Girl Talk with Alexis Dean: Skincare Tips for Tweens & Teens

At Glow & Go, we believe skincare should be simple, safe, and designed specifically for young skin. That's why, for this edition of Girl Talk, we invited our very own Ingredient & Skincare Specialist, Alexis Dean, to answer some of the most common questions from parents, tweens, and teens. From understanding why young skin needs different care to avoiding common skincare mistakes and building healthy habits early, Alexis shares her expert advice on how to keep growing skin happy, healthy, and glowing.

1. As a skincare specialist, why do you recommend Glow & Go for young skin?
As a skincare specialist, thinking about what is recommended for teen skin is important.
Because hormonal changes in teens ramp up androgen activity, which then increases sebum production —and that's why acne shows up.
Using Glow & Go products help teens to manage their changing skin with gentle, non-comedogenic products. Helping keep their skin healthy with a consistent skincare routine.

2. What are the biggest skincare mistakes you see tweens and teens making today?
Some of the most common mistakes made by the Teenage group are:
Overdoing actives. Layering retinol, exfoliating acids (AHA/BHA), and benzoyl peroxide all at once, or using them daily.
Teen skin is still adjusting to oil production and barrier function, so an over use of active ingredients can cause redness, peeling, and breakouts rather than clearer skin.
Skipping moisturizer and sunscreen. Many teens think moisturizer will make oily or acne-prone skin worse, and sunscreen gets skipped entirely. Both are misconceptions  dehydrated skin overproduces oil, and unprotected skin (no sunscreen) with too much daily UV exposure sets up future hyperpigmentation and premature aging. Setting teens up to use a high quality oil free moisturizer and daily sunscreen application is key for healthy skin. 

Chasing trends from social media. Multi-step routines copied from influencers (often adult skincare content creators) introduce products that are unnecessary or actively irritating for younger skin — things like vitamin C serums, strong retinoids. Usually these types of products are not necessary for this age group.
Picking and popping Acne. Still one of the biggest drivers of acne scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in this age group.
Ignoring the basics: Expecting one expensive serum to fix acne while ignoring diet, pillowcase hygiene, sweat after sports, or phone screen contact with the face. It’s really about keeping a consistent simple routine.
Not being consistent or patient. Switching products every 1–2 weeks because they don't see overnight results, most actives take 6–8 weeks to show effect. Starting and adding new products often can also irritate the skin.

3. Why is using skincare designed specifically for young skin so important?
Using the right skincare system with clean ingredients is important during the teenage years because teen skin has unique needs: more oil control, gentle formulas, and acne-fighting ingredients, without the heavy anti-aging actives found in most adult lines. The right products make a real difference in both skin health and confidence.
Hormonal changes during puberty cause oil glands to produce significantly more sebum, making teen skin naturally oilier and more acne-prone than adult skin. Adult formulas are not designed with this in mind.
Most Teens are also dealing with acne. Teen acne is hormonally driven, so products formulated for that specific cause (with ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide at appropriate strengths) work better than general adult acne treatments.
Teen skin is also more sensitive and reactive. So using products that are fragrance free and do not contain harmful ingredients will cut down on skin irritation.

4. What ingredients make Glow & Go products gentle and safe for everyday use?
Talking about Glow & Go skincare products. These products are designed for everyday use with clean, gentle ingredients that treat skin without the irritation;
Total Facial Cleansing Gel (soap-free cleanser) — Great fit for young skin. Gentle sulfate-light surfactants (cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium lauroamphoacetate) clean without stripping. Green tea extract adds antioxidant/anti-inflammatory support for occasional breakouts, and panthenol helps maintain the moisture barrier.
Oil Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer — great product for oily/acne-prone teen skin since it's oil-free and non-comedogenic. Aloe, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, and green tea/chamomile extracts hydrate and calm skin without heaviness.
After Sun Hydrating Mist —Great product for teen skin. Contains Aloe vera, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, saccharide isomerate, and amino acids replenish moisture and calm redness after sun/sweat exposure, with no actives or fragrance. Great for sports/pool days.
Baobab Skin Correction Facial Cream — great product with ingredients for any age (ceramides for barrier repair, gotu kola, bisabolol for soothing, glycerin, tocopherol), it also includes peptides. Works for a teen that may have specific dark-spot or acne-scar concerns.
Talking about Glow & Go Hair products these are work very well for teenage scalp and hair health. Products are formulated to be non-drying and hydrating without making the hair look and feel oily.
Shampoo — this is designed for the oilier scalp, which is great pre-teen and teenage hair/scalp.
The primary mild cleansers are sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate and cocamidopropyl betaine — it clears the excess sebum and product buildup teens tend to produce without stripping hair. .
Sugarcane extract acts as a gentle glycolic-acid source, lightly exfoliating the scalp of dead skin and buildup. Chamomile and green tea extracts are soothing/antioxidant, useful for scalps that get irritated from sweat, helmets, or frequent washing. And then added Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) to add moisture back so hair doesn't feel stripped.
Conditioner — detangles and repairs without heavy buildup. The same protein/amino acid complex plus panthenol continues the repair work from the shampoo. Argan oil, baobab seed oil, and squalane seal in moisture but are lightweight, so hair doesn't end up weighed down or greasy-looking.
Hair serum — shine without clogging the scalp. It's silicone-based for lightweight, non-greasy shine and frizz control, plus rosemary, sunflower extract, and vitamin E (tocopherol) as antioxidants against heat/environmental damage.

4. What advice would you give parents who are unsure about introducing skincare to their child?
Building good consistent habits early matters!!
Using the right cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF from a young age sets the foundation for healthy skin long-term and helps prevent premature aging and sun damage before it starts.