Before there was 31st State, there was a moment.

Years ago, when my boys were 11 and 12, I popped into their room before heading out to dinner and was instantly hit by that unmistakable pre-teen smell every mom knows. I hugged them goodnight and noticed tiny white spots across their noses and cheeks that hadn’t been there the day before.

Overnight, it felt like we’d entered a whole new phase: new smells, new hairs, new skin.

The next day, I went on a hunt for products—something gentle enough for a growing boy’s skin but effective enough to handle breakouts. What I found was disappointing: formulas made for adults (too harsh), kid washes that didn’t work or luxury products with price tags that made no sense for a teen. 

After trying what felt like everything, a shop assistant at a high-end beauty store handed me a women’s exfoliating pad that cost around $150. She told me to cut them in half and have the boys use them at night.

To my surprise, they worked. Two weeks in, their skin looked calmer, clearer and less oily.

That was my aha moment. I knew there had to be a better way and something similar made specifically for teen boy skin.

So, with the help of an incredible chemist, we created Clearing Pads for Face + Body — gentle, effective pads formulated with lactic acid, manuka, and encapsulated tea tree to clear pores and refresh skin without disrupting its natural balance.

They quickly became a hit with both moms and boys. Today, they’re still our #1 best-seller because they’re fast, simple and portable. Just swipe and go! 

Keep them in the car, gym bag, school locker or bathroom counter. Use them before bed, after practice or anytime the skin needs a refresh—on the face, chin, back, or neck.

If your teen’s skin is entering that new chapter, start here. It’s where our story began and why so many families stock up so there is always a jar within reach.

Cheers to clean, clear, confident skin! 

- Stephanie, founder 31st State