People often ask me to share beauty (skincare/makeup) products that pre-teens or teens would like—so I’ve asked my two nieces (who are 12 and 13) to share their favorites.
Here are some general tips I’ve learned after giving them different things and then seeing what they like most:
- Buy mini sizes of things —not only is it cheaper but they like small things and it let’s them try something out and then move on (or repurchase if they love it).
- A gift card to Sephora will always be appreciated —– You will notice most things in this list are sold at Sephora. So you really can’t go wrong if you just want to get a gift card.
- From Dec. 1st-10th Sephora will have a sale where everyone gets a one time use code for 20% off . The code is YAYGIFTING.(Click to Shop)
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Olive's Picks!
Olive has SUPER sensitive skin that is prone to skin congestion and is a skincare minimalist. She is more into makeup and perfume. Below are Olive’s picks as well as her reasons (in her own words) for why she loves each product.
Note! If you didn’t see the SPF50 Clear Glow Radiant Serum Sunscreen as the last product in Olive’s list, then you may need to scroll a bit more (I have embedded a scrolling box within the website, but it can be easy to miss that there is more to scroll through!)
Elle's Picks!
Unlike her sister, Olive, who is a skincare minimalist, Elle is my skincare maximalist. She has a pretty epic skincare routine and I have to say that she is starting to do her makeup better than I do as an adult. For her it is all about the glow and good scents and textures.
4 Comments
Vanessa, Thank you for this article. I am always so cautious about the skincare our preteens / teens want to wear & I worry they will ruin their beautiful skin. Mine love all of the above so I know with confidence now that they can use the products!!
Fantastic recs! Definitely great gift ideas for my 15- and 17-year-old nieces. Do your nieces (and you) have any recommendations for products that help with teen acne?
The Jordan Samuel gel matinee is great for acne prone skin because it has a low pH (which is key) but it’s still gentle enough for daily use (and has a touch of salicylic acid). Then I would use some sort of BHA product (the glow recipe is great bc it’s gentle but effective , another option is Paula’s choice 2% BHA). Taking off makeup properly is also huge, so double cleansing at night or using an oil based cleanser will really ensure all sunscreen and makeup is fully removed. (And don’t worry, oil based cleansers are still good for acne prone skin)
That was my reply (Vanessa @goalstogetglowing) below. Not sure why it shows as anonymous 🥸