Your 30s are often the decade when you finally start feeling at ease with who you are. After managing the life, career, and friendship changes of your 20s, you’re more than ready for the promise of predictability. But sometimes your skin has different plans.
Finally on the other side of breakouts and firmly into a cherished skincare routine, your complexion goes haywire. Now, your skin’s operating on alternate timelines — breakouts on one half while wrinkles settle in elsewhere. Thankfully, this isn’t a reality you have to come to terms with. Several anti-aging treatments are uniquely suited for these complexities, many of which you can start using right away.
1. Retinol
If retinol isn’t on your radar yet, it’s high time that it earns a spot in your skincare routine. A powerful anti-aging treatment, retinol is a vitamin-A-powered prescription that pulls its weight, addressing multiple aging concerns.
Available in varying concentrations, retinol sinks into the skin to aid in moisture retention and cell turnover. It also increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles when used consistently.
Thinking about those breakouts? Retinol can also clear those up, too. Frequently prescribed for acne sufferers, this skincare essential offers a range of benefits in one simple application. As with any skincare routine, sun protection should always have a place, and it’s even more important when using retinol. Consistent use of SPF 30 or better will protect retinol users from added sensitivity.
2. Hyaluronic Acid
Skin loses its elasticity as you age, meaning your smiles, laughs, and less friendly expressions carve their lines over time. While you don’t want to switch to complete stoicism, it’s tempting to shift your expressions once lines start to appear.
Hyaluronic acid can improve skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of existing wrinkles and keeping new ones at bay. Users may also notice their skin heals faster and has a more even skin tone. Moisture retention also typically improves.
Many cosmetics products, serums, and moisturizers include low concentrations of hyaluronic acid, making it easily accessible. For higher dosages, a consultation with a dermatologist or online provider may be required.
3. Red Light Therapy
Those futuristic-looking masks aren’t just a social media spectacle — red light therapy yields serious skincare benefits. A non-invasive treatment, red light therapy uses low-wavelength red light to improve skin conditions. Users can see reductions in overall signs of aging in just a few sessions. Fewer wrinkles, lines, discoloration, and scarring are just a sample of the potential benefits.
Red light therapy can also be a helpful addition for users who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Both seasons of life bring their own mix of skincare changes and have limitations on certain treatments. Red light therapy can ease the changes brought on by shifting hormones, like hyperpigmentation.
At-home devices can be found at cosmetics stores and even drugstores, but the most powerful therapy is done in-office. Check with your local cosmetic surgery providers and aesthetics studios to see what’s available in your area. If you’re not ready to commit to a full session, add a targeted treatment to your next facial.
4. Microdermabrasion
Improving the condition of your skin is a long game and one that benefits by encouraging cell turnover. As the body’s largest organ, your skin takes a beating from environmental factors, cosmetics, and more. It’s important to reset your skin regularly.
In addition to your usual exfoliation routine, microdermabrasion takes skin reset a step further. In an in-office treatment, your provider uses a specialized wand to slough off dead cells. While buffing off spent cells, customized serums and treatments may be applied to newly revealed skin. This quick application can improve overall absorption, increasing the effectiveness of your products.
Several devices offer home treatment capabilities for microdermabrasion, which can fill the gap between in-office treatment. However, it’s important to conduct self-treatment carefully, following all instructions. When not done properly, it’s easy to over-exfoliate, potentially damaging the skin long-term. Use a light touch, cleanse your tools, and apply powerful skincare immediately afterward for the best complexion boost.
5. Gua Sha
The centuries-old practice of gua sha is finding its home in western culture in droves. With roots in eastern medicine, when used in a skincare routine, specially crafted stones can sculpt skin and reduce lines.
After cleansing, users glide stones through a series of intentional movements across skin that’s been prepared with facial oil. With added slip, the stones illicit lymphatic drainage, which can become stagnant over time, especially as you age. Stones can also break up stuck fascia, which is often the culprit for pesky lines and wrinkles.
Devoted gua sha practitioners often see reductions in swelling and improvements in their appearance. Another non-invasive and chemical-free option, gua sha is safe to try for many people. Skip over breakouts and open skin to avoid new damage or bacteria spread. When practiced consistently, wrinkles can lessen, your features can shine, and your overall skin condition can improve.
Welcome Changing Skin With a Well-Developed Routine
After a long day, it can be tempting to reach for a makeup wipe and crash into bed. But, like any pursuit, it’s the work you do behind the scenes that can make the biggest impact. Craft a skincare routine that nourishes your skin as much as it does your mindset.
The visual of a changing appearance can be tough to come to terms with. However, it’s an opportunity worth respecting, even as you take extra care of your skin. Cleanse, apply products, and execute treatments with intention, honoring your skin’s shifts with time. This powerful combination of care and gratitude can prepare your body and mind to thrive into your 30s and beyond.
