Teenagers are busier than ever - according to Pew Research, for example, 61% of teens say they feel a lot of pressure to get good grades, which translates to longer hours spent studying both at school and at home. With more and more time spent on the move, teen skincare needs continue to evolve beyond traditional bathroom-based routines.
In response, some beauty brands are reassessing how product formats, formulations and packaging align with daily use. One such brand, teen-focused Prereq Care, has entered the market with a self-care line positioned around portability, multitasking use and sensitive-skin safety, developed in collaboration with 50 teens and pre-teens.
In this CosmeticsDesign Q&A, Lizna Kabani and Sana Mithani, co-founders of Prereq Care, discuss how direct consumer input influenced product design decisions, from leak-resistant packaging and mist delivery systems to ingredient selection, dermatologist testing and sustainability considerations for an on-the-go demographic.
CDU: What specific market gap did you identify that led you to develop a self‑care line “built for backpacks,” and how does this positioning differ from traditional teen skincare?
Kabani and Mithani: We initially assumed we’d launch the way most skincare brands do, with a cleanser and moisturizer. But once we started talking to preteens + teens, that idea fell apart almost immediately.
They told us they don’t have time for multi-step routines, and many don’t have consistent access to a sink during the day.
One 13-year-old told us she couldn’t run to the restroom to use a face product as a cleanser, if it required water. Refreshing in between classes was hard given the lack of time.
Another 15-year-old boy told us that while playing sports, he needs a quick whole body refresh, but can’t step away from his busy back-to-back day. That’s when we knew portability wasn’t a nice-to-have. It was essential.
Traditional teen skincare is designed for bathrooms and routines. We wanted to design Prereq for real life: products that multitask, travel easily, and can be used anywhere, anytime. “Built for backpacks, not bathrooms” became our guiding principle because it reflects how this generation actually moves through their day.
CDU: How did the co‑creation process with 50 teens and pre‑teens materially influence formulation, packaging, or product usability decisions, and can you share examples that changed the direction of development?
Kabani and Mithani: The co-creation process fundamentally shaped the brand. Teens and pre-teens were incredibly honest about what they’d actually use and what they wouldn’t.
We learned quickly that user experience is everything: if a product leaked, felt sticky, or took too many steps, it was an instant no. That feedback drove our decision to create fine, fast-absorbing mists, and to engineer packaging that could survive backpacks, lockers, and gym bags without leaking.
Even design choices came directly from the group, down to selecting the color red. We wanted this brand to feel like it was truly made with them, not for them.
Our group of 50 also shared their target price based on their budget, emphasized the importance of sustainability, and mentioned their sensitive skin, which led us to develop our Deo Multi-Mist with the National Eczema Seal to ensure it meets their needs.
CDU: Your formulas use biotech‑forward ingredients like Ectoin, sugarcane‑derived deodorizing agents, and glycolipids. What drove these ingredient choices, and what were the biggest formulation challenges in keeping products gentle yet effective for young skin?
Kabani and Mithani: We worked closely with our lab to describe the essential self-care that these kids really need, making their safety a priority and keeping the mists natural yet science-backed. Obsessively safe will always be in the Prereq DNA.
We had a long list of ingredients we refused to use and intentionally avoided trendy actives without long-term safety data for young, developing skin. That decision narrowed our options and extended development timelines, but it was essential.
CDU: Did designing products to be portable, leak‑proof multitasking mists require new manufacturing or stability considerations compared to traditional bathroom‑counter formats?
Kabani and Mithani: Absolutely. It took us a long time to find the perfect, sturdy, and durable packaging. Once we did, we put it through rough testing, tossing it around and dropping it just like kids would, then returned it to the factory to refine it for their use.
CDU: Sustainability is a core brand pillar. What informed your decisions around refillable formats and material selection, and how did you balance durability for on‑the‑go use with environmental goals?
Kabani and Mithani: Yes, sustainability is and always will be a core tenet of the brand! Our bottles are refillable, and finding the right packaging took time.
We wanted something that was not only more sustainable, but also durable enough to withstand backpacks, lockers, and daily life on the go. All credit for the decisions around sustainability and having packaging that supports an on-the-go life goes to our 50!
CDU: Both products have dermatologist approval and an NEA recognition. What testing protocols, skin‑safety criteria, or regulatory considerations were unique to creating skincare for a pre‑teen/teen demographic?
Kabani and Mithani: Our lab facilitated dermatologist-led testing, including supervised patch testing to evaluate skin tolerance and irritation.
We also brought on Dr. Tiffany Libby, a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, as a strategic advisor to ensure every formula was thoroughly vetted to be safe, effective, and grounded in science.
From the beginning, we knew we wanted to create a deodorizing product that could truly work for eczema-prone and sensitive skin. Many of the teens and pre-teens we surveyed shared that traditional deodorants caused burning, rashes, or discomfort.
With that in mind, we approached development with the National Eczema Association’s standards as our benchmark, working backward to formulate products that would meet the needs of highly sensitive skin while still delivering real efficacy.
