I’m a Beauty Editor and These Are the 10 Beauty Products I Let my Tween Buy

I will be honest, if I heard the words “Drunk Elephant” uttered one more time over the weekend I thought I was going to lose my mind. Every time we entered a beauty store my daughter would make a beeline for the brand in the eager hope that I would buy her either the moisturiser or the bronzing drops. Thankfully she knows enough from my endless chats with her that anything which contains acid or retinol is a big no. However I realised that she just wanted to feel like she had a slice of the Drunk Elephant pie. We ended up agreeing on the Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm (£18), which I have to say feels amazing on the lips. It is quite substantial, so although it is expensive it will last for a while. It contains avocado and mongongo nut oils as well as moringa oil, which means it is also ideal for dried or cracked cuticles, as well as around the nose area.

On our last night in NYC we visited some old friends, who had moved there a few years ago with their two children a few years ago, and as we were leaving she handed my daughter a sample of the Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser and you would have thought it was a bar of precious gold. After checking this out, I can’t see anything wrong with this either and if anything it helps encourage her to actually wash her face. Surprisingly for someone with a premium skincare collection this is still quite an ask most days (make it make sense please.)

It is no surprise Byoma is on the top of most tweens and teens’ skincare lust list. With its bright packaging and solid shapes it almost looks like lego, which according to founder Marc Elrick, the founder of the brand, this was the aim. “Byoma is meant to be the building blocks of a good skincare routine,” he told PS UK at a recent Sephora event. And to be fair it really does do what it sets out to do. Although it is not aimed at this age group specifically, it is what I would regard as good, honest skincare which makes many of its offerings safe for all ages to use.

I actually love this Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil (£14), it contains jojoba, rosehip, and sunflower oil so it will really lock in moisture without blocking pores. I let my little one use this sporadically as a special pampering treat, rather than everyday, as her young skin doesn’t need the additional moisture, and she loves how its feels on skin. As the kids say: “It’s so satisfying.”

Would you believe it was my daughter who introduced me to Bubble? About a year ago she mentioned watching a family on YouTube using a skincare brand where you pressed the lid and out came the product. After much research I found Bubble and did a deep dive into its offering. Similar to Byoma, this mid-priced range appeared to offer good, solid skincare. I tried its bestselling Bubble Slam Dunk Hydrating Moisturiser (£14) and a year later we are still hooked. It isn’t greasy, it doesn’t clog pores and it leaves you feeling hydrating without any stickiness of residue.

I also really like the Bubble Facial Mist (£12) for my own skin as it gives my skin a boost throughout the day and revitalises my makeup if I have been sitting on a desk for hours. Its Bubble Solar Mate Invisible Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 (£17) is also worth looking into and suitable for both yours and your tweens skin.

One of the OG drugstore skincare brands, this formula was actually invented in 1974 by a pharmacist in Texas. It is widely sold throughout the US, UK and around the world and remains a popular choice for many. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (£13) does exactly what it says on the tin and gently cleanses the skin, making it an ideal choice for tweens and teens looking to start their skincare journey.

Throughout our trip to NYC I used the new Cetaphil Healthy Radiance Brightening Day Protection Cream (£20) – I wanted something comforting and hydrating without lots of active ingredients as my skin can flare up when I travel and I have to say I’m a big fan.

I will admit I had a bit of a battle over Glow Recipe the entire trip. I really rate the brand and use a number of its products myself, right now this includes Glow Recipe Overnight Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment (£37) to exfoliate and brighten and its new Glow Recipe Blackberry Overnight Overnight Blemish Serum (£44), both of which should not be used anywhere near young skin. However. I finally agreed on a mini size Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser (£20) as this looked like the most gentle of the bunch and she has agreed it is more for the shelfie than for her skin. I do think this would be fine for those aged 10 and over though, as it doesn’t contain too many actives.

Mi daughter is obsessed with my Summer Fridays Jet Lag Skin Soothing Hydration Mist(£21) and I am not surprised, it feels amazing on the skin and leaves you feeling soothed and hydrated. However, letting her purchase her very own Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Vanilla (£23) was a highlight for her. This new shade has barely any colour to it so its not a makeup product as such, yet it gives them the slight sheen to make them feel special.

There wasn’t a night she went to bed without saying “I just need to apply my lip mask.” I actually loved this as it made me understand that she wasn’t using skincare or makeup products for anyone but to make her feel good and isn’t that what I have been advocating for over the last 15 years? Beauty should be about how it makes you feel, it is a self-care tool that is accessible and inclusive and this simple treat of putting on Laneige Watermelon Lip Sleeping Mask (£19) before bed helped her reset after long days stomping the pavements exploring the city.

There was a time that applying SPF felt like a military operation, however now skincare has become cool my little one applies Cerave Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF30 (£17) like she is being paid to do so. This is so much cheaper in the US so I would highly recommend stocking up on this and any of your favourite Cerave products when you are there.

This is the only makeup product I have included in this round up and I will explain why – although I absolutely do not endorse children wearing makeup I also understand that makeup to them is more about fun and being playful. Playing dress up is one of the oldest games in the book and I don’t believe for many it is any more than this. This Milk Jelly Blush (£22) not only looks cute it allows the skin to shin through underneath so it is all about enhancing not hiding. It can also be worn on the lips as a subtle shade and obviously the packaging and cool applicator is so damn sweet, it’s no surprise this is a must-have for tweens around the globe.

Sol Je Janeiro is one of the key tween brands, however I think the original bum bum cream is far too thick and fragranced for their delicate skin (I will be keeping that for my own). However the mini body mists still smell amazing and are far less harmful to young skin. I really like this Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Perfume Mist (£24) as it still smells youthful, isn’t too overpowering and lets them feel like they are part of the brand. I also think kids have been wearing body mists for as long as I can remember, we really need to stop thinking this is deeper than it is.

Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.