Dermatologists and skincare enthusiasts always recommend a daily dose of sunscreen, but you’d be forgiven if you’ve neglected it in your morning beauty routine.
Suffice it to say that, until recently, SPF formulas were far from ideal. Whether you opted for high-end or high-street products, it was hard to find products that weren’t sticky, greasy, stinging to the eyes, or dark products that didn’t leave a grey cast on the skin.
Sure, sunscreen is there to protect you, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise. Why use sunscreen during the day?
While the idea of wearing SPF year-round has slowly caught on in the UK to protect the skin from cancer-causing UVA rays and prevent common skin issues like dark spots and fine lines, it’s fair to say that Australian skincare enthusiasts know a thing or two about the must-have skincare product.
After all, they get a lot more sun than we do. When Australian sunscreen brand Ultra Violette landed in Space NK last year (followed by Cult Beauty and Sephora), the hype was justified.
From lightweight sunscreen serums to hydrating face creams, these products have five-star reviews, and for good reason: they’re unlike anything skincare fans have tried before.
What’s the best SPF for oily, combination and dry skin? I first picked the Ultra Violette Super Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial Skinscreen SPF50+, £48. A few quick conversations with friends, family and colleagues revealed that many people aren’t sure about SPF 50 (it’s one of the highest factors and offers great protection) because they’re worried it’ll look chalky or feel heavy on the skin. That makes all the difference with this sunscreen. It’s nourishing enough to double as a moisturiser and primer, but light enough not to leave a white film (reviews agree). It targets dark spots and hyperpigmentation in two ways, and contains brightening vitamin C so you don’t need to layer a serum underneath. If you prefer fragrance-free products or have sensitive skin, try the Clean Screen Sensitive Skinscreen SPF 30 (£32), which is now my favourite (and I’m picky). This is a mineral sunscreen that reflects UV rays at your skin to prevent it from getting white. Two or three pumps work fast and the best part is you don’t feel like you’re wearing anything at all. I layer it over my moisturiser to boost hydration, but it’s so refreshing you can use it on its own too. If you’re acne-prone or have overly oily skin, you’ll love it. If you’re looking for a tinted sunscreen, look no further than Ultra Violette Daydream Screen SPF50 Tinted Veil (£38). 16 shades offer a pop of colour, combining your favourite tinted moisturiser with powerful sun protection.
Like the rest of the range, it feels less like a typical sunscreen and more like an everyday moisturiser, making it a breeze and a pleasure to use. The range also includes a hydrating lip balm (£16) in four colours (because your lips need sun protection too), an oil-controlling mineral SPF (£34) to curb shine, and a hand and body sunscreen (£27). Do you need an SPF refresh? Skincare expert Holly Thaggard, founder and CEO of Supergoop, says it’s important to reapply sunscreen every two hours to maximise its effectiveness, especially on sunny days outdoors! However, I admit that Ultra Violette may not be the cheapest sunscreen brand on the market. TikTok users rave about it
The affordable Garnier Ambre Solaire Super UV Face Fluid (£7.99) and Eucerin Sun Oil Control Face Protection Sunscreen SPF 50+ (£16) are suitable for oily and acne-prone skin and are available at Amazon and Boots.
Dermatologists also recommend Altruist Dermatoographer Sunscreen SPF 50, which is a steal at £4.99. If you wear make-up or don’t like to apply sunscreen with your hands, I would recommend Garnier’s Ambre Solaire Sensitive
Face Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 is available for £8,040. It’s cheap, available in the market and easy to refill.
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.
