Since I started teaching at a high school, I often get questions about skincare. Unlike today, when I was in middle school, I could only access skincare information through TV ads or magazines. At that time, I asked my mom if I could subscribe to Kawanku and Gadis magazines. Initially, I saved up to buy the magazines, but eventually, because I loved reading them so much, my mom kindly subscribed to them for me, all for the sake of her first daughter's growth, haha.
I was only 11 years old, still naive, but my skin was flawless until I began ruining it myself, and it could never go back to the way it was.
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| unsplash |
When I entered middle school, my mom didn’t allow me to use skincare products because she was worried they might damage my skin. So, I could only watch longingly every time I saw beautiful girls in commercials and product recommendations in magazines, hehe.
I still remember very clearly, I was only allowed to use baby face wash and Hazeline cream from Malaysia. Back then, there wasn’t much education on using sunscreen or layering serums for the skin. You could say my skin was very natural at that time. While my friends began using skincare products like C&C, P*, B*, etc., I could only wonder when I’d be allowed to use skincare like they did. The funny thing is, despite them using all these popular products, their skin wasn’t better than mine, even though I only used two products.
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| Back in the day, I had the same bottle like this ad, lol. |
Skincare Facts for Teenage Skin
Based on my own experience, my skin used to be complimented by friends—they’d say it was smooth, clear, and acne-free. But when I started high school, I became rebellious and curious, ignoring my mom’s advice. I went ahead and bought the skincare products my friends were using. As a result, my skin started to break out, become rough, and develop blackheads. I still remember how angry my mom was, telling me to throw away all those 'viral' products from that era, haha.
I ended up going back to my basic routine—baby soap and Hazeline—but by that time, my skin barrier had already been damaged, and it couldn’t go back to how it used to be. At that point, I was only 14-16 years old, and looking back now, I regret being so easily swayed by ads. These days, the ads we see aren’t on TV anymore but through influencers and content creators, which create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out), leading us to buy into the hype.
Once my skin started healing, I stopped using advertised products because none of them ever truly suited me. I finally listened to my mom, because older folks often have great product recommendations that spread by word of mouth within our cindo community.
We once consulted a dermatologist, and the doctor said that teenagers don’t really need to use a lot of skincare products. Even baby products are more than enough. The only exception is if there’s a severe condition like extreme acne, which is usually hormonal, not something that can be solved with skincare.
What I’ve noticed with Gen Z teens today is that many of them have poor skin conditions due to overexposure to skincare. They start using too many products before they even need them, and as a result, their young skin starts getting damaged from too many chemicals.
It’s no surprise that many of my students at school are shocked when they find out my age—they think I’m still in my 20s and fresh out of college. The truth is, it’s not that I look super young; I think it’s more that kids today mature too quickly, losing that youthful glow. At my current age, my skin looks just as it should for someone in my age group.
Tips for Using Skincare During Teenage Years:
1. Focus on cleansing to remove excess oil and dirt from the skin. Look for gentle cleansers made for kids or teenagers, ideally ones that work for sensitive skin.
2. Keep your skin moisturized. Look for a basic moisturizer, nothing with too many added ingredients. Teenage skin is still very young and doesn’t need so many chemicals—your skin is naturally still in great shape.
3. Use sunscreen that’s safe for kids. The most important thing is to protect your skin from UV rays that can cause damage. One of my biggest regrets is that I started using sunscreen too late, and since my skin is prone to freckles, they flourished. I’ve had freckles since high school, and over time, they’ve only multiplied because of my genetics. All I can do now is prevent them from getting worse.
Moral of my story:
To Gen Z and the upcoming Gen Alpha teens, be wise about using skincare. Don’t get easily influenced by over-the-top influencer reviews that all follow the same template. They are paid to post in sync, following the same SOP, just doing their job to make the brand’s product go viral. Yes, brands need to survive, but as customers, we need to be discerning with the ads we see. Don’t be too quick to trust the modern-day advertising methods. Use skincare according to your age, and don’t regret it later when your skin starts to look older than your actual age.
