Skincare has become a part of childhood much earlier than it used to. Kids and tweens are seeing skincare routines on social media, shopping for products with their friends, and asking for the same serums, masks, and treatments they see older teenagers and adults using.
As a dermatologist and a mom, I understand why this can be confusing for parents. You want your child to learn good skincare habits, but you also do not want a 10-year-old using a complicated routine designed for mature skin.
The goal of a first routine is to establish a few healthy habits: gently cleansing the skin, keeping the skin barrier moisturized, and protecting skin from the sun. Everything else is optional, and for most kids and tweens, much of it is unnecessary. The message should be to care for and support healthy skin—not to focus on how their skin looks or make appearance the measure of their worth.
So when should kids actually start a skincare routine? What does a 10-year-old need? What about a 12-year-old? Do tweens need serums? And what should you do when acne enters the picture?
Here is my dermatologist guide to creating a simple, age-appropriate first skincare routine.
When should kids start a skincare routine?
There is not one magic age when every child needs skincare. Skin needs change with age, hormones, genetics, activity level, climate, and individual concerns. For younger children, basic hygiene is usually all that is needed. A gentle cleanser when appropriate, a simple moisturizer if the skin is dry, and daily sun protection are the foundation.
As children approach the tween years, around 9 to 12, it can be a good time to introduce a simple skincare routine. This is less about treating problems and more about teaching healthy habits.
A first routine should be easy enough that your child will actually use it consistently. It is also a great opportunity to teach kids how to understand their skin instead of simply following whatever product or trend is popular on social media.
What skincare does a 10-year-old need?
Most 10-year-olds do not need an extensive skincare routine. For a child with healthy skin, I would focus on three things:
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A gentle cleanser
-
A moisturizer
-
Sunscreen
That is it.
A cleanser should remove dirt, sweat, sunscreen, and other buildup without leaving the skin feeling tight or stripped. Look for a gentle, fragrance-free formula.
A moisturizer helps support the skin barrier and can be used whenever the skin feels dry or tight. A straightforward fragrance-free formula is often the best choice.
In my opinion, daily sunscreen is the most important skincare habit to establish early. Children should use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin, particularly when spending time outdoors. Building the habit of applying sunscreen every morning can pay off for a lifetime.
What about a 12-year-old?
Around age 12, some kids begin experiencing changes associated with puberty. Oil production may increase, pores may become more noticeable, and acne can start to appear. This is where a skincare routine may need to evolve slightly.
The foundation remains the same: gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen. If acne develops, a targeted acne treatment may be appropriate, depending on the type and severity of the acne. But acne does not mean that the rest of the routine needs to become more aggressive.
One of the most common mistakes I see is responding to oily or acne-prone skin by using harsh cleansers, scrubs, exfoliating acids, multiple acne products, or other drying treatments all at once. This can irritate the skin and compromise the skin barrier, which may make the overall situation worse. If your child is developing persistent, painful, or scarring acne, that is a good time to talk with a dermatologist rather than continuing to add products.
What should a first skincare routine include?
Think of a first routine as a foundation rather than a collection of treatments.
In the morning, the basic routine is:
- Cleanse, if needed
- Moisturize
- SPF 30 or higher
At night:
- Cleanse
-
Moisturize
For some children, cleansing in the morning may not be necessary if their skin is not oily and they washed their face the night before. A splash of water may be enough.
The most important thing is consistency. A three-step routine that a child uses every day is much more beneficial than a 10-step routine that feels overwhelming and gets abandoned after a week.
Do tweens need serums?
Usually, no.
Serums are not inherently bad for younger skin, but they are also not a requirement for healthy skin. Most tweens do not need a serum simply because skincare routines on social media include one. If there is a specific reason to use a serum, the ingredient and formulation should be appropriate for the child's skin and the concern being addressed.
This is an important distinction: skincare products should solve a problem or serve a purpose. Adding products simply because they are trending can create unnecessary irritation and make it harder to understand what your skin actually needs.
What ingredients should younger skin avoid?
Many products marketed to adults contain powerful active ingredients intended to address concerns such as wrinkles, significant pigmentation, or advanced signs of photoaging. Those concerns generally do not apply to a 10-year-old.
Tweens should be cautious about jumping into routines built around strong exfoliating acids, retinoids, aggressive scrubs, or multiple concentrated active ingredients without a specific reason or guidance from a dermatologist.
Fragrance is another consideration. Fragrance is not necessary for effective skincare and can be a source of irritation or allergic contact dermatitis. Children can become sensitized to contact allergens early in life, and repeated exposure to fragrance-containing personal-care products provides more opportunities for sensitization. This becomes particularly relevant during the tween and teen years, when use of skincare and cosmetic products often increases. This can cause a lifelong problem. For younger skin, I prefer simple, fragrance-free formulas whenever possible.
