The topic of self-care never really came up in my household when I was growing up. Things were more survival than skincare, mindfulness, or health in general. We did eat extremely healthily, but I left home to go to college with zero idea on how to take care of my hair, skin, body or mental health. Not that I cared, at the time. I didn’t. I was so happy to get out into the world and be an “adult” at 18 that I had no idea how important and empowering having some basic self-care in my back pocket would’ve been.
I actually didn’t really start learning and practicing true self-care until well into my 30s to be brutally honest…..but better late than never, right?
Nowadays, with social media our teens are exposed, or rather overexposed, to the million opinions of lord-knows-who when it comes to “self-care”. Some of it is ok, even good, but so much more of it is borderline insane. The push for the “summer glow up” is intense and every teen influencer pushes that harder than a mom pushes in the most intense throes of childbirth. Teens end up feeling more anxious than anything else thanks to this….and I like to remind my kids that a real glow-up is about how you act as a person, how you treat yourselves and others, and how to make consistent healthy choices.
The thing is, I don’t want my kids to go out into the world without some sort of real education on what they can do to look and feel their best at any age. I wanted them to have the knowledge that the decisions they make and the products they use can greatly impact every aspect of their lives. Although I do know, in true teen form, that half of what I tell them will receive eye rolls and deep sighs. I’m just mom, so, what do I know anyways?
….but the seeds are being planted and once in a while I notice some of those seeds starting to take root.
I pick my battles when it comes to food and sleep schedules with my kids now that they are teens….but they know what’s good and what makes them feel better. So, when they start breaking out, or feeling like crap, or it starts to affect their performance at work or school, they know how to reign themselves in. They’ll cut out sugar for a couple of weeks or make it a point to go to bed at a somewhat more decent hour. They add lemons to their water and hydrate, or throw epsom salts into their bathwater and make the time to unwind.
They also even let their “oh my God, you’re so uncool” mom read devotionals or chapters out of any one of the several books on teen mindfulness that I have every evening before I get my tired old self to bed. Sometimes they actually even ask for me to.
When it comes to the ever dreaded skin issues teens almost always have to contend with…they know mama will have answers. And yes….I do start off with a lecture on how “sugar causes inflammation which leads to congested and unhappy skin so cut out those sodas you drink with your friends” and then we move on to how to care for your face in as simple and wholesome a way as possible.
Now, even if I had been taught about self-care as a kid, we definitely didn’t have the products that we have now. It was pretty bare bones and basic when it came to choices. I didn’t grow up with much money and I never wanted to make my parents feel bad about it so I used whatever was available. I was an Ivory soap and water girl (if I could even be bothered to wash my face) but once in a while, if I got really lucky, I would get my dad to splurge on one of those orange, see-through Neutrogena face bars. Luxury.
Thankfully, I was lucky enough to have pretty decent skin as a teen, but about once a month I would get a visit from what felt like a golf ball sized cystic pimple. You know, the kind that feels like it has its own heartbeat? I remember begging for a bottle of Seabreeze Astringent….remember how much that stuff stung?!….or Noxema face wash cream in that big blue tub. Then, on the recommendation of a friend at school, I’d slap a thick blob of toothpaste on the zit and pray for the best. That was it though for the skincare.
My kids are lucky to have so many better options on hand for healthy skin. Options made specifically for teens and younger skin to keep it healthy and made with actually nourishing ingredients. Products I wouldn’t mind using myself! They’re learning not to strip their skin with harsh chemicals and read ingredient lists on their skincare products like they would (should!!) on their foods. My daughter, in particular, is keenly aware of parabens and SLS.
When it comes to the very basics for skin, my kids always have witch hazel, rose water and tea tree oil on hand. For hair, coconut oil to keep split ends at bay, and rosemary essential oil mixed with a little apple cider vinegar to invigorate their scalps and alleviate any flakes or product buildup. For natural tooth whitening, they have add a pinch of baking soda to coconut oil for a paste they can brush onto their teeth. All of these are very economical, completely natural and work really well!
