Two major 13-year-old-boy problems solved

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re cohabitating with a kid or two (or three)—and your husband or partner doesn’t count. If you’re lucky enough to have a son around the age of 13, there’s no doubt your familiar with two big challenges: Puberty-related acne and their smell. Granted girls are not immune to these issues, but I’m sure their moms would agree that they are more likely to embrace the personal-care products necessary to combat these concerns.

My now 13-year-old son started getting the occasional pimple a few years ago (mostly from his lacrosse helmet’s chin strap), but thanks to steadily increasing testosterone levels his breakouts started to become more frequent—and more angry. It must be annoying having a mom who writes about beauty and skincare for a living, but I finally got him to use a salicylic acid cleanser twice a day. (The trick: Putting one bottle in his shower and one next to his sink.)

This was enough to keep his skin calm for a while, but eventually it became apparent we needed to step up our game. Since I try to keep his personal-care products as clean as possible (with the exception of the aforementioned cleanser and antiperspirant, which we’ll get to below), I bought him a bottle of the acne treatment I’ve been using for a few years now. It’s called Zyderma HS Clarifying Cream, and it relies on the antibacterial benefits of micronized silver rather than chemicals like benzoyl peroxide. And it totally works.

My other stealth anti-acne secret is his shampoo and conditioner. Did you know that traditional haircare products can clog pores and lead to breakouts on the face and body? Our whole family uses SEEN shampoo and conditioner because they are non-comedogenic, which provides an extra layer of defense against potential pimples. My son actually likes the scent, but if your kid is particularly persnickety, all of SEEN’s products are available fragrance-free as well. (P.S. These products are also non-irritating, which makes them great options for anyone with eczema, psoriasis or sensitive skin.)

Now on to my second teenage-boy beef… THAT SMELL. It’s not B.O. (since antiperspirant has been part of his daily routine for more than three years now) but more of a mélange of sweat, outside and possibly the pheromones that are starting to flow freely. The scent has yet to be noticeable outside of his hamper, but every time I do his laundry I get olfactory flashbacks to emptying the camp trucks upon their arrival home.

I generally do my son’s wash separately in two sizable loads each week, and one day I decided to use The Laundress’ Sport Detergent since I had a bottle sent to me for review a while back. Not only did he LOVE how his clothes smelled, I can happily report that the stench is decidedly less noticeable when the clothes come back to me again. (You’ll thank me for this one.)

After writing this, I realized that one day I’ll look back at this post and laugh. I may also cry, and pine for the days when smells and pimples were top of mind. I already get a pit in my stomach when I think about my son driving, so maybe I should take an extra whiff every time I load the washing machine.