Facial Cleansing Products for Tween with Oily Skin

[Anonymous]

My 12 year old DD needs a better skincare routine. She has oily skin, especially on her forehead and cheeks. Not bad acne or anything but oil and a pimple here and there, sometimes small bumps. She uses Cerave facial wash, and it seemed to work for a while, but I think we need something better. Please recommend cleansing products (ideally not prescription)! Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

Which Cerave does she use? The Foaming face wash or the Hydrating face wash. I had really oily skin as a teen. It's a little better now and I can only use the Foaming one.

Also, if her face is oily, that is just the type of skin she will have to deal with. Try not to use cleaners that are too harsh thinking that they will be better at removing oil. More likely they will trigger her skin to produce more oil. So ramp up the harshness of your facial cleaner slowly. To control oil, she can use blotting papers, a light dusting of face powder, or some sort of mattifying face primer. I'm not up to date on the latest products as my oil production lowered significantly when I entered peri (yay!)

A BHA product of some sort at a frequency that doesn't overly dry out her skin should help keep the small pimples away.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP above. Acne is a fact of life for most tweens/teens, and it's a mistake to use harsh cleansers. CeraVe or Cetaphil (I believe there's one for oily skin) was what all of my derms (when I was a teen decades ago) and my kids' derms have recommended. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking drying out the skin will do the trick. It'll just cause an additional problem.

[Anonymous]

I have oily skin and absolutely agree with not going harsher. It's counterintuitive, but for oily skin you should use a gentle cleanser AND moisturize (with a non oily moisturizer). Using something drying can just make skin react and become oilier.

CeraVe foaming face wash is good. For moisturizers I've had good results with Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturize (has salicylic acid, which can help prevent pimples) and Facetheory supergel oil free moisturizer.

[Anonymous]

My DD has very sensitive skin(and is allergic to benzoyl peroxide). She uses neutrogena gentle cleansing wash (the dermatologist told her to use it). My other child uses cetaphil gentle foaming wash.

[Anonymous]

DHC cleansing oil, apply small amount with dry hands then rinse with lukewarm water

Follow with ceraVe SA foaming cleanser

Neutrogena hydro boost water based moisturizer w/spf daytime
Hydro Boost jelly at night

CleanIt Zero is a twofer, start with dry hands then emulsify with water and rinse