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If you know a or tweenager, the chances are that you’ll be aware of the huge rise in this generation’s interest in beauty. And so with many youngsters’ dream day out now a trip to Sephora over the sweet shop, who better to explain what they should really be using — and steering clear of — than leading 'skinfluencer' , who not only is known for her no-nonsense, science-backed beauty advice, but has raised four children too (she’s a mum to Ben, 33, Daniel, 31, Ava, 23, and Max, 20).

Following the best-selling success of her first book, , Caroline, 55, has now written , aimed at boys and girls aged nine to 19 and their parents, separating the facts from the fads, and covering everything from acne tips to affordable product recommendations.

We caught up with Caroline for her usual unfiltered approach to beauty, covering everything from breast milk facials to snogging behind bike sheds…

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Hi, Caroline! So why did you want to write a book specifically on teen skin, and why now?
It’s so topical nowadays, and I’m asked about it all the time, so it’s easier for me to write it all down in a book than reply to the messages from hundreds of parents on Instagram I get every day.

What was your own skin — and skincare routine — like as a teenager?
I had what you would call typical teen skin — I’d get the odd big spot when my period was due, but nothing serious. My was basically cleanse, tone and moisturise. The moment I first bought a Bourjois blusher from Boots and showed it to my mum, she said, “If you’re going to put that on, you’re going to need to know how to take it off first.” So I did.

Did you always know you wanted to work in skincare?
I always loved it, but I didn’t always know I wanted to work in skincare. My mother and grandmother were both in the industry but strangely we never once discussed me working in it too. It’s funny how the world turns out!

And what about your children’s teenage skin?

Ava and Max both suffered with spots and mild acne — Ava’s was post-Covid, and Max was just being a typically gaming teenager who didn’t spend a lot of time outside. But a lot of them go through that — it’s like a rite of passage.

Do you think that teens now are going to have better skin when they’re older than previous generations?
Absolutely, because of how they take care of themselves. Most Gen Z girls and boys go to the gym, they don’t drink as much, and they think smoking is grim. I’m lucky that I never smoked because I found it horrible, but lots of people growing up in the 70s and 80s did. No one would have dreamt of going to the gym in my youth — it was just something 'silly Americans' did. And when we would go on holiday, we either didn’t use sun cream at all and burnt to a crisp, or we used Hawaiian Tropic SPF 2 and felt virtuous. The younger generation these days are already smarter than we were, and that’s what you hope for, right?

What’s the craziest viral beauty trend you’ve seen recently?
Basically, if your body has expelled it, it shouldn’t go on your face. I’m talking breast milk, period blood and sperm — all of which I have been asked about. Utter filth. And I’m so sick of hearing about people putting beef tallow on their face now that I don’t even want to put it on my potatoes.

I also get tagged in 'SPF is toxic' content all the time, and I just leave a comment that says “enjoy melanoma”. Or I just ignore a lot of it — I’m not going to amplify the stupidity.

How should parents talk to their kids about skincare and grooming?
You have to talk to your teenager like the adult they’re becoming, not the child they’ve been. You just have to say, “I love you, you stink, you need to have a shower, here’s a deodorant.” Deodorant and shower gel are usually first. Then usually the spots start, and you can have a conversation about skincare. At some point a girl or a boy they fancy is going to come on the scene and then you won’t have a problem telling them to wash. I still remember when my boys started bathing — I thought, “There must be a girl around.”

What age they need to start doing this depends on when their hormones kick in. If they’re smelly, moody and have hair under their armpits, they should be doing their skin.

It’s also habit: do they see you doing your skin? For my daughter, it wasn’t a question — she saw me doing my face from the minute she was born, as I did with my mum, and my mum with hers.

How should teens approach acne?

I don’t think Gen Z and Gen Alpha feel the pressure of having spots like we did. Now they wear out. You would never have put a sticker on a spot in my generation — if you didn’t have concealer, you wouldn’t leave the house. Girls celebrate them now, and I think it’s amazing.

Unless their acne is severe, there’s no point going to your GP, because the waiting list for NHS dermatologists is two to three years. If you’ve got the means and your child’s mental health is being affected, go private. It’s not as expensive as everyone thinks it is — it’s a couple of hundred quid, you’re not talking thousands — but it’s worth every penny. One of my famous sayings is, “Don’t credit card your skincare”, but I’ve always said, “Credit card your health” — or your child’s health. Don’t underestimate how bad skin makes your child feel.

Is there anything else you would love to write a book about?
No, but we’re due an update on Skincare. That will happen within the next year, I’m sure. There are always new ingredients and new products coming out.

Finally, what advice would you give to your teen self?

Don’t smoke, don’t drink too much, don’t have sex with that boy, and don’t lie to your mum about where you’re going. To be fair, I’ve never smoked, I’ve never drunk too much, and I’ve never touched a drug in my life, which my kids couldn’t believe, with me growing up in the 80s in west London. The closest I’ve ever come is accidentally eating half a hash cake thinking it was a brownie – and I just fell asleep. Snogging behind bike sheds, however, is a different story…

Quickfire questions

First products you’d give to a 13-year-old?

SPF and a face wash.

One product every teen should avoid?

Retinoids – they don’t need a vitamin A, unless they have acne.

Make-up wipes: yes or no?
No.

Top trusted skincare brands for teen skin?

Sam Farmer, Spots & Stripes, , , , certain CeraVe and Curél products. All gentle stuff.

One skincare word or phrase you would ban?

“Trend”. Taking care of your face should never be a trend.

A product you wished you’d invented?

Vitamin A. There’d be a lot of money in that at least.

Dream podcast guest?

Mariska Hargitay, who plays Sergeant Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU, and who I’m obsessed with.

* , published by HQ, HarperCollins, is out on 19 June, RRP £16.99

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