The Ordinary For Teens – Products, Regimens/ Routines
The Ordinary for Teens – What are the best Ordinary Products for Teens? This is such a common question in the Facebook Group.
We no longer approve these posts for safety and due to The Ordinary not recommending products for under-18s. We were receiving questions for tweens, and this is just too young. In the Facebook Group you will find some older posts if you search #teens.
The following information is based on personal experience and not on a professional opinion or by The Ordinary. It is important to speak to professionals and always patch-test products first.
The Ordinary For Teens – older teens not tweens!
These are some of the most popular skincare products/ingredients for older teen skin.
- Squalane Cleanser
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Niacinamide
- Azelaic Acid
- Natural Moisturizing Factors
- Salicylic Acid Masque
- Salicylic Acid
- You can add these to your basket
For The Young Teens/Tweens
You guys have been in the news a lot lately. Apparently, you are spending more money on skincare than your mum and buying ingredients you really shouldn´t be using at your age. I love that many of you want to look after your skin, but make sure that is what you are doing. You only have 1 skin! Don´t ruin it! All you need is to wash your face well with a lovely gentle cleanser, hydrate your skin and use an SPF. That´s it. Save your money for clothes, makeup and holidays. You really don´t need to be using lots of products and ingredients.
Even The Ordinary has posted about you!
Social media is loud and we know with every new launch it can be tempting to expand your regimen. But skin is an organ, and it’s still developing during teenage years. And sometimes less really is more. So we wanted to take a moment to share guidance straight from our lab – for those of you just stepping into skincare:
1) Use a non-stripping cleanser
2) Follow with a hydrating moisturizer
3) Protect skin with a sunscreen
4) Avoid ingredients like retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids at the start of your skincare journey
If skin concerns do arise, we recommend consulting with a physician or dermatologist.
No need for a complex 10-step routine, or hefty price tags.
The Ordinary For Teens (older teens)
Being a mum of a teen who had acne for many years, I saw how it affected not only her skin but her confidence. But I am pleased to tell you that she is now through it, and at 20, her skin is clearer and brighter, although she still has the odd breakout.
I hope you find this page helpful, and at the bottom of the page, you can find some great podcasts to listen to. Knowledge is key; the sooner you understand your skin and body, the better.
For the teen
Firstly, you are not alone, and I know it doesn´t help you when you hear this, but it does mean that there´s a lot of information out there for you to read up on. But you MUST be picky about who and what you follow!
Following the wrong people could help you ruin your skin and waste a lot of money!
DON´T follow the latest trend on TikTok, applying acids or mixing up some concoction of seeds, egg and avocado and massaging it into your skin or leaving acids on all night. The other day my daughter FaceTimed me with what looked like bird poop all over her face – another viral skincare Tik Tok video. The next day….”mum, my skin has come up really badly, what should do?”
Keep a diary
I recommend keeping a diary, noting when your skin seems better or worse, listing all the food and drink, stress levels and products you used, etc. The sooner you learn what works for you and doesn´t, the better. Be honest with your emotions because they affect us not only mentally but also physically.
Below are some great podcasts from people who know about skin professionally, and I highly recommend you take some time to listen to them. You will get through this.
Seeing a dermatologist
If it is possible, I highly recommend seeing a dermatologist. My daughter was put on a small dose of antibiotics for 3 months and was prescribed a cream. The dermatologist also suggested a cleanser and sun cream. Her skin improved a lot, but there are still times when her skin becomes very inflamed and angry.
We went back to the dermatologist, who prescribed another cream for 2 months and a different contraceptive pill that can help acne. Should her skin not improve, he suggests a blood test and starting Roaccutane in the winter months. Many people have suggested trying everything possible before going on Roaccutane, so that´s what she did, including watching her diet and cutting down on lactose.
One day, her skin could be quite calm, and the next, it’s really red, inflamed and sore. This also coincided with late nights, insufficient sleep, too much sugar, junk food, makeup and stress from exams. We noticed a huge improvement in her skin once all her final exams were over.
SPF
It is really important to find an SPF you like. They can be quite pricey, which is really annoying if you don´t like them. If you pop into a pharmacy or department store, ask for samples or try them in-store.
The Ordinary Teen Routine
The Ordinary does not currently have The Ordinary Teen Routine, but you can use the regimen builder to help create a skincare routine. Below are some products recommended for teens and ones my daughter has used that she feels helped a little.
The Ordinary Products for Teens
- Squalane Cleanser
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Niacinamide
- Azelaic Acid
- Natural Moisturizing Factors
- Salicylic Acid Masque
The Daily Set
If you want to introduce your teen to skincare but they have no particular issues, The Ordinary Daily Set contains the Squalane Cleanser, Hyaluronic Acid and Natural Moisturising Factors. This would be a good place to start. Don´t forget to add SPF!
