, pop on a patch. Yep, it’s seriously that simple. Okay no, they’re no miracle cure, but the hydrocolloid infused patches work to draw out and absorb any fluids (think perfect for those pus-filled whiteheads). Pick up a packet of Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Surface ($15.99 at Chemist Warehouse) for some serious pimple patch area coverage. 

*Methodology: The data sample was weighted against ABS data for age, gender and location using an online survey that is independently conducted and verified PureProfile.

Brought to you by SkinB5