Why Teens Shouldn't Be Using Acids In Their Skincare Routine (And What They Should Use Instead)

smiley teenager with blemished skin

During puberty, teenage bodies go through lots of changes, the fluctuating hormones impacting your mind, body, and skin. During this time it can be easy to reach for skincare acids to try and soothe breakouts and flareups, but introducing acid-based chemical exfoliants to your skincare routine can be detrimental to teenage skin, exacerbating dryness and irritation, and damaging your skin barrier.

Hormonal changes during puberty can increase skin sensitivity, making your still-developing skin more reactive to acids, and increase the risk of skin irritation. Often harsher on your skin than specific skincare for teenagers, acid-based exfoliators and strong skincare ingredients like retinol can cause redness, irritation, and chemical burns if the concentration is too high or you’re not using them correctly.

Looking to nurture and soothe sensitive young skin? We’ve rounded up some of the best skincare for teens, sharing the best cleanser for teenage skin, hydrating and non-comedogenic moisturisers, and acne-calming creams to leave your complexion radiant and glowing without damaging your skin barrier and causing further breakouts.

teenage girl with blemish-prone skin

Nip+Fab

With a specific collection of skincare for young skin, Nip+Fab Teen Skin minimises oil production, clears pores, and zaps spots to leave your complexion clear. Infused with salicylic acid, wasabi extract, witch hazel, and tea tree, the range gently exfoliates, reduces sebum production, and fights bacteria, gently soothing sensitive teenage skin.

Nip+Fab Teen Skin Pads

Easily sweeping away dirt, oil, and impurities from your skin, these antioxidant-enriched pads deeply cleanse your pores, relieving your skin of any irritation while preventing unwanted blemishes and breakouts.

side profile of teenage sin with acne-prone skin

Cetaphil

Renowned for their gentle, non-irritating, and non-comedogenic formulas, Cetaphil skincare is kind to sensitive teenage skin, deeply nourishing to maintain your skin's natural moisture barrier while preventing dryness, irritation, and skin breakout.

Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser

Defending against roughness, irritation, dryness, tightness, and weakened skin barriers, this gentle cleanser soothes skin sensitivity, gently removing oil, impurities, and makeup from your skin with its mild, soap-free formula.

Enriched with vitamin E, niacinamide, and panthenol, this gentle cleanser minimises pores and boosts skin texture, preserving your natural skin barrier without stripping away natural oils and moisture.

teenage girl in hat with blemish-prone skin

Biretix

Specialising in soothing acne-prone and oily skin, Biretix purifies teenage skin with its clinically proven solutions, rapidly clearing your complexion without irritation.

Harnessing innovative technologies and active ingredients, Biretix combines RetinSphere® technology with glycolic acid, niacinamide and tranexamic acid to boost cell renewal and unblock your pores, leaving your skin clear and blemish-free.

Biretix Micropeel

Gently exfoliating oily skin, this botanical-enriched micropeel is infused with willow bark extract, chamomile flower extract, linen flower extract, and bamboo extract to remove dead skin cells and impurities while unblocking your pores.

Reducing redness and irritation, this Biretix anti-inflammatory exfoliator regulates sebum production to leave your complexion balanced, even, and bright.

girl picking at acne-prone skin

OSKIA

Teenage skin-specific, OSKIA’s Violet Water range soothes young, blemish-prone skin, managing and preventing breakouts while gently hydrating with its antioxidant-enriched formulas.

OSKIA Violet Water D-Spot

Counteracting breakouts and blemishes while calming and clearing your skin, this sulphur silver oats, zinc, vitamin C, and prebiotic-enriched targeted treatment boosts cell repair, soothing acne-prone, oily, and combination skin to leave your complexion clear and healthy.

teenage girl with some spots on her skin

Heliocare

Infused with ingredients to protect and soothe a variety of skin concerns, Heliocare creates sensitive skin-specific SPFs that are a great option for teenage skin, minimising reactions and skin flareups while shielding your skin from the sun.

Heliocare 360 Colour Gel Oil Free SPF50

Defending normal, combination and oily skin from UVA, UVB, HEV, and IR-A, this high-factor SPF has a subtle colour that conceals skin imperfections, balancing redness and imperfections to leave your complexion even, healthy, and naturally radiant.

Infused with Fernblock® FC, a powerful antioxidant, this sensitive skin sunscreen repairs your skin cells, protects your skin and covers imperfections and pigmentation with its oil-free non-comedogenic formula.

teenager with hormonal skin

Ultrasun

Offering long-lasting protection after just one application, Ultrasun’s skin-friendly formulas are perfect for sensitive teenage skin. 

Ultrasun UV Face & Scalp Mist SPF50

Ultra-light, non-greasy and non-sticky, this fast-absorbing sunscreen defends sensitive teenage faces, bodies, and scalps from UVA, UVB, infrared, and blue light, the hypoallergenic formula preventing prickly heat.

Non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, this convenient sunscreen spray is perfect for keeping sensitive skin shielded on the go. Spritz on top of makeup throughout the day to keep your skin shielded, nourished, and soothed.

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Nip+Fab Teen Skin Pad tubNip+Fab Teen Skin Pads
Nip+Fab Teen Skin Pads

£9.99
Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser bottleCetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser
Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser

Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser defends against the five signs of skin sensitivity: roughness, irritation, dryness, tightness, and a weakened skin barrier, whilst gently cleansing your skin of unwanted impurities. This low lather gel to foam...

From £8.00 £10.00 20% offsaving
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Biretix Micropeel
Biretix Micropeel 30ml

£24.00
OSKIA Violet Water D-Spot tubeOSKIA Violet Water D-Spot Clearing Blemish Treatment
OSKIA Violet Water D-Spot Clearing Blemish Treatment

£17.50 £25.00 30% offsaving
Heliocare 360 Colour Gel Oil Free SPF 50 and packagingHeliocare 360 Colour Gel Oil Free SPF 50
Heliocare 360 Colour Gel Oil Free SPF 50

This oil-free formulation is suitable for normal, combination and oily skins whilst also covering imperfections and providing SPF 50+ protection.

From £26.40 £33.00 20% offsaving
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White Ultrasun UV Face & Scalp Mist SPF 50 150ml bottleUltrasun UV Face & Scalp Mist SPF 50 150ml
Ultrasun UV Face & Scalp Mist SPF 50 150ml

This transparent and water resistant UV Face and Scalp Mist offers high broad-spectrum protection from UVA, UVB, Infrared A and Blue Light. With an integrated antioxidant complex, the lightweight mist delivers a non-sticky feeling on...

£32.00

Enjoyed our post and fancy staying with us a little longer? Great! We think you might like learning more about one of our recent brand launches that are helping you enjoy the sunshine safely. Discover Sun Bum: Environmentally Conscious And Vegan Sunscreen For The Whole Family. Head over to have a read and stock up on your sun protection ahead of the summer!Â