My TOP Picks For The BEST Face Creams For Teenagers

A popular myth is that teens shouldn’t use a face cream because their skin is too oily and acne-prone anyway, so why add anything else to aggravate it?

Untrue. Teenage skin, just like any other skin, requires sufficient moisturization in order to stay healthy and breakout-free.

Luckily, there are many good moisturizers for teenagers nowadays that can treat various skin concerns while still hydrating the teen’s skin enough and not weighing it down.

I’m here to share with you the best face moisturizers for teens on the market as per my experience of over 15 years of using various skincare and face creams in particular.

Let’s go!

What does the best moisturizer for teenage skin look like?

There are several factors to consider when choosing an appropriate face cream for a teenager:

1. Skin concerns — you want the face cream you choose for your teen to have the needed ingredients to treat any skin concern that your kid may have at the moment. If your teen suffers from acne or has too sensitive skin due to hormonal fluctuations, you must choose a proper teen moisturizer that takes those concerns into account.
2. Texture and finish — the finish of your chosen moisturizer for a teen must be appropriate for their skin type, and the texture must be enjoyable to use. Your teenage kid is just starting to build a beginner skincare routine, so it’s vital to opt for products that will be used by your child consistently.
3. Price point and availability— to add to the above, the teenage moisturizer mustn’t be too expensive and should be available to shop at most stores, online and offline. You don’t want to invest a huge sum for a daily teen cream because that can quickly add up to a huge amount of money.

Best teen creams for oily skin

When it comes to teenagers with oily skin, one face cream quality becomes the most important — mattifying.

You want the teen moisturizer for oily skin to ensure that your kid will not look greasy as the day progresses, so a mattifying face cream can be hugely appreciated by your child.

Some of the best picks in this category are La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer and Bioderma Sébium Mat Control Cream.

These teenage face creams have silica and other mattifying powders that will soak up the excess sebum throughout the day and reduce the amount of shine on your child’s face.

Best teen creams for sensitive skin

When it comes to teenagers with sensitive skin, it’s all about avoiding flare-ups and using soothing, calming products that are simple yet effective.

Such are my picks for teenage moisturizers suitable for kids with sensitive skin types. The following are some of the best face creams a child can use.

Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel and Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer are two soothing but lightweight face moisturizers suitable for teens at a great price point for the quality offered.

Best teen creams for acne-prone skin

Now, teenagers with acne are a whole other group of people. Acne is very common in teens, so it’s important to use face creams that can contribute to breakout healing and not trigger pimples in the first place.

Opt for products that feature salicylic acid (a BHA) or any AHAs or PHAs that can gently exfoliate the top layer of the skin and unclog the pores. Some great picks for face moisturizers for teens with stubborn pimples include SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Cream and Paula’s Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer.

Best teen creams for dry skin

If you’ve been in the skincare space for any amount of time, then you know that dry skin sits right next to sensitive skin. Dry skin easily gets sensitized, so a proper teen moisturizer should not only take care of hydration, but also soothe and calm the skin, or at least not irritate it in the first place.

Some great picks for moisturizers for teenagers with dry skin include Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer.

Both will nourish the skin while calming it down at the same time, do not cost a fortune and are easy to find in your local shops and online.

Best teen creams with SPF

Sun protection is vital no matter the age, but it’s in our teens when we develop the habit of applying sunscreen daily.

If you can teach your teenager one thing about taking care of your skin it’s to use sunscreen every single day.

Using a moisturizer with an efficient SPF factor is an easy way to introduce sunscreen to your teenager and ensure that they build consistency of application, which is the most important part of using SPF products.

Some great moisturizers for teens with a broad spectrum SPF include La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair UV SPF 30 and Paula’s Choice CLEAR Ultra-Light Hydrating Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 30.

Both are light and oil-free, so they won’t clog your teenage kid’s pores and won’t form any acne as a result of consistent use. They’re pleasant to use and have the dual function of protecting the skin from the sun while moisturizing it effectively.

Which are the best skincare brands for teenagers?

Some widely-approved skincare brands for teens include CeraVe, La Roche Posay, Avene, and Paula’s Choice to name a few. All of them have skincare lines that target specific skin concerns related to teenagers and can target acne formation, healthy skin, and SPF protection.

Can teenage kids use face cream?

Teenagers can and should start using face moisturizers daily in order to keep the skin healthy and curb any inflammation, and as a result, to keep the skin free from breakouts. Opt for oil-free face creams that tackle the specific skin concerns that your child faces.

Is CeraVe good for teenagers?

CeraVe is a safe brand of skincare for teens and adults alike. It’s beneficial because CeraVe products are focused on ceramides, niacinamide, and essential fatty acids that replenish the skin, and give it the building blocks it needs to maintain a healthy skin barrier. The price point of CeraVe products is another reason why the brand is recommended for teenagers — the products are affordable enough and widely available in online and offline stores.

When should kids start using face cream?

Once your child starts to enter puberty, they should begin building a skincare routine featuring at least a moisturizer or a lotion and a sun-protective product.

That’s all I had to share in regard to choosing the best face moisturizer for teenagers, no matter if it’s a boy or a girl.

If you’ve found this post useful or have any questions, drop me a comment down below.

And make sure to check my guide on the best skincare gifts as there are a couple of ideas to complement a good moisturizer for a teen with some other skincare products and tools.

If you want to build them a routine featuring The Ordinary products, I have The Ordinary regimen guide that explains how to build a routine with the brand.