A friend of mine recently told me her teenage child bought their first deodorant, no big conversation, no awkwardness. They just noticed something had changed and quietly did something about it.

It's also one of the questions I’m asked the most: ‘When's the right age to start using deodorant or start a skin care routine?’ There's no right age, every body changes at their own pace. So instead of an age, here are the signs to look out for.

Why it happens: Hormone changes, due to puberty, generally happens between 11-13 in girls and 12-14 in boys.

Sign: body odour → time for deodorant

If you notice a change in body odour? That's the moment to start using deodorant/anti-perspirant.
Deodorants can temporarily mask odour; antiperspirants reduce sweating which leads to body odour. A hybrid formulation is the most effective.
Don't worry about aluminium — major reviews (including UK Cancer Research and the US National Cancer Institute) have found no evidence linking it to cancer. It’s a well-used myth used mainly by brands selling ‘alternative’ formulations to make money.
Apply to clean, dry skin in the evening for the best results.
Start with a roll-on rather than a spray.

Sign: shiny skin or first spots → time for a proper cleanser

A shiny T-zone or the first spots and blackheads is a sign to start using a facial cleanser. Water alone won't shift oil.
Cleanse in the evening with a gentle, purpose-made cleanser (if required you can introduce a morning cleanse but introduce slowly). Do not use soap, it can strip skin and make oiliness worse.
Washing more doesn't mean less oil, it often triggers skin to produce more to compensate. Once a day, in the beginning at least, is enough.
Try not to pick or squeeze spots and blackheads, it can cause scarring, not the spot itself.

Using a Cleanser? → time to use a moisturiser

Common myth: oily skin doesn't need moisturiser. In fact, stripped skin often overproduces oil to compensate.
Introduce moisturiser at the same time as your cleanser, they're a pair, not separate steps.
Choose something lightweight and with actives to target the overproduction of sebum.

Sign: greasy hair by day two → time to wash more often

Oil glands on the scalp produce more sebum than any other part of the body. Hair that stayed fresh for days may now need washing every day or two.
A gentle, frequent-use shampoo is what’s required.

The takeaway

Watch for the signs of puberty, it’s not about an exact age. Shine, spots, greasy hair and body odour, when you experience one of these identifiers then this is the right time to start with a small, consistent routine. It will settle things down. Give any new routine a few weeks before judging it and keep it simple.