Congratulations, you’ve finally transitioned out of that blurry haze known as “ your 20s” and graduated into a full fledged, thirtysomething! And while your body’s metabolism has slowed down considerably and you can’t party all night anymore without getting really hungover, your skin has remained pretty consistent, right?
Well buckle up and get ready for a crazy ride because your 30s are going to be like entering a new kind of skincare territory! As you slowly begin the process of aging, your skin will start to show small changes that might make you want to take a step back and reevaluate your skincare routine.
What kinds of changes?
- the beginnings of crows feet around your eyes
- dullness
- brown spots
- sun exposure damage
- small lines/wrinkles
- dryness
- adult acne
But there are things that you can do NOW in order to prevent further damage and hold off some of the most obvious signs of getting older.
1. Develop a skincare routine! If you haven’t gotten into the strict habit of taking care of and cleansing your skin, now is most definitely the time to do it! Preventative care is key to fighting the signs of aging.
2. Gently Exfoliate-in the age of harsh scrubs and cleansing brushes, it is easy to assume that exfoliating your skin has to leave it feeling irritated, beet red or even raw sometimes. This is so far from the truth! Exfoliating needs to be as gentle as possible and only done 2-3 times per week.
3. Eye cream– The skin around and underneath your eyes is extremely delicate and as we age, it is one of the most susceptible areas to age related changes like wrinkles and Collagen break down. To combat this, a low level retinol cream is needed. Other types of eye creams with specialized ingredients include: hyaluronic acid for added skin plumpness and even caffein to increase firmness.
4. Upping Your Sunscreen- This is a MUST! Whether it’s already added into your makeup foundation or in a light moisturizer, wearing sunscreen is non negotiable.
5. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize-this particular step is in my opinion one of the most crucial for proper skincare during your 30s. What do I mean by this? For daytime, use a lighter version that is rich in antioxidants like green tea, vitamin C and has at least a 15-20 SPF. For nighttime, use a more concentrated kind (not for acne sufferers, may clog pores) with Retinol in it. You can also try a Retinol based serum in addition to a ordinary moisturizer.