Teen breakouts can be frustrating, especially when your skin seems to change from one week to the next. But spots don't necessarily mean you're doing something wrong or that your skin isn't clean.
During the teenage years, hormonal changes can affect how much oil your skin produces. When excess oil, dead skin cells and other build-up collect around pores, they can contribute to clogged pores and breakouts.
The answer isn't necessarily to scrub harder, wash your face constantly or use lots of strong products. A simple, consistent routine is usually a much better place to start.
Why are breakouts so common during the teen years?
Teen skin can produce more sebum — the natural oil made by your skin. Sebum plays an important role in keeping skin comfortable, but excess oil can combine with dead skin cells and contribute to clogged pores.
This can show up as blackheads, whiteheads or spots, particularly around the forehead, nose, chin, chest and back.
Other everyday factors can also affect breakout-prone skin, including sweat, touching your face frequently, hair products coming into contact with your skin and not removing daily build-up properly.
Should you wash oily or breakout-prone skin more often?
It can be tempting to keep washing your face whenever it feels oily, but more cleansing isn't always better.
Over-cleansing or aggressive scrubbing can leave skin feeling dry, tight or uncomfortable.
Instead, keep cleansing simple. Use a suitable face cleanser morning and evening, massage it gently over the skin and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Think consistent, not aggressive.
A simple routine for breakout-prone teen skin
You don't need a bathroom shelf full of products.
A straightforward routine can follow five everyday steps:
1. CLEANSE
Remove excess oil, sweat and everyday build-up.
2. HYDRATE
Give freshly cleansed skin lightweight hydration.
3. TREAT
Use a targeted serum suited to what your skin needs.
4. MOISTURISE
Keep skin hydrated and support the skin barrier.
5. PROTECT
Finish your morning routine with sunscreen.
The most important part? Stick with it. Constantly changing products makes it difficult to understand what works well for your skin.
What about salicylic acid?
Salicylic acid is an ingredient commonly used in skincare for oily and breakout-prone skin. It can help clear pore-clogging build-up and is particularly useful in targeted skincare products.
Farrell Naturals uses Salicylic Acid in the Acne Face Mask, alongside Kaolin and Charcoal, as part of targeted weekly care for breakout-prone teen skin.
A face mask shouldn't replace your everyday routine. Think of it as an extra weekly-care step, while cleansing, hydrating, moisturising and protecting remain the foundation.
Don't forget moisturiser
One of the biggest misconceptions about oily skin is that it doesn't need moisturiser.
Oil and hydration aren't the same thing.
Even oily or breakout-prone skin needs hydration. Rather than skipping moisturiser completely, choose one that fits comfortably into your routine and doesn't leave your skin feeling excessively heavy.
And yes — sunscreen still matters
Sunscreen isn't only for beach days.
Daily sun protection should be the final step of your morning skincare routine. Farrell Naturals Sunscreen SPF30 has been independently tested for SPF30, Broad Spectrum Protection and UVA Protection.
Apply sunscreen every morning and use it alongside sensible sun-protection measures.
Things to avoid when you're breaking out
Try not to pick or squeeze spots, scrub your skin aggressively or introduce several new products at once. Give your routine time and pay attention to how your skin responds.
And remember that skincare products aren't a treatment for every type of acne. If breakouts are persistent, painful, severe, causing scarring or worrying you, speak to a dermatologist or other qualified healthcare professional.
Keep it simple
Breakout-prone teen skin doesn't need to be attacked.
Start with the basics, use products consistently and introduce targeted care thoughtfully.
Cleanse. Hydrate. Treat. Moisturise. Protect.
Simple skincare is often easier to follow — and a routine you can actually stick to is the one that has the best chance of becoming part of your everyday life.