In your teens

This is the time when skin can really be a nightmare! The stress of having oily skin and the continuous outbreaks of spots can leave you feeling frustrated and glum ... but don’t worry, there are some easy resolutions that you can take that will help you to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy through your teenage years.

In order to conquer the troubles of teenage skin, its best first to understand why your skin behaves in such a disgraceful manner during this stage of your life.

How your skin works

Every thing about your skin is working at optimum level and your complexion should be peachy, plump and bright. Your skin is toned and resilient. However the hormonal changes that you go through in your teens (and sometimes earlier) means you may have problems with blackheads, whiteheads and acne blemishes.  This is because hormones called androgens increase the production of sebum (or oil) from the sebaceous glands. Dead skin cells stick to the sebum, blocking the oil ducts – the sebum’s getaway route – resulting in blackheads (or whiteheads, which are basically the same, except that they have not been exposed to air or dirt). Behind these blocked pores, the acne bacteria grow rapidly in the sebaceous glands, triggering inflammation and redness. You may also find that your skin tends to be shiny because fluctuating hormones affect sebum production.

Recommended skincare routine

The basic products you need are: 

• a cleanser;
• a toner; and
• a daytime moisturiser

Don't forget sun protection if you’re outside or on holiday. 

You should allow your skin to breathe at night by removing left-over make-up.  At this stage it isn't necessary to laden your skin with an night cream.  

Body-wise, the occasional body scrub should suffice (this is particularly useful for keeping skin smooth if you are using a self-tanning lotion as it will help to even out the colour so you won’t get that "patchy" effect).  If your skin is quite dry, a body lotion will come in handy too.

Thorough cleansing is essential – even after the wildest night out, when you just want to flop into bed – but be careful not to strip your skin of it’s natural moisturising oils. A minute’s massage with a creamy cleanser (not soap as  it won’t shift oil or oil-based make-up effectively) wiped off with a clean muslin cloth or a soft flannel, wrung out in warm water, is all you need. This will also keep your pillow clean - as odd as it may sound this is very important, because debris-laden pillows can trigger spotty skin.  There's little point in going through all the cleansing, toning and moisturising if you're going to put your gorgeously cleansed face on a dirty pillow! 

Cleanse your face first thing in the morning too.  This will wipe away oil produced overnight.

Toners are useful just after cleansing, to remove any residue and brighten and refresh your face. You could use aloe vera juice, which is gentle and soothing. For oily skin mix three parts rose water with one part witch hazel.

Follow with a light moisturisers, such as a mix of coconut and palm oils (look for coco-caprylate/caprate on labels). This mix has very good spreading power, yet has a non-greasy feel.  Also look for products with added antioxidant, such as beta-carotene and vitamin E.

Self-tanning is very popular now, which is a good thing as it is far safer than cooking your skin under a baking hot sun!!  Most teenagers fail to realise that daily attack from the environment can contribute to 90% of skin ageing; 80% of which is caused before the age of 18. The main culprit isconstant exposure to UVA and UVB radiation. To protect the skin from premature ageing by apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 when you're exposed to the sun.

If you’re lucky enough not to suffer from spot, choose a simple range that you like and stick with it, as chopping and changing may provoke your skin.  

Learn to read ingredient labels and to understand what you need to stay away from.  Learn to understand your skin, too. If your skin feels tight, taut or over-dry it is most probably due to you using a product containing harsh drying ingredients

Ingredients to avoid

Soap, even mild ones, can be harsh enough to strip the skin of it's natural oils and cause dry sensitive patches. If you have oily skin, avoid the ranges that claim to cut oiliness and dry the skin: the skin may then produce more oil to compensate, setting up a vicious cycle. Remember, our skin produces its own oil, so oil, as such, is not bad. Use lightweight plant oils, such as apricot or peach kernel or passion flower seed oil. Massage in a few drops on your face at night to soften sebum so it can get out of the follicles and help balance your skin.

Choose formulations without mineral oil (paraffinum liquidum), as this can clog pores. This inevitably means going for a ‘greener’ or more natural option. Skincare ranges targeted at teens – often labelled ‘non-acnegenic’ – aren’t necessarily best (there is no legal definition of ‘non-acnegenic’).  It is better to ttreat angry, inflamed skin with great care, using calming and soothing ingredients such as natural clays, manuka honey and propolis. A teaspoon of a gentle herbal extract, such as calendula (marigold), chamomile or hypericum (St John’s Wort) tincture, in a bowl of warm water makes a gentle face wash. Calendula ointment is very calming for sore, red skin.  

Pura Naturals' Pure Essentials range has been specially formulated for young, blemish-prone skin.  It contains no harsh dyring-out chemicals so is kind to the skin.  It contains natural, organic ingredients such as tea tree oil, witch hazel and tomato leaf to soothe, calm and combat shine and oil production.

Tips on spot prone skin

Make sure your hands are washed before touching problem skin. Pustules can be encouraged to come to a head by applying a cloth wrung out in hot water to the affected area. Very gently remove any pus with a cloth; be sure to wash it thoroughly after. A greasy fringe can trigger spots on the forehead, keep hair pinned back and make sure skin and hair are kept scrupulously clean.

If you have oily, spot-prone skin on your back or chest, cleanse the area thoroughly every day with a gentle body wash. Wash flannels and bath towel frequently – daily, if you have acne. Apply a clay-based, deep-cleansing face mask, like our Pure Essentials Face Mask, to the affected area once or twice a week can also help.  

It really isn't so bad.  Once you get into a routine, you'll soon start to see the benefits and you won't regret it!

Tanya xx