If you’re in your twenties, you’ve got lots going for you: You’re done with college, you landed a big-girl job, and you’re paying your rent on time (or at least within the five-day extended deadline). On the other hand, you’ve worked a few too many 14-hour days, spend your Thursday nights sipping your way through happy hour drink specials, and what the eff is going on with your skin?
Your twenties are supposed to be the Golden Age for your skin. You’re rich in collagen, wrinkle-free and the only sign that you stayed out until 4 AM is the fact that you’re wearing the same outfit to work two days in a row. Yes, it’s a beautiful time to be beautiful, but only if you feel beautiful. Below, a basic field guide to your 20-something skincare issues. Here’s looking at you, lovely.
Adult Acne
Sure, you graduated from high school ten (or 15) years ago, but your skin isn’t done reliving the glory days. As you probably guessed from the number of women your age in the teen skin section of the pharmacy, you’re not alone. Toronto Dermatologist Dr. Jensen Yeung sees plenty of women in their 20s who are still battling acne.
Rules to live by
- Keep your hands to yourself. Your mother was right when she said picking at it only made it worse
- Be gentle. Drying out a zit only dries out your skin, which tells your body to make more sebum, which makes your skin greasier and stimulates more breakouts. Cruel irony! Repeat after me: moisturize and cleanse gently
Try: The Raspberry Acne Bar from all-natural skincare line Arcona is going to be your new best friend. It helps to clear up your skin and prevent new breakouts with salicylic acid and fruit enzymes. Even better: it’s ultra-gentle, smells amazing and gives you a serious glow without leaving your skin feeling dry or tight.
Increased Pigmentation:
That monster zit that formed in the exact place you keep your cell phone semi-permanently attached to your face left a mark, didn’t it? Dark acne marks aren’t the only offender, women in their 20s also experience melasma, a fancy word for dark skin discoloration. Double Unfair Alert: this can be caused by birth control pills.
Rules to live by
- Keep your hands to yourself. I know you ignored me the first time, and you regret it. Next time, suffer through the indignity of a blemish instead of treating yourself to a fancy new scar
- Dr. Yeung recommends looking for products with antioxidants like Vitamin C, which can help brighten your skin and fade away dark spots
Anti-Aging Anxiety
You can feel it, can’t you? That first wrinkle is right around the corner, waiting to permanently crease that smooth brow or wrinkle your beautiful eyes. No, there isn’t a fountain of youth (sorry, Ponce de Leon) but there is something incredibly simple that you can do to help your skin stay looking young.
Rules to live by
- Wear sunscreen
- Wear sunscreen
- Wear sunscreen
Wear sunscreen. Really, it’s that important. Dr. Yeung points out that there is solid evidence that chronic sun exposure can lead to wrinkles, increased pigmentation, dull-looking and sagging skin. Simply put: a Jersey Shore tan isn’t sexy, it’s tragic. Daily SPF is as essential as brushing your teeth every morning; if you don’t do it, you’re going to regret it later.
Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 is a simple way to incorporate SPF into your daily routine with a few extra benefits: a Soy Complex to reduce your dark marks. and natural light diffusers like mica and silica to give you an immediate glow.
Product Overload
When your bathroom is filled with skincare products, how do you get the most out of them? Dr. Yeung shared the following skincare cheat sheet:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Anti-aging products
- Moisturizer
- SPF
- Make-up
