It seems we don’t get enough time to bond with our teenagers. They start off as toddlers and before you know it, they’re suddenly “too cool” to hang with mom. So here’s a way to connect—teach your teens how to care for their skin.
Beyond bonding, it’s the perfect way for them to develop good habits for their future. “Not only will you help them deal with acne, decrease their wrinkles, brown spots and large pores when they are adults, but you will also decrease the amount of skin cancer your child will have when they are older,” says Prospect, KY, dermatologist Tami Cassis, MD.
I was lucky because my mom was hip to this concept. The day she took me to the Clinique counter was very special. At 12-years-old, I walked away with my very first 3-step system: I was a number two, dry skin, no breakouts (Yes, I was a lucky teen). It was a small step in my life that made a huge impact, and my mom it turns out, was my hero.
Of course, my skin was easier to figure out. The type of skin care your teen might need is really dependent on his or her skin type. If you’re unsure, you can always consult with an expert.
Dr. Cassis says her in-house aesthetician works with teenagers as they develop blackheads and acne. It’s the perfect time for her to clean out their pores and teach them the rules of skin care (Don’t touch your face! Or pick at pimples!), and walk away with products that work for them.
“Every teen that comes in my office leaves with a skin care plan and regimen,” says Dr. Cassis. The key is for everyone to understand that a skin care regimen doesn’t have to be expensive and many over-the-counter products are very good.”
To create a more intimate bonding experience, some mothers book spa facials with their teenagers at luxury resorts. It’s a ritual that has become so popular that the Spa Gaucin at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, CA, has created a treatment menu geared specifically for adolescents in need of pampering. For $135 per session, your teenager can get a 45-minute treatment of his or her choice.
“It’s a good start for teenage girls—both for a facial and even getting their brows done for the first time,” says Spa Gaucin lead aesthetician Colleen Sanchez. “It helps them get the shape and learn how to handle them. Same with the facial—it’s tailored to what a teenager needs for their skin.”
Plus, it’s a treat for both participants. Guests can book treatments together in the ocean-side suite or hold small special occasion parties—be it for birthday or prom, for their daughters. Sanchez says local moms will bring in three to four girls for facials, manicures and pedicures, and of course, gift bags.
“We explain at the end, how to use the products and keep it really simple. Then we ask the mom if they want us to explain it to them too,” says Sanchez. “It’s usually about three products all together.”
On that note, had my mom booked us regular facials together when I was younger, it could very well have become a tradition, much like our visits to Clinique to stock up. Though I suppose it’s never too late to get it started. After all, my mom deserves it for saving my skin early on.
