Hello 30s! This is the time to get serious about your anti ageing routine. Take action in tackling wrinkles, lines and hyperpigmentation now and it will make a huge difference in how well your skin ages over the years to come.
When Should I Start Using Anti-Ageing Products?
Your late 20s or early 30s is a great time to get started with a focused anti ageing skin care routine. However, skin damage - particularly from the sun - happens years before you see its results show up on your face.
With this in mind, it’s really never too early to start incorporating anti-ageing products into your routine and you can never be too young to use sunscreen!
What skin changes can you expect to see in your 30s?
During your 30s, skin cell turnover begins to significantly slow down while collagen and elastin break down faster. The amount of hyaluronic acid your body produces to keep skin plump and moisturised also begins to decline and skin recovers less quickly from inflammation.
The overall result of these changes is more pronounced wrinkles (particularly forehead wrinkles and crow's feet), increased dryness, and hyperpigmentation due to years of accumulated sun damage.
Let’s take a look at some must-do anti aging tips to help counteract these changes and keep your skin looking its healthy, glowy best!
Tip 1: Ditch Harsh Products
Are your skincare products ageing you? Some may be doing you more harm than good in the anti ageing war against wrinkles in your 30s!
The two key products to avoid are harsh cleansers and rough exfoliants. Both have the potential to strip the skin barrier of the moisture and oils it needs to function healthily as a protective barrier against irritants and water loss.
When your skin barrier function breaks down, moisture escapes more quickly causing excessive dryness. This leads to fine lines and wrinkles looking deeper and rougher.
A compromised barrier also means skin is vulnerable to irritation which leads to inflammation and symptoms like redness, itchy skin and a tight feeling.
Ingredients to avoid in cleansers: Sulfates, fragrance, parabens, and some forms of alcohols including ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and alcohol denat.
Abrasive types of exfoliants to avoid: Products with a very grainy texture that can cause micro-tears in the skin and rough exfoliating mitts. While beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) can be beneficial for some skin types (usually oily or combination) they’re too strong for others (sensitive) and can cause more harm than good.
The best anti aging products are gentle and help maintain the skin’s natural barrier to minimise water loss and promote resilience.
Tip 2: Add a Targeted Serum
Adding an antioxidant-rich serum to target specific concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots is one of the best anti aging skin care tips we can give you.
Antioxidants are some of your skin’s greatest allies when it comes to reversing existing signs of ageing and helping protect skin against future damage.
Why are antioxidants so important for your anti ageing routine? They’re free radical fighters!
Free radicals are the enemy of youthful, plump looking skin. They break down collagen and elastin in healthy skin cells causing sagging and fine lines. Free radicals also spark inflammation which leads to irritation and impedes the skin’s renewal process.
Antioxidants effectively disarm the destructive activity of free radical damage, encourage healing and some antioxidants, like Vitamin C, promote collagen synthesis too.
We recommend Golden Anti-Ageing Serum
Tip 3: Start Using Eye Treatments
In your 30s, take extra care of the delicate skin around your eyes. This is where the first signs of ageing creep in - laugh lines, crows feet, sun damage - as the skin is thinner around the eyes than other areas of your face.
Adding an eye treatment to your anti ageing skin care routine is key. Look for one that contains retinol and peptides - both of these anti-ageing superstars are great for boosting collagen and firming skin.
Eye serums are usually very lightweight meaning they can be more easily absorbed into the eye area. One of the benefits of using a separate, lightweight eye serum in your anti ageing skin care routine is to avoid the formation of small white bumps called milia. These are quite common around the eyes after using rich, occlusive moisturisers that sit on top of the skin rather than absorbing into it. This hinders natural exfoliation and dead skin builds up leading to the bumps.
We recommend esmi Anti-Ageing Eye Serum
Tip 4: Protect Yourself From the Sun
Sunscreen is the best preventative anti ageing strategy and absolutely non-negotiable if you want your skin to age as well. If you haven’t got into the SPF habit, your 30s is the time to start.
Whenever you’re exposed to sunlight UV rays penetrate the skin and cause damage. This doesn’t mean you have to be outside in direct sunlight; UV rays penetrate through windows and cloud cover.
Over time, this damage compounds and can add years to your complexion. Signs of sun damage include wrinkles, age spots, loose skin, spider veins and a ruddy skin tone.
The best skin care regimen for sun protection?
- Applying SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen daily.
- Wearing a hat when outside.
- Boosting protection with an antioxidant serum.
- Avoiding the sun when UV levels are highest or during the hottest time of the day. The free SunSmart app is a handy way to see daily UV levels around Australia.
Not only will your skin retain its youthful glow for longer, you’ll reduce the chance of developing skin cancer.
We recommend Skin Shield Natural Sunscreen SPF 30
Tip 5: How You Sleep Matters
Sleep wrinkles are real!
When you sleep on your side or stomach you put pressure on your skin and pull it in different directions. What may start as superficial creases over time can become deeper wrinkles as your skin ages and collagen declines.
Using a silk pillowcase instead of cotton can cause less friction for the skin. Plus, they feel extra luxurious, right? Just keep in mind that silk isn’t vegan!
Sleeping on your back if you’re naturally a side or stomach sleeper is easier said than done but here are a few things you can try to make it more comfortable.
Tip 6: Diet and Exercise
A healthy diet and regular exercise are the building blocks of healthy skin and play a big role in preventative ageing. We’ve rounded up the best foods to eat for healthy, glowing skin here.
Overall, choose foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Radiance boosters like salmon, avocado, citrus fruits, leafy greens, green tea and nuts are ideal natural anti-ageing skin care choices.
When it comes to exercise, choose something you enjoy that gets your blood pumping!
Boosting your circulation delivers plenty of oxygen and nutrients to the skin helping keep cells healthy and carrying away waste.
Have a chat with our expert team of Skin Consultants for further advice on the best anti-ageing skin care for you.
