Walk into any beauty retailer or spend five minutes on TikTok, and you'd be forgiven for thinking everyone needs the same skincare routine.
A 13-year-old is being encouraged to use glycolic acid, retinol and anti-ageing serums, while women in their 40s are buying products marketed to younger skin because they're "trending".
But here's the problem.
Teenage skin and 40+ skin are biologically different.
And if the biology is different, the skincare should be too.
What makes teenage skin different?
Teenage skin is heavily influenced by hormones.
During puberty, androgen hormones stimulate the sebaceous (oil) glands, meaning most teenagers naturally produce much more oil than adults.
At the same time, their skin renews itself more quickly, and collagen production is at its peak.
This is why teenage skin is often:
The biggest challenge for most teenagers isn't ageing, it's managing excess oil without damaging the skin barrier.
Once we reach our 40s, our skin begins to behave very differently.
Collagen production has been declining for years, elastin fibres become less efficient, and skin cell turnover slows down. Hormonal changes, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, also reduce oil production.
As a result, many women notice:
The skin isn't "worse" than it was as a teenager - it simply has different needs.
Why the same skincare doesn't make sense
Imagine buying the same pair of running trainers for a toddler and an adult, it wouldn't make sense because they're completely different stages of development.
The same principle applies to skincare. A product designed to target oil production may leave mature skin feeling tight and dehydrated.
A rich anti-ageing cream designed to support collagen may feel far too heavy on an oily teenage complexion.
Even ingredients that are fantastic for one age group aren't automatically right for another.
Skincare should always be chosen based on what your skin is trying to achieve.
The problem with social media trends
One of the biggest changes over the last few years is that teenagers are being exposed to products that were never designed with them in mind.
Many are using:
These ingredients aren't "bad". In fact, they're excellent when they're appropriate. The issue is that they are often being used without understanding why, how often or whether they're even needed.
For a teenager with healthy skin, more products rarely means better skin and sometimes it simply means a damaged skin barrier.
So what should teenagers actually focus on?
For most teenagers, skincare doesn't need to be complicated.
A simple routine usually works best:
✔ A gentle cleanser
✔ A lightweight moisturiser
✔ SPF every morning
If acne becomes a concern, ingredients such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide may be helpful, but they should be introduced thoughtfully and according to the individual's skin needs.
The goal isn't to stop every spot - it's to keep skin healthy while supporting its natural function.
As we get older, our priorities shift.
Instead of reducing oil, we're usually trying to:
This is where ingredients like peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and carefully chosen forms of retinoids can play an important role.
Again, it isn't about having a complicated routine, it's about choosing products that work with your skin rather than against it.
The biggest skincare myth is that if a product is good, it's good for everyone... It isn't.
Teenage skin is designed to cope with hormones, increased oil production and rapid renewal.
Skin over 40 is adapting to reduced collagen, hormonal changes and slower repair.
They are different biologically, so they deserve different skincare.
The best skincare routine isn't the one that's trending on social media, it's the one that's designed for your skin, at your stage of life.
Have a little check in and see what your teenagers are putting on their skin. Check the ingredients and see if they are created for adults 💚
