We’ve got hormonal changes to thank for our skin woes in our teenage years. It’s important to establish an effective skin care routine in your teens, not only to get your skin back into balance but also to help stop pimples and acne from forming. Prevention is better than cure!

Teenage Skin Types

First off you need to determine your skin type. There are 3 main skin types, combination, dry and oily.

Combination Skin

Combination skin is characterized by dryness on the cheeks and an oily T-zone. Do you find your cheeks are dry and tight, but you have pimples and blackheads on your forehead, nose and chin? Then you’re a combination skin type. For combination skin you need to focus on products which deal with your breakouts without over drying your skin. Look for products containing salicylic acid, the must have skin care ingredient to treat acne. As well as tea tree to help reduce redness and inflammation. Tea tree is also an anti-bacterial making it excellent at not only treating existing pimples but also preventing their return.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is characterized by tight and dehydrated skin. Does your skin feel tight and dry? Do you suffer from redness and dry, rough patches? Then you’re a dry skin type. For dry skin seek out products which contains hydrating ingredients but avoid thick creams and oils as they may clog your pores. Hyaluronic acid is a super-hydrating ingredient moisturizing even the driest of skins, it has the ability to hold 1,000 times its weight in water making it one of the world’s best skin moisturizing ingredients. Vitamin E is ideal for dry skin as it helps reduce redness and inflammation as well as hydrate the skin.

Oily Skin

Oily skin, probably the most common teenage skin type, is characterized by oily, shiny skin, blackheads, pimples and large pores. For oily skin types it’s important to get your oil levels under control which is one of the primary causes of pimples. Ingredients like tea tree help reduce oil levels and bring your skin back into balance. Witch hazel is one of the world’s oldest skin care ingredients and is proven to reduce the size of your skin’s pores. As dirt, oil and blackheads trapped in the skin’s pores make them appear larger it’s important to get them extracted properly. Try a peel-off mask with charcoal to remove blackheads.

Quick fixes are hard to find when it comes to dealing with acne prone skin. As the skin has a 28-day regeneration period it takes around one month to see the results of a new skin care product, so patience is key! However, if you are experiencing negative effects such as stinging, redness or burning then it’s better to stop using the product immediately. It’s also vital to keep skin clean by:

1. Cleanse twice a day (once in the morning to remove dirt, oil and sweat which has built up over night and in the evening)
2. Clean your pillowcases at least once a week (pillowcases are a breeding ground for bacteria – clean pillowcases, clear cheeks!)
3. Never, EVER go to bed with your makeup on (we don’t care how tired you are just don’t do it)

Face masks are a great way to help target problematic teenage skin as they are packed with active ingredients and provide skin with a much-needed boost. The Skin Republic Wild range has been formulated specifically for teenage skin with three different formulations for varying skin concerns making it one of the best face mask ranges for teens. Did we mention they are printed with some of our favourite furry friends? Practically made for the ‘gram these masks feature tigers, pandas and parrots. Good for your skin, fun for your face!

The Skin Republic Tiger Spot Clear Face Mask is the perfect twice weekly treatment for oily skin. The face mask contains salicylic acid and tea tree to clean pores, speed up the healing process of pimples and prevent their return. Salicylic acid also acts as a gentle exfoliant helping to not only clean outside of the pore but inside the pore too (it’s fancy like that). The formulation also contains super-hydrating hyaluronic acid to moisturize and repair skin’s external barrier. Paired perfectly with oily skin types, this face mask fights off pimples without leaving your skin dry and tight.

Have you ever seen a panada with a pimple? Thought not. The Skin Republic Wild Purifying Panda Face Mask Sheet was developed to target combination skin helping to purifying the T-zone but also soothe and hydrate. Containing antioxidant rich green tea which helps to calm redness and soothe skin as well as prevent against the damaging effects of pollution and stress. The formulation is boosted with charcoal which acts as a magnet drawing out dirt and impurities from your pores.

If your skin is feeling dry and tight then look no further than the Skin Republic Hydrate + Glow Parrot Face Mask Sheet. This face mask contains hyaluronic acid to instantly hydrate dry skin and reduce flaking or dry skin patches. One of the most effective skin brightening ingredient, vitamin C reduces dark spots, acne scars and freckles, helping to even out your skin tone. Vitamin E rounds up our hydration hero formulation, the antioxidant rich vitamin helps to moisturize and protect skin. Dry skin’s ultimate nemesis is the Skin Republic Hydrate + Glow Parrot Face Mask Sheet, which will leave your skin glowing, clear and hydrated. 

Browse our range of Skin Republic Wild sheet masks here. Also available at Dis-Chem and online at Takealot.com and Superbalist.