Doctors’ Orders: Why This New Skincare Range is essential for Teen Skin

Navigating the teenage years is tough enough, but when you throw unpredictable breakouts, and confusing social media trends into the mix, finding the right skincare routine can feel like an absolute minefield.

Enter Equals Even—the groundbreaking new skincare brand built specifically for developing teen skin.

What makes this brand truly stand out isn’t just their gorgeous shelfie-worthy packaging; it’s the clinical powerhouse duo behind it. Founded by two doctors who noticed a massive gap in how we treat young skin, Equals Even is shifting the narrative from fixing damage to protecting the skin barrier early on with a "prevention before correction" philosophy.

We sat down with the founders to chat about their journey from the clinic to the skincare world, the reality of teen skin struggles, and the truth behind those viral TikTok beauty trends. 

Read on to find out how these medical pros are making healthy skin simple for the next generation.

Let’s start at the beginning! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how Equals Even came to life? You’re both medical doctors, which is incredible—what inspired you to shift your clinical expertise over to the skincare world?

We’re Dr Helen and Dr Kathryn, twin sisters, two British doctors and mums. Equals Even grew out of what we saw in our practice everyday: young people coming in struggling with spots, blackheads and acne, and with the dent it put in their confidence and mental health. Over 80% of UK teenagers experience acne, yet most skincare simply isn’t designed for skin that’s still developing. 

What we found on the shelves was either too harsh, too greasy or too basic. We couldn’t point families to anything we’d be happy to recommend, so we made it ourselves: gentle, effective, doctor-formulated skincare for blemish-prone teen skin. For us, this was a natural extension of the work we were already doing. We’re parents too, so every product has to pass one test: would we use it on our own children? And we do!

It's so brilliant that you're filling that gap for teens and their parents! How did you come up with the name Equals Even?

Equals Even is about balance. As twins we’ve always been equal partners, and that’s how we approached the skincare too. Teenage skin is oily, reactive and still developing, and it requires equal attention to treating and preventing spots, as well as looking after and nourishing the delicate skin barrier. If products focus on one and not the other, you will lose the battle with treating spots.

Love that! It’s such a perfect nod to your bond as twins and the actual science behind balancing teenage skin. For anyone reading who might not know, why exactly do teenagers need their own dedicated skincare set? Why can't they just use standard adult products?

Because teenage skin isn’t just smaller adult skin. It behaves differently, so it needs different care.

Teen skin produces more oil, especially across the t-zone (forehead, nose and chin), and it reacts more readily. Many adult products are either too heavy and greasy, or built around strong active ingredients that can strip the skin barrier and leave developing skin irritated, dry and, ironically, more prone to breakouts. And the viral trends teens find online are often the harshest of all. 

That’s why we formulate our products specifically for developing skin. We use proven ingredients like niacinamide, AHAs, hyaluronic acid and azelaic acid at strengths that are safe for young skin, and effective without irritation. Everything is fragrance free, non-greasy and gentle enough to use daily.

So true—we wish more people knew this! On the topic of your incredible formulations, what makes Equals Even truly stand out from everything else on the shelves?

Because we are doctors, every formulation comes from years of medical experience. Developing skin needs a completely different approach, which is why each ingredient has been carefully chosen and the products have been thoughtfully put together so that you don’t have to choose between treating breakouts and irritated, dry skin. We’ve done all the hard work so that you don’t have to. What’s more – we’re made in Britain.

Amazing, and we greatly appreciate it! Speaking of needing a different approach, one of your core philosophies is "prevention before correction." We’d love to dive deeper into that! What age do you suggest starting a routine, and does this philosophy mean the products are suitable for all skin types?

Prevention before correction means we don’t wait for acne to take hold before looking after skin. Starting a consistent, gentle routine early helps prevent the long-term impact, both physical and emotional, of untreated breakouts. Our routine is made for children ages 10+, and we suggest starting from the first spots. Beginning with a simple routine then builds a healthy habit before breakouts become established, or start to affect confidence. Our formulations are designed for every skin type.

Perfect! With that in mind, let's talk about the lineup. Can you walk us through the products and why they work so well as a team? And, do users need to use all four to see results?

