5 Skin-Stressing Back-to-School Blunders Every Teen Should Avoid!

Skincare for teens can get weirdly complicated the minute back-to-school season begins.

They want to feel confident, after all, which means the right clothes, the right hair, and of course, the right skin.

Unfortunately, teens are often much more influenced by “get ready with me” videos on their phones than they are by good, clean skincare. Their friends, too, are likely to have them trying this and that and something else that may or may not work for their particular type of skin.

If your teen just started raiding your bathroom cabinet or came home with a haul from their favorite influencer, it’s time to get involved. And if you’re a teen yourself, check out the reasons why your skin is likely to need its own routine rather than borrowing someone else’s if you want to look your best.

Why a Skincare Routine for Teens Looks a Little Different

Teen skin isn’t just younger adult skin. It’s going through its own hormone-driven changes, and that means it needs its own kind of care.

During puberty, the body makes more androgens, which are hormones that tell the skin’s oil glands to work harder. That extra oil, called sebum, is a big reason acne shows up during these years.

Researchers have found that acne affects at least 80 percent of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 11 and 30, which means almost every teen will deal with a breakout at some point.

But it’s not only acne that may be causing issues at this age.

Skincare for Teens is Not Just About Acne

Some teens have sensitive skin, which means their skin may sting, burn, itch, flush, or turn red after using certain products. Others may deal with eczema, which can cause dry, itchy, inflamed patches. Some teens have psoriasis, which is a skin condition that can cause thick, scaly patches.

Then there are allergic reactions. These can happen when the skin reacts to something in a product—like fragrance, preservatives, dyes, or certain botanical ingredients. One 2025 review noted that contact allergy in children is often triggered by common allergens found in cosmetics, jewelry, and toys, including fragrances and preservatives.

Another study found that cosmetic products marketed for minors can expose them to numerous fragrance allergens. Nearly half of the products tested listed at least one fragrance allergen, suggesting that young skin may be exposed to fragrance allergens more often than parents realize.

All this makes a gentle, steady routine especially important. Teen skin can change quickly, and the back-to-school season adds even more pressure in the form of stress, sweat, sports, makeup, changing sleep schedules, and the temptation to try whatever friends or influencers are using.

That’s where many skin problems begin. A teen may start with one small concern, then pile on too many products, scrub too hard, skip moisturizer, or use something strong that was never meant for sensitive skin.

Here are some of the most common back-to-school skincare mistakes teens make, and what to do instead.

Skincare for Teens Mistake #1: Copying Social Media Routines

A 2025 study looked at teen skincare routines on TikTok. Researchers found that girls aged 7 to 18 were using an average of six products on their faces, with some using more than a dozen. Many routines included ingredients that could raise the risk of irritation or allergy.

Even more surprising: Only 26 percent of the daytime routines included sunscreen. The top-viewed videos also contained an average of 11 potentially irritating active ingredients.

That’s a lot for young skin to handle.

What to do instead: Build a routine around skin health, not trends. If you want to try something new, add only one new product at a time, then give it at least a week or two before adding anything else. This makes it easier to spot what may be causing any redness, bumps, stinging, dryness, or additional breakouts.

Skincare for Teens Mistake #2: Skipping Moisturizer

Because of their tendency to suffer from acne, many teens think they don’t need a moisturizer.

What they don’t know is that oily skin can still be dehydrated or irritated. When the skin barrier gets dry or stressed, the skin may feel tight, stingy, shiny, flaky, or bumpy all at once. That can lead teens to use harsher products, which can further disrupt the barrier, making everything worse. For example, when skin gets dry, it overproduces oil. Proper moisturization can help stop with cycle of overproducing oil.

What to do instead: Choose a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer that supports the skin barrier without feeling heavy. Our Calming Moisture is a good fit for teen skin that needs calming hydration without clogging pores. It can help balance skin moisture and is designed to calm redness, deeply hydrate, and support skin repair. For teens nervous about moisturizers, try just a small amount after cleansing at night until they feel comfortable with a moisturizer.

Many teens love toners and facial mists. Rescue & Relief Spray can provide ultra-light moisture, soothe acne inflammation, and provide a refreshing glow boost. They can use it throughout the day under or over makeup. Since it’s non-comedogenic, it’s perfect for acne prone skin.

Skincare for Teens Mistake #3: Using Too Many Acne Products

When teens see pimples, they tend to panic. That’s when they may succumb to the temptation to layer acne cleanser, scrub, toner, spot treatment, mask, and drying lotion all in one night. That can cause the skin to overreact by producing more oil, making breakouts worse while also damaging the skin barrier.

Some acne ingredients may help, but more is not always better. Too many active ingredients can lead to burning, peeling, redness, and more irritation.

If you are using a retinol for acne, for example, you may experience dryness, redness, cracking and peeling.

What to do instead: Keep acne care targeted. Use one acne treatment as directed, not five. If acne is painful, cystic, scarring, and not improving, it’s time to check with a dermatologist. A simple routine can support the skin, but stubborn acne may need medical care.