Skincare for a 30 year old woman

What should you use in the morning?

1. 1Wash gently. Wet your face with lukewarm water, massage a mild cleanser with your fingertips, rinse completely and pat dry with a clean towel. Avoid scrubbing or rubbing.
2. 2Apply vitamin C if you want a treatment for dark spots or sun related damage. Use the serum after cleansing and before moisturizer. This step is optional.
3. 3Apply moisturizer. Moisturizer helps keep water from evaporating from your skin. Use it in the morning and evening.
4. 4Finish with sunscreen. Choose broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher and water resistance. Apply sunscreen after skincare and before makeup.

What should you use at night?

1. 1Remove makeup if you wear it. A makeup remover can help because a cleanser does not always remove everything. Micellar water or a cleansing balm are options.
2. 2Wash with a gentle cleanser suited to your skin type. Also wash after sweating, rather than saving all cleansing for bedtime.
3. 3Apply your retinoid if you use one. After washing, wait 20 to 30 minutes before applying it at bedtime.
4. 4Moisturize. If a retinoid is too drying, apply moisturizer immediately after washing, then wait 20 to 30 minutes before applying the retinoid.

Choose products for your skin type

For dry skin, look for a gentle cleanser with hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture. A moisturizer containing ceramides or hyaluronic acid can help when treatment products leave skin dry. For acne prone skin, a cleanser containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide is an option for managing breakouts. Sensitive skin needs particular care with new products and fragrances. Choose products around the concern you actually have, rather than assuming every woman in her 30s needs the same ingredients.3

Should you start retinol at 30?

A retinoid is a vitamin A based skin treatment that can treat mild fine lines, acne and dark spots, and improve texture. Retinol is one type of retinoid, used for uneven tone, dark spots and texture. It speeds up skin cell turnover, which starts slowing in your 20s. For acne, adapalene is available without a prescription in some products; prescription options include tretinoin, tazarotene and trifarotene. Pick the treatment around your main concern instead of treating retinol as a compulsory birthday purchase. Use retinoids at bedtime, and adjust the routine if dryness makes the treatment difficult to tolerate.5

Is vitamin C worth adding?

Vitamin C can help reduce dark spots and damage caused by the sun. It complements sunscreen rather than replacing it. Use one serum at a time instead of layering several treatments. Combining vitamin C with chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy acids can upset the skin's pH balance, so avoid building a morning routine around several acids.1

How should you use sunscreen?

SPF measures protection against UVB rays; broad spectrum means protection against both UVA and UVB. In the UK, look for at least SPF 30 and at least four star UVA protection, or the UVA circle marking. Apply enough to cover all exposed skin, including your face, neck and ears. A thin layer gives less protection. For your entire body, the adult guide is around six to eight teaspoons, not that amount for your face alone.6

For prolonged outdoor exposure with a risk of burning, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out and again just before leaving. Reapply every two hours and straight after swimming, sweating or towel drying, even with water resistant sunscreen. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and check the expiry information. Sunscreen that has rubbed off also needs replacing.6

Use sun protection on cloudy days and in winter, including when you are only going outdoors briefly. If sunscreen ingredients irritate your skin, consider a mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Add a sunscreen lip balm for your lips. Clothing, shade and a wide brimmed hat matter too: sunscreen is not a reason to stay outside longer. Choose sunglasses labelled UV400 or 100% UV protection. A baseball cap leaves your ears and the sides of your face exposed. Avoid tanning beds; sun exposure contributes to wrinkles and age spots as well as skin cancer.2

Do you need toner, eye cream or exfoliation?

Toner can cause dryness or irritation, and a moisturizer is generally preferable to adding an eye cream around sensitive eyes. If you choose chemical exfoliation, glycolic acid a couple of times a week is an option for removing dead skin and evening tone. Use an exfoliating cleanser instead of adding exfoliation to another cleanser. Avoid abrasive brushes, salt scrubs and sugar scrubs.1

How do you add products without overdoing it?

Introduce products one at a time. For sensitive skin, test a pea sized dot behind your ear along the jawline and wait a day or two before applying it across your face. An expensive routine is not automatically a better one, even if the packaging looks qualified to run a small hotel.3

Allow at least 30 days to judge whether a skincare product is working, rather than replacing it after a few uses. That is an assessment point, not a deadline for every concern to disappear. Keep using products consistently unless they irritate your skin. Stop an irritating product rather than continuing just to finish the trial period.5

When should you see a dermatologist?

See a dermatologist for persistent irritation or a skin concern you want help treating. Check your skin for a spot that looks different from the others, changes, itches or bleeds, and arrange an appointment if you notice one. Smoking also speeds skin aging and slows wound healing, so skincare products are not the only relevant choice for maintaining healthy skin.14