At what age would you let your children have a full skincare routine? That’s the question that is fast becoming beauty’s most emotive topic. Our beauty and wellness director investigates…
In 2026, the conversation around kids and skincare has become a full-on debate: is allowing a child to have their own routine a form of positive self‑care that builds good habits, or have we drifted, with a push from social media, into needless consumerism and potential harm?
The answer is probably a little more complicated than we’d like to admit.
When skincare is simply care
‘Don’t forget to wash behind your ears’
At its most basic, skin and body care should be about hygiene. So, when you strip away the marketing, it’s clear that some practices are not only beneficial but essential for children.
To keep young skin healthy, you need to keep it clean of dirt and sweat, which means gently cleansing your child’s skin daily, and then teaching them to do it for themselves as soon as they are capable, just like brushing their teeth or washing their hands.
The key, though, is simplicity: “Washing with warm water and a cotton wool pad is usually adequate to remove dirt and shed dead skin cells for young children,” says Lush co-founder Helen Ambrosen. “Safe, gentle oils like almond and coconut oils can be used to cleanse with warm water and a flannel if required. Or you can use just plain water – that will often be enough!”
Supporting sensitive skin
Children can also be prone to a host of skin conditions, so certain skincare products can be a lifeline to them (and their parents!) as a relief-inducing solution. Eczema, for example, affects up to one in five children in the UK, and no one wants their little ones to have to cope with this discomfort, dryness, and irritation without support. In these cases, moisturising can support the skin barrier, reduce irritation, and prevent flare-ups, preferably with the guidance of your GP or a pediatric dermatologist.
Daily sunscreen
Now more than ever, experts agree that sunscreen is a non-negotiable for everyone (aged six months and up), and as children’s skin is thinner and more vulnerable to UV radiation, it is even more important to encourage them to apply SPF regularly. In fact, regular childhood sunscreen use has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer in later life, meaning it actually works like preventative healthcare.
So what’s the issue?
While daily sunscreen use for all ages is still a developing practice, none of the above could really be framed as controversial. In fact, teaching your kids these good habits doesn’t just protect their skin. It also lays the groundwork for their future routines, teaching them about why they need to look after themselves (whatever their gender).
So far, so sensible. So, when does skincare for kids cross over into something more sinister or alarming?
Let’s start with a particularly grey area, the teenage skincare market…
The teen market
Skin and confidence changes
Puberty is a time of transformation for all young people, bringing with it a plethora of skin changes. “Historically, the most common concern amongst teenagers going through puberty is more oil production, leading to clogged pores, blackheads, and for many teenagers, the development of acne,” explains consultant dermatologist at Klira, Dr Cristina Psomadakis.
“To make matters worse, puberty hormones also increase the production of keratin (the protein that forms the bulk of hair fibre), and this makes follicles prone to blocking, leading to spots,” continues Ambrosen. And, for many teenage girls who may be experimenting with makeup, failing to remove these products adequately can lead to further breakouts at a time when body changes are already making them more self-conscious.
That’s where a really tailored – yet simple – skincare routine can be transformative, says Dr Cristina. “For teenagers, essentially, you need a sunscreen, moisturiser, a cleanser and then one treatment product that might be addressing something like excess sebum production or acne.” That should be enough to help teenagers feel in control of their skin, plus a visit to your GP or dermatologist if the acne is particularly severe or is having an impact on self-esteem.
The problem is, things just aren’t that simple. If you’ve ever seen a child have a tantrum because something they ‘want’ isn’t what they actually ‘need’, you’ll know that what children are interested in doesn’t always align with their best interests.
Equally, there’s been a worryingly upward trend for beauty companies directly targeting younger and younger children (with the society pressures that can cause), alongside the unescapably larger presence of social media in our children’s lives…
A new beauty landscape for kids
The world of social media
The concept of ‘perfect skin’, and what you ‘have’ to do to achieve it, has long been a pressure placed on teens and adults. But perhaps even more concerningly, nowadays, pressure is also being felt by younger and younger children, with it often being beamed straight into their bedrooms via social media apps, like TikTok, on their phones.
