How skincare in your 30s is different from your 20s.

30 may be the new 20, but our skin definitely needs different things in these 2 seismic eras of our lives. Here’s what I’ve learnt from my own skincare shift.

What is it about the shifting of decades that seems so scary, especially for us women? When I was in my 20s, the idea of turning 30 was about as pleasant as a full body wax. But, now that I’ve successfully made the crossover (and quite a while back, at that), I look back and wonder what the hell I was so nervous about?! My naive 20-something self—bogged down by self doubt, trying to conceal every imperfection, never happy with what she saw in the mirror—would be amazed at how much more comfortable I am in my own skin today. I haven’t just learned to live with my so-called “imperfections” (ahem…like the darker skin tone I always thought of as a problem), I’ve learned to love them.

There’s no denying that both my body and face have changed, but so has my approach to taking care of them. No, my face did not fall off a cliff when I turned 30, but my skin has experienced some noticeable shifts over the years, and that’s normal! In fact, I’m thankful for these changes because they’re what led me to develop a more mindful, skinimalist approach to skincare. So, if you’re in your 20s, about to turn 30, well into your 30s, or 40s, or 50s, or 60s let’s chat about how skincare may evolve over time.

Skincare in my 20s vs my 30s

In my 20s, I was somehow both foolish and insecure at the same time. Growing up in a society where lighter skin was considered more beautiful, I was embarrassed of my darker complexion, but didn’t want to show that I cared by wearing sunscreen. I was constantly buying new skincare products, without a clue about what worked for my skin.

• My biggest concerns used to be my skin tone, and occasional breakouts. Obviously as a 20-something with no signs of aging to speak of, I also prematurely dabbled in anti-aging products (just for the heck of it).

• My skin type was combination/oily, and living in a humid environment meant I would often just skip the moisturizer. Most embarrassingly, I thought that not wearing sunscreen was a form of silent rebellion against a society who didn’t accept my darker skin tone.

• I used actives that were trendy. It was the mid 2010s era of The Ordinary when ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and AHAs/BHAs (anyone still using the vampire peel?) had just started becoming popular. I didn’t know what they did but I wanted them. That, combined with my youthful exuberance was really all I needed. The best part is that my skin rarely became sensitized, even though I was doing a lot wrong!

In my 30s, I experienced some surprising changes in my skin. But possibly the best shift I experienced was in my attitude towards my skin. I didn’t just accept what it looked like, I flaunted it. Today, I love the golden glow of my natural skin tone, and my skincare works to enhance it rather than mask it.

• My biggest concern, is that I ever used the term skincare “concern”—because there are far bigger things in my life to be concerned about. I prefer the term “skincare focus” to bring more single-mindedness to my routines. And while I still focus on my skin tone, instead of trying to lighten it by a few shades (not even technically possible!), I focus on making it look more even and with a healthy, radiant glow. I’ve also found myself paying more attention to the first few signs of aging (fine lines and some dullness), but they’re no where near as bothersome as I thought they’d be.

• My skin type was probably the biggest change I noticed. Gone are the carefree days where I could skip the moisturizer. While I still have combination skin, it tends to veer MUCH more dry, and also gets so easily sensitized (clearly I’m being punished for all the skincare sins I committed in my 20s). I’ve probably used more moisturizer and sunscreen in the last 2-3 years than I did in all my 20s combined!

• I use actives more thoughtfully, and my approach to building a routine is rooted firmly in the belief that less is more. I start with ingredients targeted at my specific focus areas and ensure they pair well together to avoid irritation.

How I built a routine for my 30s

Today, I know my skin deserves a little extra love and attention—for better or for worse, she’s the only skin I have, and so far, she’s been pretty good to me. It was important to shake-up my routine (or, you know, actually build one), and stay consistent with it. Here are the main things I do now that I didn’t do in my 20s.

• Focus on my unique skincare needs

  In my 20s, I took a throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks approach (except that the wall here was my face). While hyperpigmentation and anti-aging were on my radar, I wasn’t taking a scientific approach to addressing them. I've since educated myself on ingredients that will actually do what the bottle says they’ll do and incorporated them into a simple, more focused routine. I currently use retinol and peptides for fine lines and skin elasticity, and azelaic acid and vitamin C to even out my skin tone and give me that dewy glow. I’m also a lot kinder to my skin, not overloading it with potentially sensitizing actives (like vitamin C and retinoids) in the same routine, to avoid irritation.

• Hydration & barrier support

  How I miss the days I complained about my skin being too oily for a moisturizer! Hydration now takes center stage as my skin's moisture levels have changed with age. I've upgraded to richer moisturizers and serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane and panthenol. I’ve also started investing in soothing ingredients like ceramides and oat to plump up my skin and restore its natural barrier function.

• Step away from the AHAs and BHAs

  Hands up if you used to believe that the tight, stretched skin feeling after cleansing and exfoliating was a good thing! God, we were young and foolish. As my skin’s become more sensitive, I’ve started to exfoliate less and less. Today, chemical exfoliation is no longer a step in my routine, and my skin’s all the happier for it. I still double cleanse every night, and use actives like retinoids that do provide some level of exfoliating effect, but I stay away from all forms of AHAs, BHAs or worse, physical scrubs. Over-exfoliation and sensitivity are major issues that I want to avoid, and I have no need to use these harsh ingredients. If you do have extremely oily, or acne-prone skin, you may still need to exfoliate, but opt for milder formulas, and limit exfoliation to 2-3 times a week.

• Sunscreen is non-negotiable

  My rebellious days are behind me. Indoors or outdoors, rain or shine, I worship at the altar of sunscreen and now religiously apply my SPF every morning (and try to reapply it every 3-4 hours too). In my 20s, I don’t think I realised how harmful sun exposure could be, or maybe it was the naivety of youth that led me to think I was invincible. Either way, leaving the house without sunscreen is just not a risk I ever take anymore.

• Long-term consistency over short-term results

  A major mistake I made in my 20s was to chase short-term benefits. The only products I was interested in were the ones I could put on before bed, and wake up to perfect skin with. Now, I give any product at least a month or more before I determine it’s worth in my routine. I also make choices based on ingredients I know will work for my skin, so the likelihood of a dud product are low. Consistency is the most important factor towards building long-term skin health.

About The Skinimalist

Hi, I’m Mal, a 30-something recovering skincare addict, and this is my blog. A space where I attempt to de-influence you from chasing trends and buying more skincare products you may not need.

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