Why preventive skin care in your 20s is so important

“Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” If you’re like me, this question is enough to put you in a panic-inducing spiral. Although you may have no idea what your personal life and career will look like in a decade (which, by the way, is totally fine), The dermis agree that it is a good idea to have a 10-year plan for your skin.

“Prevention is better than a cure,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, an accredited dermatologist in New York City, who attributes the quote to Dutch philosopher Desiderius Erasmus. “In most health and beauty things, prevention is essential. From wrinkles to hyperpigmentation, the more you protect and pre-treat your skin with suitable ingredients and formulas, the better equipped you are to fight the signs of aging. “

As we age, changes in our bodies begin to appear on our skin. Our natural production of collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin decreases, causing fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. While it is important to use your routine to plan ahead at any age, Dr. Engelman notes that this is particularly relevant as you approach your third decade. “At 30, the production of ceramide drops 46% and we are losing about 1% of our collagen each year,” she says. “[By this point], many have accumulated enough sun or environmental damage to trigger visible signs of aging, and how you treat your skin – both by increasing damage and preventing it – sets the stage for your aging. ”

Next, she shares the seven products that are expected to become an integral part of her preventive skin care routine at age 20.

1. Cleaning brush

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Although most derma say it doesn’t matter if your cleaner costs $ 8 or $ 800, which It’s important is how you are using it. Dr. Engelman recommends soaping with a sonic cleaning brush, which provides gentle exfoliation and removes dead skin cells to clear the way for products to penetrate the skin. It uses light vibration and soft silicone bristles to gently cleanse your skin without peeling or damaging its barrier.

2. Serum vitamin C

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“Vitamin C serums are my choice for anti-aging and reversing sun damage,” says Dr. Engelman, and this is the best money can buy. It has one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C on the market, making it a potent antioxidant that brightens, evens out skin tone and ward off free radical damage. The addition of vitamin E means that it is also ultra-moisturizing and excellent for treating inflammation.

3. Sunscreen

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No matter how old you are, sunscreen is The the most important part of any skin care routine. “Sunscreen every day is critical,” says Dr. Engelman. “The effects may not be visible now, but the signs of all those days in the sun will accumulate in later years.” She is a fan of this SPF 50, which offers protection against UVA and UVB rays, in addition to pollution, and has an enzyme complex that helps strengthen the skin while you wear it. Whether for the sake of preventive skin care in your 20s or protection at 90s, the magic number with SPF is 365 (which is how many days a year you should apply it).

4. Eye cream

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The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the body, which means that it starts showing signs of aging more quickly than the rest of the face. Because of this, Dr. Engelman suggests adding an eye cream to your routine when you reach 30. It uses peptides to stimulate collagen production in the region, in addition to antioxidants, whose combination decreases the appearance of fine lines and improves skin elasticity.

5. Peel

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Regular exfoliation is important at any age, but it can be particularly useful at 20 and 30, when wrinkles start to appear. “Peels will use a mixture of acids to lift pigmentation and reduce fine lines,” says Dr. Engelman. This favorite toner is not exactly a peel, but it uses a intense combination of acids (which means it is not for sensitive skin) to melt dead skin cells and fully resuscitate the skin.

6. Retinol

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If you are going to integrate just one ingredient from this list into your anti-aging preventive routine, make it a retinol. The vitamin A derivative is responsible for stimulating cell renewal, which replaces dead, opaque cells on the skin’s surface with healthy ones. Dr. Engelman suggests using a mild retinol, like this, at least three nights a week. What if your skin is too sensitive to tolerate the intense active? Apply a thin layer of moisturizer before the retinol serum for an extra protective barrier.

7. Moisturizer

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“Dry skin can start premature aging, so keeping your skin hydrated with a moisturizer is critical,” says Dr. Engelman. She adds that the skin regenerates mainly between 10 pm and 2 am while we sleep. This means that your evening routine is the best time to apply a heavy moisturizer that will help repair your skin. This triple-action formula contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin, all of which will help to keep your skin supple and help care for preventive skin in its 20s and beyond.

Curious to know what a dermis uses in its routine? Check out the video below to find out.

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