Teen Skin Care: 10 Do’s & Don’ts for Gorgeous Skin

 One of our readers here on the blog recently asked about my skincare routine, so I wanted to share the steps I take each day to keep my skin looking its best. I used to have terrible skin, but now I've found a method that works for me and my skin is clear and pimple-free! The best news? This routine is easy and will work for you, too! Here are my top 10 teen skin care tips, and I've also included my #1 solution for drying pimples fast.

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Before I begin, I'll describe my skin type. I have very oily skin, especially in my t-zone (forehead/nose/chin). My skin used to break out all the time, but it's gotten much better in recent years since I started taking better care of it.

I also have sensitive skin, so there are lots of products I can't use. My skin scars easily, it's somewhat translucent (I guess that's the term?), and it seems like it has pinkish undertones.

Teen skin probs? Here are my top 10 Do's & Don'ts for better skin, plus my #1 pimple drying solution! Share on X

Here are My Top 10 Teen Skin Care “Do's”

1. Wash twice daily. I typically use Simple Facial Cleanser and wash when I wake up in the morning, then again before going to bed. I also use the Clarisonic Mia Brush once each week, sometimes twice.

If you're absolutely too tired to wash your face before bed, at least keep a set of face cleansing wipes next to your bed so you can wipe off your makeup. Never go to bed with makeup on, because you'll get it on your pillow and bacteria will breed and it's just not good.

TIP: Read our 10 Skin Care Products Worth the Splurge post because we break down the long-term value of certain skin care products and provide tips about where and how to save money — including an inexpensive alternative for the Clarisonic brush heads.

I love my R2D2 pj's.

2. Moisturize after washing. Since I have oily skin, I like using a gel-based moisturizer that doesn't have any oil in it. I absolutely love Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel and highly recommend it.

Here's what I look like with no makeup on and my skin freshly washed, in case you were wondering. You can also see videos of my on my YouTube channel with no makeup, since I almost always start them with makeup-free skin.

3. Deep clean. Once each week I'll do a deep cleansing mask. I haven't found one that I'm crazy about, so I just experiment with different ones. I usually just pick up various mud masks at the store and test them out. If you've tried one that you love, let me know! I also use the Biore Pore Strips on my nose once every week. Oh, and about once each month I'll use the DERMAFLASH if my face starts looking too fuzzy.

TIP: You can read my review of DERMAFLASH here and see before and after pictures. It's a sponsored post, but it's my unbiased review of what I thought of the product.

4. Clean makeup applicators. I wash my brushes weekly. Whatever you use to apply your foundation you should wash every day. I use a dupe beautyblender (this Real Techniques one) that I clean with Dawn dishwashing detergent and this handy cleaner. I also have a real beautyblender that I clean with the cleaning solution and cleaning tool that came with it. (As I've mentioned many times on this site, there's no need to pay for the more expensive beautyblender when the Real Techniques one works just as well — or better!)

5. Drink water. My mom always tells me I have to keep my skin hydrated and makes me drink lots of water, so I take a bottle of water to school with me each day and drink water throughout the day.

Most of my skincare essentials all gathered into one pic!

If you've spent any time on this site, you know I recommend the same tried-and-true products repeatedly! You don't need to spend a fortune on skincare to have beautiful skin, you just need to find the products that work for you and stick with them.

Here's What I Don't Do:

1. No touching. I used to constantly pick at and touch my face, but the dermatologist told me to stop. Your hands are almost always dirty and they'll transfer bacteria and dirt to your face. Seriously — stop touching your face!! If you have to, at least make sure your hands are clean.

I don't even hold my phone against my face when I'm talking on it anymore. I used to break out a lot on the side of my face, and I finally figured out that's what it was from.

2. Stop eating crappy foods. Yes, you have to clean up your diet to clean up your skin. Limit the amount of junk food and soda you have, and definitely don't ever start smoking. (Edited to add tips from my mom: 10 Skincare Tips You Should Add to Your Beauty Routine ASAP and 10 of the Best Foods for Beautiful & Healthy Skin.)

3. Ditch the old makeup. Purge the old stuff regularly. Here are some general guidelines about when to toss things.

4. Don't use products that aren't made for your skin type. I mentioned that I have oily skin, so I'm always careful to look for foundation and products that are oil-free. The gel moisturizer from Clinique is a prime example. Make sure you read the labels and don't just buy something because it comes in a pretty package.

5. Don't try every acne product ever made. I used to be very guilty of this one…until my dermatologist told me it was doing more harm than good. When my face used to break out like crazy, I would try product after product to try and clear it up. I was always switching them out and/or putting too many different products on my face.

All that does is make your face very irritated and even more likely to breakout. You need to pick one product at most (maybe two) and use it consistently for a month or more to see how your face reacts. Be diligent. If it doesn't work over time, then swap it out and try something new. You have to be patient and give it a chance to work, though.

In case you're new here — this is a goofy shot, but it shows how clear my skin is now. That way you can tell this routine really works for me! Plus, you can see other pics of my skin on the site – just click on the “beauty” tab.

Before I go, my final teen skin care tip is to use Mario Badescu Drying Lotion whenever you get a pimple or even feel one starting to come on. Seriously, the stuff is like a miracle in a bottle. My mom got me hooked on it, and now I've gotten a ton of my friends hooked on it. It's one of my favorite beauty products of all time and it's on my Ride-or-Die beauty list.

Edited to Add: I made a Ride-or-Die video where I talk about my current favorite beauty products. At the 5:08 minute mark is where I talk about how bad my pimples used to be and I show a pic so you can see! Trust me, I feel your pain when it comes to bad skin! That picture shows how terrible mine used to look, but these tips truly help!!

While you're waiting for your skin to clear up, you may want to watch my video How to Cover Pimples & Imperfections and check out my post The Best Concealers for Acne (and More).

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