Why You Should Start An Anti-Aging Skin Care Routine in Your 20s

Let’s think about some of the telltale signs of growing older. It could be your first big “adult” purchase—think: a new car or home—without any financial assistance, the moment the bartender stops asking to look at your ID, the day you were no longer offered the kid’s menu at your favorite restaurant, or the very first wrinkle that appeared on your complexion. The memories may be traumatizing for some and worthy of embrace for others, but one thing’s for sure: “officially” parting ways with your youth can be a really touchy subject.

If you’re anything like us, you want to enjoy the fountain of youth for as long as possible, especially when it comes to aging skin. To be clear, we want to look 25 at 55, which is why our anti-aging skin routine is kicking into high gear in our early 20s—pre-wrinkles, pre-fine lines, and pre-sagging. Some twenty-somethings may not see value in getting a head start on treating skin before any indications of aging have crept up on it, and to that we simply say three words: Prevention is key. You may not see any signs of aging with your naked eye, but you’re still aging. Better safe than sorry, right? 

Treating a problem before it erupts is nothing new in the skin care world. We’re simply leading by the French and Korean skin care routine example, where girls are taught at a young age to be extra diligent about caring for their skin. Instead of waiting for the problem to occur, grab hold of the reigns and take full control ahead of time. Speaking of time, it’s aging skin’s worst enemy. (Like they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.) Ahead, the products you should incorporate into your preventative skin routine to keep time forever on your side. 

SPF + ANTIOXIDANTS

Here’s the bad news: Time isn’t your only enemy. Environmental aggressors, like pollution, stress, and UV rays, are also capable of prematurely aging your skin. That’s why it’s crucial to apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher each and every day, no excuses. Not sunny out? Still wear it. It’s your skin’s best line of defense against harmful UV rays that can lead to skin damage and, in some cases, certain skin cancers. Don’t forget to extend the SPF love to your hands, too. Try SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50.   

But before you apply sunscreen, consider using an antioxidant first. The two, as we’ve discussed on Skincare.com, are a force to be reckoned with when combined, and offer the maximum possible protection against environmentally-induced skin aging. In the morning, apply SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, a vitamin C serum that features a potent antioxidant combination to strengthen the skin’s natural protection from free radicals induced by environmental stressors. 

RETINOL 

Keep your antioxidants for the morning hours, and incorporate a retinol product at night (it’s photosensitive and breaks down in UV light). Retinol is widely regarded as a godsend for anti-aging, as it’s known to diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots from both environmental and intrinsic aging. Retinol can also help minimize the appearance of pores. We like to mix La Roche-Posay Redermic [R] with a nighttime moisturizer, or simply wear it alone before bed.

Beware: Retinol is powerful. If you’re just beginning to test the waters, start with lower concentrations of the ingredient and gradually increase in frequency as tolerated. Need more retinol-related tips? Check out our beginner’s guide to using retinol!

EYE CREAM

Starting an eye treatment early really can’t hurt, especially since more noticeable crow’s feet is one of the common skin effects that may occur as you age. Incorporate an eye cream morning and night to help combat crow’s feet, and firm the delicate and thin skin of the eye contour area. 

Need a little help choosing? Shop some of our favorite eye creams, here. While you’re at it, make sure to follow these celebrity aesthetician-approved rules to apply your eye cream correctly, since there’s a big chance you’re doing it wrong.

As always, make sure to drink lots of water every day to stay hydrated, get your beauty sleep, and break up with any bad habits—think: smoking—that can be wreaking havoc on your skin and counteracting all your efforts!