The Safest Skin Care Products You Can Buy Your Tween from the Sephora Sale

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We’ve heard the stories of tweens wreaking havoc in Sephora stores and racking up $800 carts full of beauty products. But many of the products in those Sephora bags do not necessarily improve their skin and can damage the skin barrier. When you are under the age of 13—even if you are dealing with acne, your skin does not need that much. A less is more approach to your skincare and makeup routine can actually help Gen Alpha skin versus ruining it. But just because you are young doesn’t mean your skin is absolved from a routine. “Our skin is an organ and requires some level of care at every age,” says Dr. Mona Gohara, Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine and ELLE Beauty Advisory Board member. “Tweens should be set with a gentle non-soap cleanser, a moisturizer that supports barrier health, and a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen (or higher) they will use daily,” she says.

A foolproof skin care routine for kids

In the morning, tweens and teens should wash their faces with a gentle cleanser, apply a moisturizer, and then sunscreen. In the evening, they should wash the day away with the same gentle cleanser and lock in hydration with their moisturizer. “After they shower, either in the morning or evening, apply a body moisturizer! Pat, don’t rub the skin and lock in the ambient shower humidity by putting on the moisturizer within minutes of coming out,” says Dr. Gohara.

What do you do if you have a tween with acne?

Look for a cleanser that has salicylic acid wash for their evening facial cleanser. Follow with a retinol/retinoid and close the routine with the barrier repair cream. “The salicylic acid cuts through extra sebum (oil), cleaning out the pore. Retinol/retinoids increase skin cell turnover and help to regulate shedding into the follicle. They prevent and decrease whiteheads and blackheads and can help with residual marks, particularly on brown skin,” says Gohara.

What makeup additives should tweens stay away from?

“Oil-based foundations are a breakout waiting to happen,” warns Dr. Gohara. Look for water-based foundations and skin tints or foundations with anti-inflammatory ingredients, like arnica, to help prevent breakouts. And while tweens and teens love glitter, shimmer, and sparkle, you may want to stay away from it. “Sparkles and shimmers can create irritation on the skin as well,” says Dr. Gohara.

With the Sephora sale underway, it’s a great time to use your newfound knowledge and secure the best skin care products for your tween and teen. The sale goes from April 5^th to April 15^th. There are thousands of products to scroll through on the site, but you don’t have to: our expert, Dr. Gohara, and ELLE editors picked the best skin care products for your kids at Sephora.

Lip Sleeping Mask

This popular lip mask is a favorite of Sydney Sweeney and other beauty lovers. Dr. Gohara recommends this for tweens and teens: “Of all the masks, a lip one is prob the best.”

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

Sunscreen is a must—no matter your age. Dr. Gohara recommends Supergoop. “It’s a cosmetically elegant SPF that blends on all skin tones,” she says.

Brazilian Bum Bum Visibly Firming Refillable Body Cream

According to Carol Lee, one of our resident Gen Z’ers at ELLE, middle schoolers take mini Bum Bum creams and pass them around as hand lotion. And while this product may have been designed for your butt, using it as a hand cream will not cause harm and will get you cool points with your younger children. Plus, we all know it smells sooo good!

Balm Dotcom Lip Balm and Skin Salve in Lavender

Dr. Gohara suggests this balm for colder months or “lip lickers” that may suffer from chapped lips.

Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30

Have a forgetful tween? Dr. Gohara recommends this 2-in-1 product that “makes tween life easier.”

Barrier+ Foaming Oil Hydrating Cleanser

“This oil-based cleanser was developed to support the skin barrier,” says Dr. Gohara. This hydrating facial cleanser will gently wipe the day away.

Honey Infused Hydrating Lip Oil

Yes, lip oils are all the rage, but you do not have to spend $40 on that one. This lip oil contains honey, which is a humectant and helps to lock in moisture.

Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots

Acne is a real thing for tweens and teens. If your child feels a little shy about their pesky pimple, these fast-acting healing dots are a neutral color, so they do not draw too much attention to the culprit at hand.

Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20

If you are not ready to let your tween wear foundation, here’s a good compromise. This tinted moisturizer is perfect for evening the look of your skin tone (say goodbye to pesky dark spots). Plus, it’s created by Selena Gomez and contains sunscreen: a combo your tween is sure to love.

Solid Deodorant in Coconut + Aloe

Body odor happens around the time of puberty, which can start around age nine. Equip your child with this deodorant, which is now 30 percent off.

Butta Drop Refill Whipped Oil Body Cream with Tropical Oils

Lotioning your body post-shower is an excellent habit for your children to help keep their skin healthy and hydrated. This thick body cream leaves skin so moisturized that you might as well add an additional one to your cart—you will want one, too!

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