How to Build the Right Skincare Regimen For Every Age

Each decade of our lives brings shifts and surprises: new jobs, new priorities...new skincare? That’s right, even your skincare routine has to change with the times.

Because just when you strike the perfect balance for your skin, poof! You get a few years older, and your go-to solutions don’t work anymore. Skincare that worked for you at age 20 suddenly isn’t cutting it at 25 (or 35, or 45).

It’s time to update your regimen to fit your current skincare needs and keep your complexion happy. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be a difficult transition. Find out how to easily create the perfect skincare regimen for any age!

Skincare In Your 20s

KEYWORD: Protection

In your 20s, your skin is probably looking springy and youthful. So the keyword for your 20s routine is protection — as in, protecting the existing natural beauty of your complexion.

1. Begin an adult skincare routine

Now is the time to commit to a regular skincare regimen. Leave behind all those too-strong teenage products and segue to gentler, restorative skincare made with your adult skin in mind. Start with your must-have basics of a cleanser and moisturizer and build your routine from there. The most important thing is just to stick with it and build those good skincare habits.

It’s tough to build a routine from scratch — which products go with which? Cut out the uncertainty with an all-in-one routine like our Clear Skin Kit, with 40+ active botanicals that work together to support your skin.

2. Balance oily, acne-prone skin.

If acne is lingering into your adulthood, you’re probably dealing with an overproduction of sebum, your natural skin oil. Sebum helps protect your skin from invaders, but it’s also a serial pore clogger and acne trigger, so balance is vital. The answer? Moisturize! Though it sounds backward, using a nourishing moisturizer can lessen greasiness. Hydration takes your skin out of panic mode and signals your oil-producing glands to ease off the gas. Result: skin that’s fresh and dewy instead of an oily mess.

 

3. Always remove makeup before bed.

Sleeping in your makeup not only looks terrible the next morning — hello, raccoon eyes — it can also damage your skin. Makeup clogs your pores, increases inflammation, damages your collagen, and traps other impurities within your skin. It may be tempting to fall into bed after a late night out, but remove your makeup first, party animal!

4. Defend your skin with antioxidants.

Unless you live in a hamster ball, the outside world is going to take a toll on your complexion. Environmental pollutants like smog and cigarette smoke cause your body to produce damaging free radicals that can prematurely age your skin. Antioxidants are lovely little compounds that neutralize these free radicals, so your skin can glow on, damage-free.

• Consume antioxidant-rich foods.
• Drink antioxidant-rich teas.
• Use skincare with antioxidant-rich ingredients like Kakadu plum or kahai oil.

5. Always, always, ALWAYS wear sunscreen.

Seriously though, the sun is not your friend. Ideally, choose an option with SPF30 or higher. If you have sensitive, acne-prone skin, seek out water-based sunscreens. They’ll be less likely to clog your pores and lead to new breakouts.

Skincare In Your 30s

KEYWORD: Prevention

Once you hit your 30s, it’s time to start looking ahead. Dry skin, fine lines, and collagen loss are all lurking around the corner. Get ahead of these issues by emphasizing prevention in your essential 30s skincare regimen.

1. Incorporate exfoliation.

30s skin can appear drier and duller due to a natural slow-down of your skin cell turnover. But a little exfoliation can help keep your complexion clear and bright! For gentle daily exfoliation, use our Radiant Cleansing Nectar with a cotton pad to buff away dead cells and reveal the fresh face hiding underneath. And for extra exfoliation without irritating your skin, add our nutrient-rich Illuminating Essence Exfoliating Mask once or twice a week.

2. Give extra care to problem areas.

Your skin will naturally begin to lose collagen in your 30s, showing early signs of sagging or drooping. This is especially the case in delicate, wrinkle-prone areas like the skin around your eyes. To support and smooth your complexion, use eye creams with collagen-boosting botanicals. Our recommendation? Our Ageless Eyes Day Cream and Satin Eyes Night Mask, work in tandem to soothe and hydrate your skin both morning and night.

 

3. Manage your stress.

Your 30s can bring big new stressors to your life, whether they’re to do with money, parenthood, your career, or finally struggling to become an adult and act your age. Unfortunately, these stressors can also take their toll on your skin, even contributing to premature aging. Try out techniques for relaxation like meditation, journaling, or a calming soak in the bath.

