Glow up: The best skincare and beauty brands for teens
Amid worrying reports that more and more teens are reaching for retinols and other advanced actives, meet the sophisticated brands catering for delicate young skin
All products are chosen independently by our editors. Luxury London may earn commission on items purchased.
Teenagers accessing highly-concentrated adult skincare – and using it without being aware of the consequences it could have – is a huge talking point in the beauty industry right now. Amid a flurry of concerning reports that teenagers are being influenced by videos on YouTube and TikTok to use retinols, chemical exfoliants and other harsher skincare products formulated specifically for aging skin – which can trigger eczema and allergic reactions when used incorrectly – the British Association for Dermatologists has reported that the age of those interested in accessing this type of skincare is only getting younger, with children as young as eight being lured into wanting potentially dangerous products.
According to teen skincare brand Indu Beauty – which launched in 2023 to bridge the gap between adult and teen skincare, and now has a store in Covent Garden – reports also suggest that TikToks of teenagers shopping in beauty stores are racking up a whopping 200k likes per video, providing an incentive for influencers looking to gain traction online, while kids as young as 10 have been requesting anti-ageing products and some 13-year-olds are using retinol on a daily basis – something not even adults are recommended to do.
The trend has got so intense that some brands are resorting to stating on their products which ones are not suitable for certain ages, with Drunk Elephant – particularly popular among youngsters thanks to its colourful packaging and cartoon logo – posting on social media: “Kids and tweens stay away from our more potent products that include acids and retinols […] Their skin does not need these ingredients quite yet.”
So why is teen skin so different to that of an adult? And why does it need to be treated sensitively? Gaia Carminati, head of product development at Indu Beauty, says: “It all lies in the ingredients (or help) the skin needs at its different stages – under 25 in general is when your skin is at its best, elastin, hydration and collagen production are at their peak and it really needs minimal ‘support’ from products. Good consistent cleanse and moisturisation are the basics, better if using pH balanced formulas that respect the microbiome. If needed, gentle ingredients for blemishes and soothing ingredients to balance it all off.
“When your skin starts to age, in general after 25, cell turnover slows down, elastin and collagen production reduces and, in the long term, droopy skin, wrinkles and skin texture appear – this is when you need to tackle your skin concerns more aggressively within reason.”
Given that most teens really only need to cleanse, moisturise and add an SPF to their at-home skincare routine – but reasoning with a 14-year-old mid-Sephora shopping frenzy is a task no parent fancies – we’ve hunted down the sensitive, young skin-friendly beauty brands to let your teen stack their shelves with.
Plenaire
Namrata Kamdar founded Plenaire in 2020 as a clean beauty brand focused on Gen Z, offering an array of natural and dermatologically tested products for those just starting their skincare journeys. Its packaging is colourful, while its products’ names are fun; for example, its hydration mask is called ‘skin frosting’ and the gentle make-up remover and cleanser ‘rose jelly’ is formulated with pure distilled rosewater, so there’s no scrubbing needed.
Not sure where to start? Plenaire also offers a starter kit, creating the ultimate routine for teen skin with no nasties. Inside a keepsake tote, discover the aforementioned cleanser, a blemish-busting overnight mask and a soft-knot headband. It appeases teens while parents can also have peace of mind that everything has been dermatologically tested on gentle skin – not just recommended by a 21-year-old on TikTok.
Indu Beauty
Indu Beauty was quite literally built to tackle the teen skincare problem – and its products don’t disappoint. Its best-selling Ultimate Universal Skincare Set has been crafted specifically for teens, and includes three products: Universal Cream Cleanser, Wonder Scrub, and Universal Moisturiser, as well as a flannel. The formulas feature a tried-and-tested tribiotic complex that helps support the skin’s natural barrier, protecting from life’s daily aggressors like pollution and stress, leaving skin more balanced and reducing breakouts. With hyaluronic acid, glycerin, snow mushroom and grapeseed oil, skin is left hydrated, moisturised and healthy looking.
For those conscious of including sun protection, Indu’s award-winning Everyday Hero SPF 50+ is lightweight and non-greasy while boasting one of the highest spectrums of everyday protection. The creamy formula is enriched with the amino acid arginine, as well as red algae extract to keep skin soft and supple, while rose geranium stem cells help shield pores from environmental stressors like digital light. If that isn’t enough, Indu is a leading educator in the teen skincare field, and it’s worth checking out its weekly blog where the team discusses the use of complex ingredients, such as salicylic acid and bakuchiol, and how to perfect makeup trends.
Byoma
Byoma is generally considered safe for teens due to the fact that its entire raison d'être is to protect the skin barrier. Launched in 2020 by Marc Elrick, who became increasingly concerned about people “playing chemist in their bathrooms” during the pandemic, and the lack of education around strong actives, he immersed himself in the science behind the bottles, finding that better skin starts and ends with a boosted barrier.
The hero product is the Moisturizing Gel Cream, which comes with the added benefit of SPF 30. It boasts the brand’s signature Tri-Ceramide Complex (ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids) to protect the skin barrier and restore natural moisture levels. For those who want the lipgloss effect but with nourishing ingredients, look no further than the Liptide PH Lip Oil, which adapts to your lips’ natural pH while nourishing and hydrating with avocado and tamanu oils.
La Roche Posay
Despite being slightly pricier than the brands above, French pharmaceutical brand La Roche Posay is a fail-safe choice for those looking to tackle teen skin concerns with dermatologically backed ingredients. Having curated products to focus on anti-ageing, reducing redness, uneven skin tone and even for those undergoing cancer treatment, La Roche Posay also has ranges specifically for babies and those with oily and blemish-prone skin, which could be perfect for teens.
From the latter, we recommend cleansing with the Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser, which removes impurities and make-up without stripping skin and has the approval of the British Allergy Foundation (Toleriane was the first skincare range ever to do so). Another must-have for those with sensitive skin is the Anthelios UVMune Hydrating Tinted Cream, which packs a punch with SPF50 and is water, sweat and sand resistant. The perfect replacement for thick, heavy foundations or concealers, which could aggravate already irritated skin.
CeraVe
Another dermatologist recommended brand is CeraVe, which has not been one to stay quiet on the teen and skincare debate. Across several blogs and online statements, CeraVe has offered up heaps of guidance not only for parents, but also to educate teens on what not to put on their skin, including retinol, retinoids, peptides and comedogenic properties. Instead, it creates simply-formulated and scientifically-backed skincare perfect for those who want to target concerns without going heavy on actives.
There is a whole range of foolproof cleansers, including the Acne Control Cleanser which benefits from 2 per cent salicylic acid to help clear acne, reduce blackheads and improve the appearance of pores, while the purifying clay helps absorb excess oil. For those who don’t necessarily have acne, but are struggling with oiliness and excess sebum, look to the Oil Control Moisturising Gel Cream, which can be used alone or under makeup thanks to its non-oily, matte finish.
Read more: Hair SPF: The best sun protection for silky summer locks
