With back to school right around the corner, we want to make sure everyone feels confident in their skin, especially teens. I’m sure you wouldn’t be surprised if I told you that up to 80% of teens experience acne.

Acne is most common in teens because the increased hormones associated with puberty cause overactive sebaceous glands. Basically, the skin produces too much oil and it can lead to clogged pores that result in breakouts.

What might surprise you is that acne in teens can also cause psychological challenges including:

• Self-consciousness
• Poor self-confidence
• Avoidance of social situations

Studies even show that anxiety and depression are more common in teens with acne than teens without.

The good news is that most of these challenges improve when the acne clears. Luckily, a good skincare routine with the right products can help fight breakouts. With that in mind, let’s talk about the Graydon Skincare products that are best suited for acne-prone skin.

Which Products?

We usually recommend choosing skincare products based on your skin type and concerns. Check out our What’s Your Skin Type article or take our Skin Quiz if you’re not sure about your skin type.

Since we know that teens tend to have oily skin, we can make some general product suggestions. These products contain ingredients that are known to reduce inflammation, minimize breakouts and control excess sebum.

Face Foam

Face Foam is our fragrance-free foaming cleanser is perfect for combination skin. It’s formulated with natural BHA from white willow bark and azelaic acid to help reduce blemishes and smooth the complexion. It also contains apple cider vinegar, which balances the skin’s pH level. Face Foam removes dirt, sweat and excess sebum without leaving your skin feeling tight and dry.

Aloe Milk Cleanser

Aloe Milk, our non-foaming cleanser is a great choice for those with sensitive skin. It’s formulated with aloe vera to soothe and moisturize. Plus, niacinamide helps control sebum production and reduce breakouts. Aloe Milk Cleanser breaks down makeup, sweat and impurities without stripping the skin.

Bamboo Charcoal Sponge

This biodegradable sponge provides gentle exfoliation for all skin types. It helps to unclog pores by lifting away dirt, dead skin cells and excess sebum. And, it’s not just for cleansing! Our Bamboo Charcoal Sponge also doubles as a beauty blender.

Cleansing is the most important part of any skincare routine.

Face Food Mineral Mist

This 2-in-1 facial mist is formulated with white tea and a mineral complex. It helps to hydrate the skin and shield it from environmental stressors. Use Face Food as a toner after cleansing or as a midday skin refresher.

Phyto Clear

Phyto Clear, our gel-like moisturizer was named Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin in the 2022 Chatelaine and Fashion Beauty Awards. The lightweight formulation includes two forms of botanical retinol, moth bean extract and bakuchiol. These ingredients offer the same acne-fighting benefits as conventional retinol, without the drawbacks. Phyto Clear also includes squalane oil to moisturize the skin without clogging pores.

Face Glow

This multipurpose product can be used as a tinted moisturizer, skin primer before makeup and as a highlighter. Face Glow contains non-comedogenic raspberry seed oil, which helps to reduce breakouts and spirulina to help control sebum production. It’s also formulated with sustainably-sourced mica to give the skin a subtle shimmer. 

Skincare Routines

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—cleansing is the most important part of any skincare routine. This is especially true when it comes to acne-prone, teenage skin. Removing excess sebum and clearing the pores is essential for combating breakouts.

Believe it or not, even people with oily skin should use a moisturizer after cleansing. Without a well formulated moisturizer, the skin can become too dry and the sebaceous glands increase sebum production to help moisturize the skin. More sebum means an increased chance of breakouts.

Here are two simple skincare routines to help improve acne-prone skin.

It’s important to be patient and give the products time to do their jobs.

Basic routine for acne-prone skin

Even a very simple skincare routine is better than nothing. If you want to be done in a flash, give this two step routine a try. Best of all, this easy-peasy routine is suitable for both morning and night!

What you’ll need: Bamboo Charcoal Sponge, Face Foam, Phyto Clear

Step 1: Cleanse

• Dispense a small mound of Face Foam onto a moistened Bamboo Charcoal Sponge.
• Massage over your face and neck.
• Rinse your skin and the sponge with warm water.

Step 2: Moisturize

• Apply a pea-sized amount of Phyto Clear over your freshly cleansed face and neck.

Does a skincare routine get any easier than that? 

Elevated routine for acne-prone skin

If you’re active and sweat a lot and/or wear makeup, try this slightly elevated skincare routine. It’s only one extra step and your skin will thank you!

What you’ll need: Bamboo Charcoal Sponge, Face Foam, Aloe Milk Cleanser, Face Food Mineral Mist, Phyto Clear, Face Glow

Step 1: Cleanse

• Morning single cleanse
• Dispense a small mound of Face Foam onto a moistened Bamboo Charcoal Sponge.
• Massage over your face and neck.
• Rinse your skin and the sponge with warm water.
• Evening double cleanse
• Massage a few pumps of Aloe Milk Cleanser onto your face and neck.
• Rinse with warm water.
• Dispense a small mound of Face Foam onto a moistened Bamboo Charcoal Sponge.
• Massage over your face and neck.
• Rinse your skin and the sponge with warm water.

Step 2: Hydrate

• Spritz Face Food onto freshly cleansed skin. Don’t be shy. Spritz, spritz, spritz!

Step 3: Moisturize

• Morning
• Apply a pea-sized amount of Phyto Clear or Face Glow to your face and neck.
• Evening
• Apply a pea-sized amount of Phyto Clear to your face and neck.

Starting a new skincare routine for acne-prone skin won’t clear the complexion overnight. It’s important to be patient and give the products time to do their jobs. That said, some forms of acne may require the help of a professional dermatologist.

Tips For Clear Skin

A skincare routine that includes non-comedogenic products is just the first step in minimizing breakouts. Here are some extra tips to help you achieve clear skin:

• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Keep your phone clean if you hold it up to your face to make calls.
• Keep your hair off your face if you have oily hair or use hair products.
• Change your pillowcase regularly (especially if you use hair products).
• Be careful not to over-exfoliate your skin.
• Use skincare products with non-comedogenic ingredients.
• Don’t pick at acne spots.

We know that being a teenager is uncomfortable enough (trust me we’ve all been there) and having skin issues on top of that doesn’t make you feel the best. That’s why Graydon Skincare is determined to give you good skin days every day, and help you gain any and all confidence you need.