Many say they have newfound confidence in their 30s, but that their skin is starting to show the first signs of ageing. Your skin changes as you age, and routines that may have worked well in your twenties may no longer produce the results you need.
Knowing how to change your skincare routine as your skin changes can be difficult. Read on to discover how you can get the most out of your skincare routine and get glowing skin in your 30s.
In your thirties, your skin may begin to produce less collagen and elastin, which are proteins that help keep skin firm and elastic. The loss of collagen and elastin can cause the skin to sag and wrinkle, contributing to ageing skin.
As we age, our skin cell turnover slows, meaning that our skin cells replace themselves slower. This means that dead skin cells can remain on your skin, causing common skin concerns such as fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and even hyperpigmentation.
Additionally, the skin’s natural oil production decreases as we age, which can lead to dryness, itching, and flaking. This means that paying attention to keeping your skin hydrated is even more important in your 30s.
Many women also find that their skin becomes more reactive, irritable and intolerant in their 30s, so choosing the right products is essential to maintain healthy skin.
All of these factors can be exacerbated by exposure to sunlight, smoking, and other environmental pollutants. Fortunately, there are many ways to help prevent or slow down the signs of ageing skin, such as using sunscreen, staying hydrated, and using skin care products that contain antioxidants and other ingredients that can stimulate collagen production.
The active ingredients in anti-ageing products can both reduce the appearance of ageing skin and help youthful skin stay fresh and young-looking.
If you’re starting to see the first signs of ageing skin, now is the time to take action and help your skin stay younger-looking for as long as possible. Even if you don’t have any skin concerns now, it’s still best to get into great skincare habits early to ensure your healthy, glowing skin remains for many years to come.
A skincare routine for your 30s should be aimed at preventing and correcting the signs of ageing. This includes using products that contain ingredients like retinoids, peptides, and antioxidants, such as in antioxidant serums or high-quality cleansers.
Below, we outline the essentials for an effective skin care routine for your 30s.
A facial cleanser is a product used to remove make-up, oil, dirt, and other things which could clog pores from the skin, helping to keep pores clear and prevent skin conditions such as acne.
Cleansing is important because it removes dirt, oil, and other unwanted debris from your skin. Throughout the day, your skin is constantly exposed to bacteria, pollutants, viruses, and dirt, which can cause your skin to look dull and lifeless. By cleansing your skin regularly, you will remove all of the built-up makeup and dirt on your skin, allowing your other skincare products to work more effectively and improve your skin texture and appearance.
Cleansing your skin daily is the best way to prep it for other skincare products. Not only can congested pores cause breakouts, but they can also prevent the absorption of other skincare products. Clearing your pores with a daily cleansing routine will ensure that the active ingredients in your moisturisers and serums can penetrate the deeper layers of your skin.
Cleansing helps manage the pH levels of the skin, which enables the skin to retain enough water and product. This helps maximise the results of the rest of your beauty routine, keeping your complexion in top condition.
Many choose makeup wipes as a quick alternative to cleansers. Unfortunately, a good skincare routine takes a little more time, and makeup wipes can, in fact, be damaging to your skin.
Make-up wipes do not sufficiently clean your skin. They will remove some makeup, dirt, and dead skin to a certain degree but ultimately serve just to smear dead skin and make-up around your face.
They also often contain preservatives that prevent micro-organisms from contaminating the wipes, which can harm your skin. They can even contain harmful ingredients such as formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, surfactants, and emulsifiers, which can damage your skin and cause it to become inflamed.
Scrubbing your face with facial wipes can cause skin irritation and slight inflammation, which can even exacerbate long-term concerns such as fine lines.
The three main types of facial cleansers are gel, cream, and foam.
Gel cleansers have a gel-like consistency and are usually clear. Many have deep-cleaning properties and exfoliating acids, making them ideal for oily, acne-prone skin.
Cream cleansers are usually thicker and often have moisturising properties. They cleanse without stripping skin of its natural oils, making them ideal for dry or sensitive skin.
