The best skin care routine in your 30s
Your 30s are a delightful decade when it comes to skincare for multiple reasons. First you are likely beyond the years of random breakouts even if you get the occasional blemish or two. You also tend to have a grasp of your skin type and know what works for your skin. Even if you’re finally starting to hit your skin care stride, your 30s are an important time to set the ideal routine for you in place. Find out what you should be doing with our guide to unlock healthy skin for decades to go.
Step #1 Vary Your AM and PM Skin Care Routine
So you have a cleanser and moisturizer that you like — great! Just make sure that you aren’t using the exact same products in the morning and evening as our skin has different needs during these time periods.
In the evening you should focus on getting rid of all traces of dirt, sweat and oil that may have accumulated on your face throughout the day. Rinse with a gentle yet effective cleanser customized for your skin type.
If you have oily skin you may want to use an oil-regulating cleanser such as Clean + Shine Control Cleansing Gel which can help dissolve any pre-clogging dirt, make up and excess oil. If you want to fight blemishes or balance your skin’s pH now is a good time to use an alcohol-free toner. It can help remove any lingering dirt from the surface of your skin prepping it for moisturizer.
After your cleanse, moisturizing is key. At night you can opt for a richer moisturizer that will be more nourishing, particularly if you have dry or normal skin. We love sleeping creams or sleeping masks, which help to restore your skin. If you have oily skin you shouldn’t use anything too heavy as that can clog your pores, yet you should still be using a hydrating product.
In the am your skin care routine will probably be less elaborate due to time constraints and the fact that you won’t have any makeup to remove. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be cleansing. Either use a gentle cleanser (doesn’t need to be rinse-off) or micellar water to remove any sweat and oil that might have formed on your face throughout the night. Then it’s time to moisturize and use SPF or better yet, use a moisturizer with SPF. Kill two birds with one stone! Antioxidants will help your skin fight free radicals, so try to apply a serum before you apply SPF, or use a SPF moisturizer with antioxidants in it for optimal skin results.
Step #2 Start Watching What You Eat
We’re not saying you didn’t care about what you ate before, but now’s is time to start eating a skin-friendly diet. What are skin beautiful foods? Leafy greens such as spinach, kale and romaine lettuce, citrus fruits, berries, and lean protein such as nuts, chia seeds and fish.
Step #3 Serums
Serums should become your best friend in your 30s. Why? They work on your skin’s surface and help with skin goals such as evening skin tone, adding brightness, and hydrating. Use a serum before you apply moisturizer at night to lock in the skin-beautifying ingredients.
Step #4 Avoid and Treat Sun Spots
When you hit your 30s, unfortunately dark spots are likely to start appearing on your face, chest and hands. Avoid sun spots by protecting your skin from the sun by applying SPF daily. Use a broad spectrum SPF on your face and neck every, no matter what the weather. If you are spending a day in the sun use a shot glass worth of SPF 15 or higher and wear a hat and sunglasses.
Step #6 Set Your Sights on Eye Cream
The skin around our eyes is extremely thin and since we blink and squint all day, lines are likely to form. One way to minimize fine lines is by using eye creams or gels that include retinol or pro-retinol. Apply every evening before bed time to wake up with bright eyes and the perfect complexion to match.
