It took two caring, creative mothers and their teenage daughters to create a line of skin care products that promotes a healthy attitude toward beauty and self-esteem.
"The teenage years can be awkward both physically and emotionally for teens," said Susan Shand, one of the co-founders of Tess (Teen Everyday Skincare System). So Shand, co-founder Sheri Poe and their daughters created a brand that celebrates the personal, individual beauty of each teenage girl.
To find out what teens wanted and needed, Shand and Poe spoke with hundreds of teens and their mothers. Today, the Tess Advisory Panel-made up of girls 13 to 17-provides opinions on everything from naming, scents and packaging design.
They created products formulated with natural fruit and botanical extracts, essential oils and vitamins to cleanse, tone, moisturize and protect teenage skin. The products feature paraben-free blends of natural ingredients such as aloe vera gel, lavender oil and extracts of chamomile, green tea, hibiscus flower, comfrey, white willowbark, lemon peel, apple and strawberry.
There are two, easy-to-use, "day to night" skin care kits for combination and problem skin and eight full-sized "a la carte" products. For many girls, an easy-to-use kit can help them start the good habit of taking care of their skin, making the kits a great back-to-school gift.
For example, the Skin with Attitude Kit is formulated for teens with blemish-prone skin. It features Scrub-It-Off Strawberry/Jojoba Facial Cleanser, This Is Your Wake-Up Call Orange Facial Toner, Take No Prisoners Peppermint Serious Blemish Stick, Out and About SPF15 Lavender Oil-Free Lotion, Perfect Pout Strawberry Healing Lip Gloss and Put on Your PJs And Vanilla Oil-Free Healing Night Cream.
Packaged in classic, clean, simple bottles and tubes with fun, lighthearted product names and colorful accents of watermelon, lime, tangerine and sky blue, the packaging also features empowering statements such as "take charge," "dare to dream," "speak your mind" and "never settle" to provide daily inspiration.