Foam cleansers are lightweight and create a foamy lather. They remove excess oil as effectively as gel cleansers, making them ideal for combination skin.
Toner is an often overlooked yet essential step in your skincare routine.
It comes as a water-based liquid and often has ingredients like eucalyptus, peppermint, and aloe to soothe the skin. Toner is meant to be applied to the skin after cleansing to help refresh it without taking away its natural moisture. It is also supposed to help the skin absorb a moisturiser or other skin treatments better.
Incorporating a toner into your skincare routine helps to remove any remaining dirt and oil from your skin after cleansing and also helps to restore your skin’s pH balance.
Using toner as the second step after cleansing in your daily skincare routine can have a major positive impact on the appearance and tightness of your pores and reduce dark circles, which makes it essential to a routine in your 30s. It can help slow down signs of ageing and keep skin looking fresh.
You may especially benefit from toner if you have oily skin, are prone to acne, or frequently wear make-up because it works especially well in cleaning out and closing up pores.
The most important thing to consider when looking for a toner is to prioritise ingredients which will benefit your skin type.
Those with dry skin should look for toners containing hydrating ingredients, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, while those with oily skin will benefit more from ingredients like hydroxy acids or sulfur, which can help clear pores and reduce oil production.
If you feel that your toner is making your skin feel too tight after application, it may contain alcohol. Some cheaper toners may use alcohol in place of other cleansing ingredients, and it is important to avoid these. Toners containing alcohol can further dry out and irritate your skin.
Eye creams are often overlooked and dismissed as overpriced moisturisers, but in fact,
eye creams are formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eye. They contain more oil than a regular facial lotion, and they have a lot of active ingredients aimed at the problems we see around the eyes.
This is especially important to address as part of your skincare routine in your 30s, since the skin around the eyes is fragile and prone to dryness, meaning that it is likely to show signs of ageing earlier than the rest of the face.
Eye cream helps to hydrate and plump the delicate skin around your eyes, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Eye creams containing ingredients which boost collagen production are particularly effective. These may include vitamin C, peptides, and retinol.
Ceramide and hyaluronic acid are also beneficial moisturisers which can boost moisture retention in the skin and improve skin elasticity.
A moisturiser is an essential part of any skincare routine. When it comes to building the best skin care routine for your thirties, you may want to look for active ingredients such as peptides and vitamin C and E to help boost hydration, reduce inflammation, stimulate collagen production and help to protect your skin.
You should always choose a moisturiser which suits your skin type to keep your skin barrier, the upper layer of your skin, hydrated and healthy.
If you have oily skin, look for a light, gel-based moisturiser. If you have dry skin, look for a rich, cream-based moisturiser. It may be worth thinking about a separate night cream and day cream to target different concerns.
It should also have the active ingredients that suit your skin concerns, whether that is hyaluronic acid or retinol to plump your skin, niacinamide to brighten it or something else.
Sunscreen is a must-have in your skincare routine, no matter what your age.
Using broad spectrum SPF daily is especially important in your 30s, since sun damage and UV rays are some of the greatest factors in skin ageing. Wrinkles, sun spots, dry skin and much more can be easily improved and prevented simply by incorporating a good sunscreen which protects against UV rays into your routine.
Sunscreen is also essential to protect your skin against skin cancer.
You should always look for a lightweight, preferably unscented sunscreen to avoid irritation.
An SPF of 30 or higher is best. Make sure to reapply every 2 hours if you’re spending time in the sun, and to limit unnecessary sun exposure when possible.
As we move through our 30s, it is important to start thinking about how to maintain our skin health and keep those pesky fine lines at bay, whether that’s with a good skincare regimen or with more specific treatments.
While a skincare routine for your 20s may have been enough, now is the time to refine and add to your routine.
At NEO Health Clinic, our team of board certified dermatologists offer a range of anti-ageing treatments and facials that are perfect for keeping your skin looking its best.
Browse our website and book an appointment with one of our experts today!
