But, cautions Laura Scott, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in San Diego with four young daughters, resist the knee-jerk reaction to immediately say no and instead try and start a dialogue with your child as they begin these first steps towards becoming more autonomous with their beauty routine. “That’s oftentimes where we struggle, when immediately it’s ‘they don’t need any of this.’ I think it’s just so important to have those conversations and to hear them out,” she says. “One of the worst things that we can do with our kids is to be dismissive, because they’re just going to turn to their peers, to social media for whatever it is that they’re looking for.”
With that in mind, we gathered up 10 of preteens’ favorite skin, hair, and makeup brands right now and asked our experts to choose the products that were most appropriate for the under-13 age group. While many ingredients might be too irritating for young skin (or just a waste of money) there are options here that will keep a parent and a tween happy. As far as your bank account goes, well, that’s a whole other conversation.
Drunk Elephant
“They’re designed to be mixed with your moisturizer to give skin a healthy glow. These have 5% niacinamide, which is good for the skin barrier and can even help brighten dark spots left over from acne. So although they are certainly a splurge at $38 an ounce, I can get behind these for my tween.” —Dr. Bowe
“It’s a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser that has hydrating ingredients like glycerin, so it won’t overstrip the skin barrier.” —Dr. Scott
“This is a lightweight serum with pro-vitamin B5 and glycerin that are great hydrating ingredients that promote a strong skin barrier. It is probably the safest [serum] option in Drunk Elephant’s line-up for young skin. For preteen skin, and particularly with the Drunk Elephant line, it’s more about finding a formula without actives that are too harsh for young skin.” —Dr. Scott
Glow Recipe
“With lactic and glycolic acids, this cleanser is a great choice for preteen skin that is starting to experience congestion and breakouts. I’d avoid it in skin that isn’t experiencing any breakouts, though, and choose something more gentle.” —Dr. Scott
“Teens often like to wear makeup and I think that is an important part of their life now. I recommend Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops as their first step because it creates a hydration barrier, which is important since a lot of longwear color cosmetics are drying to the skin. The niacinamide is also a good skin-care ingredient for acne-prone skin.” —Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist in West Islip, New York and mom of three preteens.
“It’s gentle enough for teen skin but also has some postbiotics that help to rebalance the microbiome. It’s moisturizing, so it will not strip the key lipids from the skin.” —Dr. Mariwalla
e.l.f. Cosmetics
“This brow gel builds layer over layer with zero flakes and holds all day. Most other similar products don’t hold well, especially the clear ones. And the price point is excellent for preteens on a budget.” —Jacob
“These lip oils are non-sticky and nourish the lips all day. I find the shades Crystal Clear, Pink Quartz, and Coral Fixation suitable for kids because they offer a natural look, which I believe is appropriate for their age. Young preteens already have an abundance of natural color in their lips; there’s no need to overdo it.” —Jacob
Sol de Janeiro
“Tweens love a delicious fragrance, so I’m okay with some fragrances in rinse-off products like a cleanser or body wash — but I recommend avoiding fragrance and essential oils in leave-on products that your tween will apply all over their face, especially if they have sensitive skin or eczema. A little spritz of Sol de Janeiro ‘62 that falls on your tween’s hair can be really fun.” —Dr. Bowe
“As derms we not only treat skin, but also hair and nails. This oil contains omega fatty acids, which are easily absorbed by the hair cuticle and impart instant hydration and shine to hair. I love this as a daily use for patients with curly hair or as a once a week rescue for teen hair that is over processed.” —Dr. Mariwalla
The Ordinary
“This creamy cleanser is great for skin barrier health at all ages, and helps combat dry skin, especially in the winter.” —Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and mother of two teenagers
“This niacinamide serum is a good pick for teen skin as we know niacinamide not only helps with pore size, but also post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that can be caused by inflammatory acne bumps. The concentration is active and gentle enough for this age set.” —Dr. Mariwalla
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
“With Rare Beauty, the higher price point is justified by the exceptional quality of their products. Their blushes stand out for their highly pigmented formula, requiring only a small amount for a natural, soft glow. The formula blends seamlessly into the skin, providing a radiant finish that lasts throughout the day.” — Jacob
“Rare Beauty’s lip oils with jojoba and sunflower oil not only provide hydration but also offer nourishment and protection to the lips so they stay soft, smooth, and healthy-looking.” — Jacob
“Unlike many mascaras on the market, this one layers beautifully without becoming overly clumpy. The mascara’s brush applicator not only separates lashes effectively but also provides a subtle volumizing effect, giving lashes a fuller appearance.” — Jacob
Summer Fridays
“In my view, their lip gloss and lip oils stand out. The application is smooth, conditioning, and soothing for dry lips. Being vegan is appealing to today’s youth, and the translucent, natural colors — while having a higher price — offer excellent quality.” — Jacob
Supergoop!
“One of my favorite products because it works with all skin tones, going on sheer and leaving no white cast, while also providing ample protection from UV light for all levels of melanin.” —Dr. Gohara
“For preteens, I still prefer mineral sunscreens over chemical sunscreens. Preteen skin can be more sensitive and have reactions to chemical formulas. This is a great mineral option that rubs in nicely.” — Dr. Scott
Amika
“I think it’s important to start good hair habits [early] and incorporating a thermal protectant is the perfect place to start being proactive. The Shield is a heat protecting spray and anti-frizz that’s great for all hair.” —Mia Santiago, hairstylist and mom of a seven-year-old.
“A lot of preteens either overwash or underwash their hair. Using a dry shampoo like this one can help in either case, and gives more longevity between washes. Applying it at night is also a great way to [proactively] absorb oil.” — Santiago
Shark Beauty
“This is a cheaper alternative to the Dyson Airwrap, so it feels trendy without being excessive and still gives teens all the blowout options a Dyson would.” —Santiago
“These blow-dry brushes are all the rage right now, competing with Amika, T3, and Revlon on social. This is an easier alternative to using a blow dryer and a round brush. It uses less heat, which results in less damage. It’s a great first blow dryer because it’s so user friendly!” —Santiago