Skincare For Your 40s

KEYWORD: Rejuvenation

At this point, it’s time to start spoiling yourself (and your skin) with a little extra TLC in your 40s skincare routine. Rejuvenation is the name of the game, so make sure you’re giving your skin the support it needs to stay youthful and glowing!

1. Review your routine.

By now, your skin is pretty different than it was in your 20s, and it may be time to give your go-to products a refresh. Yes, you’ve loved that cleanser for years, but it may not be the best choice for your current complexion. Consider switching to a routine specifically designed to support and revitalize your changing skin.

2. Add extra nourishment.

Your 40s skin may begin to appear thin and dry, crying out for moisture. Give your skin what it needs by adding a hydrating serum to your routine. Our Perfectionist Overnight Serum is built around potent botanicals like passionfruit, acai, and prickly pear to deeply infuse your skin with restorative antioxidants. These ingredients help correct, protect, and hydrate your complexion for total nourishment.

3. Include vitamin C.

Vitamin C does it all — defending against environmental damage, brightening dark spots, and even promoting new collagen production. However, not all vitamin C is created equal. Look for products that utilize natural sources of vitamin C like rosehip or Kakadu plum rather than weaker synthetic versions. Unlike synthetics, natural sources come with supportive enzymes that help your body use and absorb vitamin C. So you can reap the best of your skincare's vitamin benefits!

Kakadu plum has 50 TIMES more Vitamin C than oranges, and you can find it in our Luminous Complexion Toner.

 

4. Prioritize sleep.

While you sleep, your skin undertakes crucial repairs. But if you’re consistently sleep-deprived, your skin cells won’t have time to recover from daily damage. In your 40s, your body’s ability to repair itself is already slowing down, so it is more important than ever to get enough rest. So sleep well and help your skin thrive!

Best Skincare for Women Over 50

KEYWORD: Hydration

Whether you’re aging gracefully or disgracefully (you wild child), your ideal 50+ skincare routine will seem like a whole new world from where you started back in your 20s. Here’s what you need to know!

1. Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more.

From here on out, the biggest goal in your skincare routine should be hydration. Aging skin begins to lose its structural integrity, including its ability to retain moisture, leaving your complexion high and dry. (No, literally — dry.) A few tips to support your dry and delicate skin:

• Drop overly-drying products, cosmetics, and foaming cleansers. Instead, use natural skincare that protects the moisture in your skin.
• Cleanse with cool or lukewarm water to avoid stripping moisture from your complexion. Or, better yet, use a rinse-free cleanser like our Radiant Cleansing Nectar.
• Find the right moisturizer. Choose a product that provides both hydration and nourishment, like our rich and luxurious Flawless Nourishment Cream.

 

2. Target your specific skin concerns.

Everyone’s skin is different and will require support in different ways. Identify the problem areas in your complexion and incorporate supportive skincare products to match.

• Under-eye wrinkles? If you haven’t added eye creams to your routine yet, now’s the time. Hit twice as hard with a pair of creams like the harmonious duo in our Perfectly Fresh Eyes Kit.
• Neck wrinkles? Don’t give your face ALL the love — your neck needs some, too! Pamper it with hydrating products like our Perfectionist Overnight Serum to help improve elasticity and prevent wrinkles.
• Dark spots? Skin discoloration is common as you get older, thanks to long years of sun damage. But our Perfectionist Overnight Serum can help here, too! It uses rejuvenating ingredients like bakuchiol to help tame dark spots for good.

 

3. Try facial massage.

Facial massage may help contour the muscles in your face for a fuller, more youthful appearance. Facial massage can also help amplify the benefits of your favorite cream or serum. So relax, take your time, and work it into your skin.

4. Stay active.

Turns out exercise isn’t just good for your overall health — it can also contribute to the health of your skin. Exercise stimulates your cells, skin cells included, and helps keep them running smoothly. This enables them to maintain repairs and help lessen your visible signs of aging.

And there you have it.

Like your personal goals and style, skincare is an ever-evolving work of art. Never be afraid to let it grow or change. You’re allowed to change your mind, try new things, and figure out what works best for your one-of-a-kind life.

Just be sure to let loose and enjoy the ride!