You’re nearly 30 — it’s not something to be feared it’s just a junction in life that brings with it a fresh dedication to skin care especially as you notice stray spots and possibly tiny lines you’ve never seen before.
The Sun Worshipers
The truth is that if you’ve spent about a decade worshipping the sun, the first signs of sun damage do generally show up in your 30s, as your skin’s reparative abilities begin to weaken — we’re talking mild brown spots, crow’s-feet, and dull skin. Bottom line, the damage you do in your 20s accumulate and appear in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. By taking early action, you can significantly improve your skin’s future health — now it’s all down to prevention and protection and it’s never too late to start.
Firstly, it’s time to wizen up and accept that sunscreen is not a complete block against ultraviolet (UV) rays. So every morning, apply a vitamin-C serum packed with antioxidants for an added layer of sun protection underneath sunscreen (with a high SPF) to neutralize the free radicals that get released and help with collagen production. Also, never forget to protect your lips by applying a super nourishing lip balm every morning with a sunscreen factor and reapplying it throughout the day. You don’t want those smoke lines to spread across your lips!
Rub-A-Dub-Dub
Exfoliation is a good practice to start. However, don’t use one on top of another (from cleansers to sonic devices to scrubs) in a hysterical attempt to reach your youthful skin — it’s not hiding in some bottomless pit and you’ll just irritate your skin and make it raw. Use a gentle cleanser, especially in the morning. You might want one packed with vitamin C with antioxidants for an extra layer of sun protection.
Retinol Age Reversal
Since the first retinoid was approved for acne in 1971, these drugs have been hailed by many as a cure-all for skin problems. Although retinoids may not be the answer to every skin condition, they have been proven to treat the skin, treat wrinkles, build collagen, and reverse photoaging (premature aging of the skin caused by repeated exposure to UV radiation primarily from the sun, but also from artificial UV sources). Pick a mild, over-the-counter retinol product that is not irritating or too exfoliating and start using it every other night. You can mix it with a little moisturizer to make it more tolerable. Try start in your late 20s and get used to the effects so you can work yourself up to prescription-strength retinol by your late 30s or 40s.
Crow’s Feet & Smile Lines
Suddenly you look in the mirror and notice fine lines at the corners of your eyes or around your mouth especially when you pull a face. Deciding never to smile, frown, or move your facial muscles won’t hack it. The skin around our eyes is the body’s thinnest and one of the first places to show your age. If you’ve already been smoking for some years, you might already have tiny cracks around your lips and smile lines from dragging on a cigarette all day. Starting an eye cream early on is a good habit to form, and even if you’re not treating a visible wrinkle, it hydrates the skin to plump it, so the wrinkles show less when you’re older.
If you see early signs of sun or smoking damage and want to be more aggressive in treating that, there are many amazing acids to use at home once a week or every two weeks to exfoliate the skin. However, be super careful to moisturize and use a gentle cleanser to avoid further stripping the skin.
Time to face the facts, your skin cannot keep up with your wild days of yesteryear, but as they say, don’t fret, 30 is the new 20!
