Four Decades of Beautiful Skin
Skincare upgrades and updates you need to know about now. Get the no-fail, no-nonsense guide to beautiful skin.
For many of us, the way our skin looks in the morning dictates, like the weather, what kind of day we might have. We get out of bed, skip (or stagger) over to the mirror, and peer at our reflection as if we were peering out the window. What did the day blow in? A clear, calm complexion? A shower of breakouts? A mist of fine lines? A gloomy new cumulus of dark spots?
To help you in your quest for brighter horizons complexion-wise, we talked to top dermatologists across the country about what it takes to get gorgeous skin, and came up with this straightforward, thorough, easy-to-follow, bottom-line guide for every age.
Your No-Fail Plan: In Your 20s
Use gentle products, and focus on damage prevention.“You don’t need antiwrinkle creams or microdermabrasion in your 20s.
Cleanser: If you have normal skin, you need to wash it only before bed. Use a mild cleanser - either a gel, if your skin is oily, or a milky one, if it’s dry.
Moisturizer: Pick a brand, any brand. But be absolutely sure that your moisturizer has SPF 15 or 20, and that it gives you both UVA and UVB protection. Apply it all over your face and on your neck and chest. (This is critical no matter what your age.)
Nighttime treatment: Use a hydrating fluid or an oil-free moisturizer. Many dermatologists recommend starting on the vitamin A-derivative prescription retinoids (like Retin-A, Tazorac, and Avage) - the gold standard for reducing fine lines, stimulating collagen, and treating acne - or products containing the less potent, over-the-counter retinol. Before bed, apply a pea-size amount all over your face and right up under your eyes; then you don’t need an eye cream.
Your No-Fail Plan: In Your 30s
Even if you’ve taken good care of your skin, you’ll probably start noticing fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes and mouth.
Cleanser: In the morning, use a cleanser with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to encourage exfoliation. In the evening, wash with a creamy cleanser.
Moisturizer: In addition to SPF 15 or 20 with UVA/UVB protection, your moisturizer should contain antioxidants, like green or white tea, pomegranate, or vitamin C, which will protect your skin from damaging free radicals. Start wearing an eye cream daily. For dark circles, use one with hydroquinone, vitamin C, or botanicals that brighten, like kojic acid, soy, or licorice; for puffiness, look for one containing caffeine; for extra moisturization, use one with hyaluronic acid.
Nighttime treatment: Once you’re in your 30s, a retinoid or retinol isn’t optional anymore. So if you’re not on a prescription retinoid, choose a nightcream or serum with retinol.
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