Then for actual skin and hair product lines that are made for teens that I’ve found and they really love I recommend:
BAESIX: Fun, cute, fuss-free, and perfect for the teens in your life, this brand has simple and effective skincare that’s bound to make even the pickiest adolescent happy. I love that their products are organic and free of petrochemicals, phthalates, SLS, parabens and all of the other stuff your kids really don’t need in or on their skin. They have a wide range of skincare items, face tools, and product kits that make for perfect gift ideas. My two teens love the Baesix Bared Faced Friend gentle face wash, and All Day Err’ Day Hydrating CC Face Moisturizer with SPF 35….I love them too! Find them at: BAESIX
CLEAN AGE: This brand has a really great line of personal care products just for teens that are perfect for Gen Z! Made with clean ingredients and sustainable packaging and created by a mom-daughter team….what’s not to love?! My kids have really enjoyed using their bamboo toothbrushes, all natural deodorants and their super cute hand sanitizer which is perfect for camp and back to school. Whether you buy their single products or their kits, your kiddo will definitely become an instant fan. As a parent, I love resting assured that my kids are achieving their clean with truly clean products. Find them at Fred Meyer in the Pacific Northwest, Amazon, or at CLEAN AGE
TEENOLOGY: If breakouts are an issue for your teen then this is a brand I highly recommend! Gentle yet effective formulations in delicious scents (or “flavors” as my kids like to call them!) leave your teens’ hair and skin feeling healthy and looking clean and clear without the use of parabens or oils. I appreciate that these products were created by parents of teens because they know the struggle…and they recognize the importance of giving your children the best products possible that’ll help them address skin issues and help build their self-confidence. I love that they also address body breakouts with shampoos and conditioners that help teens prevent the ever dreaded “bacne”. Their use of botanicals makes them even more of a “yes” in my book! Find them at: TEENOLOGY
Of course we don’t stop at the external when it comes to self-care for our teens! To be honest, I learned so much during school lockdowns and the pandemic response my old city/state took and how much it affected my kids. Watching them process what was happening and how it impacted them led me to become ultra pro-active in teaching them how to meditate, practice mindfulness, and recognize negative thought patterns.
My daughter, in particular, really had a hard time with lockdowns because she didn’t have the social outlet of a part-time job that her brother had, so, I knew she would need an extra large dose of mindset work and even though she pushed back for many months, she eventually started to come around and, completely on her own, began putting little mindfulness practices into her daily routine.
From taking long epsom salt baths (the magnesium in epsom salts has naturally calming benefits) to putting on a guided meditation as she went to sleep every night, and adding lavender essential oil to her diffuser…she was creating a peaceful atmosphere for her body and mind where she could feel safe and comforted. She also turned to creative writing which became a huge outlet for her (and she’s actually really good even though she’ll never admit it!).
Exercise really came into play during this time as well and has continued on for both kids. My daughter has a rotation of workout videos she likes (sometimes we do them together although we always end up laughing so maybe that’s not very effective lol) and my son will go for random laps in the community pool, a bike ride, or use my husband’s weights.
Like me, none of them actually love working out….but we all know the benefits, so we do it. Those benefits making for stronger bodies, but also much more robust mental health and honestly the stress relief after a good workout is unparalleled. Since none of us love going to gyms, we find realistic ways to stay in motion in and around the house, and one product that I really love that helps teens (and their parents) stay active and mindful is:
PLAY PAUSE BE: We all know how beneficial yoga can be, but crazy schedules and overloaded work days can make it hard to commit to a regular yoga practice…even for our teens. That’s what I love about the Play Pause Be yoga card decks….you kind of don’t have an excuse to not take at least a few minutes to pull out a few cards and stretch your way into mindfullness. My teens sometimes only go through a few cards and sometimes they make it through the entire 82 card deck. It never gets boring since they can customize the sequences and these really do make such a great pause in even the most hectic of days. I also love these for a slumber party activity! Find them at: PLAY PAUSE BE
Rounding out the self-care for teens advice is teaching them to take accountability for their own health by eating healthy foods and using beneficial supplements. I make sure that all of the food we have available at home is clean and wholesome. We do have the occasional treat of course…because it really is all about balance, but I also make sure to talk to them about the benefits of different plants, herbs, and food sources. One, in particular, is mushrooms. You already know how much I love mushrooms and I’ve written about why here: The Magic of Mushrooms , but when it comes to getting teens to take a mushroom supplement it’s not always so easy. Mushrooms in food are great, but the powders and tinctures can be on the bitter, or dirt…uh…earthy side….which is why I love these guys:
TROOP MUSHROOM GUMMY: These are the perfect, and easily most delicious way, to give your kids and teens all the benefits of mushrooms with zero complaints! My kids take the Super Troop Gummies which are a fantastically restorative blend to help them make up for the stresses of midterms, finals, late nights, and just plain teen angst. They also have Lion’s Mane which is a great brain booster, and Reishi for de-stressing. My kids love them, I love them, and so will you! Find them at: TROOP MUSHROOM
The trick for teaching teens self-care is to share healthier options with them, talk to them about how those choices and options empower them and give them better control over their bodies. Talk to them about setting healthy boundaries, communicating, and saving space. Tell them to do their research, take time for themselves when they need it, and give them the tools to deal with stress and disappointment because life will be life.
Each little seed you plant is priceless. Our kids face a completely different world than we did….so even if it feels more often than not like we’re talking to a wall…I promise they are listening…at least a little.
….and a little means a lot.
**As an affiliate, I make a small portion of some of the sales made via some of the links in my blog.
