Face Care for Developing 12 Year Old Girl

Dove should be fine, if she doesn't have any major skin issues. Otherwise I would take her to a dermatologist.

On a side note. I got my daughter The American Girls Care and Keeping of you Book. It has opened the doors for her to be confident to ask me things and not be embarassed because she thinks it is only happening to her.

If you have a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant near you, and you can find one at www.marykay.com there is a product called Velocity. It is designed just for teens. Great product.

The best "advice" I can give is to refer you to an excellent book by Paula Begoun. "Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me" is the title and she has a new edition out. For previous editions, I would go to the library. She gives practical skin care routines and talks about the myths and realities of skin care. Plus, she reviews most cosmetic companies/products based on ingredient lists and overall performance. Kind of like a dictionary or encyclopedia for skincare. The product I use is Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser. It's basic and animal cruelty free (important to me). Paula Begoun also has a website: http://cosmeticscop.com Click on "learn" at the left for some reviews, etc. Paula has created her own line as well which I have not tried as of yet. Good luck!

It's Arbonne International, Clear Advantage System with vitamins, L-Lysine and zinc in our Skin Support Dietary Supplement, Not-So-Basic Skin Care Set, and FYI line for your daughter when you/she decides to use body lotions and makeup. Check out www.arbonne.com or contact me @###-###-#### for more info.

Well, Let's see. I went through acne as a teenager, I struggled with acne for years , found a good facial regimen and managed to keep my skin clear without the help of a dermatologist. Clear skin is about knowing your skin type and treating your skin based on that skin type. First decide if she is normal, dry, oily, or combination. Then choose products specifically for that skin type. The key is to cleanse, and moiturizer. Also she old enough apply a sun block to her face every day. Sun block is the key to maintaining youthful skin. Talk to your pediatrician about what brands he/she suggest. She is still very young, so be gentle and stay away from harsh products like neutrogena, which will probably chemically burn her skin. Dove is fine for a baby, but it may leave behind a residue that may clog Her pores.Try St. Ives. It's cheap and it works as a gentle cleanser/scrub. BE prepared to switch to a more comPlex line of products when she gets older, like Arbonne, Biore' or look into organic lines. But teach her the fundementals of healthy skin. CLEANSE, MOISURIZE, EXFOLIATE, AND SUN BLOCK... EVERYDAY. AND NEVER EVER GO TO SLEEP WITH MAKE UP ON. That is a huge no, no. As long as she keeps her skin clean and uses a gentle but effective line of products she will be fine. Now if she becomes acne prone anyway, than PROACTIV OR DERMATOLOIST. Good luck

I'm a huge believer in using products that are more natural/organic based. There won't be all those caustic chemicals that irritate skin and we're relying on nature rather than man made ingredients.

I have a cleanser +toner in one product that I use and LOVE. It doesn't dry out my skin like most do and it's made with safe ingredients. There is also a line of products specifically for acne. I have it, but I don't have to use it much b/c my skin is pretty normal. But it's VERY affordable when you look at all the other products out there for acne. they're so darn expensive. I think this product (4 items) is only around $15.00 or something.

If you're also looking for these types of products, just send me a message and I can share more details with you. Good luck.
J.

i highly recommend Sensaria- it is all natural and good for all ages- it is fantastic for a young girl to get into the ritual.
www.sensaria.com/navywife

A., Dove is a good idea but the best idea is limit her sugar intake, that is what really causes acne. And make sure that she drinks plenty of water because that keeps her clean inside and out. Water is the best! Also it is not to early for your son to drink plenty of water also because boys will get acne sooner than girls.

I would suggest just plain old soap and water. Have her wash her face at least twice a day. Normally she will get a few pimples around her cycle. If it should get out of control, I use Proactive Solution. This is awesome stuff and it works. I am 44 and I still use it.

K.
www.2goodcandles.com

Hi A.,

I see that you've had many response, but just wanted to agree with the response about limiting sugar-what a difference that makes! Change pillow cases daily if she starts having problems. Another little tip, wipe your phones down regularly with alcohol. May sound crazy, but we tend to hold them against our face and you get everyone's oil & dirt that has built up.

If she starts having problems, my kids and I use Proactive. Poor guys inherited my acne prone skin. Works very well with only 2% benzoyl peroxide, instead of the 10% in most anti-acne products. They make a really nice oil-free moisturizer that is SPF 15. (Should you ever want to try it, look for a Proactive kiosk at a mall where you can purchase a kit without having to sign up for their auto-mail program. A better way to try it out.)

Use a non-comodogenic (won't clog pores) sunscreen on her face daily-she will thank you
later when she still has beautiful skin (and no skin cancer).

-T.

I would recommend Cetaphil (or even the cheaper store brand knock-off). I would NOT recommend soap. Plain old soap dries out the skin and causes the skin to create more oil to compensate, thus creating pimples. Use something mild and encourage good hygiene.

