7 Skincare Products to Use in Your 30s
'Rejuvenation' is a well-known term within the skincare and wellness industry and one that you're likely very familiar with when browsing for skincare products. But what do you know about 'pre-juvenation’?
There's nothing wrong with wanting to act on signs of aging once they've started to set in, but wouldn't it be better if you started taking informed care of your skin now to prevent yourself from having to take more drastic measures as you get older?
It's time to take a deeper look into skincare ingredients and find out what works best for your skin, instead of searching for the next best thing in anti-aging products. To achieve optimum results, you should follow three skincare steps each and every day: cleansing, moisturizing, and applying SPF. When possible, you'll want to add in eye creams, serums, and retinoids too.
What should a 30-year-old woman do to take care of their skin?
Navigating the changes in your skin's needs as you age can be complicated, and layering active ingredients is a tricky business for beginners. Some of the products you loved when you were younger might not work like they used to, or despite keeping up with a regular skincare routine, your skin might start to look dull or tired.
You might have to try different products from various brands before finding a combination that works for your skin. This may even be the first time in your life that you're starting to think about skincare, and you're not sure what products are suitable for you.
No matter your situation, we've gathered together our beauty cupboard essentials that will keep your skin looking gorgeous throughout your thirties.
What skincare does a 30-year-old need?
For many people, this decade is a busy and potentially stressful period in your life, and this fast pace can really start to take its toll on your skin. To help prevent these signs of aging, your ideal morning skincare routine will consist of a cleanser, a serum, an eye cream, a moisturizer, and SPF 50+ sunscreen.
Our morning routine favorites include:
Naturium's purple ginseng cleansing balm. This formula has been modified to maintain hydration while also removing impurities such as oils and makeup.
Vitamin C 10% Serum by La Roche Posay. Its high potency formulation helps skin to glow and has proven to be suitable even for sensitive skin. Vitamin C helps to even out skin tone and can aid in fading dark spots, which is a skin concern most people won't deal with until their thirties. Don't forget to wear sunscreen if you're using vitamin C, though!
Revision Skincare DEJ Eye Cream. Formulated using probiotics to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in your eye area.
Supergoop's Glow Stick. The product is easy to apply in a solid-to-cream and adds a nice dewy glow to your skin, making SPF application enjoyable. It's an SPF 50, meaning you will also be well protected from the damaging and aging effects of sunlight.
The ideal skincare routine for someone in their thirties is similar to any other age group but with one key difference; the active ingredients needed to target common issues people face at various stages in their lives. Dr. Julie Russak, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Russak Dermatology Clinic in NYC, told Aedit.com that there is one very definite step you need to pay attention to in your thirties: acids.
If acids don’t already form part of your skincare regimen, it’s time to add them! You can try a salicylic acid-based cleanser into your morning routine and glycolic acid at night to thoroughly exfoliate your skin (glycolic acid makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays, so best to apply before bed).
Ideally, your evening skincare should consist of a cleanser, eye cream, retinol, and a moisturizer.
Here are some of our favorite nighttime skincare products:
Medik8's Intelligent Retinol. Gradually releases to tone skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Make's Succulent Skin Gel Cream. A serum-weight moisturizer that uses lab-engineered natural ingredients to hydrate skin overnight.
The Bawdy Oil from Bawdy. The perfect extra step in your evening skincare routine. The CBD and marula oil formulation is designed to firm your skin and provides much-needed moisturization.
It's understandable that if you're new to skincare, this can all seem a little overwhelming. If you can't always manage a full-on routine first thing in the morning, or you're struggling to stick to a thorough skincare regimen with lots of different products, take a more straightforward approach to start with. In the morning, focus on your cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. For the evening, a cleanser and moisturizer should be the absolute minimum.
(You can also, by all means, use the same cleanser and eye cream twice a day, saving on the number of different products you’re using day to day.)
Is it ok to use anti-aging products in your 30s?
Absolutely! Anti-aging skincare products are formulated to prevent signs of aging, so starting young is no bad thing. Moisturizers designed to combat signs of aging are generally just heavy moisturizers, but there are active ingredients to look out for that can help in your thirties and beyond. Retinols, lactic acid, and vitamin C are all super helpful in fighting volume loss, fine lines, and pigmentation. Facialist and skincare expert Caroline Hirons advises you to focus on these ingredients when spending on skincare: "if you want to budget, spend your money in the middle part of your skincare routine. That means your serum, retinoids, actives," explains Caroline during an interview with Grazia.
How can I take care of my skin in my 30s?
Don't forget that you're never too young to consult a dermatologist too. Whether you'd like expert help with formulating a skincare routine to suit your skin - or if you'd like to consider some minimally invasive procedures to stave off aging for as long as possible - speaking to a dermatologist is a significant proactive step to take in your thirties. Dr. Russak said, "Around 26 years old, you start to produce less collagen, and the destruction from UV and environmental exposures that happened in your twenties begin to show up. The damage may not be noticeable on your skin's surface yet, but it's important to be aware of what's happening underneath."