Teen acne is practically a rite of passage, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. As your body changes, so does your skin, often reacting with breakouts in teens triggered by fluctuating teenage hormones and increased oil production. Habits like touching your face, wearing heavy makeup, or skipping skin care can also aggravate your complexion.

The good news? Teenage acne can be effectively treated with the right skin care routine for teens. Choosing gentle yet powerful acne products for teens helps control breakouts without over-drying or irritating skin. A balanced approach of deep cleansing, light exfoliation, and acne-fighting ingredients makes a noticeable difference. A consistent routine now sets the stage for a future of clearer, calmer skin.

What causes breakouts in your teens? 

Acne can feel like an unavoidable part of growing up, but understanding what’s happening beneath the surface can help you manage it more effectively. Here’s a look at the main causes of acne during your teen years: 

1. Overactive sebaceous glands: Excessive production of oil, known as sebum, is closely linked to acne prone skin. Sebaceous (oil) glands naturally produce sebum, but in your teenage years, they can become overactive. This leads to an excess of sebum, which can clog pores and trap oil and bacteria, thus contributing to breakouts 

2. Dead skin build-up: The skin sheds dead cells naturally, but in acne prone skin, this process can go haywire, leading to a build-up of skin cells that mix with oil, block pores and result in breakouts. 

3. Breakout-causing bacteria: Our skin hosts a variety of microorganisms, including acne-causing bacteria cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes). As you produce more oil in your teens, C. acnes thrives within your clogged pores, leading to inflammation and breakouts. 

4. Acne-activated inflammation: Hormonal changes in your teenage years can also trigger inflammation when clogged pores become infected, causing the skin to become red, swollen and painful. This can delay healing and worsen breakouts. 

5. Lifestyle factors: As a teen, it can be easy to neglect basic skin care habits. Not washing your face regularly, touching your face with unwashed hands or sleeping with makeup can introduce dirt, oil and bacteria to your skin. Lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of sleep and an unbalanced diet can also trigger or worsen acne. Establishing a consistent skin care routine and improving your daily habits can help you manage breakouts. 

Your at-home teen acne routine

Morning teen acne routine

• Cleanse: pore thing clears away dirt, oil, and impurities without over-drying.

• Tone: soothing reset mist calms redness, hydrates, and balances skin.

• Treat: daily meds is a non-drying acne treatment serum that strengthens the barrier while targeting breakouts.

• Protect: raydefense SPF 30 shields skin from UV rays (important because sun damage is a hidden acne trigger.)

Evening teen acne routine

Battling breakouts doesn't have to be complicated – in fact, keeping it simple is your best bet for a clear complexion. We’ve designed your morning and night routine to be almost identical, with just one extra product to target any stubborn spots. 

• Cleanse + Tone + Treat: Repeat the morning steps with pore thing, soothing reset mist, and daily meds.

• Target stubborn spots: Apply spot defy to problem areas. This fast-acting spot treatment clears acne and allows it to heal without the potential irritation of benzoyl peroxide. Skin is clearer, smoother, calmer in the morning. 

The bottom line is to stick to a consistent routine – clear skin is all about finding what works for you and doing it every day.