Skincare in your 20s & 30s
Everyone is searching for that fountain of youth, a way to turn back time, but time marches on, we just don’t want it marching across our face. Two of our providers at Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center, PLLC and Revive Medical Spa, LLC in Fayetteville – Emily Staggs, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner, and Andrea Thompson, Physician Assistant give their advice on Beauty for a Lifetime.. Both work in the area of General, Surgical, and Cosmetic Dermatology. Her’s Emily’s advice on skincare in your 20’s and 30’s.
Emily is the only Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner in the state of Arkansas. This distinction involved many hours of clinical work as well as intensive testing. This certification was important to Emily because skin health is her passion.
“It is important to develop good skin habits early and to tailor skincare to your needs. Developing a skincare routine is best done with a professional to make sure you are using the best approach to achieve the skin you desire.” A good skincare routine does not have to be complicated, but should include the following: cleansing, effectively targeting your concerns, hydrating, and sunscreen.
“Cleansing should be done twice daily no matter what! I completely understand, we get busy, but don’t cheat on washing your face. A gentle cleanser for daily use and a mild exfoliating cleanser for once a week is a starting point. As your skin needs change, I recommend cleansers that do double duty to clean and correct concerns. Also, make sure the things that touch your face are clean too: makeup brushes, phone, and pillowcases.”
The second part of your daily routine are products that target specific problems. When we are in our 20’s and 30’s, primary concerns are acne, discoloration, and preventing wrinkles. Retinol is a must. “In my opinion, almost everyone in their 20’s, 30’s, and beyond, should be using a retinol product.” Retinols exfoliate the skin to cleanse pores, fade discoloration, and stimulate collagen development to repair texture and lines.
An antioxidant is also important to reduce free radicals that damage healthy skin. Antioxidants firm the skin, decrease development of wrinkles, and repair sun damage. Vitamin C is an example of an antioxidant that can rejuvenate and brighten the skin.
The next step is moisturizing to re-hydrate the skin and maintain a protective skin barrier. Some moisturizers contain ceramides to maintain hydration and repairing the skin barrier, which is great for evening. One containing hyaluronic acid to plump the skin and reduce the appearance of lines is great for morning.
“Finally, your daily routine MUST include a good quality sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen daily is the best thing you can do to protect your skin and keep your skin looking younger for longer. I recommend a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or above and look for products with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as active ingredients”. Sunscreen should be applied prior to any makeup or use a tinted sunscreen in place of makeup.
Additional recommendations in your 20’s and 30’s include scheduling a consultation for neuromodulators and dermal fillers and scheduling monthly medical-grade facials. Neuromodulators are products such as Botox and Dysport that relax muscles to decrease repetitive pulling on the skin which creates wrinkles. Dermal fillers are products like Juvéderm and Restylane that are injected into the skin to fill volume loss and rehydrate the skin. Medical-grade facials include procedures like HydraFacial and DiamondGlow that thoroughly clean and exfoliate to leave your skin smooth and glowing. Research has shown that when these treatments and procedures are started earlier, in our 20’s and 30’s, they prevent deep lines that are harder to treat, stimulate more collagen production, and help to maintain younger looking skin for a longer period of time.
“One of the many reasons that I went into dermatology is because everything that happens inside your body can show on your skin. A good skincare routine can do wonders for your skin, self-confidence, and general mental well-being. However, if you do not invest time and energy in taking care of the rest of your mind, body, and soul, your skin will pay the price, just like the rest of you will. Maintaining a good diet, drinking water, including daily exercise, balancing your life, and laughing a lot are just a few of the things that we should not overlook. I have a busy toddler that thinks every victory deserves a dance party and every new thing learned deserves a fist bump. He has taught me a new kind of happy and it shows in my skin. I know it is easier said than done but choose your stressors wisely and even then, let it roll off your back, otherwise it sticks to your face! Be happy, have fun, and don’t forget your sunscreen!”
