Caring For Skin in Your Twenties
Ah, the glorious twenties. Our body is physically at its peak. The hormonal imbalances of puberty have started to settle down, and our cellular turnover is still optimal. Skin is firm and supple, wounds and injuries heal quickly, and bad habits have not yet started to take their toll. It’s a time when our bodies feel invincible... but our minds and emotions are still trying to navigate the myriad of new experiences that come with this age.
How Skin Changes in Our Twenties
While our body is at its prime - our twenties can be stressful years as we navigate the transition from schooling to working life. As we head towards the late twenties, most of us would have shed our “baby fat”, shifting into more “adult” facial contours. Collagen production starts to slow after 25, but it won’t be visible yet. Sebaceous (oil) glands are active, so spots and pimples can still be a problem. The increased oil secretion can cause pores to enlarge. Skin cell turnover also starts slowing as we head into the late twenties.
Common Skin Problems
If you have been battling teenage acne - spots and pimples will still occur in your twenties. Oily shine, skin congestion, blackheads, acne scars and marks are also common problems - caused by a combination of active oil glands, make-up and poor cleansing routines.
Apart from chronic acne, most skin problems in our twenties are at the epidermis (surface) level, caused by poor care or environmental damage. Stress, pollution and overly harsh skincare products cause our skin to lose its balance - leading to sensitivity and inflammation. Another common skin problem is dehydration with spots - visible when the skin is dry and flakey on the surface but congested beneath.
As you reach the late twenties, some signs of ageing might start to surface in the form of fine lines, especially if your lifestyle involves lots of sun, smoking and other factors that induce oxidative stress.
Skin Mantra: Protection + Prevention
Your core skin mantra during your twenties is mainly “Protection and Prevention.” Protect skin to help it stay in its optimum condition, and prevent the signs of ageing from occurring before their time.
Start a Daily Skincare Routine
Your skin is still young and healthy - so protect it to keep it looking its best. Start getting into the habit of a daily skincare routine, and use a sunblock daily!
Unless you have skin problems - you won’t need many complicated products at this stage. Choose a good cleanser appropriate for your skin type, and remember to double cleanse if you apply make-up on a regular basis. Sleeping with your make-up is the start to skin troubles! Also, consider a toner with oil balancing and pore-clearing properties if you have acne or congested skin.
Exfoliate once or twice a week to prevent congested pores and keep skin smooth and radiant. But beware of over-exfoliating (especially with physical scrubs) as it will damage your skin barrier and cause sensitivity. If you’re in need of spot control - a gentle enzyme repair essence like the SkinOrigin Active Repair Essence can help to reduce blocked pores, control sebum and heal inflammation for clearer looking skin.
You won’t need any rich anti-ageing creams at this stage. Opt for a light gel-based moisturiser to hydrate skin and protect the skin barrier. If your skin is oily - you might even be able to skip moisturiser or use it only on alternate nights. Listen to your skin and adjust accordingly.
Most importantly - apply sun protection daily. This is essential skin protection - UV is the main cause of ageing! When choosing your sunblock, try to pick one with blue light protection or one that is high in antioxidants. Blue light from our computer, phone and television screens can penetrate even more deeply into the skin than UVA and UVB rays - causing premature ageing and pigmentation.
A Good Time To Start Facials
The twenties is a good time to get into the habit of regular facials. A regular deep cleansing treatment or a mild peel can help you clear congested pores and prevent break-outs. If your skin is unstable or sensitive, look for balancing treatments that repair your skin barrier and build up your skin tolerance. Facials often come with relaxing face and shoulder massages - great for reducing stress!
A facial therapist that you trust will be invaluable in helping you adjust your skin care and treatment plan to suit your skin as it ages and changes.
Develop Good Lifestyle Habits
You might feel like you’re getting away unscathed as you party through the night, smoke like a chimney and indulge in sugary, unhealthy food in your twenties - but the clock is ticking! These bad habits take a toll on our bodies and our skin, hastening the onset of ageing. So a good part of prevention involves building good habits, you’ll reap the benefits as the skin starts to age.
Eat A Healthy Diet
Cut down on sugar, coffee and other stimulants. These disrupt our hormones and can be the cause of breakouts. Drink plenty of water and eat food high in antioxidants to combat the damage of oxidative stress. Foods rich in Vitamin C like oranges, tomatoes, broccoli and cauliflower are a good place to start.
If your hormones are causing you skin problems - try taking a supplement like evening primrose oil or omega-3, which are essential fatty acids (EFA) that help to balance hormones. Eating food rich in EFAs like flaxseeds, chia seeds, fatty fish and avocados will also help.
Learn To Manage Stress
Stress can be a huge contributor to skin and health problems. It causes our hormones to go haywire, disrupt our sleep, make us embrace bad lifestyle habits - all which coalesce into a vicious cycle to make us look and feel sad. If you’re feeling stressed about work or school - learning some stress management techniques like meditation, deep breathing, yoga or simply giving yourself permission to take some time out can be invaluable in preventing burn out and its associated health problems in the long run. So remember to take a break when you need to - it helps put things in perspective. And when you’re not stressed, your skin is happier too.
