Buyer's Guide for Teen Skincare: Facial Moisturizers

When choosing a teenage skincare routine, a proper moisturizer should be at the top of your list! I have seen many teen patients over the years that are afraid to put moisturizer on their skin for fear that it will clog pores or cause an acne breakout. In fact, the opposite is true! Moisturizers are a VERY important part of teen skincare because proper skin hydration helps balance your skin microbiome, leading to fewer acne breakouts and less inflammation. In contrast, when your skin is dry and dehydrated from lack of proper moisture, it will become irritated, sensitive, and in some cases might lead to a breakout.

Having 3 daughters of my own, we have tried a wide variety of face creams and lotions over the years, searching for the perfect product to work with their skin. Girls' skincare should be specifically selected because of the phase that your skin starting around age 8 and continuing through your teen years. Your body goes through many hormonal changes during these years, and those changes affect your skin by altering oil production, changing your skin's microbiome, and sometimes causing acne lesions. Because of the unique composition of teen skin, finding products with the right ingredients and performance is especially important. 

Below, I am going to summarize our market research on the best face creams and lotions for teen skin:

1. Aveeno Calm+Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer

$17.99/1.7oz

Aveeno's lightweight gel moisturizer contains feverfew and prebiotic oat to help soothe skin inflammation. This is a great option for teen skincare because the formulation glides easily over skin and provides moisture without feeling heavy or occlusive on the skin. Aveeno is renowned for its prebiotic triple oat complex which contains oat oil (protect), oat extract (soothe), and oat flour (moisturize).

2. Tatcha the Water Cream

$69/1.7oz

Tatcha's the Water Cream is a dream for your face. This lightweight option is formulated for normal to oily skin and helps balance with a blend of Japanese botanicals. The Water Cream is known to hydrate skin without feeling greasy or heavy and reportedly smoothes skin texture. Tatcha is a brand founded on the mind-skin connection and the power of the 5 senses.

3. Bright Girl by Angela Casey MD Day+Bright 24-hour Facial Moisturizer

$22/1.7oz

Bright Girl by Angela Casey MD is the first of its kind, dermatologist-created skincare line made specifically for teens/tweens. Dr. Casey, a mom of 3 daughters, worked with a team of cosmetic chemists to formulate Day+Bright (and all of the products within the Bright Girl line.) What's special about this face cream is its cloud-like texture that glides easily over your skin yet absorbs like a dream. Bright Girl is clean (click here to see our "no-no" list) and packed full of magic: shea butter, squalane, and sunflower seed oil moisturize and protect; while ashwagandha, turmeric, and chamomile soothe the skin. 

4. tarte Maracuja Hydrating Tinted Moisturizer

$29/1.01oz

tarte's tinted moisturizer offers that bit of sheer coverage while it hydrates your skin. This is a wonderful option for those looking for a product that will blend seamless into their skin. It's available in 20 shades, so almost everyone can find one that will work with their natural skin tone. Hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin and maracuja oil delivers rich fatty acids to provide extra protection to the skin. Vegan and 12-hour wear make this option by tarte a great addition to any teen girl's skincare routine.

5. First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Oil Control Moisturizer

$32/1.7oz

6. CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30

$15/3oz

Love this face cream from CeraVe: it works for all skin ages! What's fabulous about this product is that it contains SPF 30, so acts as an all-in-one product in your morning routine. If you prefer not to layer a specific sunscreen, CeraVe's AM facial lotion includes it for you! Just make sure that you apply enough to get the full SPF 30 benefit. CeraVe is a brand focused on ceramide replacement, an essential ingredient in your skin's outer layer. 

I hope this guide helps you navigate the world of teenage moisturizers, and please reach out with any feedback and questions!

Stay Bright,

Dr. Angela