Why teen skin care needs a gentler approach
We chat to Vanessa Gray Lyndon founder and formulator of Vanessa Megan Skincare about her new range for tweens and teens FOODIE.
Right now, there’s a concerning trend: teens and even tweens are using skincare products that were never made for them.
They’re being sold anti-aging serums, potent exfoliants, and actives like retinol and acids, ingredients designed for adult skin problems, not for their young, developing skin. These products are often packed with synthetic fragrances, harsh preservatives, and known endocrine disruptors, all wrapped up in marketing that targets their insecurities and idolises unattainable perfection.
The result?
More and more young people are experiencing barrier damage, increased sensitivity, breakouts, and even long-term skin issues that could have been avoided. On top of that, many are spending a huge amount of money on products that not only don’t serve them, they’re actively harmful.
As a formulator with nearly two decades of experience in creating natural skincare with clinical efficacy, I never imagined I’d struggle to find something safe enough for my own children. But when my son and daughter started reaching for products in stores-sprays and lotions filled with synthetic fragrance, endocrine disruptors, and ingredients designed for adult skin concerns, I knew something was deeply wrong.
It felt absurd. I’ve spent years standing by the principle that you should never put anything on your skin that you couldn’t eat, and yet I found myself powerless watching my kids (and their friends) drawn to products that didn’t align with any of the truths I’ve built my career around.
There was a gap, a real silence in the conversation. I didn’t have anything I could confidently offer them, or their friends, as gifts. I even found myself compromising, lowering my standards to fit what social media trends told these tweens they should want. That discomfort grew louder with every message I received from other concerned parents asking what they could give their own kids.
That’s why I created Foodie – a skincare range made specifically for tweens and teens.
We took our gentle, time-tested base formulas and made them fun and desirable by using only food-grade colours and flavours, ingredients so clean you could eat them. The textures, scents, and packaging are designed to appeal to kids without compromising on what’s safe and necessary for their skin.
No harsh actives. No synthetic fragrances. No fear-mongering. Just simple, joyful skincare made from ingredients you can trust.
Because young skin doesn’t need correction, it needs protection.
Foodie gives parents peace of mind and kids a brand they can feel proud to use. It’s the skincare they want, finally made with their wellbeing in mind.
