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BEAUTY BUZZ 59 causing an imbalance”. “Get your teen to think about how their skin feels every day,” she said. “Is it dry everywhere, a mixture of dry and normal, normal everywhere, normal and oily, or very oily? Their skin will change with hormonal changes and environmental changes. “Environmental changes could include if they swim in chlorinated water, sun exposure, pollution and stress. “Basic skin care should include a broad-spectrum sunscreen, daily wash, a custom-fit exfoliant and a light moisturiser.” Ms Smallbone adds that teens should avoid overusing products. “A little goes a long way with so many washes, exfoliants and moisturisers,” she said. “Look for products with a pump, and use ‘one pump’ as a guide for how much to use.” If it’s found that the consumer needs more than ‘one pump’ to cover the whole skin area, then it’s possible they need to review their choice of skin care product. A step-by-step process How much time does the consumer want to spend on skin care? Ms Smallbone suggests determining how much time they’re willing to put into their skin care routine. “There’s no point in giving them a four-step routine and they only use one product,” she said. Daily cleansing is important. “Cleansing the skin of dirt, pollutants and excess oil daily is important (twice a day is even better). “If your teen is wearing sunscreen or makeup, make sure that the cleanser also removes artificial products, as our skin can’t break those ingredients down and they can lead to undesirable skin issues.” Exfoliate! “Using an exfoliant two to three times a week can buff away the build-up of dead skin that can make skin look dull, rough and congested.” Ms Smallbone recommends using a smooth-textured exfoliant, and on a damp face. “Some ingredients that can make your exfoliant that bit more effective are fruit enzymes and salicylic acid. They work by slowly loosening dead skin cells so when you exfoliate, you achieve a smoother result.” “Basic skin care should include a broad-spectrum sunscreen, daily wash,acustom-fit xfoliantand a light moisturiser.” Moisturise next. Moisturising is the next step after exfoliating. “Gel and lotion moisturisers are lightweight and easily absorbed by the skin to leave it comfortable and balanced. “Look for a moisturiser with added tea tree oil, to gently treat unwanted blemishes.” Sunscreen saves skin. “When it comes to sunscreen, try to get a facial sunscreen over a body sunscreen for the face. “Facial sunscreens generally have the added benefit of being a lightweight formula, non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores), UVA and UVB protection (from burning and ageing rays), ophthalmologist tested (safe to use around eyes), and even have a matte finish.” A concern that Ms Smallbone brings up that many young people experience when starting out in skin care is that many products are targeted at ‘extreme skin conditions’. Young people who are just beginning and aren’t familiar with the potent ingredients in some skin care products will turn to products that aren’t necessary for their skin type. “A skin care brand that’s simple to use and clearly labelled and that can be customised for both young men and women would be useful, as it would remove confusion around choosing ‘what’s right for me’.” It starts in the pharmacy Top questions to ask teens wanting to start their first skin care routine, according to Ms Smallbone – who recommends asking customers open- ended questions – include: • What concerns do you have with your skin? • How much time do you have to look after your skin? • How much are you looking at spending on skin care? “Try to keep products from the same company together, if possible,” she said. “They’re often formulated to complement each other to achieve the best outcome.” Ms Smallbone says the process of skin care can initially be overwhelming, especially for a young person’s first routine. So, a great tip she suggests is to write out the steps for the consumer – as “they might be looking for that other item in a few weeks/months, once they’re on board with skin care”. RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • FEB 2021