If you found this page, you are either a pretty cool teen who is totally over bad skin or a parent that wants to help their child clear up their skin.  Either way, I’m glad you are here!   As a teen and even into my 20′s, I had horrible acne so I can relate how you feel when you look in the mirror.  Frustrated?  Here are a few tips you can apply to your daily life to help control the breakouts and flare-ups. The key is to be consistent in your skin care routine!

  • YOU are BEAUTIFUL!
  • Absolutely do not sleep with your make-up on.  Let your skin breathe!
  • Cleanse your skin and apply appropriate day/night acne creams or serum.   Make your routine fun and play your iPod while taking care of your skin.
  • Throw away old make-up.
  • Clean your make-up brushes once a week and throw out sponges after each use.
  • Change your pillow case at least once a week.
  • Exfoliate your skin with a GENTLE exfoliant 1-2 times a week.  You can mix fine sugar with your face wash for an easy at home exfoliant.  You don’t want to use a harsh exfoliant.
  • Even those of us with oily skin need to moisturize! Surprised, right?! (Oil/sebum is not recognized by your skin as moisture and will produce more oil/sebum to bring your skin to it’s correct pH balance.  Then you have double the oil and possibly break-outs!). Choose a light moisturizer.  You’ll thank me for this tip. ;)
  • Be careful to not overdry your skin with acne products.  Again, your skin will work overtime to replace that moisture and then you are back at square one…not what we want.
  • Wear sunscreen.  No one wants to do this but it’s the #1 beauty secret!!!  Choose a lightweight, odorless, non-greasy sunscreen.  My favorite is Weightless Protection SPF 45 by PCA Skin.  Not only does it protect and moisturize your skin, it’s an excellent base to put your make-up on over.  (Let me know if you want some!)  **Side note: Notice that most Hollywood actresses don’t tan. They use sunless tanner.  They don’t want wrinkles, sun damage, or skin cancer either!
  • As hard as it is, try not to pop your pimples! You run the chance of pushing the acne bacteria back down in the follicle.  The follicle can burst, the bacteria spreads, and you have more redness and inflammation.  Instead…
  • …use a topical treatment with salicyllic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or a serum with a Vitamin A derivative (retinoid) and of course wear your light moisturizer and sunscreen!

I hope some of these tips help you!  I have sample acne kits just for teens (and those unlucky 20 somethings) for only $30.  The kit includes: cosmetic bag, face wash, an acne spot treatment product, moisturizer for breakout skin, weightless/odorless sunscreen, and a surprise…along with a skin care regimen.  Please contact me privately, as I customize these kits according to the level of acne and what kind of skin you have.   colleen@skincarebycolleen.com.  Also, please feel free to email me with any acne or skin related questions.

girls-facial-partyresized