The Teenager Who Doesn't Need a Serum
The earliest a skincare routine makes sense is around 11 to 13, when sebaceous glands become active and the skin's oil production changes. At this stage, the routine should have exactly two steps: a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser and a light, non-comedogenic moisturiser. That's it. A foaming face wash with salicylic acid can help if acne is already appearing, but the 10-product hauls marketed at teenagers on social media cause more harm than they fix. Retinoids, vitamin C serums, exfoliating acids, none of these belong on a 13-year-old's face. The skin barrier at this age is already doing more than it gets credit for.
