Aging. It’s a question every skin type asks themselves during their skincare journey. Not only because we all age, but because we’re all subject to various forms of damage (sun, pollution, screen time, etc.) that can lead to premature wrinkles, irritation, crow’s feet, and sagging skin.
Whether you’re looking to focus on existing signs of aging or prevent premature ones, you deserve products that condition, soften, and protect your skin from head to toe.
But which comes first: retinol or eye cream? How often should you exfoliate to reduce age spots? All of these questions and more are answered in this comprehensive morning and night skincare routine for aging (and prematurely aging) skin.
Morning Skincare Routine.
Step 1: Barrier Strengthening Cleanser (Daily): Every skincare routine should start with a deep cleanse.
If you’re concerned about aging skin, however, you need a soap-free, pH-balanced face cleanser that strengthens the moisture barrier for soft, even-toned, youthful-looking skin. Our product is enriched with provitamin B5
Antioxidant cleanser effectively removes makeup residue, dirt, and other pollutants.
Step 2: Collagen Mask (2x/week): Collagen is the most abundant protein in our skin and is key to skin plumpness and elasticity. However, over time, our collagen levels can decline, which can lead to sagging skin and a tired complexion.
Use a collagen-rich, hydrating, plumping mask a few times a week. (Note: While collagen is typically derived from animals, ours is plant-based.) The formula also contains rosehip seed oil to smooth fine lines.
Step 3: Peptide Eye Cream (optional): If under-eye bags and tired eyes look familiar, apply a pea-sized amount of eye cream while your serum is absorbing.
Look for a solution with peptides (like Zero Gravity) to hydrate and strengthen the eye area. You’ll also immediately notice brighter skin thanks to ethically sourced mica.
Step 4: Moisturizer with Vitamin E (daily): Did you know? As skin ages, it loses moisture, so staying hydrated is more important than ever. For an added benefit for aging skin, follow up with a moisturizer that contains vitamin E.
An antioxidant, it helps neutralize harmful free radicals while nourishing the skin.
Step 5: Broad-spectrum sunscreen (daily): Every skin type needs sun protection, but if you have fine lines and age spots, don’t skip this step.
Fact: 90% of skin aging is not due to age, but to external damage—like the sun. Make sure you use a sunscreen with an FDA-recommended SPF of at least 35. You’ll get bonus points, though, if you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen like Guards Up, which also protects against blue light and pollution.
Afternoon skin-care routine.
Step 1: Barrier-enhancing cleanser (evening). Cleanse skin again to prepare it for your afternoon routine. You may also consider double-cleansing with an oil-based cleanser, like the Cleansing Balm, to thoroughly remove makeup and sunscreen residue.
Step 2: Skin Smoothing Tool (once a week): The rate of skin cell turnover slows as we age, which means it takes longer for dead skin cells to float to the surface and slough off.
This can not only lead to a dull complexion, but also permanent age spots. Exfoliate once a week with an at-home exfoliating tool to give your skin a radiant glow. It also removes layers of dead skin cells and facial hair for an instantly smoother complexion.
Step 3: Retinol Serum (4 times a week): That slow cell turnover we just mentioned? Retinol helps speed it up. On evenings when you’re not exfoliating, apply 2-3 pumps of our gentle retinol serum to refine, firm, and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Don’t forget your neck and décolleté.
Step 4: Retinol Eye Balm (evenings): Retinol also deserves a spot in your eye care routine, as it helps tighten the eye area and soften crow’s feet.
Since skin loses moisture while you sleep, look for an eye cream or ointment that contains both retinol and moisturizing ingredients, like black currant seed oil in our Advanced Retinoid Eye Balm.
Step 5: Leave-On Exfoliation* (Twice a Week): Most skin types benefit from exfoliating up to 3 times a week to combat age spots and uneven skin texture. Chemical peels with a gentle nighttime facial
blend of AHAs like lactic acid and vitamin E repair and regenerate skin without irritation.
irritation.
Step 6: Advanced Night Cream (Evening). All skincare routines need a moisturizer, but if you’re concerned about aging skin, it’s time to add a night cream to your evening routine. Night creams are typically thicker to prevent moisture loss
reduction and deliver repairing ingredients to skin at the same time.
Advanced Night Cream contains a blend of fermented purple tea and green coffee that not only moisturizes, but also reduces rough texture and softens wrinkles.
Step 7: Antioxidant Oil (optional): The key to preventing premature damage is a daily intake of plenty of antioxidants, which neutralize harmful free radicals that cause premature aging.
Apply a few drops of Antioxidant Serum Oil to skin after (or before, if you prefer) your night cream for extra moisture and protection.
Step 8: Retinol Body Lotion (Nighttime) Signs of aging skin can also appear on your arms, legs, and butt. Add a retinol body lotion to your routine to repair sagging, wrinkled skin, soften skin texture, and even out skin tone.
Do you have dry skin? How to use moisturizer, essential oils, and other ingredients to prevent dryness and dehydration.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
