June 19th, 2026

Pre-teens, or tweenagers between 10 and 12 years old, are no longer just smitten by boy bands and trendy designer clothes. Tweens are obsessed with skincare. A quick trip to your local Sephora will likely reveal aisles filled with backpacks, excitement, and groups of tweens eagerly testing products or researching the latest “pre-teen skincare routines.” Before shaking your head, recall your obsession with Bonne Bell Lip Smackers (or whatever was popular when you were a tween!) and your own pursuit of skincare now. So, how is this different?

Tweenagers in Marketing Demographics

In 2025, annual skin care sales increased to $114 billion. These figures continue to skyrocket, with an expected reach of $167 billion by 2030. Gen Alpha, people born between 2010 and 2024, is a significant, growing part of this uptick. This pre-teen or tween group totals more than 2.3 billion, becoming the largest demographic and generation on earth! Also known as tomorrow's consumers, tweens are anticipated to have an estimated $12 trillion in purchasing power by 2030. Social media influencers undoubtedly play a role in this sweeping movement, with tween influencers garnering millions of views themselves!

$kincare Ob$$e$$ed

While starting a skincare routine with gentle skin care products at a young age helps develop a lifelong habit of healthy self-care, experts worry that today's pre-teen skin care craze involves some potentially unhealthy factors. Certainly, dermatologists praise good skincare routines for all ages but advise that we should teach children how to properly care for their skin early with natural products and a simple approach. This starts with reading labels to ensure they aren’t overdoing it, as not all products and ingredients are age-appropriate for tender, pre-teen skin. Resurfacing retinoids, acids, and growth factors are not necessarily suitable for pre-teens or tweenagers and can irritate younger, tender skin, causing dryness, redness, and rashes. While those with breakouts can benefit from more active formulas with salicylic acid, beyond that, gentle formulas for sensitive skin are more suitable. On a psychological level, this preoccupation is potentially harmful for budding psyches. It could lead to impulse purchases of destructive trends that could compromise skin health. But it can also lay the groundwork for a shopping addiction, where “wants” become “needs” in an over-emphasis on beauty or “must-haves,” which creates an external, elusive, and false sense of confidence.


However, some beauty veterans indicate that this trend is harmless, dismissing the notion that tweens are trying to change their skin. They highlight the fun, joy, and satisfaction aspect in discovering and trying something new and that skincare is a way to bond with friends and be up to date with the hottest trends. Yet, much like vape products disturbingly marketed with cute packaging, playful names, and sweet, fruity scents, this skincare craze can become financially burdensome and may lead to irritation or damage when products are overused or misused.

Gentle Skin Care for Tweens

Most tweenagers only need a simple, gentle skin care routine with skincare basics and ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, and horse chestnut. Here’s a sample regimen ideal for tweens without blemishes:


Step 1 - Cleanse: Use a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and impurities. For those noticing an uptick in oil, Phyto-Gel Cleanser is a sulfate-free, lightly foaming natural face cleanser for oily skin that will keep the skin clean without stripping away vital moisture. Otherwise, Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, a creamy, soothing, natural face cleanser will do the trick without redness or irritation.


Step 2 - Moisturize: Apply the gentle SpaTeen® Blemished Skin Moisturizer daily to preserve natural moisture levels. For t-zone shine, choose Balancing Combination Skin Cream instead.


Step 3 - Protect: Apply sun protection with at least SPF 30 daily, like Hydrating Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40, to shield the skin from harmful UV rays.


If your tween is wearing mascara or other eye make-up, natural Eye Make-up Remover is safe for the eyes, lashes, and delicate eye contour. Because most tweens love lip balm, Rapid-Restore Lip Balm is a perfect opportunity to teach them about clean skincare ingredients—why natural ingredients are healthier options.


For tweens with breakouts, here’s a gentle skincare routine to address these concerns:

• Step 1 - Cleanse: SpaTeen® Blemished Skin Cleanser specially formulated for teens contains naturally sourced salicylic acid and physical “buffing” agents to help keep pores clear.

• Step 2 - Moisturize: Apply non-comedogenic SpaTeen® Blemished Skin Moisturizer to help protect the skin’s natural barrier.

• Step 3 – Help defend skin from UV damage and environmental aggressors: Apply sun protection with SPF 30+ daily.

Bonus steps include alcohol-free toners to complete cleansing and clean skincare face masks, including masks for teens with breakouts.