Proactive, Proactive, Proactive...it works. Jea-

I started my daughter, who is now 13, on Neutregena. It is mild but helps with any oil problems.

Good luck!!

I recommend Arbonne's Intelligence Daily Cleanser. It is a non-drying cleanser that will remove the dirt and oil without stripping skin of its moisture barrier. All of Arbonne's products are PH Correct so your daughter's face won't feel squeaky clean (which means you are stripping away the moisture barrier). Instead, your daughter will be left with a soft, smooth, clean face. And if she ever starts having trouble with acne due to puberty, she can try Arbonne's Clear Advantage. All of Arbonne's products are botanically based, have skin care Ph of 5.5, are hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, never tested on animals, and formulated without animal products, animal by-products, mineral oils, dyes, or chemical fragrances. You can find out more at www.BotanicallyBased.myarbonne.com

Hi A., Arbonne International is a 28 year old company that formulates over 400 products in Switzerland and manufactures them in the USA. What sets Arbonne apart is that the products are botanically based, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, contain no animal products or by-products, no mineral oil and no dyes or chemical fragrances. The products are sold through Independent Consultants, like me, and contain less than 1% preservatives. They are pure, safe and beneficial. Arbonne has a Clear Advantge line for acne and blemishes but I wouldn't recommend using that until blemishes begin to appear. What I would recommend for your 12 year old daughter now is the Arbonne Baby Care line. My son is almost 11 and he uses it. The Hair & Body Wash is a gentle, ultra-mild, tear-free cleanser for hair and delicate skin. The line also includes Body Lotion, Sunscreen SPF 30+ and Body Oil. These products would also be nice for your son. (I put the Hair & Body Wash in a clear plastic bottle for my son because he didn't like the "Baby" idea.) The fact is, even adults with sensitive skin use this line and love it! Visit www.wholelifewellness.com for more information. Or, contact me directly and I'll be more than happy to help you.
Arbonne also has awesome products for moms and dads. You can order online and the products are delivered to your door.
I hope this helps and I look forward to hearing from you.

I know it's a little late...but I just saw this post and had to comment. I have 2 daughters in your girl's age range. Your daughter may not have any oily problems or acne yet, but her hormones are kicking in, so please dont give her any products w/ oil bases to them. Dove, in my opinion( I am a Beauty Consultant) has too much moisurizer in it for a young girl who may suddenly start producing oil.
You should choose a product that is gentle, non oily, non greasy, for normal skin(unless she gets oily).
I saw the recommendations sent to you already, most of them sounded good...but I would never put soap(unless it's formulated for the face) on facial skin unless she's very oily or unless it's for sensitive skin(like Neutrogena facial soap) I still think foaming or gel cleansers are better than bars...and I have personally had every bad skin problem known to man and tried every product out there! I personally can only use Mary Kay, but I used to use Neutrogena when I was younger.
There are good products for teens, look into those as well. One w/ a money back guarentee is great, too, since it may not work until you've tried a few.
Hope this helps,
Blessings,
L.

Hi! "Purpose" makes a nice, gentle face wash that she might like to try. I think before she starts having problems, you are fortunate in that you don't have to worry about it much! One other thing you might want to do, though, is get sun screen esp. made for faces for her to use during the summer. Regular sun screens can clog their pores. (She can use regular sun screen on the rest of her body -- just not her face)

Hey A.!

What type of skin does your daughter appear to have? Oily, Combination (T-Zone: oily forehead, nose, chin), or normal where there is never too much shine and never too dull? I would definitely suggest a skincare program that consists of a very mild cleanser with a balancing freshener and oil free moisturizer. She should cleanse morning and night (night is an absolute must to cleanse the skin of toxins). As a beauty consultant, I'm biased of course...(wink), and would recommend the velocity cleanser/moisturizer which is formulated for younger skin. I can help customize a skincare program for her. If you want more info on the product, you can take a look at my website under skincare (select velocity) @ www.marykay.com/djturner.

Good luck!!

D.

Good morning A.. Happy New Year! Wow it is freezing again this morning!! Hope that snow they are talking about stays away-although I know the kids would love to have it. So how long have you been back in the work force? How are you doing juggling the many hats that you wear. Some days I do better than others. Anyway to answer your question about skin care...Have you ever heard of Arbonne? Well I would recommend looking into it. They have a wonderful line that is geared toward younger skin call Arbonne Intelligence Not-So-Basic. It is fabulous. It is botanically based, hypoallergenic, no mineral oil, no animal products/by-products etc. It is very gently and light but cleans and protects the skin very well. Please message me if you'd like to learn more. Hope you stay warm today! Make it a good one!
M.
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I think I'm jumping in this discussion a little late, but I know of a few good face washes and thought I'd share. I've always given my daughter Olay Foaming Face Wash and her skin hasn't had many breakouts (it also comes in a sensitive skin formula). Also, Cetaphil is a really mild cleanser recommended by our doctor. If you really want to splurge, you can try the Arbonne skin care system, which I believe has special products for teen skin. Their products are great for mommies too!

