Your Glow: An introduction to looking after your skin

Curious about skincare and makeup, but not sure where to start and how to separate the rubbish from the good stuff? Well, this one’s for you: no scare tactics, no "ask your parents" vibe — just a calm, hype-free guide to looking after your skin, enjoying trends, and keeping things healthy.

your skin, your rules (with a little science)

Social feeds are full of filters, hauls, and "miracle" routines. Cool to watch, not always cool for your face. Younger skin is still developing, which means:

• it usually doesn’t need heavy-duty "anti-ageing" ingredients

• it does love simple, gentle care done regularly

Think of skincare like brushing your teeth: small habits every day beat complicated routines once in a while.

the 3-step routine that actually works

morning

1. Cleanse: a gentle gel/foam to lift sweat and oil

2. Moisturise: lightweight, non-greasy hydration

3. SPF 30+: the ultimate glow-and-protect step

evening

1. Cleanse

2. Moisturise

That’s it. If you’re consistent, your skin will notice.

when breakouts show up

Totally normal. Here’s a calm plan:

• Spot stickers (hydrocolloids): use on individual pimples — they help flatten and stop picking.

• Don’t scrub hard or layer five acids. It can wreck your skin barrier and make things worse.

• Do keep hair off your face when sweaty, change pillowcases weekly, and wash hands before touching your skin.

• If breakouts are painful, constant, or leaving marks, talk to a GP/dermatologist — no shame, just smart.

ingredients to skip (for now)

• Retinol/retinoids and strong acids (high % AHA/BHA, peel pads): great later, too much for most teen skin now.

• Harsh scrubs or stinging toners: burning ≠ working.

• Fragrance-heavy face products if you’re sensitive.

fun extras (the safe kind)

• Sheet masks 1–2× week for chill time and hydration.

• Soothing masks/serums with glycerin, panthenol, aloe, beta-glucan, colloidal oat.

• Tinted SPF if you want a tiny bit of evenness without full makeup.

Add only one new thing at a time for a week so you can tell what your skin likes.

makeup, but make it chill

Makeup is for play, not to “fix” you.

• Base: skip heavy foundation; try a sheer tint or nothing at all.

• Blush/highlight: cream or liquid for a soft sheen that blends fast.

• Eyes: easy balms or sheer palettes; keep it comfy on lids.

• Lips: balms, oils, light glosses — collectible and low-stress.

• Mascara: washable formulas are teen MVPs. Replace every ~3 months.

hygiene that saves your skin (and your money)

• Hands first: wash before routines.

• Brushes/tools: clean weekly with gentle soap.

• Don’t share eye or lip products (germs love those).

• Patch test new products on a small area for 24–48 hours.

• Shelf check: if it smells weird, looks separated, or irritates, bin it.

scrolling without the stress

• Filters are everywhere. If a routine looks perfect in 7 seconds, remember edits exist.

• Virality ≠ dermatology. Ask: is this simple, gentle, and made for my age?

• Budget wins. Drugstore basics often perform as well as fancy stuff. Spend where it matters (SPF, moisturiser), save on trends.

quick routines you can actually do

school morning (2 minutes)

• cleanse → moisturise → SPF → (optional) tinted balm + brush up brows

post-sports

• rinse face or use a gentle cleanser → moisturise

• tie hair back; don’t sit in sweaty clothes for hours

sleepover mini kit

• mini cleanser, moisturiser, SPF, spot stickers, lip balm

FAQs you might be thinking

“Do I need a 10-step routine?”
Nope. Cleanse, moisturise, SPF will take you far.

“Is purging normal?”
If you’re using strong actives (you don’t need them), maybe — but irritation, burning, and peeling are red flags. Stop and simplify.

“Can makeup cause acne?”
It can if you sleep in it or don’t cleanse properly. Remove gently every night.

“What about boys?”
Skin is skin. Same routine works. Looksmaxxing? Skip the extreme stuff and focus on clean, hydrated, protected.

a simple starter checklist

• Gentle cleanser (gel/foam)

• Lightweight moisturiser (fragrance-free if you’re sensitive)

• Broad-spectrum SPF 30+ you’ll actually wear

• Hydrocolloid spot stickers

• Optional: soothing mask or serum for self-care nights

• Optional makeup: sheer tint, cream blush/highlight, lip balm/oil, washable mascara

your glow, but realistic

Trends come and go; your skin sticks with you. Keep it kind, keep it simple, and let the fun part be fun. If something stings, burns, or stresses you out, it’s not your product. Your routine should feel like a tiny act of self-care, not a chore.