Regardless of your child’s age,, the thought of starting a skincare routine for your child may have crossed your mind. While it’s a good idea to get your child into the habit of taking care of their skin, when is it age appropriate, and what might those routines look like at different stages? To help, this article reviews when children should start engaging in a skincare routine.
Skincare for Babies and Infants
Although your baby’s skin may be blemish prone, , using products not intended for babies is not recommended, and neither is applying a traditional regimen of skincare products. To take care of your baby’s skin, , all you need are two essential baby skincare products: a gentle body wash and a lotion specifically designed with babies in mind. Simply wash their bodies with warm water, soap, and a clean cloth. Once they’re dried off, you can give your baby a gentle lotion massage to hydrate their skin. We always recommend consulting a pediatrician and using caution when using a new product on your baby’s skin.
When To Start a Routine
The ideal time to start a skincare routine is around the age of 10 to 12, right before most children start experiencing typical teenage skin issues. . Starting this routine early can get them into the habit before oily or chaotic skin starts to occur. . This way, they’ll know how to clean their faces consistently, and this can help stop acne before it starts. If you don’t feel comfortable having them start a routine early, you can start when their skin first begins to appear distressed. .
What Their Routine Should Like
If you’re starting your child on a skincare routine before they start having to deal with teenage skin,, they should still only use two products, a cleanser and moisturizer. Have them wash their skin twice a day—once in the morning and once at night. Ideally, their daytime moisturizer will contain SPF, or they can apply SPF separately. As they get older and their routines advance, you can start adding spot treatments, toners, and other products. Just be sure to keep their skin type in mind to avoid unnecessary damage.
Ultimately, children should start a skincare routine right before puberty hits, and that may look different for every child. Until then, soap, warm water, and lotion are enough.
