I’m just a few weeks away from turning 32. I can officially say that I’m settling into being in my 30s. Honestly, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be when I used to imagine myself at this age when I was 18. I thought that by now I’d have some serious signs of aging, but to my surprise, the signs have been minimal. That’s because since I was a young girl my grandmother and mom made sure to teach me about the importance of skincare. I’ve been using products since I was a teen, but now that I’m in my 30s, I take my routine even more serious. I’m all about using the best skincare products for my age and getting into a rhythm that works for me.
The key to having great skin in your 30s and beyond is adopting a routine. It sounds simple, but skincare can be overwhelming. There are so many products. So many brands. So many promises. All of this just creates a lot of mush for some women. I would say that it could even feel intimidating.
I’m here today to simplify things for you and to tell you that it’s never too late to get a start on a skincare routine. Though there are tons of products to pick from, I’m going to try to help you in your skincare expedition by sharing some of my favorite all time and current favorites with you.
To make things easy, your skincare routine in your 30s should be about prevention. It’s the time to really focus on moisturizing your skin, treating skin concerns, and protecting your skin from the biggest skin offender of them all– the sun.
First, let’s go over a few basics.
How Should You Care for Your Skin in Your 30s?
Your skin care routine in your 30s should including the following steps:
- Oil Cleanser
- Cleanser
- Treatment to address specific skin concerns (Think serums, exfoliators, eye creams, and masks)
- Moisturizer
- Protection
I know, I know. This sounds like a lot, but it’s really not. If you don’t see yourself committing to all of these steps, I would say to focus on at least cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting your skin.
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Best Skincare Products for Women in their 30s
Now let’s talk about the good stuff– products! I don’t know about you, but I love to cruise around the store picking out products and trying them on. It’s one of my favorite things to do, but I’m perfectly aware that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. That’s why I’m sharing some of my favorite products with you to help you cut through some of the clutter. I’ve used all of the products on this list and they’ve all made it on the list for one reason or another, but mostly because I find that these products work well on my skin. I can’t make any promises on how they will work for you, but I encourage you to browse through and see if anything catches your eye.
Cleansers
It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser ($28)
If you read my blog often or follow me on social media, you know that I love me some IT Cosmetics. Their skincare products have always worked well for my skin and I recently started using their Confidence in a Cleanser. It’s a soap-free, sulfate-free, cleaning formula with a smooth and silky texture. It melts away make up, cleanses skin, and leaves my skin super soft and supple. This cleaner has a proprietary Anti-Aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate™ that gives a mega dose of moisture to my skin. Since moisture is once of my main skin concerns now ways, I try to make sure I get some in all of my skincare products.
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser ($15)
I briefly worked at Sephora and while I was there the entire cast swore by Fresh products, particularly the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. Once I tried it for myself, I learned why and I also learned why it’s a best-seller at Sephora. This cleanser is great for all skin types and it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin. I particularly like it because I find that it helps to reduce my redness because of its calming and balancing properties. A few of those ingredients include cucumber extract (calming) and borage seed oil (nourishing). It has a light rosewater scent and a good pick for those that don’t like cleansers with a heavy fragrance smell.
Dermalogica Precleanse ($42)
If you are in your 30s and you’re not doing a two-step cleanse, then it’s time to make a change. A cleanser alone is not enough to remove makeup, dirt, and everything else that builds up on your face through the day. An oil-based cleanser like the Dermalogic Precleanse is key to getting your face squeaky clean. This cleanser is able to cut through all of those culprits that clog pores while moisturizing your skin in the process. They key to using this product effectively is applying to your dry face with dry hands and working the cleanser into your skin gently before rinsing it off.
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel Cleanser ($37)
This gel cleanser is ideal for women with sensitive skin but can be used by all skin types. It’s formulated without artificial fragrances or colors that can cause irritation for some people. The gel quickly turns into a nice foamy lather. I personally like to use this cleanser with my Clarisonic Smart Profile device and a revitalizing brush head.
Pixi by Petra Mud Glow Cleanser ($18)
This is an exfoliating cleanser. It’s amazing when you’re looking for something that’s going to dig deep into your pores to purge out all of the funky stuff. The Glycolic Acid in the creamy cleanser exfoliates your skin to remove dead skin cells, while hyaluronic acid plumps up your skin and helps it retain moisture. At the end, you are left with soft skin that glows.
Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser ($38)
When I’m looking for the gold star of exfoliating cleansers, I always opt for this one. It’s got three exfoliating agents—Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Glycolic Acid. All of these work to polish away dead skin to reveal smoother skin. You can feel the product working because it has a slightly gritty texture that leaves your skin feeling buttery soft after you use it. Bonus points because this product acts as a cleanser and a skincare treatment in one.
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream ($48)
The skin underneath your eyes is very delicate and thinner than the rest of the skin on your face. For this very reason, it requires its own moisturizer, also known as an eye cream. Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream is my go-to because it easily glides on to smooth my under eye area. I use the product at night as a treatment and in the morning to depuff and brighten.
