Recently, the internet has exploded with articles detailing the exact ways in which women in their thirties should take care of their skin. They look a little like this: purchase this serum, try these exotic-yet-celebrity favorite treatments, and head to this luxury salon. To spend copious amounts of time and money on your skin make sense to both the frivolous and the freight. Your thirties are the time when your skin begins to change from a biological perspective, after all; at this age, we naturally produce less of the vitamins and proteins that used to keep our skin supple. But I must warn you: this is not one of those articles.
This is an article about what you really need to invest in—a guide to the ingredients that actually make a difference. In short: this is a no-nonsense guide for skincare at any price point. Because at 30+, don’t you have a million other things to worry about than a bad skin?
But before we get into the details, we need to discuss your thirties. Whether you were excited or panicked for this decade, it’s officially here. And what does that mean for your skin? A few essential things.
1. Skin cell turnover slows down as you age. It’s typical for babies to produce new skin cells every five to seven days versus the 28-30 days for a 30-year-old. This means your skin looks duller without frequent exfoliation.
2. Hormonal acne might appear: Thought you left acne behind in your teens? Think again, friend. For many women, hormonal acne appears because of changes in hormone levels. These changes could result from birth control, pregnancy, stress, or a myriad of other factors.
3. Melasma or other dark spots pop up: Year 30 means you’ve had decades to spend under the sun. Depending on the frequency of your sun exposure, you may develop dark spots, or melasma, on your chest, neck, upper lip, and forehead (although it can really pop up anywhere!). These spots can also develop due to hormonal changes and specific prescriptions.
4. The face thins out: As skin cell turnover slows down, hyaluronic acid decreases. The loss of this natural plumping agent means crow’s feet and other wrinkles are more visible.
Ugh. I know. But these are the facts of life, ladies. Thankfully, we’ve got five secret weapons for you—the must-have skincare ingredients to great skin in your 30s. If you suffer from any of the problems mentioned above, find the solution below:
Retinol: Retinol, a product under the umbrella term of retinoids, is a big buzzword in the industry. In scientific terms, it’s a form of vitamin A. In Bijou terms, it’s a beauty wunderkind. Why? Retinol encourages skin cell turnover and collagen production, meaning it remedies problems #1 and #4. Retinol also helps eliminate acne.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is such a workhouse. As an antioxidant, it reduces oxidative stress to prevent sun damage and, it helps to stabilize collagen molecules. Did we mention that it also targets dark spots? We promise it’s not too good to be true. Take note: there are several different types of vitamin C, but we recommend ascorbic acid because of its high potency level. Goodbye problems #1, #3, and #4!
Hyaluronic Acid: H.A.! We love hyaluronic acid so much, we’re on a nickname basis over here. This naturally occurring molecule helps lubricate your body and add moisture to your skin. The best way to introduce outside hyaluronic acid is through an excellent serum. We’ve got one right here. Hello babyface, goodbye problem #4.
Glycolic Acid: Glycolic acid is a water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid used to exfoliate skin cells. Glycolic acid quickly penetrates the skin, targeting stubborn hair follicles, dead skin, and excess sebum…aka acne in the making. This makes it a deadly weapon against all types of acne (and problem #2).
Niacinamide: Niacinamide is a tongue twister. Thankfully, this a skincare test, not a spelling bee. So what does niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, do? In the simplest terms, the compound gives your body the molecules needed to repair damage from free radicals and prevent inflammation (problem #2 and #3). Maybe a better question is, what can’t niacinamide do?
Whatever products you choose, you’ll want to look out for these ingredients. If you’re not sure where to start, Bijou has a curated selection of affordable, robust products.
Comments