“I am definitely concerned about the unrealistic expectations on social media and the perceived flaws that are entirely normal, which are just amplified in social content,” says Dr Cristina.
For example, “up to 95% of teens report having acne in the UK nowadays – yet only 14.65% of adolescents and young people in the UK were formally diagnosed in 2021,” reveals Ambrosen.
That gap is telling. While some individuals may simply not seek a formal diagnosis, it still suggests a widening disconnect between medical reality and perceived imperfection. And while blemishes are a normal part of adolescence, “distress about them can drive teenagers toward strong products they don’t need – sometimes worsening the very concerns they’re trying to fix,” warns Ambrosen.
In fact, while social media is quickly becoming a ‘search engine’ for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, where they go to find the majority of their recommendations, it’s not necessarily giving them accurate information. Consider a peer‑reviewed study, published in Pediatrics, which analysed 100 TikTok skincare videos popular with teens and tweens. It found that most routines were not only costly, but they also included potentially irritating products, and only a quarter even contained sunscreen.
“It is difficult, in these times of social media, to convince children that a simple routine with gentle actions is going to ensure a happy skin,” says Ambrosen. Lush actually made a stand recently and deleted all its social media channels in response to concerns around the potential harm social media can have to young customers.
“Sephora Kids”
But demand for skincare products among younger teens is definitely not slowing down. Over the past few years, a phenomenon dubbed “Sephora kids” has taken hold, with pre‑teens, tweens and even younger children gravitating towards expensive and adult‑oriented beauty products in high‑end stores, because they look fun, are the new ‘it’ product that other kids have at school, or they are being endorsed by influencers they see online. The reason is rarely about a legitimate skin issue that needs treatment.
According to reports, this trend includes children as young as nine exploring anti‑ageing serums, exfoliants and potions marketed for adult concerns. Dermatologists have noted an uptick in skin irritation and barrier damage among young patients who use these products.
“Teenagers who are really into skincare are definitely overusing skincare products,” warns Dr Cristina. “I have seen numerous videos online of things like Sephora hauls, unboxings or skincare routines that involve many steps for teenagers, which is totally unnecessary. The impact that this has, in the short term, can cause irritation, and long term, you can really change your skin barrier and lead you to more sensitivity.”
The risk is even higher because adolescent skin just isn’t the same as their parents – it is thinner, more sensitive and less accustomed to formulas designed for issues like wrinkles or pigment correction, which they don’t even have. Anti‑ageing serums marketed to teens and tweens – containing retinoids, AHAs/BHAs, vitamin C, or peptides – therefore have no physiological benefit for young skin and can actually cause irritation, dryness or barrier disruption. Even perfumed products that can appeal particularly to younger individuals can cause skin concerns, which is why many pediatric dermatologists recommend fragrance‑free products for children.
“The cosmetics industry in 2026 is filled with strong products that were once only available via prescription or from a dermatologist. It’s concerning that these products are now available for home-use for adults, let alone for children who have a less mature skin barrier and smaller body mass,” raises Ambresen. “There are skin issues in earlier years which need attention, but they do not need the sort of strong products increasingly used by children and teenagers. This is a new phenomenon, so no one can really predict the long-term damage a routine that is too strong at an early age can do long term.”
Marketing specifically to younger children
Beyond ingredients, there’s a bigger cultural question here too: what does it actually mean for a child to have a “skincare routine”?
For teenagers, applying SPF or using a gentle cleanser can be an empowering way to take control of their skin. But when those routines begin to mirror adult ones with anti-ageing language and aesthetic outcomes prioritised over fundamentals, we risk embedding anxieties about beauty and ageing before puberty even begins.
