A Guide to the Best Natural Products For Teen Skincare
A Guide to the Best Natural Products For Teen Skincare

Finding the best natural skincare products for teens can be a challenge.

You want something free from harsh ingredients, but it also has to work as well as the hard stuff on issues like breakouts, clogged pores, and oily skin, while being gentle enough for sensitive skin.

Oh, and it needs to be simple enough that teens or tweens will actually use it.

If this sounds like you, we’ve got you covered with these top picks for the best natural products for teen skincare.

Why Natural Ingredients Matter in Teen Skin Products

The hormonal fluctuations of puberty make teen skin a challenge for many individuals and families.

Common issues include breakouts (persistent or cyclical), clogged pores, blackheads, texture issues, combination skin (dry and oily), bumps, and sensitivity, either persistent or the type that comes and goes.

These issues couldn’t come at a worse time, as the teen years also bring a roller coaster of emotions and enhanced self-awareness, which can cause embarrassment and distress over skin issues.

It’s enough to make any parent or teen run out and buy whatever chemical concoction is TikTok-trendy for teen skin.

Unfortunately, many of the most popular teen skincare products, including the ones parents used as teens, are filled with harsh ingredients, including: 

  • Endocrine-disruptors interfere with hormonal balance and function, with some linked to early puberty in girls. Examples include phthalates in fragrances, paraben preservatives, and PFAS (forever chemicals).
  • Asthmagens are chemicals or substances linked to asthma. Examples include various undisclosed ingredients in synthetic fragrances, VOCs, ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA, etc.), and phthalates.
  • Carcinogens have been linked to cancer and include ingredients like formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct of synthetic surfactants (foaming agents).
  • Petroleum products such as mineral oil, propylene glycol. SLS, SLES, ALS, ALES, and mineral oil are linked to various ill health effects, may be endocrine-disruptive, and are terrible for the environment.
  • Ingredients that can damage the skin barrier, like benzoyl peroxide and harsh antibacterial chemicals.

Fortunately, there is good news about treating teen skin, naturally:

  1. Many natural ingredients have been shown to be as effective as chemicals for addressing teen skin issues, minus the potential side effects.
  2. Natural or “clean” products have finally become trendy, which means your teen will likely be open, or even enthusiastic, to use them.
  3. These solutions often cost less than the synthetic brands and are simple and straightforward to use.

So, let’s dive into the best products for teen skincare that are natural, plant-derived, easy to use, and effective.

The Best Natural Products For Teen Skincare

The following products are some of our best for addressing common teen skincare issues such as breakouts, clogged pores, blackheads, oiliness, uneven skin tone, dryness, and sensitivity.

We’ll break these down by skin type and suggest a simple teen skincare regimen of no more than three to five products for facial and body care (because chests, backs, necks, and other body parts get breakouts too).

Core Products For Teen Skincare

Cleansers

  • Thoroughly Clean Deep Pore Cleanser contains cleansing yet non-drying pure Manuka Oil, Australian Tea Tree Oil, and Bentonite Clay to unclog and tighten pores and fight breakouts, yet is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
  • Thoroughly Clean Tea Tree Oil Face Wash: This deep cleanser is formulated with Eco-Harvest® Tea Tree Oil, Castile Soap, and Coconut Oil. Perfect for oil-prone and combination skin.
  • Moisturizing Ceramide Cleanser is a gentle foaming face wash with three different hydrating ceramides, hyaluronic Acid, and AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), plus botanical-based oils to calm, nourish, and support the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
  • Cleanser: Thoroughly Clean Face Wash Sea Kelp is formulated with nourishing Sea Kelp, Eco-Harvest® Tea Tree Oil to help keep skin clearer, cleansing Castile Soap, and nourishing Coconut Oil. Perfect for normal, dry, or combination skin.

Moisturizers

  • 100% Pure Jojoba Oil: Jojoba Oil's similarity to skin's natural sebum to help keep skin clearer while it moisturizes, helping to gently cleanse, hydrate, and moisturize while leaving the oily areas more balanced and dry spots more nourished.. Excellent for facial, body, and haircare.
  • Moringa Jojoba & Rosehip Oil: This oil blend is ideal for dry, normal, or combination skin types and contains nutrient-rich moringa with ultra-hydrating rosehip oil and balancing jojoba.
  • Moisturizing Ceramide Cream: This daily moisturizer is perfect for sensitive, dry, or combination skin and contains three different plant-derived ceramides: hyaluronic acid and aha (alpha hydroxy acid) help support the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

Toners

  • Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Pads: These convenient pads are saturated with cleansing, clarifying Eco Harvest® Australian Tea Tree Oil to gently yet effectively remove oil, impurities, and makeup, no rinsing required! Perfect for backpacks, gym bags, or those nights you just don’t feel like washing your face.

Exfoliator

  • Gentle Facial Scrub*: This all-natural facial scrub contains Walnut Shell Powder, Jojoba Oil, and aloe to exfoliate dead skin cells, help clear pores, and reveal a fresh, healthy glow. *Note: Exfoliators should only be used 1-2 times weekly.

