Basic Skincare Routine for Teens: 3 Steps, 5 Minutes
A basic skincare routine for teens is three steps: wash with a gentle cleanser, put on a moisturizer, and use sunscreen in the morning. At night, skip the sunscreen and just cleanse and moisturize. That's a complete routine for most 13 to 17 year olds, it takes about five minutes a day, and it works for girls and guys, oily skin and dry.
If you want to see whether your skin is actually the thing holding your photos back, Glowmaxx scores your skin alongside four other levers and tells you which one to fix first. Start my glow-up
Do teens need a routine?
Short answer: a simple one, yes. A complicated one, no.
Should a 14 year old have a skincare routine? A basic one is a good habit at 14, 13 or even younger, mainly because puberty ramps up oil production and sunscreen protects your skin for life. What a 14 year old doesn't need is a 10-step routine with anti-aging serums, strong acids and retinoids copied from adult influencers.
Here's the whole thing at a glance:
| Step | Morning | Night | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Cleanse | Optional (water is fine) | Yes | Removes oil, sweat, sunscreen and dirt |
| 2. Moisturize | Yes | Yes | Keeps skin comfortable and calm |
| 3. Sunscreen | Yes | No | Protects from sun damage and dark marks |
That's what a good skincare routine for teens looks like. Everything else is optional.
Step 1: cleanse
How to cleanse
- Wet your face with lukewarm water, not hot.
- Use a pea-sized amount of gentle cleanser.
- Massage it in with your fingertips for about 30 seconds.
- Rinse and pat dry with a clean towel. Don't rub.
Which cleanser?
- Oily or acne-prone skin: a gel or foaming cleanser labelled gentle or for sensitive skin.
- Dry or normal skin: a cream or lotion cleanser.
- Not sure: go gentle and fragrance-free. You can't go too wrong.
Common cleansing mistakes
- Scrubbing hard or using gritty scrubs every day.
- Washing more than twice a day. Over-washing can make oily skin produce more oil.
- Using body soap or hand soap on your face.
Step 2: moisturize
Everyone needs moisturizer, including people with oily skin. When skin gets too dry, it can get irritated and sometimes oilier.
- Oily skin teens: a light gel or "oil-free" lotion.
- Dry skin: a thicker cream.
- Look for: "non-comedogenic," which means it's made not to clog pores.
Put it on while your face is still slightly damp after washing. A pea-to-grape-sized amount covers your face.
Step 3: sunscreen
This is the step teens skip most and the one that matters most over time. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Sunscreen tips for teens
- Use it every morning, even when it's cloudy or you're mostly inside at school.
- About two finger-lengths covers your face and neck.
- Reapply if you're outside for a long time, sweating or swimming.
- If you have oily skin, try a gel or fluid sunscreen. If you hate the white cast, try a tinted one.
- Some moisturizers include SPF 30. That counts as steps 2 and 3 in one if you use enough.
Sunscreen also helps dark marks left by old spots fade instead of getting darker.
Morning vs night
Here's the full morning and night skincare routine for teens, with small tweaks by skin type.
Morning skincare routine for teens (2 minutes)
- Rinse with water or use cleanser if you're oily.
- Moisturizer.
- Sunscreen SPF 30+.
Night skincare routine for teens (3 minutes)
- Cleanser (wash twice if you wore sunscreen or makeup, or had a sweaty day).
- Moisturizer.
- Optional: a spot treatment on a pimple, if you use one.
Basic skincare routine for teen girls vs teenage boys
The steps are the same. Differences are small:
- If you wear makeup: take it off fully at night before cleansing.
- If you shave: shave after cleansing, then moisturize. A fragrance-free moisturizer is gentler on freshly shaved skin.
- After sports: rinse your face as soon as you can, even with just water.
The part most people struggle with isn't the steps. It's knowing if it's working. Skin changes slowly, and when you see yourself every day, you stop noticing.
Glowmaxx tracks it for you. Take one selfie a day and it scores your skin from 1 to 10 with a one-line note, alongside hair, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit. Your glow timeline and day-one vs today card show whether your skin is actually improving, and the daily routine with a streak keeps you doing the three steps. Start my glow-up
Glowmaxx is for adults 18 and over. If you're younger, a weekly photo by the same window does a similar job.
What teens can skip
Skincare routines for teens on Reddit and TikTok often include way more than you need. You can skip:
- Anti-aging products, including retinol, unless a doctor recommends something for acne.
- Strong acids and peels used every day.
- Toners, unless you really like one and it doesn't sting.
- Face masks, sheet masks and "skin fridges." Fun, not necessary.
- Scrubs with rough bits.
- Pricey products. A cheap skincare routine for teens from a drugstore works just as well as expensive brands for the basics.
- Anything that burns, tingles for a long time or makes you red. Stop using it.
What about acne?
For occasional pimples, the basic routine plus a gentle over-the-counter spot treatment is often enough. Don't pick or squeeze, since that can leave marks. And if you want to feel better about photos while your skin clears up, see how to look good in photos with acne.
What about shine?
If you're oily, a lighter moisturizer and a gel sunscreen help. Blotting papers take care of midday shine. We go further in why do I look shiny in photos.
When to see a doctor
A basic skincare routine for teens handles everyday skin. See a doctor or dermatologist if:
- Your acne is painful, deep, or leaving scars or dark marks.
- Over-the-counter products haven't helped after a couple of months.
- You have a rash, itching or patches that won't go away.
- A mole changes shape, size or colour.
- Your skin is affecting how you feel about yourself a lot.
There's no prize for toughing it out. Doctors see teen skin all the time.
Build the habit, see the change
If you're 18 or over, Glowmaxx turns your routine into something you can see. One selfie in your browser gets you a skin score with a note, scores for the other four levers and three moves for today, and the daily routine with a streak helps you keep your basic skincare routine going. Each photo is scored once, then thrown away.
FAQ
What should a 14-year-old's skincare routine be?
Gentle cleanser at night, moisturizer morning and night, and sunscreen SPF 30+ every morning. That's it. Skip anti-aging products, strong acids and long routines, and see a doctor if acne gets painful or leaves marks.
What is a good skincare routine for teens with oily skin?
Use a gentle gel or foaming cleanser twice a day, a light oil-free moisturizer and a gel or fluid sunscreen in the morning. Don't over-wash or scrub, and use blotting papers for midday shine instead of washing again.
How do I build a skincare routine for teens from scratch?
Start with just cleanser and moisturizer for a week. Add sunscreen in the morning the next week. Once that's a habit, you're done, and you only add something else if there's a specific problem.
Is a basic skincare routine for teenage boys different?
No. Guys need the same three steps. If you shave, do it after cleansing and follow with a fragrance-free moisturizer, and rinse your face after sports or the gym.
How long does a teen skincare routine take to work?
Give it a few weeks before judging. Skin changes slowly, so take a photo in the same spot and light once a week to compare fairly.