Why is Your 30’s Skincare Routine Important
Figuring out the best skincare routine to use in your 30s can be as confusing as being lost at sea. There are a lot of the same things in front of you, and you aren’t sure which direction you should take.
Skincare in your 30s can be a real game-changer based on your routine. That’s why we are here to help you with all the dos and don’ts of skincare and to explain a little bit about why your skin is different now than it was in your 20s.
Skincare is important at any age in your life, but your 30s is where you should be turning up the notch to prevent the fine lines, dullness, and drying that comes with this decade thanks to slower skin cell turnover.
By making a couple of changes to your go-to skincare routine, you can fight off those pesky age lines and keep your skin beautiful, healthy, and glowing. One of the easiest changes you can make to your routine is the water you are using!
Most people don’t pay attention to the water they use on their face–especially the water coming out of their household faucet. But your tap water can be host to a myriad of contaminants that can damage your sensitive facial skin.
That’s why here at Filterbaby we took the initiative to create the world’s first water faucet filter for skincare. Our PROdermis ultrafiltration system dissolves up to 99% of chlorine and traps common tap water contaminants as small as 0.2 microns.
How is Your Skin Different Now in Your 30’s
You might be asking, “Well what is the difference now than a few years ago when I was in my 20s?” The answer is a lot. Because our hormones LOVE to mess with us, once you hit your 30s, hormone levels decrease, lowering the production rate of collagen and elastin.
Joshua Zeicher, M.D., is a director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center who explains, “...dead cells start accumulating on the surface of the skin and interfering with light reflection. This is often characterized by a loss of radiance.”
Being completely honest here, most of us may have been a little careless with our skincare in our teens and 20’s because of our youthful genes tricking us into thinking it will bounce back easily forever.
It may also be noticeable that your skin is dryer or more oily than it was in previous years. This is all part of getting older, but there is nothing to fear. Beautiful and healthy skin is possible at any age, as long as you know how to take care of it. This is why skincare in your 30s is so important to pay attention to and really take the time to understand.
Definitely do not think that you are the only one going through it, it even happens to our favorite celebrities. One of Britain’s favorite actresses, Keira Knightley, says, “Since having a baby and being over 30, it's also getting dry for the first time. That's why I have started to use oils and moisturizers over the past few years."
Should You Be Using Anti-Aging Products?
You may think it is a tad early, but yes! You should be using products that contain effective actives during your 30’s such as the popular one, retinol, which is a potent vitamin A derivative. Always be cautious when using a product like this though in case of possible skin irritation or dryness.
Now is also a great time to add Vitamin C and hydroxy acids (AHAs) to your routine.
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that protects your skin from free radicals. It can also reduce fine lines and wrinkles. (Just don’t forget to wear SPF whenever you apply Vitamin C!)
Hydroxy acids (AHAs) include ingredients like glycolic, citric, and lactic acid. AHAs are gentle chemical exfoliants and prepare your skin to better absorb important skincare ingredients. AHAs are also vital for treating adult acne.
Is it Too Late To Start Skincare?
You may be freaking out about not taking skincare seriously in your past, but have no fear, it is never too late to start skincare! Prevention is always easier than trying to reverse something that is already done, so your skincare in your 30s should be about taking the time to really nourish your skin. That means removing makeup, and yes, wearing sunscreen (ALWAYS)!
Don’t beat yourself up over those nights you slept in makeup when you were 23. It is really never too late to build a strong, healthy skincare routine. Now that you’re in your 30s, you are more ready than ever before to elevate your skincare game.
What Should You Be Doing?
Before getting into the lists of products to start looking for and buying, let’s start with the basics.
No Wipes
Despite having used them in the past, your 30s is a time to put an immediate stop to that. Your skin is a lot different now than it was in your teens and 20s, meaning it is more delicate and needs to be treated less aggressively.
Dr. Craig Kraffert, a board-certified dermatologist, explains, “A wipe’s limitation is that it requires the skin to be exposed to higher concentrations of cleansing ingredients, without the benefit of being able to rinse them away with water.” He goes on to note that, “fibrous makeup wipes can be quite rough for some skin types and the act of rubbing them over the face could potentially damage the skin.”
