Your skin will begin to experience significant changes once you reach your 30s. During this time, collagen production decreases, cell turnover slows down, and sun damage becomes more apparent.
If you've been following a dedicated skincare routine throughout your 20s, you'll have to make a few key adjustments to sufficiently address the common skin concerns that crop up in your 30s. This will mean becoming better acquainted with ingredients you may have only heard or read about.
In this article, we'll be detailing the most common skin concerns associated with this decade of your life and the products you'll need to cultivate the best skincare routine for your 30s.
Common Skin Concerns in Your 30s
To build the best skincare routine for your 30s, you'll need to pay special attention to your changing body. At this stage, some concerns you might have noticed in your 20s may become more amplified.
1. Wrinkles
During your 30s, the fine lines you have may eventually turn into deeper creases. A decrease in the production of collagen and elastin during this time means your skin won't be able to spring back like it did in your youth.
The first obvious signs of aging you detect are most likely to be crow's feet around the eyes or frown lines near the brows. If you smoke or vape, wrinkles around the upper lip might become more obvious, too.
2. Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation refers to uneven deposits of pigment cells (melanin). Due to the decline of your skin's cell turnover from your late 20s, dark spots won't fade as easily as they used to, if at all. The most common reason for hyperpigmentation is exposure to UV rays. Years of sun damage can result in the culmination of these discolorations. Acne scarring can also contribute to an increase in dark spots.
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation that's common in women. It's usually triggered by hormonal fluctuations, especially during pregnancy. Hormone-induced melasma often goes away on its own, but UV rays can exacerbate them.
3. Dry Skin
Ceramides are lipids (fats) that help skin retain moisture. They're naturally occurring and can be found in the outermost layers of your skin. As you age, your skin becomes thinner, resulting in a loss of ceramides. By the time you hit your 30s, you’ll already have lost 40% of your ceramides, which means an increase in dry, flaky skin.
4. Cystic Acne
Adult acne can develop in your 20s. In your 30s, this issue can potentially become worse with the development of cystic acne, which is a deep lesion that's filled with fluid and often very painful. This type of acne can be triggered by fluctuating hormones and heightened stress levels.
5. Dullness
Cell turnover can start to slow down in your late 20s. By the time you hit your mid-30s, cell regeneration rates can more than double from the two weeks it normally takes for younger, healthy skin. This accumulation of dead skin cells can make for skin that's dull and listless.
Serums to Use in Your 30s
The most important product you can introduce to your skincare routine in your 30s is a serum, which is a formula that contains a high concentration of active ingredients. Serums can specifically target one concern or a combination of them. The following serums are especially recommended for your 30s.
1. Anti-Aging Serums
Anti-aging serums can help prevent or lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Such serums often contain vitamin A, also called retinol. As this 2006 clinical study from the University of Michigan shows, retinol has been proven to effectively smooth the surface area of aging skin by stimulating cell turnover.
It's important to note the distinction between retinol and retinoids, which are often confused for one another. Retinol is a part of the retinoid family. Unlike its prescription-only counterparts tretinoin and Retin-A, retinol is a low dose of retinoids. That makes retinol viable for over-the-counter purchases, but that also means it'll take some time before you start to see any noticeable results.
YORA's Defence Face Concentrate contains retinol along with lipochroman®. These ingredients work together to reduce visible signs of aging while protecting skin from free radicals and other external pollutants.
2. Brightening Serums
Brightening serums are used to fade hyperpigmentation. A go-to ingredient in these serums is vitamin C, an antioxidant that inhibits the enzyme responsible for melanin production.
While pure vitamin C serums are available, the instability of this ingredient means it's prone to oxidization, rendering it ineffective. However, as this 2013 article from the Indian Dermatology Online Journal explains, stable vitamin C compounds are being developed to allow vitamin C products to not only have a longer shelf life but also be easier for the skin to absorb.
Beyond vitamin C, there are other active ingredients that can effectively reduce the onset of dark spots. For example, the YORA Clarify Face Concentrate contains brighlette™, which is extracted from a marine microorganism. This active ingredient reduces the consistency of melanin deposits, which leaves your complexion brighter and your skin tone more even.
