Skincare In Your 20's: 5 Habits To Start

Prevention, prevention, prevention: that’s the name of the skincare game in your 20s. In this decade, your collagen production is still high and you probably have very few fine lines. But you might also be skimping on sunscreen from time to time. (Don’t do it!) Start these good habits early and you can keep your glow going for years to come.

1. Reapply Sunscreen Every 2 Hours

Sure, you’re wearing sunscreen, but are you wearing enough? Are you wearing it every day? Sunscreen is the best way to prevent signs of aging, not to mention skin cancer. Reapply sunscreen every 2-4 hours when you’re in the sun. Look for mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide; chemical versions come with potential toxicity concerns and can be irritating to sensitive skin types. Powder sunscreens are great over makeup—just make sure you dust a generous amount on your skin for adequate protection and re-apply during the day. 

2. Proper Cleansing

This one might seem obvious, but it’s important to wash your face in the morning and evening and to do it right. Just splashing your face with water in the morning isn’t enough— you need a gentle cleanser like to remove oil, dead skin, debris and acne-causing bacteria that transfers to your face from your hair and pillowcase while you sleep. And always use lukewarm water; hot water can zap the moisture out of your skin and cause dryness.

Give your skin a good cleanse in the evening, too--even if you aren’t wearing makeup. Aging pollution, pollen, and other environmental irritants build up on your face throughout the day. Cleanse your face when you get home instead of waiting for bedtime. You’re more likely to do your skincare routine before you’re tired.  Plus, then you can relax for the evening!

3. Proper Exfoliation

Although removing dead skin cells is a must, it’s possible to overdo it, leaving the skin red and irritated. Harsh scrubs are usually the culprits behind over-exfoliation. Scrubs often contain tiny crystals or shell particles that have rough edges. When you press sharp little edges into your face, you can create tiny tears in the surface of the skin that cause redness and irritation. Scrubs are also more likely to mess with your pH and lipid barrier—two factors that keep your skin safe from acne-causing bacteria, redness, and dryness.

There are gentler and more efficient ways to exfoliate—reach for a peel like our TCA Multi-Acid Face Peel or our Dermaplaning Tool. Our peel uses a gentle blend of acids to resurface the skin evenly while the Dermaplaning Tool instantly removes the outermost layer of dead skin cells and peach fuzz.

4. Use A Clean Towel Every Day

If you’re using the same washcloth day-in and day-out to wash or dry your face, it’s probably crawling with bacteria. Try using baby towels (you can find them on Amazon) or our Bamboo Towel Kit, and grab a fresh one each time you cleanse your face. They are small, don’t take up much room in the laundry, and are perfect for removing makeup and debris from the day. Simply wet the towel, ring it out, and wipe your entire face after cleansing.  The same is true for your pillowcases and anything else that comes into contact with your face throughout the day. Switch out your pillowcases every 2-3 days (more frequently if you’re acne-prone) and carry alcohol-based cleansing wipes in your purse to wipe down anything that touches your face frequently, like your phone.

5. Start Using Products With Active Ingredients

Sheet masks might be Instagrammable, but many of them don’t actually do much to improve your skin. A lot of sheet masks on the market don’t contain enough active ingredients and instead contain fillers like glycerin or alcohol. Instead of falling for the hype, focus your routine on serums that are high in active ingredients. If your skin is begging for a sip of moisture, skip the sheet mask and reach for a hyaluronic acid serum like our HA Hydrating Serum.  Also, use a serums with potent antioxidants to protect your skin from free radical damage and apply this before your SPF.