Using micellar water and some gentle cotton pads to remove makeup is a great alternative to harsh wiping that comes with makeup wipes. But always follow up with a good face wash or cleanser and clean water.
Are wipes ever okay to use? In an ideal world, nope. But life is messy. Try high-quality, alcohol-free wipes when you absolutely must use a wipe, and use them sparingly.
Be Gentle to Your Skin
Some products are helpful when it comes to maintaining healthy skin at this time in your life. Studies have shown the skin is more irritable and reactive, so choosing the right products is necessary. There is no need to overkill and buy a million products at once; start with the ones that work best for your skin.
Trying to figure out where to start? We recommend focusing on the core products that address your greatest needs. Are you struggling with acne? Add a cleanser with salicylic acid into your routine. Worried about wrinkles and fine lines? Make sure your moisturizer and eye cream have retinol or other anti-aging ingredients.
You don’t need a 7+ step skincare routine to have great skin. And let’s be honest. If you weren’t already a skincare guru with a complex multistep system and a skincare fridge, now is probably not the time to start. Be honest with yourself about how in depth you can realistically handle and create a routine that works for you. Your skincare definitely shouldn’t be a chore that you don’t look forward to.
Don’t Be Scared to Get an Expert Opinion
Dermatologists are a great asset and tool to utilize when caring for your skin. Your 30’s is a time where a lot of changes are happening to your skin and you may not be understanding what is happening. Our hot take? Everyone should consider consulting with a derm if they are able to. Dermatologists are a great resource to get your skincare routine in check.
Dr. Katz, MD, cosmetic and medical dermatologist of Suzzane Bruce and Associates explains what women in their thirties should be most concerned with.
Definitely prevention and sun protection. That will be the most important thing at this age. Wearing sunscreen on a daily basis, rain or shine. Face, neck, top of the chest, top of the hands – those are the most important parts. Those parts show age. Wear a hat when you’re outside. Don’t let yourself get a sunburn. Getting a tan doesn’t mean that you’re not damaging your skin. Getting a tan means you’ve had sun, and that will cause damage to the DNA in your skin.
Plenty of other things are taking a toll on your skin at this time as well. Maybe your boss is making work life stressful or even just life in general. No one should be feeling uncomfortable in their own skin, so getting checked by a professional to make sure everything is healthy is never the wrong step. Remember, being preventative is better than finding a cure afterwards.
Wash With Clean Water
What is the most essential and overlooked step of any skincare routine? Water! In any skincare routine, washing your face is the foundation of it all, so using clean water should be at the top of your list before any other products. “Washing your face is the most important step for good skin,” popstar Rihanna, who is well known for her flawless skin and amazing makeup and skin beauty line, Fenty, said.
This is where Filterbaby'd PROdermis Water Filter comes into your life to change your world for the better. Filterbaby is the #1 original faucet filter that is designed to improve your skin whether it is sensitive, aging, dry, or just overall problematic.
Dr. Devin Reese, Ph.D, Harvard & Berkeley, says, “It provides skincare benefits by reducing irritants and chemicals in water.”
You wouldn’t buy harsh chemicals to put on your face, so why not be preventative by buying the faucet that will change that for you. Your water may not be as great as you think and it can shock you after looking at the chemicals your household’s water contains.
No, wiping down your face with micellar water does not count as washing your face, although it is a good tool for taking off makeup. But it should always be followed by a good face wash with clean water.
Focus on the Middle of the Routine
When you hear ‘focus on the middle’, it means to really put your money into the serums and actives that you are looking into for your skincare. These tend to be pricier than your face washes and cleansers because of the difficult ingredients that go into formulating these helpful magic tubes used for your skincare.
The serums you choose should address your main skin concerns. We recommend adding 1-2 serums. Don’t go too overboard!
So What Does a Good Skincare Routine for the 30’s Look like?
As we know, everyone has different skin types and different ways of going about their skincare routines, especially by the time we get to our 30’s. But let us share a general routine that can be easily followed and usually works best for this decade of your life.
Morning
You’re busy in the morning. Keep your morning skincare routine simple and easy to execute. This should take you 5-minutes or less, so you can get back to your morning coffee ASAP.