Skincare Treatments (Serums, Exfoliators, and Masks)
Image Skincare Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum
This will forever be one of my favorite daytime serums. It’s packed with Vitamin C and in case you didn’t know, Vitamin C is a well-regarded product for anti-aging. It helps to protect from UV damage, keep skin firm, and help give you a beautiful glow.
Pixi Overnight Glow Serum ($24)
This serum has Glycolic Acid which is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid. Big words that basically mean that this product will gently exfoliate your skin to even our texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines, all while hydrating your skin. Since your skin repairs its self at night, this product is best used as a part of your evening skincare routine.
Fresh Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy-Boosting Face Mask ($25)
The second I opened this mask the first thing that caught my attention was the fruity smell and the preserve-like consistency. It looks like something you would eat, but instead, it’s a mask that brightens your skin. It’s made up of 50% crushed citrus fruit to take dull skin from drab to bright in just 10 minutes.
Dr. Dennis Gross Daily Peel Pads ($88)
If you’ve ever had a chemical peel then you know the pros and cons of the process (read about my experience here). It can take a few weeks to recover from one, with the first few days being the most difficult to deal with. Luckily, Dr. Dennis Gross has daily peel pads that give you the results of chemical peel in 28 days without the harsh recovery. The pads are packed with AHA’s and BHA’s that exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin and reveal smoother and brighter skin.
Herbivore Moon Fruit Superfruit Night Treatment Mask ($58)
This mask has super powers and by that, I mean that it works its magic while you sleep. It’s packed with natural enzymes that resurface your skin while hydrating for a beautiful glow. I like to use this mask on nights when I know I’m waking up to take blog photos the next morning. It makes my skin look refreshed, even if I didn’t get my full eight hours of sleep.
Ren Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask ($38)
This foamy 10-minute rescue mask is perfect for calming and soothing irritated skin. I personally like to use it when I have a sun burn or redness. It also works great after a waxing session or if you have wind-burned skin.
Boscia Luminizing Black Mask ($34)
This has to be the most Instagramed mask EVER. Every beauty aficionada has a self of herself wearing the famous black mask that peels off like a thin layer of latex. While it’s cool to play with, the real benefit is in how it deeply cleanses your pores by detoxifying your skin. It’s filled with minerals that remove impurities, firm skin and remove impurities for visible results right after you peel off the mask. One pro tip I’ve learned from using this mask over the last two years is that a little goes a long way. Apply it in a thin, yet even layer and allow it to fully dry before removing it.
Moisturizers
Dermalogica Active Moist ($60)
I have dry skin, but if you have oily skin, this one is for you. This is an oil-free moisturizer that is lightweight and one of my favorite morning moisturizers. My husband is the oily one out of the two of us and I have him using it daily. It’s formulated with Silk Amino Acids and plant extracts to help improve texture on the skin and surface dehydration.
It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream ($48)
This will probably be my go-to moisturizer for the rest of my life. I love to use it at night due to its heavy duty emollient properties. It’s great for all skin types, but I think it works best for those with dry skin like mine. I love that it’s packed with an Anti-Aging Armour Rejuvenating Concentrate, which combines collagen and hyaluronic acid to plump fine lines and wrinkles.
Fresh Vitamin Moisture Glow Face Cream ($42)
If your skin is dull and needs a healthy dose of Vitamin C to brighten, then you need to check this one out. It’s a lightweight moisturizer, but I prefer to use it at night. It’s packed with vitamins such as C, E, and B5, and lemon and orange extracts. All of those fruits give it a lovely fragrance that is dreamy!
Youth to the People Age Prevention Superfood Cream ($48)
This product is a green smoothie for your face, literally. It’s packed with common kitchen ingredients such as kale, spinach, and green tea. What does that mean for your face? It means that it’s in for a real treat with the lightweight moisturizer that is perfect for all skin types. It’s designed to restore and rejuvenate skin while keeping it supple along the way.
Protection
Image Skincare Daily Hydrating Moisturizer SPF 30
When it comes to sun protection, you always want to opt for a broad spectrum sunscreen. This lightweight and water resistant sunscreen protects you from both UVA/UVB rays while moisturizing your skin. This should be the final step in your skincare routine and in my opinion, the most important step if you want to maintain the youthfulness of your skin.
Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 ($69)
If you have dry skin like me, then this an awesome sunscreen that is emollient while protecting your skin.
Beauty Tools
Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift Anti-Aging Massage and Cleansing ($349)
I have been using a Clarisonic for a few years now and I have to say that my skin has totally changed since then. I recently stepped up my game even more when I started to use the Smart Profile. This device has several attachments that can be used on the device for head-to-toe skin care that fights the 15 signs of aging and cleans skin 6x better than hands alone. The attachments include a revitalizing cleansing brush, firming massage head, and a smart Turbo body massage heads. All of these heads are “smart”, meaning that they will notify you when it’s time to replace the head. They are gentle on your skin while helping you maximize the efficency of your cleansing routine and the absorption of your skincare products.
What skin care products for women in their 30s are you using? Which one is your favorite? Let me know by commenting below!
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