6 Skin-Care Products Every Woman Should Be Using Before She Turns 30 Inline
Photo: Courtesy of Origins1/6Gentle Cleanser
“We do want to exfoliate, but sometimes we can become over-exfoliated. From cleansers to sonic devices to scrubs, if you use one exfoliator on top of another, the skin can become irritated and raw. It’s always nice to have a gentle cleanser on hand, especially in the morning when you really only have natural oils and the product from the night before to clean off. I love bars like the Dove Beauty Bar for Sensitive Skin, which is well priced and cleanses and hydrates at the same time.” Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash, $26 sephora.com
Photo: Courtesy of Skinceuticals.com2/6Vitamin-C Serum
“I recommend a vitamin-C serum packed with antioxidants for an added layer of sun protection. Everyone should know that sunscreen is not a complete block. UV rays do still penetrate, so it’s nice to wear something underneath the SPF to neutralize the free radicals that get released, and also to help with collagen production. Some sunscreens will claim to have antioxidants in them, but it’s never been proven that the amount they include is enough to protect, so it’s better to use them separately.” Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, $165 skinceuticals.com
Photo: Courtesy of shiseido.com3/6Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen
“Sunscreen is nonnegotiable on a daily basis. There are so many formulations to choose from, but you should pick a broad-spectrum sunscreen that’s SPF 30 or higher. I love to look for the ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which create a nice even finish and can cause fewer breakouts in 20-somethings. If you’re out and active, you should reapply your SPF every one to two hours; if you’re not spending a lot of time outdoors, then it’s fine to apply just once in the morning.” Shiseido Sports BB Broad Spectrum SPF 50 WetForce, $38 shiseido.com
Photo: Courtesy of Kate Somerville4/6Retinoid
“It’s not that exciting, but retinoids are still the gold standard. They are the one thing that’s actually been proven to treat the skin, to build collagen, but also to reverse photoaging. Pick a mild, over-the-counter retinol product that is not irritating or too exfoliating and start using it every other night, and you can mix a little moisturizer with the retinol to make it more tolerable. The goal should be to start in your late 20s and get used to the effects so that you can work yourself up to prescription-strength retinol by your late 30s or 40s.” Kate Somerville Dermal Quench Liquid Lift + Retinol, $98 neimanmarcus.com
Photo: Courtesy of esteelauder.com5/6Eye Cream
“The skin around our eyes is the thinnest skin on our body and one of the first spots to show your age. Starting an eye cream early develops a good habit, and even if you’re not treating a visible wrinkle, it hydrates the skin to plump it, so the wrinkles show less when you’re older. I like to rotate creams with different active ingredients to work out the different layers and structures of the skin. For example, starting with an eye cream that has a little retinol to build collagen, and after finishing that jar, switching to a more hydrating formula with hyaluronic acid.” Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Cell Power Eye Gelee, $55 esteelauder.com