The Ordinary for Teen Skin
The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser
This is a lovely cleanser, but it does need to be rubbed between your palms for quite a few seconds (15-30 seconds) until you feel the consistency change to clear oil and teens may not have the patience to do this. You may wish to look at The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser which is quick and easy to use.
Use this morning and evening.
Niacinamide – The Best-Selling Ordinary Product
This comes in 30ml and 60ml bottles. Before using, make sure you patch-test. Apply a small amount after cleansing the skin. If you use too much, it could go foamy. So, add a little at a time.
Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Not for young teens! This comes in 30ml and 100ml. Once again, patch-test first and avoid the eyes when applying. You could apply this directly after cleansing or on top of hyaluronic acid and/or niacinamide. Personally, I would use one product for a few days and then slowly introduce others.
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
This comes in 30ml and 60ml. Apply directly after cleansing. Skincare should be applied in a particular order – water-based first, then anhydrous/oils, then emulsions/suspensions.
Natural Moisturising Factors
This comes in 30ml and 100ml. There are 2 other Natural Moisturizing Factors to choose from. One is a clear gel and is more lightweight than this. The other with PhytoCeramides is really rich and creamy.
Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
This is not for young teens! Salicylic Acid Masque should only be used once a week. When applying, you could use it on your entire face or just where you need it. Patch-test first, and don´t leave it on for longer than 10 minutes. When you have used this, use hydration products ONLY after and not acids.
The Ordinary for Teens – Simple Morning & Evening Routines
Always patch-test products before using them!
A Very Simple Routine For Teens (older teens)
Young teens only really need to cleanse and moisturize.
Morning & Evening Routine
- Glucoside Foaming Cleanser or Squalane
- Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
- SPF
Morning Routine
- Squalane Cleanser
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Niacinamide
- Natural Moisturising Factors
- Sun Cream
Evening Routine
- Cleanse
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Niacinamide
- Azelaic Acid
Once a week
- Salicylic Acid Masque
If you really want an even simpler routine, just cleanse, moisturise and add SPF.
Sun Cream
The dermatologist suggested oil-free sun creams. The 2 brands recommended were La Roche Posay and Avene. Helio-Care Oil-Free she also likes. Remember, to ask for some samples in the Pharmacy or at Beauty/Skincare Counters in the department stores. If they don´t have samples, buy some little plastic tubs and ask them to fill it up from their tester to try at home.
Cleansers – The Ordinary For Teens
The dermatologist suggested a Eucerin Cleanser, but she found this drying, so she only used it once a day or every other day. She loves the Squalane Cleanser but prefers something that doesn´t need to be rubbed between the palms for so long. She now uses The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser and also Cerave Hydrating Cleanser.
Hydration – The Ordinary For Teens
When my daughter’s acne is bad, she´s often scared to put anything on it, but the dryness also makes it sore and painful. The creams prescribed made her skin very dry. She now understands how important hydration is and how much better her skin feels with a little Hyaluronic Acid and Natural Moisturising Factors.
Things my daughter knows made her skin worse
- Stress (exams)
- Makeup
- Lake of sleep – too many late nights
- Not cleansing well
- Too much junk food/drink
You do not have to cover your acne!
I know acne can be really tough to live with, and some days can be worse than others, but don´t feel you have to cover it up. There are some great videos online of people doing minimal makeup and hair routines, showing off their acne, and they look fabulous. Sometimes, the more we try to cover it up, the worse it can look, but if it makes you feel more confident, you must do what works for you. Just be sure what you´re using isn´t making your acne worse.
Makeup – The Ordinary For Teens
People often say that makeup makes acne worse, but if makeup makes you feel better and more confident, then use it. Try to use makeup that is non-comedogenic and remember, less is more. Loading the foundation to cover everything may be your first thought, but if you can find a good corrector that can take down a lot of the redness, you won´t need to use so much foundation. There are some great BB and CC creams out there that give a lovely light coverage.
Makeup Artists
Find a makeup artist that you can relate to and love. Search for no makeup make-up routines. It is amazing what you can do with a good skincare routine, a little corrector, concealer eyelash curlers, and mascara. Lisa Eldridge has some great videos and Bobbi Brown, too.
I really like this video by Lisa Eldridge.
Patch Testing – The Ordinary for Teens
Always patch-test products before using and start to layer products very slowly, keeping an eye on how the skin responds to more than one product. Don´t apply acids or other strong products around the eyes.
The Ordinary for Teens – Be consistent
If my daughter didn´t see an instant change, she thought it wasn´t working. Some creams can take 3 months or even longer to start working. You need to be consistent and have patience. Obviously, if you feel the skin isn´t improving or getting worse after some time, stop using the products and try something else.
Other resources about Teen Skin
Knowledge is key! Do your own research, find professionals you enjoy watching or listening to and keep a skincare diary.
The Ordinary for Teens
We hope you found The Ordinary for Teens useful. While in our community, we don´t approve posts for those under 18 for safety reasons, you can find older posts by searching #teens. Join the conversation and become a part of our community in The Deciem Chat Room.
