Thirty is just around the corner for me and I’ve spent the last few years investing plenty of time (and money) into my skincare routine. I have a modest budget and a busy life like anyone else so my best tips for healthy skin are simple and inexpensive. Below are the must-do anti-aging skin care tips for your twenties and early thirties.
Wear Sunscreen
This in a non-negotiable and you need to follow through with it every single day. I have fair skin so I have tried to be conscious of wearing sunscreen for most of my life and I think this is what has helped slow down the appearance of fine lines and aging spots.
I will apply a face lotion with SPF every day and if I’m going to be outside for an extended period of time i make sure to reapply.
Now I know that there is a lot of information out there about how any SPF over 35 is useless and doesn’t add additional protection. While there may be some validity to that, the vast majority of people do not apply enough product in the first place to get the maximum protection. So say you’re using SPF 20, but you just do a light layer (like most of us) then you’re likely barely getting SPF 10.
I typically use a CC cream with SPF along with a moisturizer with SPF, so between the two products I feel confident I have the SPF 35 minimum. Although lately, I’ve been using a Neutrogena face sunscreen with SPF 110 because I’ve been skipping the CC cream altogether and just doing a light powder.
Whatever SPF you pick make sure to add some to the backs of your hands everyday too since they also get a lot of sun, but we rarely think to protect them.
Here’s a few of my daily facial SPF picks:
Moisturize
In the immediate term, proper hydration of your skin makes it appear healthier, glowing and softer. In the longer term, keeping your skin well moisturized will help it age much more beautifully. This study from Procter & Gamble showed that those with dry skin show signs of age must faster than those with hydrated skin. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09709.x
What’s the best product for moisturized, hydrated skin?
It’s Hyaluronic Acid!
Now hyaluronic acid sounds like something you’d want to keep away from your face (acid?! EEK!) but HA is actually something your face naturally produces. Aging and other external factors decrease it’s presence in our skin, but luckily it’s easy to find in plenty of products and at different price points. HA works for all skin types and is great at moisturizing my entire face without making my T-Zone oily. Big win in my book! The first time I used the product I thought it was going to be way too light for my winter-dry skin, but as soon as I applied it I was blown away by it’s inexplicable ability to just soak up in the skin make it feel so plump and hydrated. It seriously feels magical.
If you’re looking for a new moisturizer, read the label and check for the presence of Hyaluronic Acid (sometimes HA) and you’ll know you’ve found a moisturizer that’s going to make your skin feel amazing.
My favorite hyaluronic acid picks:
Use Retinol
What is Retinol, exactly? Well, retinol is a type of Vitamin A that you can pick up in OTC creams and serums and it will help stimulate collagen production and skin cell turnover. And it helps thicken the dermis layer of your skin to help it appear full and glowing! It’s great stuff, but can be irritating so plan to slowly add it into your skincare regimen and avoid using it daily. Three times a week is a good amount.
The use of retinol makes your skin more susceptible to the sun so make sure to follow tip #1 above and apply the sunscreen. Retinol can help with acne or irritate it more so start with a lower amount like 0.05% to test how it affects your skin.
Here are some great retinol products to start with:
In addition to the above skincare tips, we all know the everyday things we can do to help keep our complexion glowing which is eating a healthy, balance diet, drinking plenty of water and getting an adequate amount of sleep every night.
What are your every day skincare tips?