As the consultant dermatologist Dr Mahto reminds us: “it is really important we don’t accidentally create body dysmorphia style messaging and an unnecessary ‘fixing’ culture too early. Children should not be preoccupied with skincare. Their skin is already biologically excellent. Our job is just to protect it.”
There’s also the marketing reality. SPF and condition-specific creams aside, children don’t inherently need skincare. Their skin is as collagen-rich and well-hydrated as it’s ever going to be. Yet while kids may naturally want to copy what they see, the beauty industry is increasingly meeting – and amplifying – that desire. After all, combine the profitability of the beauty industry with the spending power of parents, and you have a lucrative new category.
To give just one example, in late 2025, the actor Shay Mitchell launched Rini, a children’s skincare line aimed at kids as young as three, inspired by her daughters’ curiosity about her own routine. The range includes playful hydrogel and sheet masks with animals printed on them, formulated with gentle ingredients like aloe vera and marketed as fragrance-free and age-appropriate.
On the surface, it’s harmless fun, and some even argue that kid-specific ranges could act as a buffer, steering children away from harsher adult formulas. But if it’s about copying mum, does a product really need actives and a £5 per sheet mask price tag? It definitely feels like we are about to take things too far, especially as there is real concern that these products merely create a perceived ‘problem’ for the same brand to then ‘solve’. Equally, if we want to use ‘fun’ products to introduce children to good skincare habits, why are we choosing arguably the least beneficial types, such as sheet masks, which, as single-use products, also have an environmental cost?
“Children do not need sophisticated (or luxury) skincare,” concludes Dr Mahto. “The trend of spa-style masks marketed to kids is not only unnecessary, but it also increases the risk of contact dermatitis. Gentle skin care habits should be modelled and grounded in protection.”
So where does that leave us?
Ultimately, the skincare industry is probably going to continue to release products for all ages – some of which we’ll love and some of which we’ll not. What matters is how we talk to our own kids about caring for their bodies and having fun with beauty.
At the end of the day, skincare can be a positive form of self‑care for kids — so long as it remains grounded in health, guided by adults with their best interests in mind, and free of unnecessary pressure to grow up too fast. The key for parents and caregivers is striking a balance between teaching children to look after their skin while avoiding the trappings of unnecessary beauty consumerism. And, when in doubt, consult the professionals. If your child is concerned about the condition of their skin, let them see a dermatologist or their GP. Don’t leave it to be ‘self-diagnosed’ via social media.
These are the best skincare products actually suitable for children
Developed by trained cosmetic scientist (and father) Sam Farmer in response to the "irresponsible" marketing of beauty products to children, this range of unisex skincare essentials takes the stress out of balancing teenage skin. It includes not only a cleanser and moisturiser, but also a deodorant to keep teens feeling fresh.
Aveeno Baby is one of the most hotly recommended, mum (and beauty director)-trusted brands for very sensitive skins, especially if your little one struggles with dry skin conditions such as eczema. This pH-balanced, unscented moisturiser cream (which really won't break the bank) helps to quickly calm and nourish using 100% pure oat oil and vitamin E.
If there's one skincare product we should be encouraging children to wear, it's SPF, as their skin can be more sun sensitive, and, each time you get sunburned, it can double your risk of melanoma (aka skin cancer). This sunscreen is brilliant, and designed with kids in mind.
Created by beauty journalist Charlotte-Anne Fidler after she grew frustrated with the options available to her 12-year-old daughter, Spots & Stripes aims to bridge the gap between the baby and teen markets. It has just enough of the right ingredients to get results (including clearing up breakouts) without causing unnecessary risks to sensitive complexions.
Becki Murray is Citizen Femme’s Beauty and Wellness Director. As one of the only UK journalists to hold a Distinction-grade diploma in cosmetic science, she combines her unique knowledge with an editor’s eye to help you make smarter choices about beauty, wellbeing, and aesthetics. Becki also heads up CF’s spa guide so you could say she’s an expert in the science of relaxation too…
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