Introduction: Skincare at 7 Years Old?!
Skincare is everywhere: on TikTok, in marketing, and especially in Korean culture, where skincare is a universal practice for men, women, and even children. But unlike in the West, where skincare is often about “fixing” problems, Koreans focus on gentle, preventative care.
Lately, though, more and more young kids (7-10 years old!) are using active ingredients like vitamin C, AHAs, and peptide masks. This is completely unnecessary and can actually harm their skin long-term.
And adults? Many of us are also guilty of doing too much, too fast, leading to irritation and skin issues we cause ourselves.
Why Kids Shouldn’t Be Using Strong Skincare
The skin microbiome (your skin’s natural barrier) is still developing in children. Overloading it with strong actives can:
❌ Disrupt natural oil production → Leading to early breakouts & dryness.
❌ Cause irritation & redness → Making skin more sensitive over time.
❌ Weaken the skin barrier → Increasing future acne & pigmentation issues.
If kids want a routine, this is all they need:
✔ Morning: Sunscreen.
✔ Evening: Gentle cleanser + light moisturizer.
That’s it!
Young skin already has plenty of collagen, peptides, and hydration.
Overloading it now? Big mistake.
Are You Causing Your Own Skin Problems? Adults, Let’s Talk.
Now, let’s flip the focus to adults. If you’re dealing with:
❗Irritated, red, or burning skin
❗Breakouts that won’t go away
❗Tightness, dryness, or sensitivity
You might be the problem... as in your skincare habits.
The Most Common Skincare Mistakes:
Too many actives at once or using too strong ones → Don't combine vitamin C, AHAs and retinol in one go please. Way too much!
Over-exfoliation → Exfoliating daily wrecks your barrier. 1-3x a week is plenty.
Not enough hydration & SPF → Dehydrated skin heals slower and gets more inflamed (Read this again!).
How to Fix It: Strip Your Routine Back to Basics
If your skin is irritated, give it a break. Try this for 2-4 weeks:
🔅 Morning: Gentle Cleanser → Moisturizer → SPF
🌙 Evening: Gentle Cleanser → Moisturizer
You can add a Hyaluronic acid serum for extra hydration, but this is optional.
No exfoliants, no actives – just let your skin reset.
Seeing an Esthetician or Derm: The Outside Perspective You Need
Sometimes, we’re so caught up in fixing our skin that we don’t realize we’re making it worse. Seeing a licensed esthetician or dermatologist can be a game-changer.
💆♀️ An esthetician can help with routine adjustments, facials, and skin barrier repair.
👩⚕ A derm can help with medical skin concerns like chronic acne, rosacea, or eczema.
That outside perspective can help you reset your routine and focus on what your skin actually needs.
My Own Skincare Mistakes (So You Don’t Have to Make Them)
I’ve been there. I’ve made every mistake possible, and I’ve paid for it with irritated, inflamed skin.
⛔ Over-exfoliation – I got so excited about glowing skin that I used too many exfoliants. My skin hurt to touch, and applying products stung.
⛔ Too many products at once – I was cleansing, masking, exfoliating, layering serums, and adding too much. It was just too much.
⛔ Using products that were too strong – The high concentrations dried out my skin, which led to more acne and bumps instead of helping. My skin became irritated, and because it was so dry, it healed even slower.
The biggest lesson? Less is often more.
Final Recap: Keep It Simple
✔ Kids don’t need strong active ingredients – just cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF.
✔ We often cause our own skin issues – by overloading our routines.
✔ If your skin is freaking out, reset it – simplify your routine for a few weeks.
✔ Seeing an esthetician or derm helps – sometimes, an outsider’s perspective is what you need.
At the end of the day? Skincare should be about balance, not excess. Less is mostly more.
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