There is something special about being in our 20s. The feeling of freedom and of youth is still imbued in us and with it comes this newfound confidence and excitement of being on the edge and ready to embark on creating an exciting life for ourselves.
Despite the added sense of responsibility and the pressure a career brings along with it, the sense of immortality and that feeling of being young is still very much present in our sense of self; that’s why we can still do late nights and go to work on two hours of sleep the following morning. That is also the reason why thinking of anti-ageing products during this decade seems like a waste of time and a subject brought up way too soon.
We may not see those grave lines on our forehead just yet and the wrinkles around our eyes are still manageable but this does not mean that we should not be performing preventative care, so that our face in our 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond will have had the opportunity to age gracefully with skin that is properly nourished and taken care of.
The problem is, the phrase ‘anti-ageing products’ feels like a downer, so no wonder we avoid these things in our nonchalant 20s but really, there are many facets to anti-ageing products and some of these are probably already lying with your cleanser and moisturizer waiting for you to use them.
From the simple, everyday essentials to the nourishing creams, here are some of the anti-ageing products you should start using in your 20s and beyond.
Sunscreen
Simple enough. Sunscreen is, or at least, it should be your go-to product to protect your skin. The best preventative product out there, skin care experts around the world all agree that using sunscreen on your face is imperative to preventing early ageing as well as dark sports and sun damage.
[Read: The Importance Of Sun Protection for Anti-Aging]
So how often should you wear sunscreen? Well, according to the skin care experts who spoke to Into the Gloss, sunscreen should be worn “every day. (Even if it’s cloudy. Even if it’s RAINING. Even if you’re INSIDE and it’s raining.)”
Sunscreen is found everywhere and it doesn’t cost as much as other anti-ageing products. With that being said, you must first ask your beauty therapist or your dermatologist to recommend a good sunscreen brand for your skin type so that you will be protecting your face while still nourishing your skin.
Serum
You may have heard a lot about serums but this product is still an enigmatic one compared to the cleanser and the moisturizer. Essentially, “face serums are lightweight moisturizers that penetrate deeper to deliver active ingredients into your skin,” says Dana Oliver, executive fashion and beauty editor for Huffington Post. Bearing more ingredients than moisturizers, serums go deeper into the skin and give it the antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and the hydrators it needs.
[Read: Why Serums Are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread]
This intense nourishment means that you will be giving your skin what it needs to progress through the years looking healthy and strong. Having a particular skin type means you need specific nourishment and that is why it is recommended that you ask a skin care professional to determine the right serum for your face. Moreover, serums tend to be more expensive than a regular cleanser or moisturizer but you should think of this product as an investment for your face.
Anti-ageing creams
It seems like skin care companies are always talking about “the new anti-ageing cream working miracles” and all that, so first and foremost, you should take these guarantees lightly. Another hot debate surrounding anti-ageing creams is the question of whether using these creams from early on will mean that our skin will become immune to these formulas as we get older and when we need them more.
While some skin care professionals do recommend the use of mild anti-ageing creams in our twenties, others insist on us sticking to sunscreen and serums during these years. However, there are different levels and formulas out there when it comes to anti-aging creams and while some were created for younger women, others were created for people more advanced in age.
[Read: Best Organic Wrinkle Creams: The Top 3 That Actually Work]
This said, if you are interested in starting to incorporate anti-ageing creams in your skin care routine, then it is recommended that you take the advice of a skin care specialist who will recommend products that have a milder and more age appropriate formula since going for stronger creams may result in your skin becoming immune to these cosmetics after a certain period of time.
Too early or too late
There are two sides to the anti-ageing creams issue as starting too early can lead to you spending money on unnecessary items and on the other hand, leaving off taking care of your skin until late in age will most likely lead to irreversible damage. While you should use anti-ageing creams with caution and with the advice of a skin care professional, using the preventative products — the sunscreen and the serum — in your twenties is an investment for your face to age gracefully.
