As your angelic little cherubs turn into tweenagers the hormonal changes they experience in their body can wreak havoc on the skin, not to mention your household! Suffice to say that by the time boys hit puberty, you may have a battle on your hands to get them into the shower, but no doubt they’ll be spending plenty of time in front of the mirror. Girls may well have discovered the joys of experimenting with make-up, which can also lead to a whole host of irritating skin issues. Puberty and teenagers are a complex battlefield only you can navigate, but rest assured, we feel your pain!

The healthy hygiene routines you established early on in life will really come into their own during the teenage years and with a few tweaks you’ll be able to guide your young adults along the path to blemish-free skin. Using a mild body wash like Vosene Kids Gentle to Skin Moisturising Bath & Shower Oil Therapy will help soothe, enrich and hydrate skin as well as cleansing it without the need for soap.

My teenager has asked for advice on skin care – what tips can I give them?

It’s critical that your precious girls and boys take care of their skin during the tricky teen years – and that’s where you come in. No doubt they’ll be spending hours in the bathroom, so strike while you can! You can help them on their way to spot-free pores with some straightforward advice that even the most sultry, non-communicative teenager will understand:

• Get them to wash their face twice a day – once in the morning, once at night
• Stay hydrated – ensure your child leaves the house armed with a freshly filled water bottle every day and get them to eat plenty of fruit and veg that contain water
• Stick to using skin care products that are suitable for their specific skin type
• If your child is a Sport Billy, politely encourage them to shower afterwards to help eradicate nasty niffs
• Don’t pick – if your tween suffers from acne don’t let them keep touching the affected area, it will only make it worse
• Be gentle – skin at this age can be really sensitive so make sure your child treats it with respect. That means no scrubbing!

Skin checklist 9 years old and upwards:

• Stay hydrated – this will help maintain healthy-looking skin
• Always wash with a mild body wash in a warm bath or shower
• Reinforce healthy hygiene routines – your tween will thank you for it in the end
• Don’t pick angry skin, this will only make problems worse