So, you have just turned the big 3-0. You even had a great good party to welcome the year. It was different in the past two years. There’s no more of that bar-hopping lifestyle you used to enjoy when you were in your early 20s. You want to go home and get a good night’s sleep. Also, you have been taking more care of your body lately, making sure you eat right and exercise regularly. And yes, you’re more focused on your career. But there’s another aspect of being in your 30s that you haven’t thought about: skin care.
That has to change now that you hit the big 3-0. Have you noticed that you seem to be easy to tire lately? You get a massage more often now than when you were in your 20s. That’s the same way your skin feels. When you don’t hit the sack for eight hours or even six, your skin feels tired. When you don’t drink as much water as you can, your skin feels dehydrated. Whatever you do to your body, your skin reacts in certain ways.
You’ll notice the little laugh lines around your eyes and mouth, too. As much as these are signs that you’re still that carefree individual of your youth, you also know that times have changed. Those lines didn’t use to be there. So, what are you supposed to do now? At this rate, you’ll look like your grandparents by the time you hit 40.
Consult with a Dermatologist
You haven’t gone to one for a while. The last one you saw a skin doctor was when you were in your teens. You’ve had the worst acne imaginable. It’s coming back now. That’s called adult acne and it’s more prevalent in women because their reproductive hormone levels are tapering off from 900 to 200. Men don’t suffer as much from adult acne, though they experience male pattern baldness because of changes in testosterone and DHT.
A dermatologist can explain all these to you. More importantly, a medical professional will determine what kind of skin you have and the perfect routine for it. Do you have oily or dry or combination skin? Do you have problems in your T-zone area that must be dealt with?
Exfoliate and Moisturize
If you have not been exfoliating, try it right now. In your 30s, skin cell turnover will be slower. New cells will only be visible every 28 to 35 days. When you were in your teens, cell renewal was in a 14-day loop. Dead cells will begin accumulating on the surface of your skin. You have to exfoliate at least twice a week to remove these dead skin cells.
For your face, use a light scrub. For the rest of the body, a body scrub with moisturizing property is good, too. Another thing that needs emphasis is the importance of moisturizer. You need to look for the proper moisturizer that will suit your skin. You can also start experimenting with retinol because this can improve the appearance of wrinkles and diminish brown spots. Make sure your skin is tolerant of vitamin A before slathering it up with a higher concentration of retinol.
Hydrate Often
How many glasses of water are you drinking every day? If you don’t drink as much as eight glasses of water a day, your skin will feel dehydrated most of the time. That will result in dull and dry skin. Drink as much water as you can. Make sure to slather a light lotion on your skin, too. Stronger lotions and creams tend to remove the moisturizing barrier of the skin.
Protect Your Skin
The number one anti-aging skincare product is sunscreen. You have to make sure your skin is protected from the sun. If you are spending much of your time outdoors, make sure to use a sunscreen with the right SPF. The sunscreen should have all the important properties—cleanser, moisturizer, and retinol. There are a lot of drugstore sunscreen brands that do a good job of protecting your skin. Use it not only on your face but for the parts of the body that’s exposed to the sun.
Eat Right
Finally, eat proper food. Eat green and leafy vegetables, as well as fruits that are rich in vitamin C. Balance your diet. Avoid eating sugary and fatty foods. Sugars can increase the effects of aging on your skin. It also worsens existing skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. Start cutting down on your caffeine intake because it can sometimes make the skin look dry.
Read up as much as you can about taking care of your skin when you reach the big 3-0. There’s nothing to be afraid of this new phase in your life. It’s an exciting time that’s also full of challenges you are now more mature to take on. But with the right skincare routine, you’re also protecting the health of your skin, so it’s a win-win for you.
