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1. Harsh Ingredients: Adult skin care uses active ingredients such as AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), retinol and retinoids and high-powered drying agents such as salicylic acid and antioxidants. All of these ingredients can be way too harsh for sensitive skin in tween and can cause redness, irritation, and dryness.

2. Hormonal Changes: Puberty can begin as early as 10 years of age and ends near 13, 14 and even 15. These years are critical for development and hormone levels are constantly changing.  Some skin products that contain retinoids can interfere with hormones and should not be used by children.

3. Allergies and Sensitivities: Tween skin is way more sensitive than adult skin. Sensitivity and allergic reactions can happen because of fragrances, preservatives and many other ingredients can trigger allergic reaction in tweens.

4. Overuse of Products: Appropriate use of skin care is a learned experience and tweens may not take the time to fully read and understand what constitutes a skin care routine. This can lead to overuse of products that can cause damage.  Excessive exfoliating, using pimple medication and over-cleansing can actually damage the skin’s natural barrier and cause short term or even long-term damage to skin.

5. Sun Protection: While everyone should use sunscreen, adult skin care that has been formulated for specific skin types requires a different formula than tweens. This can cause breakouts from an oil-based product, or excessive dryness from a different type of formula. Tweens require SPF formulated specifically for their skin type and not for adults.

6. Product Selection: When tweens use products that are not appropriate for their skin type, they can cause harm. For example, adult skincare that targets acne can dry out and cause redness in tweens. Tweens might not fully read labels and chose a product that is not formulated for their sensitive skin.

7. Psychological Issues: Being a tween is a precarious time and focusing on being healthy and happy is more important than using adult skin care. Appearance should not be a focal point at this stage of a tween’s development.  Kids should focus on being the best version of themselves, not trying to live up to unrealistic beauty standards.

Concerned about the recent news that tweens are using skin care products that are inappropriate for their age? Social media is abuzz with kids using skin care that they think is good for them because they see it on social media or because the packaging is youthful and fun. The truth is that skin care products made for young adults and adults should not be used on tweens. There is cause for concern as many ingredients can do more harm than good. 

There are skin care products on the market that are specifically developed for tweens. Age-appropriate packaging, ingredients and expectations are what TBH Kids is all about. Our products are formulated with natural ingredients to help keep skin clear, clean and moisturized without strong retinoids, AHAs and antioxidants. Formulated with safer ingredients to cleanse such as willow bark, tea tree oil and .4% salicylic acid as well as aloe, jojoba, chamomile and calendula to gently moisturize. Our products address the skin care concerns of tweens and we provide them with simple solutions to teach them that good habits start early.   

As always, we encourage parents to consult with a pediatrician or dermatologist to provide guidance and answer any questions you and your tween have about appropriate skin care products.

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