When you enter your 30s, a lot changes in your skin — so it’s more important than ever to take extra care to take good care of it. To help, we’ve outlined the best skincare routine for your 30s. And, yes, the order you apply your products is important, so don’t go out of order!
Here is our best skincare routine for your 30s! (If you’re outside of your 30s, check out our basic skincare routine for different ages!)
Morning
Step 1: Cleanser
Cleansing your face in the morning is essential to prepping your skin for the day! This step removes any sweat, dirt, and oil that may have accumulated overnight.
Your cleanser should be gentle yet effective at removing dirt and excess oil. Look for cleansers that contain glycerin, which will help retain natural moisture. Remember: you don’t want your skin to feel tight after you wash it!
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Step 2: Serum
Serums are liquid gold for anyone who is looking to prevent or reverse early signs of aging! Your skincare goals will determine what ingredients your serum should include.
If you’re looking to minimize dark spots or age spots, opt for a Vitamin C serum, which will help lighten hyperpigmentation and even out your skin tone. A hyaluronic acid serum is great if you are looking to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as it helps retain moisture in your skin by deeply hydrating!
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Step 3: Moisturizer
Moisturizing your skin becomes critically important as you enter your 30s. In the morning, you can opt for a lighter moisturizer that hydrates your skin without weighing it down.
Finding a great moisturizer can be tough. At this stage, look for high-quality, fragrance-free formulas that won’t irritate your skin. When in doubt, try it out and see if it works for you! Try a few options to see which you like best.
If you like, before you apply your moisturizer, you can also apply a lightweight eye cream to your under eye area! Gently tap with your ring finger to apply. (Many people choose to only apply at night.)
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Step 4: Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen is absolutely a must at any age, but especially as your skin ages. A good sunscreen serves to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. You can choose between mineral sunscreen and chemical sunscreen — both will effectively protect your skin from early signs of aging.
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Evening
Step 1: Cleanser
At night, it’s important to more deeply cleanse your skin without stripping it and drying it of its natural oils. A double cleanse is highly recommended. Start with an oil-based cleanser, which will act as a makeup remover. Rinse, and then follow that with your usual cleanser.
This double cleanse ensures that all makeup, sweat, sunscreen, and oil are removed from your skin, giving you a nice clean base for the rest of your evening routine.
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Step 2: Toner
Using an exfoliating toner in the evening will remove any dead skin cells and provide a gentle chemical exfoliation. If you have sensitive skin, consider using your toner every other night. Just wet a cotton pad with the toner, and swipe across your skin. No need to rinse!
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Step 3: Eye Cream
Eye cream is often seen as a luxury in the skincare world, but it can be an incredibly vital part of your evening routine! Look for eye creams that are deeply hydrating. Be sure to gently apply by tapping the cream into the area under your eyes with your ring finger. If you don’t want to buy a specific eye cream, dab a little face moisturizer or cream under your eyes!
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Step 4: Retinol
In your 30s, you should absolutely be using a retinol. Retinol is the ultimate anti-aging product, as it helps even skin tone, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and increases firmness! Apply a pea-sized amount to clean, dry skin every other night. If your skin can tolerate that, you can move up to using it every night!
If you’re new to retinol, check out our guide to incorporating retinol into your skincare routine.
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Step 5: Moisturizer
At night, you should intensely moisturize. If you have dry skin, you might opt for an intensely moisturizing night cream that is a thicker formula. If your skin is oily, you might be able to just use your moisturizer from the morning!
Make sure your retinol product is completely absorbed into your skin before applying your moisturizer!
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