From over-washing to TikTok trends gone wrong — these are the most common skincare mistakes teenagers make and exactly how to fix each one.
We've all been there — you're trying to get clearer skin, but somehow everything you do seems to make it worse. If that sounds familiar, chances are you're making one (or several) of these incredibly common teen skincare mistakes.
The good news? Every single one of these is fixable. Let's go through them.
Mistake #1: Over-Washing Your Face
What you're doing: Washing your face 3-4+ times a day because it feels oily, or using harsh cleansers that make your skin feel "squeaky clean."
Why it's bad: Over-cleansing strips your skin's natural protective oils. Your skin panics and produces even MORE oil to compensate. This creates a vicious cycle: you wash more, your skin gets oilier, you wash more, it gets oilier.
The fix: Wash your face twice a day — morning and evening. That's it. Use a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser. Your skin should feel clean but comfortable, never tight or dry. If you need a midday refresh, blotting papers absorb oil without disrupting your skin barrier.
Mistake #2: Skipping Moisturiser Because Your Skin Is Oily
What you're doing: Thinking oily skin doesn't need moisturiser, or that adding moisture will make oiliness worse.
Why it's bad: Dehydrated skin (yes, oily skin can be dehydrated) overproduces oil to compensate for the lack of moisture. By skipping moisturiser, you're actually making your oiliness worse.
The fix: Use a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser every morning and evening. Gel moisturisers are great for oily skin — they hydrate without feeling heavy. Your skin will actually become less oily once it's properly hydrated.
Mistake #3: Popping and Picking at Spots
What you're doing: Squeezing pimples, picking at blackheads, or touching your face constantly.
Why it's bad:
- Pushes bacteria deeper into the skin, making infection worse
- Causes inflammation that leads to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots)
- Creates scarring that can last months, years, or permanently
- Spreads bacteria to surrounding areas, causing more breakouts
The fix: Apply a spot treatment (benzoyl peroxide 2.5% or salicylic acid) and leave it alone. Use pimple patches — they're hydrocolloid bandages that absorb the contents of a pimple overnight without you having to touch it. They also prevent you from absent-mindedly picking.
Mistake #4: Skipping Sunscreen
What you're doing: Not wearing sunscreen daily because you don't think you need it, it feels heavy, or you forget.
Why it's bad: UV damage causes:
- Post-acne dark spots to get dramatically darker and last longer
- Premature ageing (wrinkles, sagging, sun spots) starting in your 20s
- Increased skin cancer risk
- Uneven skin tone and texture
The fix: Find a sunscreen you actually like wearing. Look for lightweight, mattifying formulas designed for oily skin. Apply SPF 30+ every morning as the last step of your skincare routine. Set a phone reminder if you keep forgetting.
Mistake #5: Using Too Many Products at Once
What you're doing: Watching skincare influencers and buying every product they recommend, then using them all simultaneously. Or going from zero products to a 7-step routine overnight.
Why it's bad: Layering too many active ingredients irritates your skin barrier. Common symptoms: redness, burning, peeling, and — ironically — more breakouts. Also, if something works (or doesn't), you won't know which product is responsible.
The fix: Limit your routine to 3-4 products max. Introduce one new product at a time, waiting 2-4 weeks before adding the next. This way you can identify what works for your skin and what doesn't.
Mistake #6: Following TikTok Skincare Trends Blindly
What you're doing: Trying every viral skincare hack — slugging with Vaseline, DIY lemon juice masks, sandpaper dermaplaning, toothpaste on pimples.
Why it's bad: Most viral skincare trends aren't backed by dermatological science. Some are harmless but ineffective. Others are actively harmful:
- Lemon juice: Extremely acidic (pH 2), causes chemical burns and photosensitivity
- Toothpaste on pimples: Contains irritants that inflame skin
- Baking soda scrubs: Extremely alkaline, destroys skin barrier
- DIY chemical peels: Risk of severe chemical burns
The fix: Before trying any skincare trend, ask: "Would a dermatologist recommend this?" If you can't find it recommended by a board-certified dermatologist, skip it. Boring skincare that works is infinitely better than exciting skincare that damages your face.
Mistake #7: Not Giving Products Enough Time
What you're doing: Using a product for a week, deciding it doesn't work, and switching to something new.
Why it's bad: Most skincare products take 4-6 weeks to show meaningful results. Your skin cell turnover cycle is roughly 28 days — that's how long it takes for a new product to truly affect the fresh skin cells coming to the surface.
The fix: Commit to a product for at least 6 weeks before judging it (unless you're having an allergic reaction — rash, severe itching, or swelling means stop immediately). Take progress photos so you can actually see gradual improvement that you might miss day-to-day.
Mistake #8: Using Physical Scrubs Aggressively
What you're doing: Using rough scrubs (walnut shell, apricot kernel, sugar scrubs) on your face, especially on active breakouts.
Why it's bad: Physical scrubs with jagged particles create micro-tears in the skin. On inflamed acne, they spread bacteria and worsen breakouts. Even on healthy skin, aggressive scrubbing damages the protective barrier.
The fix: Switch to chemical exfoliants. A gentle BHA (salicylic acid) or AHA (lactic acid) does the same job without physical damage. Use 1-2 times per week. If you prefer the physical sensation of scrubbing, choose a product with perfectly round beads (like jojoba beads) and use minimal pressure.
Mistake #9: Ignoring the Rest of Your Body
What you're doing: Focusing entirely on facial skincare while ignoring your neck, chest, back, and body skin.
Why it's bad: Your neck and chest age faster than your face because people neglect them. Back acne (bacne) is extremely common in teens and responds well to the same treatments used on your face.
The fix: Extend your SPF to your neck and any exposed chest area. If you get body breakouts, use a body wash with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide on affected areas. Wear loose, breathable fabrics during exercise and shower soon after sweating.
Mistake #10: Comparing Your Skin to Social Media
What you're doing: Expecting your skin to look like the filtered, edited, perfectly-lit skin you see on Instagram and TikTok.
Why it's bad: Social media skin is not real skin. Ring lights, filters, editing apps, and professional makeup create an illusion of poreless, flawless skin that doesn't exist in real life. Comparing yourself to this leads to unnecessary product purchases, over-treatment, and damaged self-esteem.
The fix: Remember that pores are normal, texture is normal, occasional breakouts are normal, and no one — literally no one — has perfect skin all the time. Take care of your skin because it deserves care, not because you're trying to achieve an impossible standard.
The Bottom Line
Most teen skincare mistakes come from doing too much rather than too little. The path to clearer skin is surprisingly simple: gentle cleanser, moisturiser, SPF, and maybe one targeted treatment. Be consistent, be patient, and trust the basics. Your skin knows how to heal itself — sometimes it just needs you to stop getting in the way.
Start Fresh with the Right Products
Ready to ditch the mistakes and build a routine that actually helps your skin? Clarity Skin's collection is designed to keep things simple — gentle, effective products that won't overwhelm your skin or your bathroom shelf. Check out our range and give your skin the fresh start it deserves.
