Is Your Tween Getting Skincare Tips from TikTok? Here’s What Experts Want Parents to Know.

Social media might be a great creative outlet, but it's also the enemy of many parents. Trending skincare on TikTok is all the evidence you need to see how easily tweens can be influenced. It's easy to see how quickly skincare becomes an obsession, ranging from sold-out $70 serums to 15-step nightly routines.

Tweens deal with enough as it is while they're on the verge of puberty; choosing the best cleansing routine shouldn't be one of them. We spoke to two dermatologists to find out what's normal vs. what's not regarding skin health.

Less Is More, Especially In Skincare

Understanding what's happening with your tween or teen's skin is crucial to knowing what's enough and too much. We speak with Dr. Stephanie Taylor, a board-certified dermatologist and senior consultant at MedPak Solutions, to learn more. After more than 12 years in skincare, Dr. Taylor says teens' most prominent question is, “Am I doing this correctly?” And it turns out, the answer is far more straightforward than you might expect.

“During your teenage years, your skin is under a great deal of strain,” she explains. “Your hormone levels cause oil glands to become more active. They cause you to get acne, blackheads, or oily skin. That's completely normal.” When this happens, she says simple is often the best approach. A three-step process is all that tweens and teens need to have less congested, healthy skin. Dr. Taylor shares an easy-to-follow skincare routine, saying, “It doesn't have to be complicated.”

A good routine looks like this:

1. Cleanser: Wash face with mild face wash every morning and evening to clear it of oil and grime.
2. Moisturizer: Even oily skin requires moisture. Find something labeled “non-comedogenic” (it won’t clog your pores).
3. Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days. Use SPF 30 or above to protect your skin from the sun's rays.

“That's it. Really,” Dr. Taylor says, noting that too much product can actually hurt skin rather than help it. She details how many teens enter her office with red, itchy, sore skin symptoms. Most are guilty of using up to six strong skincare products simultaneously.

“That’s called irritant contact dermatitis, and it’s most often due to using multiple strong products at one time,” she says. “Some of them get dark spots or scarring that remains after an acne pimple resolves. We refer to it as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.”

Kristine Evans, Medical Esthetician at Seaside Skincare, agrees that fewer products equal healthier skin. “When it comes to teen skincare, ‘normal' is all about simplicity, consistency, and respecting the natural changes that come with adolescence,” she says.

She suggests that teens focus on maintaining balance, protecting against sun damage, and preventing clogged pores without overwhelming the skin’s natural barrier. “It’s completely normal for teens to experience fluctuations like breakouts, oiliness, or even dryness due to hormonal changes,” Evans adds.

She recommends introducing targeted treatments like a gentle salicylic acid spot treatment for breakouts in these cases. Additionally, a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer for dryness can be helpful without overcomplicating the routine.

What to Watch Out For In Your Tween's Skincare

Now that we have a foundation for your tween's skincare, it's time to ask, “What's considered ‘extreme'?” Evans draws from 18 years of professional experience to share which warning signs to look for. Multi-step regimens with strong exfoliants, potent retinoids, or frequent chemical peels are all immediate red flags.

When it comes to younger-looking skin, she explains, your tween should use products made for their age. “Over-exfoliating, for example, can strip away the protective barrier, leading to irritation and increased sensitivity,” says Evans.

“Healthy skin is built with gentle, effective care that nurtures the skin’s natural processes without risking long-term damage.”

Dr. Taylor adds to this, emphasizing that parents should help their tweens understand these things:

• Simple is Better: A gentle routine that won't burn or sting.
• Realistic Beauty Standards: Skin may have imperfections — and that's fine.
• Texture is Normal: A few bumps and oil — also fine.
• Choosing the Right Products: Utilizing products that work for your skin, not against it.

Both experts firmly believe a basic skincare routine is the best. Regardless of what's trending, skincare remains entirely the same. The most potent skincare tool might not even be a product; instead, it's controlling how tweens are influenced.

“I always like to say: let your skin breathe. Treat it kindly. Don't let an online obsession convince you that you need to ‘fix' something that's perfectly normal,” says Dr. Taylor.

She adds that if breakouts are stubborn or do not respond to products, the best practice is to get an expert opinion. “If breakouts seem to be getting beyond your control or products are aggravating issues, consult a physician or dermatologist. We’re not here to judge, just to help.”

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Dejan Dundjerski/Shutterstock.com.