Navigating Skin Aging in Your 20s, 30s, 40s & Beyond

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It’s natural for our bodies to change and evolve. As we mature, so does our skin — and it develops a few wrinkles and age spots along the way. 

Aging is, of course, perfectly normal. However, there are a couple of steps that you can take to age more gracefully, keeping that healthy, vibrant look. So, if you’re wondering how to keep your skin looking “young”,  taking proper care of it throughout every decade of your life is key. 

Read on to learn what to expect from your skin as you pass different milestones in your life and get real answers from our experts on: When does my skin start to show visible signs of aging? What happens when my skin starts making less collagen? Does my skin need more hydration as it ages? 

Join us on a well-aging journey — because we’re all in this together!

What causes skin aging?

To understand what happens to your skin as you grow older, we need to start by explaining how its aging process works.

Your skin is also subject to oxidation — a natural process caused by different internal and external factors that can accelerate signs of skin aging. Smoking, pollution, an unhealthy diet, stress, or a lack of sleep are a few of your skin’s enemies. But one of them is particularly harmful: sun exposure. In fact, 80% of the skin’s premature aging is due to solar radiation.

Apart from these factors, your current diet and daily skincare habits have an impact on your skin health in the future. If you are still in your 20s, you may not even notice any changes. But by the time you’re 50, your skin will remind you of everything you did (or didn’t do) during your younger years!

And the journey begins

Keep this in mind at all times: no matter how old (or young) you are, your skin will always need basic care: cleansing, hydration, and last but not least, sun protection. These three steps will help you to take care of and repair your skin every day.

Also, remember that your skin has a memory of its own: if you mistreat it in your 20s, the consequences may suddenly pop up in your 40s.  That’s why it’s key to start taking care of your skin at a young age. And, as you grow older, it’s in your best interest to upgrade your routine, as the skin’s needs change as it ages.

Here some of our experts have guided us through the different decades of their lives, explaining what happens to the skin in each period and how to age gracefully. Let’s get started:

Between jobs, education, and friends, you’re exploring new freedoms (and responsibilities) while indulging in the status of just figuring things out. 

But what are these changes? “In your 20s, things start to slow down — like the skin’s natural formation of hyaluronic acid and the turnover of collagen and elastin. The result? Skin starts to dehydrate, and its barrier function weakens. Also, the reduction of collagen production (although it occurs at a slow pace) can cause your first wrinkles to show up.” 

How to minimize the signs of skin aging in your 20s

If you find yourself thinking why is my skin aging in my 20s? — you’re in good company. In fact, dryness was one of the first symptoms Alessandro noted. So, he emphasizes the importance of being consistent and moisturizing the skin in order to downplay signs of skin aging in the future (or even in your 20s). 

Here, hyaluronic acid is your best ally. Add a hyaluronic acid serum into your daily routine to add extra hydration and plumpness to your skin. Your complexion will thank you later.

Although you still feel young and vibrant, your skin might not reflect your new-found confidence. And while life’s responsibilities grow, stress might too.

As a consequence, your skin may start to look more tired, less luminous, and… oh hello crow’s feet. So if you’re looking in the mirror thinking, wait, are wrinkles in your 30s normal? our expert shares her answer. “First thing I noticed? More accentuated expression lines,” admits Alba Villanueva, Dermalab Manager of ISDIN. 

Why? Because starting at 30 (don’t worry, it won’t be on the exact day of your birthday) the regenerative capacity of your skin decreases drastically. And slower turnover can leave your skin dehydrated and prone to wrinkles. 

How to minimize the signs of skin aging in your 30s

This is the moment: add products to your daily routine that are focused on slowing the early signs of skin aging. Like serums! If you aren’t already using them, this formula format helps ingredients better sink into your skin and combat little problems that you start to notice. 

This is the time when you realize that there’s no such thing as eternal youth, and you’re not mad about it. You’ve got the experience and maturity to make the most out of life. But how does your skin feel about this decade?

Now’s when fine lines start to deepen into wrinkles, and skin shows the first signs of sagging due to the loss of elastin and collagen. Another point to consider is that some women go through menopause during this time, which comes with hormonal changes that can also intensify skin changes. 

How to minimize the signs of skin aging in your 40s

In line with all the changes your skin goes through in this decade, a question might have crossed your mind: How can I reduce the look of my wrinkles at age 40? Antioxidants are the key ingredients that you need to add to your routine. 

Greg elaborates, “Now, I need to be more mindful of the daily damage caused by pollution and other free radicals. Flavo-C Ultraglican is a must in my routine to revitalize and brighten the skin. I also use Melatonik®, which is the perfect ally to minimize the look of fine lines, thanks to its formula with melatonin and bakuchiol.“

On top of combating the effects of daily skin stressors with expert serums, you might want to update your moisturizer as well. Opt for hydrating creams featuring ingredients like peptides and carnosine to help fight gravity’s effects on your skin.

The same as you, your skin cherishes all the memories made. So the effects of sun exposure and other factors will eventually show up. And even as slowing down and taking care of yourself becomes more of a priority, you’ll inevitably notice some changes in your skin.

“Dry or dehydrated skin, loss of firmness, deeper wrinkles, changes in pigmentation, sun spots… you become more aware of how important it is to lead a healthy lifestyle and to follow a daily skincare routine,” explains Dr. Aurora Garre, Medical Communication Manager.

How to minimize the signs of skin aging in your 50s (and 60s, 70s…)

But there’s one extra step if you’re concerned about uneven skin tone and sun spots (a common concern at this age). Reach for a powerful pigment-correcting serum with tranexamic acid to help fight dark spots, especially those caused by the sun.

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If you’ve made it this far, it’s because your skin is mature — just like you! So the question isn’t how can I get younger-looking skin at 50? but better, what can I do to continue to take care of my skin? Be consistent with your skincare routine, use products that provide the skin with what it’s no longer able to produce for itself, and always use sunscreen! You can’t change the past (and why would you want to?), but you can help address and avoid further skin damage. 

Now, go on and add skin-aging expertise to your long list of well-earned wisdom. 

Reference:

Data on file. ISDIN Corp. 2023. Morristown, NJ