Spot treatments

  • Blemish Touch Stick: Contains pure Australian Tea Tree Oil, Chamomile, and Lavender to help diminish blemishes and other skin imperfections without harsh drying chemicals. It has nearly 200 five-star ratings, so you know it’s helped a lot of people!
  • Tea Tree Oil: Naturally antimicrobial tea tree oil has been shown to be just as effective as benzoyl peroxide without the skin-damaging side effects.

Now that you’ve met our all-stars for natural teen skincare, let’s learn how to use them for every skin type.

Best Teen Skincare Products For Persistent Breakouts

Dealing with constant breakouts can be a real morale buster and lead to scarring if not treated gently.

Unfortunately, many blemish treatments aim to dry out the skin, which often exacerbates the problem.

Although drying spot treatments can be helpful, blemish-prone skin is often crying out for moisture, as well as ingredients to help support bacterial balance and soothe inflammation.

This product routine delivers gentle bacterial-balancing ingredients that are non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) and hydrating—the perfect combination to calm, soothe, and balance.

Best Teen Skincare Products For Cyclical Breakouts

If your teen breaks out occasionally or monthly, this skincare routine will help curb those cyclical breakouts while controlling excess sebum and protecting the skin barrier.

Best Teen Skincare Products For Oily Skin And/Or Clogged Pores

Oily skin may or may not produce clogged pores, but the two often go together.

This skincare product routine will help rebalance the skin’s oil production, ensuring less glossy shine without stripping the skin. Gentle exfoliators help remove dead skin cells to reduce blackheads and congestion.

Here’s some of our other recommendations for common teen skin challenges:

Best Teen Skincare Products For Sensitive Skin

Best Teen Skincare Products For Sensitive Blemish-Prone Skin

Best Teen Skincare Products For Dry To Normal Skin

Best Teen Skincare Products For Combination Skin

Best Teen Skincare Products For Body Care

If teen skin issues have migrated to the back, arms, chest, or neck, consider these products to help control breakouts and clogged pores.

    • Cleanser (bar): NEW Exfoliating Manuka and Tea Tree Cleansing Bar combines the skin balancing, blemish-fighting, and calming power of manuka honey and tea tree to cleanse and exfoliate gently. Perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
    • Cleanser (body wash): Tea Tree Liquid Castile Soap combines the power of tea tree with 100% natural castile soap and hydrating jojoba oil to cleanse, fight breakouts, and support a healthy skin barrier.
    • Moisturizers: 
      • 100% Pure Jojoba Body Oil, this lightweight body oil hydrates without clogging pores, leaving skin soft and balanced. Many users say their skin looks clearer and feels smoother after use.
  • Deodorant: Underarms are skin, too, and need special care. All Desert Essence deodorants are free from harsh chemicals and aluminum, and up to the challenge of keeping teens smelling clean and fresh. Plus, they have 100% plastic-free, eco-friendly, compostable packaging. Choose from four botanically based natural scents:

Looking For More Clean Skin & Beauty Tips?

At Desert Essence, we are committed to creating natural, effective, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free skincare, haircare, body care, and oral care for the whole family.

Learn more about skincare ingredients and how to choose the best natural skincare, body care, and haircare products in:

References Mentioned in This Article:

  • “Fragrance”. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/fragrance 
  • INDOOR AIR QUALITY: Scented Products Emit a Bouquet of VOCs. Environmental Health Perspectives.
  • “Certain chemicals may trigger early puberty in girls”. National Institutes of Health.
  • “Potential human health effects of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)”. National Collaborating Center for Environmental Health.
  • “How PFAS Impacts Your Health”. Centers for Disease Control.
  • “Environmental impacts, exposure pathways, and health effects of PFOA and PFOS” Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.
  • “Human and Environmental Toxicity of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Evidence for Safe Use in Household Cleaning Products”. Environ Health Insights.
  • “Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk”. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.
  • “Aquatic Life Fact Sheet for Formaldehyde: (Aquatic Life - acute concentration), Indiana Department of Environmental Management.” Environmental Protection Agency.
  • “Committee on Toxicology. Formaldehyde - An Assessment of Its Health Effects”. Washington (DC): National Academies Press.
  • “Formaldehyde. In: WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Selected Pollutants”. Geneva: World Health Organization.
  • “Facts About Formaldehyde”. The Environmental Protection Agency.
  • “ETHANOLAMINE”. The Environmental Working Group.
  • “Endocrine Disruptors and Asthma-Associated Chemicals in Consumer Products”. Environmental Health Perspectives
  • “Parabens as chemicals of emerging concern in the environment and humans: A review”. Science of The Total Environment.
  • Acne Vulgaris and the Epidermal Barrier: Is Acne Vulgaris Associated with Inherent Epidermal Abnormalities that Cause Impairment of Barrier Functions? Do Any Topical Acne Therapies Alter the Structural and/or Functional Integrity of the Epidermal Barrier? The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
  • “Skin Barrier Dysfunction in Acne Vulgaris: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches”. Med Sci Monit.
  • “A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne”. Med J Aust. 



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