Over the past year, skincare has grown in popularity. Learning how to care properly for your skin as well as taking time out for yourself whilst doing your skincare routine has been the perfect escape during the pandemic. So many of us have overhauled our skincare routines (or created one from scratch) and social media has been there to help introduce us to lesser known products into those routines.
But thanks to social media, we all know how many thousands of different products are out there… and with skinfluencers recommending so many products, it can be hard to know which products are the ones for you.
Whilst a product might sound amazing, depending on your age it might not be the best thing for your skin… after all, skin in your 20’s is so much different to skin in your 50’s! That’s why it’s important to tailor your skincare routine to your skin’s needs… and a lot of that comes down to age.
Here’s a quick guide to the products each age group should be using in their skincare routine…
In your 20’s
Your skin in your 20’s is invincible, right?
You can use any product on it… don’t use anything at all… or use a combination of lotions and potions and your skin will be fine… right? Wrong.
Whilst your skin may look like it can deal with anything, it can’t. And these younger years are the most important to look after your skin and prevent problems later down the line.
Usually, lifestyle in your 20s will include late nights, alcohol and sunbathing… All factors that can have a negative impact on your skin without you noticing. Looking after your skin in your 20’s can prevent the ageing process creeping up on you so soon.
So the main goal in your 20’s should be to protect your skin and keep it looking plump and young. Keeping the skin hydrated and using sunscreen are both super important steps in the skincare routine. Here’s what your skincare routine should include:
Your skincare routine needs to start with a good double cleanse system (basically cleansing your face twice) to make sure all makeup, dirt and spf is removed from your skin. This could include a makeup remover to make sure all eye makeup is removed, or just diving straight in with two cleansers.
Exfoliating your skin a few times per week can help to remove dead skin cells and is especially beneficial if you suffer from breakouts. Salicylic acid is great for breakout prone skin and it can also help to even out skin tone.
At this age, you should also include a vitamin C serum which is an antioxidant, and a hyaluronic acid serum to keep the skin hydrated. If you’re concerned about the first signs of ageing appearing on your skin, you can introduce a retinol into your routine in the evening. Retinol helps to increase cell turnover and regenerate skin cells so it can improve the signs of ageing as well as any acne scars or uneven skin tone you may have.
A skincare routine wouldn’t be complete without a good moisturiser and a SPF. Make sure you choose a moisturiser to suit your skin type and then follow up with your chosen SPF. The higher the SPF, the better your skin is protected, so try to opt for SPF50. SPF30 is also great but you may need to reapply more frequently for full protection.
Face masks and eye creams are fine to include as part of your skincare routine but aren’t really essential at this age. They’re nice to have though - I love a face mask when I’m having a pamper evening!
In your 30’s
The late 20’s and early 30’s are when the ageing process begins, so you need to make some small changes to your skincare routine to keep your skin looking and feeling youthful and glowy.
After the age of around 26 your body slows down the production of collagen and other components such as CoQ10 so the skincare routine should include products which help to reduce the effects of these changes and work to keep your skin looking young and healthy.
If you’ve been a regular sunbather when you were younger and you didn’t use SPF, the effects of this may also start to show in the form of pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.
As in your 20’s a good double cleanse system is important to remove everything from the skin, followed by a chemical exfoliator. Salicylic acid will help your skin if there are still signs of breakouts, or you could try a glycolic acid. Skin cell turnover has already started to slow down by your 30’s so using a chemical exfoliator regularly helps to remove dead skin cells, minimise the look of pores and also even skin tone.
Continue with your vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid serum and think about introducing a niacinamide to your routine too. When choosing a hyaluronic acid serum, opt for a multi molecular weight hyaluronic acid which penetrates different layers of the skin and plumps from multiple layers.
If you’re not already using retinol, now would be the perfect time to add it to your routine. If retinol has already been a regular in your routine, you can consider increasing the strength for a more intense treatment.
Whilst some people consider that an eye cream is not essential in a skincare routine, the skin around your eye are is much thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face so it needs looking after. If you don’t have the budget for an eye cream, make sure to moisturise around the eye area, but if you want to include an eye product, choose a light cream or gel to keep the area around your eyes hydrated and plump.
Finish up your skincare routine with a good moisturiser to suit your skin type and then your SPF.
In your 40’s
When you reach your 40’s, the signs of ageing are well under way. Changes in hormones cause the skin to become dryer so hydration is key to keeping a healthy youthful looking complexion.
A double cleanse is just as important now as in earlier years, followed by acids, serums and a moisturiser. As skin cell turnover is slowing down more, retinol is a beneficial ingredient to encourage cell renewal and to help fight the signs of ageing.
Chemical exfoliants such as AHA’s and glycolic acid are great to remove dead skin cells and leave a glowing, smooth complexion.
Serums such as hyaluronic acid are super important to keep the skin hydrated and also an eye cream with retinol and hyaluronic acid to keep the eye area hydrated and plump.
In your 40’s, opt for a moisturiser which contains hyaluronic acid or glycerin, and don’t forget to moisturise your neck too! If you’d rather use a separate product for the neck, look for a product high in moisturising and nourishing ingredients.
The final step of your routine in your 40’s is of course the SPF. As you increase the strength of your retinol your skin is becoming more and more sensitive to sunlight so it’s more important than ever to be applying SPF after using retinol and acids.
In your 50’s… and beyond
Similar to your 40’s, the key to your skincare routine in your 50’s is hydration. Collagen production has slowed massively by this point so it’s important to keep your skin hydrated, nourished and looking healthy by using products which target these areas.
Unfortunately, fine lines and wrinkles will likely be more prominent so taking good care of these will also be your focus.
When choosing a cleanser, opt for a cream or oil cleanser. Oil and cream cleansers cleanse your skin, removing all signs of makeup, dirt and impurities without stripping the skin.
Retinol and exfoliants should still be a part of your skincare routine, but be careful when using treatments and try not to use anything too harsh.
As with your skincare routine in younger years, hyaluronic acid is your skin’s best friend. So always be sure to include hyaluronic acid in your routine, in the form of serums and mists as well as being a key ingredient in your moisturiser. Moisturisers rich in peptides and hydrating ingredients are also beneficial in your 50’s as they can help to keep the skin plump.
No matter your age, don’t forget your SPF!
