THE PERFECT NEW YEAR, NEW SKINCARE ROUTINE IN YOUR 30s
Why what you did (not) do in your 20s, affects your skincare routine in your 30s
Finding a healthy skincare routine in your 30s is a sport! If you were the typical 20-year-old who thought that her flirty 30s would never arrive, you didn’t invest in a consistent skincare routine that works. Your boozing, poor diet, late nights, caffeine, and lack of water have caught up to you and now your skin looks less supple and radiant than it used to. No worries, this has happened to the best of us! And by us, I mean me - I am us.
During my 29th year, I had a breakout from hell! Although my partying, late nights and poor diet days were long behind me, my skin broke out as if it had a vendetta from my early 20s! A robust skincare routine well suited for my 30s was no match for this 14-month long breakout that prevented my makeup from going on smoothly and left behind acne scars and hyperpigmentation that are still fading to this day. It took me months to realize that bacteria from an inflamed wisdom tooth caused the incessant breakouts! After that experience, I realized that I had to throw out everything I thought I knew about skin issues and proper skincare and treat my 30-year-old body like it was new. One of the new things I learned to do was to visit my esthetician more often than I saw my physician because... self-care. Apart from that, I worked out daily, jumped on the retinol train, and added a few more steps (read: added Masktini’s Night Ranger Overnight Renewal Mask).
Follow these eight steps as part of a good skincare routine in your 30s
1. Drink lots of water
If you missed it here, just know that water is your friend.
2. Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night
This one should be easy because, by 30, your body is easily exhausted by routine things like sending a text in the family group chat or watching your favorite show on Netflix!
3. Wear mineral sunscreen
By now you realize that you don't just wear any sunscreen. Different sunscreens serve different purposes and mineral sunscreen is king! To be specific, zinc-oxide mineral sunscreen is what really blocks out UV rays completely. Sunscreens that do not have this mineral simply absorb the sun's harmful rays and disperse them evenly, lessening the chances of sun damage over time. Sure they might cost more, but you’re 30 now so you should be able to afford it *fingers crossed*!
4. Pay frequent visits to your esthetician or a Korean lady who does really good facials for $25
Ah yes, we love a good facial treatment, don’t we?! There are many types of facials available for every skin type and budget, so there is no right or wrong facial to get. Whether you opt for a laser facial, oxygen facial, hydrogen facial, or a deep cleansing facial, giving your skin that extra attention monthly or every six weeks should be a big part of your skincare routine in your 30s!
5. Do not sleep with your makeup on
Falling asleep with your makeup on during your 20s is a sign of a very good night. Doing it in your 30s? That's just plain childish. We might need an entire post on the million and one reasons why sleeping with your makeup on is damaging for your skin. Remember when we said that sleep gives your body a chance to reset and recalibrate? That applies to your skin too, love. Any 30-year-old who is serious about maintaining a youthful appeal knows that sleep time is when the magic happens for your skin! All of your top-shelf, most expensive products can likely only be used at night so imagine ruining an opportunity to see those products work by sleeping with your makeup on.
6. Take note of what your skin has become sensitive to and adjust
Of the many changes that happen to a woman’s body once she turns 30, increased sensitivity to everything is one of them! A product that worked as part of your skincare routine in your 20s suddenly becomes your skin’s enemy in your 30s. Dermatologists and estheticians can hardly explain this sudden sensitivity either. The most random things trigger breakouts. From an inflamed wisdom tooth to your favorite laundry detergent, or that MAC blush you’ve been wearing since high school. Just like your personal relationships, part of taking care of yourself and skin in your 30s will be knowing your triggers.
7. One word: retinol
Like water, retinol is your friend. All skincare product junkies know that retinol is the Holy Grail of skincare products. Retinol is a fancy term for vitamin A. It’s a potent concentration of vitamin A that promotes rapid cell turnover and deeply exfoliates the skin. What’s most interesting about retinol is that the more severe your skin’s issues are the better it works! All of your favorite dermatologist-prescribed acne medications are isotretinoin aka vitamin A derivatives. Not only does retinol boost collagen but it leaves your skin clear, smooth, firm, and radiant. Isn’t that all every 30-year-old ever wants for their skin? Retinol has gone mainstream and is available in many forms now. You can use retinol serums, retinol powders, retinol masks, retinol creams, you name it. So I would say to try them all until you find one that works just as you want it to.
8. Work it out
Literally. In a world of CrossFit, Soul Cycle, and hashtag #gymflex posts on Instagram, it seems like everyone is in a frenzy about fitness these days. However, not everyone wants to be a gym rat. Yes, I said it. When I started working out, my workout of choice was Krav Maga. It’s an Israeli military defense system that was the perfect substitute for going to a place where people stood around watching each other all day. Even if you’re not punching the crap out of a heavy bag, or treading on the mill, there are other ways that you can break a sweat to help your body release the toxins that love to push through as acne. Whatever you think will work for you, do that and do it often. Apart from clear skin, working out halts the aging process, relieves stress, releases endorphins which make you feel good, strengthens and tones your body, and gives you something else to do with your time besides stalking your ex on Instagram.
And there you have it! Eight healthy skin tips that will work for any skin type, complexion, or budget as part of your skincare routine in your 30s. If you are still itching for specific product recommendations, I don’t mean to be biased but Masktini’s line truly gets it! For a 30something, the Twilight Zone Tahitian Detox Mask is perfect for those nights where you opt to stay in instead of hitting the town with friends. Add it to your cart, checkout, and prepare for your pores to be purged of all the gook hunni! You’re welcome.