How we wish we could go back to the early hay-day of our 20’s where skincare was the furthest concern. Cleansing oil? What is that? Double cleansing? Puh-lease! Moisturizer and sunscreen? Why so many steps?
And now, we’re in our 30’s, fixing the mistakes of our 20’s, and wondering where to begin.
Skincare can be a tricky business. The market is full of products, with companies coming out with the latest product claiming that their product will cure all the mistakes of our past. It can be confusing selecting the best product for your specific skin-type, and especially confusing knowing when to use the product and the right way to layer your skincare. This post is going to tell you all about the best anti aging skincare routine 30’s edition. Using these products in your 30’s will help you feel 20 again.
So, where do you begin?
Determining your skin type is perhaps the most important step when cultivating a routine that addresses your concerns but also choosing the right products that compliment your skin type.
- Normal skin – Normal skin is neither dry nor oily, and does not require as much care as other skin types¹.
- Oily skin – Oily skin is affected by excessive fat production by sebaceous glands found within the skin. The causes of this can be genetic/or hormonal¹.
- Sensitive skin – sensitive skin types are more prone to stimuli, which normal skin may not experience. With sensitive skin, there’s a larger chance of reactions, such as discomfort, heat, tightness, redness or itching¹.
- Dry skin – Although dry skin may be temporary for some, a lot of individuals may experience this as a lifelong condition. Dry skin is caused by external factors such as weather, low air, humidity, and hot water. The dry skin can crack, which allows it to be exposed to bacteria, causing eczema. Dry skin can feel tight and rough, and may leave the skin looking dull¹.
- Combination skin – Combination skin can be both oily and dry. The t-zone area (forehead, nose, and chin) of individuals may produce more oil due to the active sebaceous glands, whereas the cheeks may be dry¹.
Each skin type will require their own set of products, however, the key to each skincare routine is ensuring to implement a:
- Face wash
- Serum (day/night
- Retinol
- Moisturizer
- Oil (if needed)
- Sunscreen
Use the correct products in the right order
Ensuring that you are using the correct products in the right order when you are building your routine is extremely important. Once you have determined your correct skin type, you can start utilizing the products that would be the most beneficial for you. For a simple routine, check out our blog post on skin-cycling if you’re just starting out.
Cleansing your skin is extremely important, especially during the night. You may feel exhausted during the evening, and may even sleep with your makeup on or use a makeup wipe, but this is extremely detrimental to your skin. Taking 15 minutes an evening to ensure you are giving your skin the best treatment you can, will give you the best results in the future.
When cleansing in the evening, you want to ensure you are double cleansing. You can go in with a cleansing oil first to break down the makeup, skincare, and dirt from the day, and then utilize a cleanser to remove anything leftover that the cleansing oil may not have gotten rid of.
A cleansing oil can also be used in the morning as a gentle cleanser, or for individuals with oily skin, they can go in with a regular foaming cleanser to remove the oil from the previous night.
face wash
Some cleansing oils to check out are:
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm
CLINIQUE Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover
Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil
Some face cleansers to check out are:
The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser
Occasionally, you may want to include an exfoliating cleanser once a week, although you should reach for chemical exfoliants rather than physical ones, as they can be harsh for the skin. Exfoliators are able to remove any dead skin cells on your face, giving a brighter, clearer appearance. A few to check out are:
Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant Exfoliator
Serum (day/night)
Serums are a great way to add in extra hydration into the skin or use as a treatment when skin can be troublesome. Serums can be used both night and day, depending on the type used. Vitamin C serums are a great step to add into your morning skincare routine. Vitamin C serums assist with brightening the skin, and clearing up any scars leftover from acne.
Some great options to implement in your morning routine are:
Biossance Squalane + 10% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum
Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Treatment Serum
Some great options for the evening can include:
Estée Lauder Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum (great for anti-aging!)
Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum (great for acne!)
Retinol
Retinol is a great step to implement in your night routine. It is recommended to not use reintols in the mornings as they can cause sensitivity to the skin from the sun. To read more about retinols, check out our latest blog post. When starting off with retinol, you will need to start off gentle, with a lower dosage, and increase the dosage as you continue using it. A few to include and start off with are:
First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum 0.25% Pure Concentrate
Moisturizer
Morning and night, you will always need to use a moisturizer. Cleansing can remove some of the important oils in your skin, causing a tight feeling. If you’re oily, and believe that you do not need moisturizer, this can actually be detrimental, as your skin is producing more oil to compensate for the dehydration caused by the lack of moisturizer. There are some great gel alternatives for oily skinned individuals, and some creams for individuals experiencing dryness.
Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Deep Hydration Moisturizer, is a great thick moisturizer to seal the hydration in for dry to normal skin types.
Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Balancing Gel Moisturizer, which is great for normal to oily skin types, for a lighter feel, while still ensuring to hydrate the skin.
Oil
Oils are very dependent on the individuals. They are not absolutely necessary to add in your routine, but there are different oils that can target different things. Oils are really great to lock in moisture in the skin as it acts as a humectant. You can either mix in the oil in your moisturizer, or use it as the last step in your evening skincare routine. You can include these oils in the morning, although you may want to go in with a lighter hand. Some of our favourites include:
Biossance 100% Sugarcane Squalane Oil
Sunscreen
Finally, sunscreen is perhaps the absolute most important step that you should NEVER forget in the mornings. Sunscreen prevents dark spots, aging, and most importantly skin cancer. It’s noted that a lot of individuals stray from sunscreen as they can cause acne in some folks, or just feel downright greasy or heavy. However, brands have come a long way with formulating sunscreens. There are some great options on the market that not only protect your skin, but also can act as a tint to even out the skin tones. Although it may seem like you do not need to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day, you definitely need to. It is recommended to reapply every two hours, to ensure that the skin is protected all day from the sun. Looking for some lightweight options, see below:
Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen
¹ https://www.almirall.com/your-health/your-skin/types-of-skin
The information found on Spa 6ix is not intended to be used as medical advice to treat any medical condition in yourself or others, including but not limited to the any patients that you are treating. All posts are to be treated as opinions. We highly recommend consulting your dermatologist before trying any new products or creating a routine to address any skin concerns. The reader of this site acknowledges that they are responsible for their own health decisions. All links provided are affiliate links.
