The issues you're most likely facing are acne and possibly some discoloration from sun damage. The most important thing to do is to keep your skin protected with sunscreen -- everyday. And "start protecting your neck, chest, and hands along with your face," says Waldorf.
Your ideal regimen:
Step 1: Use a gentle foaming cleanser that will remove makeup and excess oil, but won't dry out your skin.
Step 2: For day, use a light moisturizer that contains sunscreen, and provides UVA and UVB protection. Look for a product that contains either zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, or Mexoryl.
Step 3: If you get mild breakouts (not serious acne -- your dermatologist should recommend the ideal treatment for that) use a spot treatment containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. And whatever you do, don't pick -- it can lead to long-lasting scars.
Step 4: If you are one to stay up all hours drinking, smoking, etc. you might want to kick start your anti-aging program now by applying a serum at night that contains Vitamin C. It'll help fight the free radical damage your lifestyle is causing.
Step 5: At night, choose a basic light moisturizer if you need it. "You don't want to play too much or you'll over do it and your skin will get out of wack," says Lorencin.
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If you're in your 30s ...
Discoloration caused by sun damage or melasma (aka the mask of pregnancy that can also be caused by birth control) are likely two of your biggest skin challenges. "At this point, you need to start exfoliating regularly because skin only exfoliates naturally every 35 days as opposed to every 14 in your 20s," says Lorencin.
Your ideal regimen:
Step 1: If you used a foaming cleanser in your 20s, it's time to switch to a non-foaming, non-drying cleanser.
Step 2: For day, before applying sunscreen use an antioxidant-rich moisturizer. "There is some evidence that antioxidants act synergistically with sunblock to help guard against photodamage," says Waldorf. "They can also help reduce old damage," she says.
Step 3: Add a retinoid to your regimen to help improve the overall texture and tone of your skin. The highest strengths of retinoids are prescription only, but over-the-counter retinol is a close second. Apply retinoids at night, and avoid putting them on your upper eyelids -- they'll be too irritating on your delicate eye area.
Step 4: If your skin feels like it needs additional moisture after applying a retinoid, use a basic hydrating cream that doesn't contain additional Retinol. "You want to avoid over treating your skin," says Waldorf.
When it comes to skin care, most of us fall into one of two camps. There are those of us who never change our routine, using the same harsh face wash and lightweight moisturizer from our high school days. Then there's the other group, who embrace treatments like Botox and acid peels before there's even a wrinkle in sight.
Neither situation is ideal. But with a few simple updates, it's easy to find the happy medium. To help, we talked to New York dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, MD, and Olga Lorencin, esthetician and co-owner of Kinara Spa in Los Angeles. They gave us the scoop on what products are ideal for you in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Follow their advice for your best possible complexion at every age.
