Best New Products for Tweens and Teens

Teen-Focused Fashion
What do girls want in fashion? Just ask them. That’s the idea behind Epic Sky, a Sausalito-based e-commerce platform for girls ages 10-15 that collaborates with teen designers and artists from the Bay Area and beyond on clothing and accessories sold on the site. Epic Sky, founded by Marin moms Monika Rose and Marian Kwon, also produces a fashion-essentials line approved by an advisory board of middle and high school girls, as well as offering online content created by girls, DIY projects and more. Prices vary. www.epicsky.co.
Clean and Natural
The birth of her first son prompted Kathryn Holdforth to create one of her first natural skincare products, Pregnant Belly Butter, and her family’s needs have continued to inspire her JK Naturals products. Now with a teen on her hands, Holdforth knows that parents remain concerned about children’s exposure to chemicals through personal care products. The Dublin company recently launched a line of natural and organic products for teens that are “pure, clean and actually work,” including deodorant, cleanser, lip balm and more. $3.99-55.jknaturals.com.
STEM Tinkering
Inspire your tween or teen to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills in a fun, hands-on way with Tinker Crate. The monthly subscription kit for ages 9 to 16-plus from Los Altos-based Kiwi Crate encourages problem-solving and critical thinking with themes and projects from trebuchets to zoetropes. Each kit includes a project, a blue print, an online tutorial and a ’zine with additional experiments and activities. From $16.95 a month. tinker.kiwicrate.com.
Exploring Young Love
Told in alternating voices by well-known YA authors Nina LaCour and David Levithan, You Know Me Well takes place in San Francisco during Pride Week. The coming-of-age tale tells the story of Kate and Mark, two gay teens struggling with first love and future plans who meet in a city bar and form a fast friendship. Recommended for grades 9 and up. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2016. $18.99. us.macmillan.com/youknowmewell/davidlevithan.
Things We Like celebrates the best products, people and places that make parenting fun. Got a suggestion? Email [email protected] or submit your idea at bayareaparent.com/content/submit-a-story.html.