As the mum of a tween (that is, a child aged between ten and 12), I’m well aware that skin care products are all the rage for them right now. Plenty will be hoping to see Bubble, Byoma or Drunk Elephant skin care products in their stockings this Christmas.
When I was that age, my parents gave me the odd lick with a warm face cloth, but that was it. Now, they can list off all manner of high end branded potions and lotions. Tweens actually know about serums and face peels and exfoliating scrubs.
As a parent, you obviously have to stand your ground and say ‘no’ a lot of the time, but there is a niggling guilt that you don’t want your kid to be the odd one out among their peers. If ‘all her friends’ have the skin care range they’ve seen on TikTok and she really, really wants it too, it can be hard to burst her bubble and say no.
Personally, I think expensive skin care is a con and entirely unnecessary for children.
Having said that, I have to put my hands up and confess that I have bought Lucy a few bottles of Bubble or Byoma or some such nonsense in the past; what can I say? It was her heart’s desire. Her face lit up with joy and I was ‘the best Mum ever.’
Thankfully, she didn’t actually use it much though. I know that makes it a monumental waste of money, but I’m glad she didn’t get sucked into the wormhole of meticulous and obsessive skin care routines.
Moreover, skin experts claim that these products, albeit coveted by tweens, are not actually suitable for their skin. Harsh cleansing, followed by toners and serums is way too much for their delicate skin to handle.
Oh the irony, that they want to care for their skin and in doing so with these products, actually damage it. Active ingredients can often lead to irritation, dryness and even outbreaks of spots.
When it comes to tweens, experts say that the skin’s natural barrier needs very little by way of skin care to keep it happy and healthy. The skin care companies must be laughing all the way to the bank though.
CeraVe and Cetaphil are two brands of skin care that come recommended for tween skin. I think it’s important for them to get into a good hygiene routine of washing their face morning and night, and these products will do the job nicely.
There’s a good chance they won’t need to moisturise religiously, as their skin can regulate well at that age. However, activities such as swimming can dry the skin and it may need the odd bit of help!
MooGoo makes a good sensitive moisturiser that is ideal for tween skin. I’m sure there are other suitable brands too, but I’m not terribly well versed on them.
Ask for advice in your local pharmacy and steer clear of all the TikTok noise!
As an alternative to coveted skin care products, tweens also seem obsessed with body mists and sprays these days. Sol de Janeiro is uttered like an incantation in this house. I noticed that the old-school brand So…? seems to be making a comeback too. Lucy just might get a bottle of White Musk, if she’s lucky!
Louise Flanagan is an admin of Letterkenny Babies Facebook page and the author of the children’s book series, Dragonterra and Dream Beasts. www.dragonterra.ie
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