Our range is four products, one for each step of the routine, designed to work together so there’s no guesswork about what to use or when. 

1. Spot Control Face Wash (cleanse): The first step to calm skin. It lifts away everyday oil, dirt and impurities without stripping or over-drying. 

2. Anti-Blemish Toner (exfoliate): A liquid exfoliant that helps unclog pores and supports a clearer, glowing complexion. 

3. Spot Control Serum (treat): Our targeted blemish treatment, which helps calm breakouts and fade post-blemish marks. 

4. Soothing Repair Serum (support): Calms and replenishes stressed skin with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, so treating spots never comes at the cost of the skin barrier.

The routine is designed to work as a team, and using all four together gives the best, most consistent results. There’s also a saving in the four-step routine, at £100 instead of £120, which effectively gets you the face wash free. However, every product is gentle enough for daily use, so you can start with the steps that matter most to you and build up. 

Brilliant! So, for a teen just getting started, what’s the best way to use the routine? Realistically, how long does it take to see an improvement?

Our approach is to keep it simple and consistent. Use the four steps in order (cleanse, exfoliate, treat, support) as one routine, every day. Because the products work together and are gentle enough for daily use, there’s no need to overthink it or add extra products. We never promise overnight miracles. With daily use, you can expect clearer skin and fewer breakouts over weeks and months, and results build gradually rather than all at once. 

Love the honesty here—no fake overnight miracles, just real, steady results! Switching gears for a moment, we have to mention the packaging—it is amazing! How did the visual identity and design come about?

Thank you! Our clear labelling and simple colour code tells you at a glance what each step does. Our logo, with its stacked equals signs, reflects the idea behind our name and our belief that every teen deserves skincare made equally well for them. It’s designed to look good on a bathroom shelf, feel grown-up rather than childish, and appeal to everyone.

It has definitely achieved that! 

Looking at the bigger picture now, what have been the ultimate highs and lows of your journey so far?

A clear winner for the high points is receiving feedback and before and after photos from people who are using the products and experiencing real change. It’s so evident that the products are helping with confidence and mental wellbeing as well as the physical skin effects. That’s what it’s all about for us. 

Developing a brand from scratch has been really hard work. We both work in the NHS alongside Equals Even and being mums so you can imagine the juggle! 

We can only imagine the intense juggle, but we are so incredibly grateful for the work you're doing—especially when it comes to supporting teen mental health!

Since you get that emotional side of things so well, skin issues can take a massive toll on confidence and mental wellbeing. What advice would you give to parents who are trying to help their child navigate these tough skin phases?

Firstly, take it seriously. Skin worries can feel enormous at this stage as young people try to navigate so much going on in their lives. Being listened to goes a long way. Secondly, act early. Starting a gentle routine from the first spots helps prevent the long-term physical and emotional impact of untreated breakouts, and you may be able to prevent things escalating. We’d recommend staying away from viral TikTok trends which tend to have harsh additives and can make the skin a lot worse. Finally, be realistic – improvement takes weeks and months, not days. 

Such valuable advice—thank you for sharing. And, for readers wanting to grab the range, where can they buy your products?

You can buy the products from www.equals-even.com

Lastly, to wrap things up on a high note, we love positive energy! What is your absolute favourite daily affirmation or saying for a quick boost of confidence?

Our favourite is the one we built the brand on: calm skin = calm mind. It’s a reminder that how we feel on the inside and how we care for ourselves on the outside are connected. So our daily affirmation is simple: ‘I’m allowed to take care of myself, and my skin doesn’t define my worth.’ A few minutes of gentle self-care each day is a small act of kindness to yourself, and that’s a great way to start any morning. 

That is the most beautiful note to end on, and such a powerful reminder for teens and parents alike! Thank you both so much for sharing your expertise, your passion, and this incredible range with us.

And that’s a wrap!

A big thank you to Dr Helen and Dr Kathryn for sharing the story behind Equals Even. It’s brilliant to see a brand tackling teen skincare with actual clinical expertise, transparency, and a real grasp on the emotional side of skin struggles.

Ready to swap the harsh TikTok trends for a gentle, doctor-formulated routine that protects the skin barrier? Discover the full four-step range over at equalseven.co.uk.