What age to start beauty regime?

Palice

It's funny with everyone talking about wrinkles and elasticity etc. that only one person has mentioned sunscreen. That's the thing, the only thing that will prevent wrinkles! I'd strongly recommend getting her a light, daily spf15 moisturiser (even in winter as UVA rays are always present) and you'll be doing her skin the world of good.

By the way there's nothing wrong with younger children using cleanser. It's just washing your face, but using something better for it than soap. Avoid toner though, at any age, as most are full of alcohol and that's bad for your skin.

Lalaladybird

I think leave it a couple of years and then just let her use a nice light moisturiser once a day, probably at night. Please don't let her use a toner because they do strip the skin of their natural oils and teenagers often make the mistake of using a toner when they get oily/spotty skin thinking that will help but it makes the problem worse because their skin goes into overdrive and produced excess oil to compensate (it is just learning remember ). If she uses make up then a cream cleanser, rinsed off with water, would be the best thing IMHO. I started wearing mascara, clear nail polish and a little lip balm when I was 13, but they grow up earlier these days so maybe she would enjoy doing that now

Talking from experience and a lot of experimentation here :rolleyes: if she gets spots (in the future - I know you said she has lovely skin now), don't let her use clearasil products or similar...I found they worked for a few days then my skin would breakout in spots as it got used to them. Many years of trial and error and determination taught me that dove soap and water was the best thing for keeping my skin nice. I'm 29 now and have good skin despite having had acne as a teenager and I still use cream cleanser to take off my make up, wash with dove soap (or cheaper alternative;)) and water and I only moisturise at night with a nice rich night cream...I also just apply this round my eye area, then wipe the majority off with the back of my hand (A tip I picked up from my mum who at 60 still has great skin, her mum who never used moisturiser has awful wrinkles). I have rambled on at a tangent, sorry HTH xx

Toothsmith

A beauty regime can start at birth.

Healthy food, keep well hydrated, good exercise and lots of fresh air.

As for slapping chemicals all over her face - the younger you start them, the more you'll rely on them.

Lilith1980

I started cleansing, toning and moisturising when I was about 16 - the same time I started experimenting with make-up. Now, however I just cleanse and moisturise - can't really be bothered with toning and haven't done that for years. I'm not sure if it will make any difference as to how my skin is when I'm older.

I don't moisturise my neck though so will have to start doing that - I dont want a nice face and wrinkly looking neck lol

foxxymynx

She should be putting moisturiser on every time she wears make up anyway (makes the makeup look better too as well as stopping the makeup drying out her skin) but avoiding around the eye sockets (plumps up the skin which over time causes wrinkles).

I'd be inclined to say just advise her to use a SPF moisuriser, makeup remover after wearing makeup and a good facewash.

maytaurus

you're never too young

lostinrates

I'm 30 this year, and my skin is ok, but not as good as I'd like, mainly because the sun damag I exprienced as a child is starting to show. TBF I didn't gt this in uK ..I livd abroad as a child, but I wish my parnts had known to apply sun cream in the morning, and train me to do the same. If I had a child I think I'd introduce them to skin care this way, through sun protction, using a light spf in winter and a heavir one in summer.

hethmar

Sue, you can improve your skin, whatever age. For most of my life I was a soap and water girl and just assumed my skin was ok for my age. One day I went past a beauty shop, looked in as the door was open and instead of a group of 20 something footballer wives types, there were lots of women in their 40s, 50s and older! I steeled myself and went in and booked a facial for the first time ever.

My goodness, what a difference. I assumed the open pores and so on were just something you had to put up with as you got older - not so!

I now have a regime every day, cleansing, using pure and protect from Boots and then using an Olay moisturiser and at night I put on a Boots night creme. The number of people who have complimented me on my skin has been amazing. I also use a face pack occasionally now and also a dermabrasion creme (also Boots). My face feels silky soft for the first time since I was in my 20s! I have a deep professional facial perhaps every few months. (when my local beauty shop has half price offers )

So dont give up on your own skin. Spend a bit of money on yourself.

frivolous_fay

I wouldn't start her before it seems necessary.

I look back fondly to the time when I had perfect skin and didn't need to worry. Too soon came the nightmare that was 'trying everything and anything to stop the zits'

I don't think there's any rush to get a young'un obsessing about their looks! Let them enjoy their peace of mind while it lasts!

TurnaroundSue

Many thanks to everyone who has responded. My dd doesn't wear make up at the moment (except very occasionally if she is going to a party and then only very little - no mascara/foundation, just lip gloss and eye shadow), so I don't need to worry about taking make up off etc at this stage.

I am pleased to see that I can wait a few years before starting on looking after her skin - but agree with everyone that I want her to enjoy the freedom of 'not worrying' and not being obsessed with how she looks etc.

Hethmar - you are right that it is never too old to start looking after your skin, and for the last 6 months I have been moisturising using Lush products and can notice a difference, but maybe a visit to the salon once in a while will help me along the way also. I do look at my mum and would like to avoid having as many wrinkles as she does:eek: , but there again maybe some of it is inherited and there is nothing I can do anyway - but it won't be for the lack of trying, I can tell you.:rotfl:

There have been some really good tips and hints and it is nice to see what is good and what isn't (I see toner is a complete no, no). Must admit used it a couple of times in my youth and didn't like it then so didn't use it again (but having said that used nothing else either).:mad:

Once again, many thanks to you all.:T