[Read: Kypris Beauty Antioxidant Dew Facial Serum Review]
Having said this, there are other things that you can do to arm your skin with a good anti-ageing regime. Avoiding cigarettes is one way of doing this, as cigarettes can have detrimental effects on your skin (not to mention the other causes that affect your health).
Moreover, incorporating two fashion pieces in your style — hats and sunglasses — is another sure way of being on the right anti-ageing path. Finally, sheltering yourself from the sun, especially on hot summer days when the UV rays are strong is a free anti-ageing way of protecting your face and allowing yourself to age gracefully.
Conclusion
There you have it. These are some of the best ways you can protect your skin in your 20s so that you can look your best when you grow older.
What do you think of anti-ageing products? Have you started using any of these with your regular skin care routine? Share your thoughts below!
Guest Author Bio:
I was just wondering when I should start using anti-aging products, and I guess now is the time! I never thought of sunscreen as an anti-aging product, but it makes sense. What level of SPF is best for everyday protection? Hopefully with these tips I can get ahead of any aging problems! Thanks!
Hi April 🙂 It is never too early to start taking care of your skin. An SPF of 15 is great for daily wear. If you are going to spend a day at the beach, and SPF of 30 is recommended. I also like to wear a hat and sit in the shade during the hottest part of the day.
A lot of people in their 20s want to get a jump start on using potent anti-aging ingredients to get ahead of wrinkles. While this is certainly understandable, for some skin types, this can also create more problems for two reasons.
The first is that anti-aging products are formulated with intensive moisturizing ingredients which are appropriate for dry skin types, but may potentially clog the pores of skin that produces oil and prone to clogged pores and breakouts.
The second reason is that many of these products have active ingredients in them that are designed to be anti-aging by increasing the metabolism of the cells.
While these are excellent for preventing wrinkles, they may be too stimulating for a younger skin that already has an active metabolism. The result could be increased breakouts.
Only use products that are suited for your specific skin type.
Thanks for the tips 🙂 I was not aware that increasing cell metabolism would be too much for younger skin types. I do agree that many anti-aging products are intensely moisturizing, which does not work for those of us with oily skin. What do you think about Vitamin C for anti-aging? Can it be used by all ages? What about glycolic acid? It works well for oily skin because it prevents breakouts while giving the skin a younger looking appearance.
There are three antioxidants that have been proven to decrease the effect of the sun on the skin and actually prevent further damage: selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin C.” Antioxidants are known to prevent agents called free radicals from damaging cells in the body and the skin.
It is true, certain antioxidants have been proven to prevent damage to the skin. I have links to studies on various anti-aging compounds on my Organic Anti-Aging Skin Care page.
At a young age (teenager) you should start a good skin care routine is not necessarily Anti-Aging. However one vital product that acts as an anti-aging product is Sunscreen , particularly in harsh climates. Using sunscreen at any age will protect the skin and prevent premature aging. At about 27 yrs your skin will slow down its collagen production so I would start to use specific anti-aging products around that time. One particular area that shows signs of aging first is around your eyes so definitely make time to use an eye cream. You can use some Anti-Aging creams that time.
Thanks for the tips 🙂
Topical retinoid should be one of the most important ingredient that should be there in the skin care products especially the anti-aging creams. So, if you are looking for anti-aging creams, find retinol as important ingredient.
Retinol is the gold standard of anti-aging ingredients, but not everyone likes to use it. There are also retinol alternatives that help the skin look bright and fresh. These include Glycolic acid and vitamin C.
Is it really true? Anti aging cream can be used in 20s? I never heard that. I am using Dermology Anti-Aging Cream but I had started it in my 30s.
Hi Sloane, yes you can start in your 20’s, though most people wait until they actually see wrinkles forming ( in their 30’s) to do anything about it. Prevention is a great way to maintain your youthful skin, so starting in your 20’s will delay wrinkle formation in your 30’s.