Beginning tweener skin care program

[oldgirl,newtricks]

Both my 9 yo DD and 12 yo DS are interested in a skin care program. I've used Mary Kay for years and don't want to change, so I haven't really been looking at other products. Luckily my oldest got the the teen years with very few breakouts.

We live in a dry, cold climate and they both complain that their faces feel dry and puckery with just soap and water. They seem to be having trouble with blackheads around the nose area.

Any suggestions to get them on a simple, decent skin care routine while they are willing to try?

[Mama Dragon]

Both my DD and I use an Olay cleanser, I don't remember now exactly which one it is, but it's got witch hazel in it. I pretty much stay with Olay. I would suggest one of their pore cleansers and a light moisterizer, we don't use them here but have in other areas.

Hopefully someone can give you a more natural answer, I'm not fond of using a product with so many chemicals (then again, Mary Kay has plenty too), but I can't find anything else that works for mine, or DD's skin.

[NiteNicole]

The Body Shop has a tea tree line - it's good for blemishes and black heads, but there's also a very light moisturizer.

When I was that age, we all started on Clinique and it seems to still be the trend. I am back to using their products for sensitve skin (and a scrub for my own gunky pore tendencies).

If you don't mind shopping online (maybe you're lucky and there's one near you), Lush has a lot of skin care products and the site has reviews with each product. I'm a big fan of customer reviews.

[lesley&grace]

When I was about 12 I started with the Avon Clearskin line, and used a lightweight moisurizer and never had issues with acne. Avon has a number of lines for various skin issues, http://shop.avon.com/shop/product_li...302&cat_type=C that's a link to their website and what they have.

I have also heard great things about Neutrogena as well.

I think it's so great you are doing this with your kids, so many parents just not think about it and it falls by the wayside. My mom always took great care of her skin, and from a vanity standpoint she has aged very gracefully. She got me started on my skin care regime that I still maintain (although I use a line to prevent ageing now, lol!) and I hope I look as good as she does! I cannot not stress enough the importance of A) Moisturizer!! and B) Sunscreen!!!

[Myboysmom]

I LOVE AVON! My 14 yo son uses it for his acne. His acne is bad and avon has helped a LOT!

I have also switched almost compeletly to their products. There is one MaryKay product I still use: Extra Emoilant Night Cream aka: grease! But I am over 45 and need all the help I can get! When Avon comes out with something like it, I'll switch!

Like Avon, Like the price, Like the results!

[Ninjinmama]

My kids and I have incredibly sensitive skin so I use the Alba Organics line from Avalon Natural Products. I've also used Aubrey organics. You can usually order these online or in your local Natural Foods grocery. Each co. has many different lines for specific skin needs.
My oldest son has just started to get blackheads and we're trying Cetaphil for nightly face washing. He doesn't like the "girl soaps." So far so good

[Turkish Kate]

Another vote for Neutrogena. DD uses the orangey-colored anti-acne facial wash in the pump bottle and the oil-free moisturizer for sensitive skin. Her skin has cleared up a lot since starting that this summer. Also, a trick that I learned years ago for those pesky clogged pores around the nose--surgical tape! Get some silk surgical tape from a medical supply store or your nurse friend who no doubt carries home a ton in her pocket (I always did). Put a couple of strips on before going to bed and when you pull it off in the morning, lots of those little clogs will come with it. You may have to do it several nights in a row to see a huge difference, or leave it on longer, but it works and DD now swears by it. (Obviously not for those with adhesive allergy or tape sensitivity.)

[BathrobeGoddess]

My dd uses Burts Bees Lemon Poppy Seed cleanser. For the dry climate (us too), its great since it is completly non-drying. It also seems to control her break-out well.

[kennedy444]

My friend just starting selling Arbonne so I bought their cleanser, wash and face lotion for dd1 and she really loves it.

[Ninjinmama]

Originally Posted by kennedy444

My friend just starting selling Arbonne so I bought their cleanser, wash and face lotion for dd1 and she really loves it.

I am supposed to go to an Arbonne party hosted by my MIL this weekend. Always hestitant to run out and buy new products(very sensitive skin). Is there much fragrance in their products? Any info would be appreciated...

[wanderinggypsy]

Jumping in here.... There is NO fragrance or color in Arbonne products. I sell Arbonne on the side, and their products are outstanding, across the board, the best stuff I've ever encountered. I would say for your daughter if you were to go the Arbonne route it wouldn't have to cost much either because she doesn't really require a whole "system". Just a cleanser (may I suggest the Intelligence line cleanser?) and maybe a simple moisturizer for nasty weather. The other good thing about Arbonne is their stuff is very concentrated. For me, tube of Intelligence cleanser lasts almost 6 months! A little goes a LONNNGGG way.

Oh and ask your Arbonne rep for a sample strip, so she can try the product. Used sparingly, there is enough product in one of those strips for a couple of days, so she'll get a good idea as to the effectiveness, and it's FREE! (At least for MY clients it's free, hehhehe)

[orangefoot]

I realise that I have been stripping the oils from my skin for years and that has just been encouraging more oil production. My ds1 (13) has skin like mine and I didn't want him to go down the same road so we have both been doing the OCM once a week and this with oat flour (blitzed oatmeal) and salt daily in the shower.

I look at the ingredients on most creams and lotions now and think I wouldn't eat something with that many weird names so why would I put it on my skin?

Both our faces look much less oily, its cheap and its something we share which is a plus with a teenage boy!

[oldgirl,newtricks]

Thanks for all of the ideas. DS was asking again and I told him that I had posted and asked for suggestions, so we've printed them off and will see what he would like to try.

[Bisou]

Hello There:
For blackheads on the nose, I'd try the Biore pore clearing strips. You wet them, stick them on your nose, let it dry, then pull it off and it pulls all the blackheads out. This should be a hit with the younger ones in particular. Have them remove it slowly and gently so they don't hurt their skin. If you do it correctly, it shouldn't cause a problem; just don't let them rip it off wildly. If it's too much after pulling a tiny corner back, you can easily wet it down and remove it.

I also LOVE LOVE LOVE Dermalogica products. They are a bit spendy, but nearly cured my acne-prone skin. They are usually sold by facialists, or in specialty beauty stores like Beauty First. (I am not sure if they have those where you are or not.) The Anti-Bac face wash is good, and the dermal cleansing clay is excellent!

You definitely don't want to overdo it with harsh products though. Remind them that scrubbing hard or washing over and over won't improve the situation.

[JenniferH]

I use Arbonne personally. They have an acne line that is gentle, and cleanses without drying.