The teenage years are that marker in life where worrying about the state of your skin finally becomes an issue. Puberty hits, your skin starts to produce oils that clog up your pores and creases your face, and acne finally becomes an issue you’re going to have to face. 

If you’re not familiar with how skin care works, your first instinct might just be to cover it all up with makeup, but that isn’t the solution. If you want to keep the acne off and keep your skin looking healthy in the long term, both with and without makeup, then you need to take care of your skin.

Not sure where to start? Well, I got you. I have five tips to get you started on a good skin care routine; just make sure to keep it simple. As a teen, your skin is sensitive, after all.

 

Always Start With a Gentle Cleanser

When you start caring for your skin, everyone will tell you that you need to get a cleanser, and it’s true. When you’re young, your skin is easy to irritate, so you need to start with something that has gentle ingredients.

If you tend to have really bad acne, you’re going to want to go for something with benzoyl peroxide, which can prevent pimples from forming.

One thing you always want to get is a cleanser with hyaluronic acid, which will moisturize your skin.

Get in the habit of cleansing your skin every morning and before you head to bed.

 

Moisturize

Moisturizing your skin is vital for any skin care routine, but it’s especially imperative if you’re prone to acne. Not only will washing your face help to get rid of all those oils that constantly clog up your pores, but keeping your skin moisturized will cause it to produce less oils, period. When your skin is dry, it will begin to produce more oils to keep it hydrated, which will lead to acne. So, if there’s anything you can do to prevent acne, it’s moisturizing. If you want to lock in moisture while using a cleanser, you’re going to want a cleanser with hyaluronic acid. Those are the best at keeping your skin nice and hydrated.

 

Treat your Acne; Don’t Wait For It to Go Away

If it turns out that you’re prone to pretty bad acne, don’t wait for it to go away on its own, because that can lead to damaged skin in the long term. Instead, you need to treat it early on. You should always implement the basics, which is using a cleanser and moisturizing twice a day, but for those with serious acne, you’re going to want to see a professional. Everyone’s skin is different, so I highly suggest seeing a dermatologist to discuss your skin. They can teach you how to properly take care of your skin and can recommend products for you to try out on yourself.

 

Don’t Sleep With Makeup On

I don’t think I need to tell you that wearing makeup to bed is a bad idea for a multitude of reasons, including the fact that you might just ruin your pillow casings. However, it can happen from time to time. We get home late and we either forget to take off our makeup, or we’re just too tired to do so. Well, unless you want to have to deal with a bunch of acne, I highly suggest you take the time to remove all your makeup. Makeup can cause irritation, which can cause breakouts, and no one wants that.

So, if you want to avoid acne, remove your makeup every night with a gentle remover, then follow it up by cleansing and moisturizing your face.

 

Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen

This is not said enough, so I will scream it to the high heavens. Sun damage is a killer when it comes to your skin. You need, need, need to wear sunscreen if you want your skin to look nice and fresh in the long term; you’re less likely to develop wrinkles as you grow older, and it protects against skin cancer.

You should always get some sun on your skin every day because it’s healthy for you, but if you spend most of your time outside or you have a job that requires you work in the sunlight, sunscreen is a must. You are not better than the sun, and it will wreak havoc on your skin if you don’t take care of it.