As a lifelong skincare junkie I can say that without a shadow of a doubt Father Time catches up with all of us. I was incredibly blessed that I never had as a teenager. In my college years I was living recklessly and my skin never told on me. My late 20’s brought on adult acne, and my early 30’s have been a mix of me managing said acne and dealing with aging. Today I am sharing how my skin has changed and how to take care of your skin in your 30’s.

Taking Care of Your Skin in your 30’s

My skin has changed alot over the past several years. I went from never having acne a day in my life to managing acne, as well as texture. Here are changes I have made to my skincare routine in my 30’s.

Keep It Hydrated

I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten older my skin has gotten drier. It’s still combination, but noticeably drier especially in the winter and summer months. I’ve switched my moisturizers to an intense formula, and added in hydrating masks. Properly hydrated skin will always look youthful.

Use a Retinol

If you had a boy band poster on your wall as a kid, it’s time for a retinol. I used Differin Gel in my late 20’s but have recently moved over to prescription Tretinoin as of late. Retinol helps speed up cell turnover, which is the best way to combat hyperpigmentation and scarring. It takes time to build up a tolerance, so start with once a week at night and build up to 3-4x a week max.

Use Sunscreen Religiously

Nothing chaps my ass more than seeing someone go on and on about their 20 step skincare routine that includes acids, serums, unicorn tears, but doesn’t include sunscreen. If your skincare routine doesn’t include sunscreen, you are throwing money in the garbage. Sunscreen is the first line of defense for aging and preventing skin cancer. Without your skin will never look as good as it could.

Incorporate Acids

Chemical exfoliants don’t get the praise they deserve. I love the feel of a physical exfoliant, but chemical exfoliants are more targeted. You can niche down to your specific skin issue such as texture, clogged pores, hyperpigmentation, etc.

Add In Treatments

One thing I’ve done in my 30’s is start getting regular facials. You can only do so much at home, and it’s nice to go to go a licensed esthetician to treat your skin. Enlarged pores and cystic acne are an issue for me, so I like getting extractions as well as derma planing. I’ve done light therapy as well. There’s a laundry list of treatments available, just make sure you do your research and find a reputable esthetician. For my Louisville, followers I go to Lumi Skin Bar and Aesthetics.

These are my tips for how to take care of your skin in your 30’s. Let me know how your skincare routine has changed as you’ve gotten older!