The Right Skin Care for Every Age

The Right Skin Care for Every Age

At this age, your goal is to preserve and protect. In your 20s, many of the skin issues you see come from carefree living (and neglect): partying on weekends, drinking too much, pulling all-nighters and basking in the sun without sunscreen. There might be lingering acne from the teen years as well. Hard living comes at a cost, though: fine lines can start to creep up in the second half of your 20s. To stave them off and counteract your skin sins, it's important to start a consistent skin care routine that involves SPF.

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 with UVA and UVB protection (the experts say this is something you cannot skip -- EVER. Look for a product that contains either zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone or Mexoryl. New York based dermatologist Dr. Heidi Waldorf recommends EltaMD UV Clear, $30. "It is an ultra light, quick absorbing, oil free moisturizer with SPF 46 and zinc oxide, that feels light but provides hydration, so it's an ideal daily moisturizer for face and neck." She also recommends La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid, $33.50, with SPF and titanium dioxide for patients with very oily skin.

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 of the night drinking and smoking, use an antioxidant to counteract the damage from your partying ways. Apply a serum at night that contains pomegranate extract (ellagic acid), vitamin C or grape seed extract. Antioxidants,"eliminate damaging free radicals responsible for most of what we perceive as skin aging, including fine lines, pigment changes and textural irregularity," says Dr. Howard Murad, founder of Murad Skincare.

Step 5: At night, cleanse and spot treat any breakouts (again with a treatment containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide), and follow with a basic light moisturizer.

Step 6: It is okay to introduce eye creams and other anti-aging products as long as they are not too harsh. If it doesn't make your skin look better or if the product is irritating, skip it. Instead, Murad recommends looking for hydrating ingredients like ceramides, sodium PCA, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and alpha and beta hydroxy acids. "They

protect against dryness and fine lines by replenishing naturally occurring skin lipids."

SEE NEXT PAGE: If you're in your 30s

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