3. Hydrating Serums
A hydrating serum can provide a much-needed boost in moisture for your aging skin and serve as a useful companion to your regular moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid is among the most popular actives for this purpose, as it can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. It can make your skin more hydrated and help it appear plump and youthful.
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, which means it draws in moisture from its surroundings. When using a serum with hyaluronic acid, remember to do so in a humid area — for instance, in your bathroom after a shower. Otherwise, the hyaluronic acid will instead draw moisture from your face, leaving you with drier skin.
The YORA Dynamic Face Serum features a proprietary hyaluronic acid blend of PRIMALHYAL 50 and PrimalHyal™ 300 to hydrate skin while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also includes brown algae for a more radiant complexion.
Skincare Products to Carry Over From Your 20s
In curating the best skincare routine for your 30s, the good news is that you won't have to completely overhaul your regimen from the previous decade. However, you'll possibly have to look for different actives or increase the number of times you use select products.
1. Sunscreen
Daily sunscreen is already a must if you want to limit the signs of aging and the appearance of dark spots. However, it becomes an even more essential step in your skincare routine if you introduce retinol or vitamin C to your lineup. Each of these ingredients leaves the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Without proper sun protection after using these products — even if you use them the night before — you're exposing your skin to further irreversible damage.
For optimal protection from UV rays, especially upon adding photosensitizing ingredients to your routine, look for sunscreens that are broad spectrum, meaning they protect against UVA (aging rays) and UVB (burning rays). The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests using a sunscreen with a broad spectrum SPF rating of at least 30.
2. Exfoliant
The decrease in skin turnover means you'll have to be more vigilant about exfoliating your skin in your 30s. While you may have been able to get away with exfoliating only once a week, you will likely need to add that step to your evening routine more regularly — two to three times a week, at most. Of course, listen to your skin, and make sure not to over-exfoliate, as that can make your skin more prone to issues like inflammation and dryness.
A chemical exfoliant containing AHAs/BHAs can be suitable for all skin types. Common chemical exfoliants include glycolic acid (AHA), lactic acid (AHA), and salicylic acid (BHA). A physical exfoliant is a grainy scrub that can be used to manually remove dead skin cells. However, this method of exfoliation may be too harsh for acne-prone or sensitive skin.
The YORA Revitalise Face Polish is formulated with AHA (glycolic acid) to penetrate congested pores and remove dead skin cells. It also includes PENTAVITIN® to hydrate and soften skin.
3. Moisturizer
A good moisturizer is key as your skin ages. By the time you reach your 30s, your skin has lost more than half of its ceramides. Even if your skin is typically oily or balanced, the loss of these ceramides may trigger an increase in dry episodes as moisture retention becomes weakened. Seek a formula that is rich in synthetic ceramides. According to a 2018 study from Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, these synthetic ceramides will mimic your skin's natural moisturizing system.
Make up for what your skin has lost with YORA’s Rebalance Night Facial Moisturiser, which has Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 II, and Ceramide 1. This night cream repairs and restores your moisture barrier while providing deep hydration. It is also infused with HYDRACTIN® to boost skin’s moisture levels.
4. Eye Cream
Depending on the state of your under-eye area, this may be a product you're introducing to your routine in your 30s, rather than carrying over from your 20s. If you're starting to notice an increase in crow's feet, puffiness, or under-eye circles, choosing the right eye cream can effectively treat these issues.
YORA's Define Eye Contour includes seaweed extract, which has been proven to be rich in antioxidants per a 2018 study featured in Marine Drugs. Combined with YORA's own hyaluronic acid blend of PRIMALHYAL 50 and PrimalHyal™ 300, this formula hydrates the delicate under-eye area, smooths fine lines and wrinkles, and reduces the appearance of dark circles.
Adopting the Best Skincare Routine for Your 30s
While your 20s are a time for preventative care, your 30s are geared towards addressing and embracing your skin's natural changes. A good skincare routine will merely push back the hands of time, rather than stop them completely — which is an unrealistic expectation.
A solid skincare routine in your 30s, along with practicing good daily habits and wholistically assessing your skin’s needs, will allow you to ease into your 40s — a period that’s defined by even bigger changes in your body.
