Written by: Hallie Bronson, licensed esthetician and Brand Partnership Manager at Shed

‍

Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with the internet, smartphones, and social media. These digital natives have more information at their fingertips than any generation preceding them—including the latest skincare fads.

But most Gen Z-ers want facts, not fads. Shed is committed to providing resources and products that not only have scientific backing, but that have stood the test of time. This article includes tried-and-true skincare tips for those in their teens and 20s. 

Top skin concerns for Gen Z

Your teens and early twenties are a time of major skin changes. Acne, skin sensitivities (often due to trying too many products too quickly), and sun exposure all affect your skin during this time, so planning a routine around these concerns will help keep your skin healthy and radiant.

Skincare routine tips for Gen Z

1. Establish a consistent, daily routine

Your habits in adolescence and early adulthood can set you up for a lifetime of success or struggle. When it comes to skincare, those habits don’t have to be complicated—in fact, simpler is better.

To support healthy skin now and youthful-looking skin later, focus on cleansing, hydrating, and protecting, both morning and night.

• AM routine: Start with a gentle cleanser, followed by a lightweight moisturizer. Finish off with a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen.

• PM routine: At night, simply cleanse and moisturize. If you want to include acne treatment in your routine, apply it between the cleanser and moisturizer.

Remember, simple is best. You don’t need to use 10 different products every day.

2. Use sun protection

Hands down, the best thing you can do for your skin is wear sunscreen every day. The sun ages your skin faster than actual aging does, so the sooner you get in the habit of daily sunscreen, the longer you’ll keep youthful-looking skin. 

3. Treat acne the right way

Nobody wants to deal with acne, but for most Gen Z-ers, it’s just part of the deal. Acne can be caused by a variety of factors:

• Hormonal fluctuations

• Menstrual cycle

• Too much refined sugar

• Genetics

• Stress

• Overuse of skincare products

A smart approach to acne care can help prevent acne—and treat it once it arrives.

• Cleanse and moisturize regularly—but don’t overdo it

• Use products with benzoyl peroxide and/or salicylic acid

• Eat less sugar

• Get plenty of sleep—beauty sleep is a real thing!

• Manage stress

4. Know your skin type

Cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting is a good baseline for any skincare routine, but the actual products you use can vary depending on your skin type.

• Oily skin: Use a gentle foaming cleanser that removes excess oil without stripping and a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer.

• Dry skin: Opt for a creamy or balm cleanser and finish with a rich moisturizer to lock in moisture.

• Combination skin: Try a gentle cleanser followed by a hydrating serum. Then finish with a lightweight moisturizer that won’t clog pores.

It may take some trial and error to figure out the best types of products for your skin. Be patient; your skin will need a few weeks to adjust to any new product you use. If you have specific questions, consult a dermatologist. 

5. Eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet

What you eat can affect the way you look in more ways than one. For skin benefits, focus on antioxidant-rich foods such as:

• Avocados

• Berries

• Fatty fish

• Nuts and seeds

• Green tea

• Dark chocolate

Our skin needs nutrients to continue to regenerate and repair, so make sure you’re getting most of your diet from nutritious sources.

6. Hydrate inside and out

Moisturizers alone aren’t enough to support your skin’s moisture barrier. Simple habits like drinking plenty of water and eating hydrating foods also affect the way your skin looks and feels.

Skincare practices to avoid

The don’ts are almost as important as the do’s of skincare. Now that you know what to include in your skincare routine, let’s dig into what to avoid.

1. Over-cleansing

Especially if you have oily skin, it may feel like your best defense against acne is to wash all that oil away—but over-cleansing actually has the opposite effect. Your skin barrier protects you from irritation, dehydration, and, yes, acne. Over-cleansing breaks down that protective barrier and causes exactly what you’re trying to prevent. So stick to gentle cleansers, used just once or twice a day. 

2. Using too many products 

There’s no shortage of skincare products to choose from, and a lot of them are safe to use—as long as you don’t overdo it. Using a lot of products with conflicting active ingredients can cause skin irritation and reactions and do more harm than good. Remember, simplicity is key, especially for teens and young adults.

3. Jumping from one skincare trend to another

Social media is full of ideas on how to take care of your skin—but that doesn’t mean you have to follow all of them. Switching from one trend to another is hard on your skin, which wants consistency above all else. No matter what the latest fad is, pause before making a change—and make sure you’re getting your information from credible sources.

Ingredients to watch out for

Cycling through endless videos and recommendations can get overwhelming quickly. Thankfully, you don’t need to become an expert on every skincare ingredient out there. The following ingredients are the main ones Gen Z-ers need to focus on:

• Benzoyl peroxide—acne-fighting ingredient that clears existing blemishes and prevents new breakouts

• Salicylic acid—promotes the natural shedding of dead skin cells, helping to unclog pores and reduce the appearance of whiteheads and blackheads

• Retinol—increases cell turnover, which helps unclog pores

• Niacinamide—can help reduce inflammation and redness associated with acne 

• Glycolic acid and lactic acid—offer exfoliation benefits that can help soften and smooth out skin

You’ll also want to do your due diligence on avoiding certain ingredients, as these can have harmful effects on your overall health:

• Parabens

• Phthalates

• Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury)

• Oxybenzone

• Hydroquinone

Focus on the ingredient list for each product you use, not just the touted benefits. This will help narrow down your options if you're feeling overwhelmed.

Healthy, glowing skin starts now

The decisions you make during young adulthood can shape the rest of your life. An intimidating prospect, yes, but don’t worry—we’re not here to give you more to stress about. The best skincare routine is simple, and you don’t need to be up to date on all the latest trends. Once you have a healthy, consistent skincare routine established, that’s one less decision you’ll have to make—and your skin will thank you for it every day. 

Gen Z skincare FAQs

How do I deal with acne breakouts without drying out my skin?

We get it—it’s hard not to resort to over-washing to get rid of acne. But balance is key here. Stick with a gentle moisturizer and light-weight moisturizer—and use them a normal amount (morning and night) to start with. If that’s not cutting it, a targeted treatment with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide can provide the extra support you need. 

Tip: Use targeted acne treatment only as needed. On days your skin is clear, go ahead and skip it.

How do I know what skin type I have?

A quick test can help you figure out where your skin falls on the oily-dry spectrum. Wash your face and then wait 30 minutes before applying additional products—the way your skin feels at that point will give you the clues you need:

• Tight or flaky = dry

• Looks shiny all over = oily

• Oily in some places (like your T-zone) and dry in others = combination

Your skin type may change over time, so pay attention to how your skin feels after cleansing and make adjustments as needed.

How do I know if skincare trends on social media are accurate?

Some are great, some . . . not so much. Before trying any new trend, ask yourself these questions:

• Is it dermatologist approved?

• Does it make sense for my skin?

You can find science-backed resources on tryshed.com to learn more about skincare, and asking a licensed dermatologist is always a good idea. It may take some work on your part to suss fact from fiction, but it’s worth the extra effort to protect your skin.

I’m in my 20s. Is it too early to use anti-aging products?

Nope! But before going hard-core on wrinkle creams, think of your skincare routine now as insurance your skin will use later. Focus on products that will help prevent signs of aging later in life, such as vitamin C or a mild retinol, rather than treating aging signs—like wrinkles—that aren’t showing up on your skin yet. 

What if I’m not Gen Z? Do these tips still apply?

A simple cleanse, moisturize, and protect routine applies to people of all ages. However, the types of products you use—especially the targeted treatments—will change as you age and your skin changes. Check out this post on skincare tips for millennials and Gen X. 

For more skincare tips and resources, visit tryshed.com today.* 

*This content is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.