I also recommend avoiding the idea that skincare should sting, burn, peel, or leave the skin feeling "squeaky clean." Those sensations are not signs that a product is working better and can actually be a sign that the skin barrier is getting damaged.
What if acne starts?
Acne is one of the most common reasons a child's skincare needs to change. When acne begins, the goal is not to throw every acne-fighting product at the skin. Start with a consistent basic routine and then introduce targeted treatment when appropriate.
Acne-prone skin often makes people hesitant to moisturize because they assume that adding moisture will make their skin oilier or cause more breakouts. But hydration and oil are not the same thing. Hydration refers to the skin’s water content, while oil is produced by the sebaceous glands. Even oily, acne-prone skin needs adequate hydration and a healthy skin barrier to function properly. When acne-prone skin becomes excessively dry or irritated—often from harsh cleansers or acne treatments—the barrier can become disrupted, which can increase irritation and inflammation and make acne more difficult to manage. A lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer can help maintain hydration and support the skin barrier without adding unnecessary oil or clogging pores.
A gentle cleanser can help remove oil, sweat, and sunscreen. Sunscreen remains important, especially because some acne treatments can make skin more sensitive to the sun.
Depending on the type of acne, ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid may be appropriate. However, the right treatment depends on the individual child and the severity of the acne.
If acne is persistent, painful, leaving dark marks or scars, or affecting your child's confidence, I recommend seeing a dermatologist. Early treatment can make a meaningful difference.
What should parents look for when buying skincare?
The skincare aisle can be overwhelming, especially when products are marketed specifically to tweens.
I recommend starting with the formula rather than the packaging or the marketing claims.
Look for products that are:
Gentle
Fragrance-free
Non-comedogenic
Simple and easy to use
Designed to support the skin barrier
I also encourage parents to pay attention to what a product is trying to accomplish. Does your child actually need it? Or are you buying it because it is trending?
There is nothing wrong with making skincare fun. In fact, making a routine enjoyable can help kids establish healthy habits. But fun does not have to mean complicated.
The ERLY First Routine
This philosophy is exactly why we created ERLY.
We founded ERLY around a simple idea: healthy skin does not require an overwhelming routine. It requires the right ingredients used consistently. Our formulas have been clinically tested for skin compatibility in children and teens ages 10 to 18 and are non-comedogenic, giving parents added confidence that ERLY is designed to be gentle on developing, sensitive, or acne-prone skin while providing the hydration and barrier support it needs.
Our First Routine is built around three basic products:
Face Foam Gentle Face Cleanser: a gentle, effective cleanser designed to remove dirt, oil, sweat, and daily buildup without unnecessarily stripping the skin.
ERLY Start Moisturizer SPF 40: a daily moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 40 to help hydrate skin while providing daily sun protection.
ERLY Night Moisturizer: a simple nighttime moisturizer designed to support the skin barrier while keeping skin hydrated and comfortable.
Together, these products create a straightforward routine that can grow with your child.
The morning routine is simple: cleanse if needed, moisturize with ERLY Start SPF 40, and get on with your day.
At night: Face Foam, followed by ERLY Night.
That is a complete routine.
One of the most important things we can teach kids about skincare is that skin is not supposed to look perfect. There will be pimples. There will be dry patches. There will be days when skin is oily and days when it is not. Skin changes throughout childhood, puberty, and adulthood. A first skincare routine should help kids care for their skin without teaching them that there is something wrong with the way they naturally look.
As a dermatologist, I want kids to understand that skincare is about health first. As a mom, I want them to feel confident enough to know when they actually need a product and when they do not.
Start simple. Build good habits. Pay attention to what your skin is telling you.
And remember: doing less really can do more.
FAQs
When should kids start a skincare routine? There is no single age when every child needs a skincare routine. As children approach the tween years, around ages 9 to 12, it can be a good time to introduce a simple routine focused on gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and daily sun protection.
What skincare does a 10-year-old need? Most 10-year-olds only need three basic products: a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and sunscreen. Look for gentle, fragrance-free formulas and use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin.
What should a 12-year-old's skincare routine include? A 12-year-old's routine should focus on gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen. As puberty begins, increased oil production and acne may require targeted treatment, depending on the type and severity of the acne.
Do tweens need serums? Usually, no. Serums are not required for healthy skin, and most tweens do not need one simply because it is trending on social media. If there is a specific reason to use a serum, its ingredients and formulation should be appropriate for the child's skin and concerns.
What skincare ingredients should tweens avoid? Tweens should be cautious about using strong exfoliating acids, retinoids, aggressive scrubs, or multiple concentrated active ingredients without a specific reason or guidance from a dermatologist. Simple, fragrance-free formulas are generally preferred for younger skin.
What should parents look for when buying skincare for kids? Look for products that are gentle, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, simple to use, and designed to support the skin barrier. Focus on the formula and what the product is intended to accomplish rather than its packaging or popularity.
By Dr. Hallie McDonald, Board-Certified Dermatologist & Co-Founder of ERLY