I don't have any girls old enough to consider those things yet, but thought I might put in my suggestion. I have never had "bad" skin, but have always tried searching for some light face soup/cleanser for my skin. I used Suave face soap for a while...it worked perfectly, but seems to not be available anymore. Then I tried Olay, and it works just as well. They clean the face, but aren't too strong, doesn't dry it out. You could try those? They are both in a hand pump type of plastic bottle, like lotion would come in.
K.

My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong everybody!) is that acne is unavoidable, but it is manageable. I faced serious acne problems as a teen and tried everything. What I realized after years of trying every soap, and acne medicine was that my skin was actually reacting to them. I had a friend with NO ACNE who told me that he and all his sisters avoided very bad acne by using no soap whatsoever. I was shocked by this, but tried it myself and found that my skin was far less sensitive, meaning it broke out less frequently and less seriously. So, I would suggest laying off the soap, which dries out skin and encourages production of more oil, and just encourage her to rinse her face with warm water and pat it dry each morning.

I'm sure someone will probably want to dispute this, but it really worked for me!

Hi A.,

I also have two chiildren, a 12-year old daughter and an 8-year old son. I do marketing for a wellness company that manufactures all of the products you need for personal care as well as cleaning. The products are all without harmful chemicals. Part of that line is an inexpensive combination toner, cleanser that is great for young ladies to use to get in the habit of taking care of their skin. Then if they do have a break-out, we have a great acne fighting kit for about $15 that works great! I'd love to share more about it with you. If you are intersted, please e-mail me at ____@____.com you can see the reviews of my company in the Business Directory under Wellness Company. I am in Manchester MD. Good luck!

Hi A.,

I too struggled for years with all the bombardment of facial products, what is the best one? I've learned in my lifetime that when you see someone who has what you want, mostly I mean character, you do what they do. I work for eye physicians, and an elderly woman would come in for routine checkups. I was always impressed with how clear and nice her skin was for a woman in her 80's. She explained to me that she never uses soap, only use products like Noxema, and to not let the sun damage the skin. Also, moisturize. Now that being said, I don't think young ladies have such trouble with moisture, but due to changes in body chemistry, oily skin seems to hit most. Noxema is really a very good product for reducing oil, but not drying out skin. I have used it now for many years and my skin is problem free, now for the sun.. I'm afraid I learned that advice long after my crazy "tan til you drop" days of my teens. There is a lot out there on the market for skin, but all I know is for an 80 year old woman, her skin was lovely.

Sincerely,
N. B

Hi A.,
I have a 10 year old will be 11 in June and she is starting to get acne here and there.
I have her on a skin care regimine that she loves and the product smells great!!!! If your daughter is anything like mine she is hard to get to do anything on a regular basis right now.
I am a Senior Mary Kay Consultant and my daughter as well as other clients love this gentle product called velocity that is specially designed for teens!!!
Please call me at ###-###-#### and I can tell you everything you would love to know about it! You may also visit my websight (free delivery) at www.marykay.com/valerieminler
This would be a great Valentines Gift for your daughter!!!
I Look forward to talking to you!
V.

I went to a dermatologist when I was 12 to get advice on caring for my skin. He recommended (and still does through my pregnancy) to use either Purpose brand facial cleanser or Neutragena brand cleanser both a.m. and p.m. And, to moisturize after each wash with Neutragena face moisturizer. He advised never to use a bar soap intended for the body. You are a great mom to get her started early on a healthy skin care regime --- it has made a huge difference in the quality & look of my skin. If it's in the budget, a trip to the dermatologist would be beneficial for both of you to get advice & all the answers you may have to issues now and potential issues. No, I don't work for a dermatologist - I just adore the one I've gone to for the last 21 years (off & on) when I have concerns. If you'd like his name, just let me know. :)

I'm an Avon Rep and since I was a pre-teen my mother purchased Avon Clear Skin and as I got older I been using that product and Avon Solution also. It really depends on the skin (dry, sensitive or oily) would give me more of an insight on which produce would work best for your child. Feel free to give me a call and I will try my best to match the right facial treatment for your child.

Thank You
C.
____@____.com
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My pediatrician recommended Dove for my daughter from birth. That was 38 years ago... she has never had any real problems, has a lovely complection and is still using Dove!

My kids (now 18 and 16) went through the same thing, as most teens do. You're smart to be proactive about this. I did a lot of research. Keeping the face clean and hydrated is important. Also, the websites (there are a lot -- check them out) stressed the importance of clean pillow cases and keeping hands off the face. Google "acne" and you'll find some super helpful websites.