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“Get Ready with Me” or “My Skincare Routine” videos are all the rage right now on social media. That’s translated to many young girls adopting skin cycling routines, and ten-step regimens. Cosmetic companies marekt anti-aging products to teenagers. And according to dermatologist and rider Dr. Monica Halem, that trend has officially reached the barn.
“What has happened with social media—TikTok, Instagram—all social media—is that the kids are being inundated,” she says.
Young riders, already immersed in a sport that emphasizes appearance and presentation, are now absorbing constant messages about skin perfection. And it’s confusing what they actually need for their young skin.
The Problem
“You go to Sephora and you see kids adding product, product, product,” Halem describes.
It’s not discipline driving that behavior. It’s marketing. Brands are pushing increasingly sophisticated products—retinoids, exfoliating acids, anti-aging treatments—to younger and younger consumers. But medically speaking, most teenagers don’t need them.
“They don’t need a whole bunch of nonsense,” Halem says. In fact, piling on unnecessary active ingredients can irritate developing skin, disrupt the natural barrier, and create more problems than it solves.
Back to Basics
Halem keeps it simple in her own household.
“What you really need is very basic,” she explains. “You need a good wash, a good moisturizer, and a sunscreen. And that’s really it.”
That advice feels almost radical in an era of influencer routines and viral “get ready with me” videos. But dermatology science hasn’t changed just because social media has.
Cleansing removes sweat and grime after a long day at the barn. Moisturizer supports the skin barrier—especially in climates like Florida, where sun, salt, and sweat are constant. And sunscreen remains non-negotiable for riders who spend hours outdoors.
The rest? Often unnecessary.
“Kids don’t need to be using Retin-A and all of these other things that are being marketed to them,” Halem says. Retinoids have legitimate medical uses—acne treatment, anti-aging—but they are not universal starter products for preteens.
The Pressure of Presentation
Equestrian sport already places visible emphasis on polish. Braided manes. Clean boots. Perfect turnout. Junior riders absorb the message that presentation matters early. Add social media filters and algorithm-driven beauty standards, and it’s easy to see how young athletes might feel pressure to control their appearance beyond the saddle.
Halem’s approach isn’t dismissive of that reality. Instead, she focuses on balance. “I try to bring it back to basics,” she says, noting that her own children frequently bring her TikTok discoveries.
Rather than rejecting their interest outright, she uses it as an opportunity to teach discernment—what’s marketing, what’s medicine, and what’s truly necessary.
That distinction is powerful in a sport where families already invest heavily in training, horses, and competition. Teaching young riders to evaluate skincare claims critically can prevent both wasted money and damaged skin.
Teaching Responsibility, Not Perfection
There is a difference between teaching self-care and fueling perfectionism.
Halem emphasizes responsibility over aesthetic obsession. “Sun being sunscreen, sunscreen every single day,” she says.
Daily sunscreen protects long-term health. A consistent wash-and-moisturize routine isn’t about anti-aging at 14. It’s about learning to care for your body the way you care for your horse.
That parallel resonates in barns across the country. Riders understand maintenance. They know consistency matters. They know prevention is easier than repair. But teens don’t always need another product. They need clarity.
What Young Riders Actually Need
For teenage equestrians, the fundamentals are straightforward:
- Clean skin after long days in helmets and sweat.
- Moisture support for barrier protection.
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen every single day.
Everything else is optional.
The barn already teaches discipline, responsibility, and patience. Skincare doesn’t need to be another competitive arena.
Sometimes the most modern advice is the simplest: wash, moisturize, protect—and go ride.
Want more insight from Dr. Monica Halem? Listen to this episode of The Plaidcast and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
