When you hit your 20s, your skin is likely to change a little. As you age, your skin begins to produce less collagen, and you’ll also find that your skin cells aren’t being renewed as quickly. Your skincare concerns will shift, and it’s about time to look into anti-ageing. If you’re not sure about where to start, we’ve come up with a list of basic steps to ensure that you take good care of your skin in your 20s, without overdoing it.
Eight glasses of water a day at the very least, and don’t forget your fruits and veggies. It’s very apparent when I’m not drinking enough water, as I get breakouts and dull skin. Avoiding processed and sugary foods are also a good way to keep your skin looking its best.
Every celebrity, beauty guru or model with great skin will tell you about the importance of SPF. It helps prevent premature ageing caused by sun damage; fights against the formation of dark spots; and can even play a role in protecting you from skin cancer. Sun damage causes an accelerated loss of collagen in the skin, which can also lead to premature ageing. If you weren’t diligent about sun protection in your teens, you need to get on it right away.
While it’s easy to feel like a harsh cleanser is going to get rid of all the oil, it can end up stripping your skin of its natural moisture. You need to figure out your skin type and concerns in order to determine a cleanser that suits you best. As someone with combination and slightly sensitive skin, the goal was to find a cleanser that was gentle enough that my skin didn’t itch after, but also effective enough to leave my skin feeling clean. Two of my favourites are Philosophy’s Purity cleanser, as well as Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser.
Our pores get clogged on a regular basis from external aggressors like pollutants, dirt, sebum, and even dirt from phones. Clogged pores are an easy way to develop acne, which can leave scars if not treated properly.
Another reason we need to exfoliate? Dead skin cells need getting rid of from time to time to prevent our complexion from looking dull and aged. Exfoliating once or twice a week should be sufficient in your 20s – you want to make sure not to overdo it or you can end up with overly sensitive or irritated skin.
Sleeping in your makeup? You might have gotten away with it towards the end of your teenage years – or not, if you were acne-prone – but as you get older, clogged pores can have a more lasting impact. Always cleanse well at night, especially if you’ve had makeup or sunscreen on during the day. Invest in a cleansing tool like Foreo silicone brushes, as they are gentle on your skin and that much easier to clean, while also doing a great job at thoroughly cleansing your skin.
Figuring out what works for your skin can take a while, and by awhile I mean several years. You don’t have to invest in heavy-duty stuff in your 20s, but it’s the perfect time to experiment as you can afford to introduce just one product to your routine at a time. An extensive routine is unnecessary and can end up being too rich for your skin. Personally, I think a good day and night moisturiser, a retexturising serum, eye cream, and the occasional mask will suffice for your 20s. Bottomline? Skin hydration goes a long way to putting off fine lines and wrinkles.