Light Cleanser
You guessed it, starting with a light cleanser in the morning is the first step to this skin routine. After your skin goes through a renewal process while you're sleeping, removing any debris from your skin in the morning will be a great way to feel fresh, especially if you combine it with fresh water that can be provided by an easy-to-install water filter, like the PROdermis Water Filter.
Toner
While toners are usually overlooked during the skincare routine, it is actually an incredibly easy and helpful step. Using a toner can help to harmonize and rebalance your skin’s PH levels, while also closing up your pores and preventing more debris and toxins from getting into them. Toners are also a great preparation step that carries you into the rest of the skincare routine.
Serums
As said before, serums are where you want to spend your money during your routine. They help to reach under the top layers of your skin and provide active ingredients that are going to create real action to help rebuild your skin.
Remember, everyone’s skin is different, so making sure to buy the right serums and activators for your skin type is important. It is understandable that looking into the large pool of serums that there are can be confusing, so here are some activities that will be helpful during your 30s:
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Retinol (Vitamin A): Best known as an anti-aging serum, used at night to rescue the size of pores and pigmentation.
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L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): Helps to brighten your appearance and is most useful to oily or normal skin because it is the most potent form of Vitamin C.
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Ferulic Acid (Vitamins C & E): This antioxidant helps to build collagen that is being slowed by your hormone levels during your 30’s. It also helps to even skin tones.
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Salicylic Acid: Helps to clean the skin by killing bacteria and clearing debris that would later cause spots to form.
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AHA/PHA/BHA: Acids that help with exfoliating for skin texture and balance.
Hyladic Acid
This type of serum tends to help out with the top layers of skin by keeping the skin hydrated and since it targets the upper layers instead of the inner layers, it tends to go a little bit easier on your wallet.
Moisturizer
A well-known step in the skincare routine process at all ages, moisturizers help to sit on top of the skin and nourish while the serums penetrate and work on the inner layers. This is why moisturizers come after serums.
Sunscreen
Using SPF will always, always, always be important, no matter what age you are! Your skin will thank you for protecting it from damaging UV rays.
According to the American Cancer Society, “Exposure to UV rays can cause premature aging of the skin and signs of sun damage such as wrinkles, leathery skin, liver spots, actinic keratosis, and solar elastosis.”
This is why using sunscreen and protecting your skin now and always is such an important step in your skincare routine.
Jennifer Aniston, well known for not aging a day since she was a mid 20’s Rachel Green, swears by her Aveeno’s SPF 55 to protect her from the sun.
Evenings
Cleanse and Exfoliate
Again, always starting with a cleanser and some clean water is your first step when it comes to your skincare routine, even at night.
Adding in a weekly exfoliator to remove any dead skin cells is important during your 30s, but be sure not to use it daily so as not to harm your skin, remember, don’t overkill.
Serums
The best serum to be using at night will be your anti-aging retinol (Vitamin A). This is because retinol can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the damaging UV rays of the sun during the day, so best to keep this one in the safety of the darkness of your room while you’re sleeping.
Building up slowly in percentage is your best bet when using this product to prevent any skin irritation.
Night Creams
Nourishing your skin with a good nighttime cream will help the overnight process of rejuvenating and regenerating your skin more smoothly and efficiently.
Eye Cream
The skin under your eyes is the most sensitive part of your face, which requires a gentler approach. Usually, this is the first part of your face to show aging, i.e. the bags you got under your eyes after those all-nighters you pulled writing papers or doing projects years ago.
You want to get an eye cream that will not contain harsh and aggravating chemicals that will be irritable in the eyes area. You also want to be extremely gentle when applying this cream, by lightly massaging the area to decrease aggravation and encourage collagen production.
Conquer 30s Skincare
Now that you're in your 30s, your skincare routine may look a little different than a few years ago--that's okay! As we get older, skincare looks more and more like healthcare. It's time to focus on moisturizing, hydrating, and protecting your delicate facial skin.
Looking for a place to start? The Filterbaby PROdermis Water Filter is the quickest (and easiest) way to make a big, positive impact in your skincare routine.