Thread: Spin-off: skin care in your 20s

I've been checking out a few of the product recommendation threads and some beauty mag columns, and it got me wondering "do I need this now?" and "when do I start these things?"

If you're in your 20s what are some skincare products you like? If you're past your 20s, what are some skincare products/methods/habits that you got into that you're really thankful you started?

I wear contacts, so there's a lot of pulling near my eyelids on a daily basis, so I'm a little concerned in that area for the future...

(As far as my own skin goes...I'm VERY fair, mostly good with the sunscreen. Generally good complexion, but I get northeastern winter dry skin. Since there's the constant battle between dry/overmoist+little blackheads, I've been currently using Burt's Bees carrot spray in the AM since it doesn't mess with makeup, and Burt's Bee baby bee lotion at night on my face. I also use St. Ive's apricot scrub (2% salicylic acid) daily, and Vaseline's intensive body moisturizer.

I drink a lot of water, though more so on work days...I think being a little bored gets me up to the water cooler more!)

This would be a good conversation. I'd like to see one for each decade, although I know everyone's skin care differs. I didn't start treating my skin until my late teens and I used Clinique for so many years, I didn't know there were other products in the market. Haha. Total overstatement.

I'm currently using a skin-care regimen of Neutrogena skin cleanser for acne, Paula's Choice mask on a weekly basis, exfoliator and toner. I also use a skin lightner on blemishes alone. I have to skip moisturizer all together because it makes me breakout. Ocassionally, I use vitamin E oil on non-makeup days. Love how it makes my skin glow. And, of course, drinking lots of water to restore from the inside, plus I'm addicted to water.

I have combination/oily skin. Thankfully I don't break out all that often, so I just pick oil-free moisturizers to prevent breakouts and use spot treatments for "damage control."

I wash with Alba gel facial cleansers (either the Hawaiian pineapple or the sea enzyme cleanser - both are excellent!) and moisturize with Avalon Organics Vitamin C Oil-Free Rejuvenating Moisturizer. This is an awesome cream because it's rich yet oil free, and full of antioxidants for firming and preventing future wrinkles. A few times a week, I'll use MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Scrub (the gentlest facial scrub EVAR!), and I do Lush Cupcake mask once a week. Throughout the day, I like to spritz with MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Mist.

As for anti-aging, it's never too soon to start. I don't use wrinkle creams yet, but my products contain some firming ingredients and antioxidants. Vitamin C is awesome to help boost collagen production, supposedly. And I stopped using tanning booths because they're just Bad News Bears in general.

The most important thing to use is a good sunscreen.

Good genes + sunscreen = great skin when you are older

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I wash with Alba gel facial cleansers (either the Hawaiian pineapple or the sea enzyme cleanser - both are excellent!) and moisturize with Avalon Organics Vitamin C Oil-Free Rejuvenating Moisturizer. This is an awesome cream because it's rich yet oil free, and full of antioxidants for firming and preventing future wrinkles. A few times a week, I'll use MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Scrub (the gentlest facial scrub EVAR!), and I do Lush Cupcake mask once a week. Throughout the day, I like to spritz with MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Mist.

I also use Avalon Organics and MyChelle products. They've been so great for my *very* sensitive skin. I can't use the Fruit Enzyme Mask but love the Pumpkin Exfoliate mask. Also, Neroli (aka Sweet Orange) water is fantastic for a toner. My esthetician said to start using it now (I'm 26) and my skin will look fantastic when I'm older.

Sunscreen EVERY day, no matter what. Moisturize every night. Lots of water. Wear sunglasses. Lots of lotion in those dry winter months (it's similar here in the Pacific NW). Little or no caffeine (will make your skin dull and tired), and I take my Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) every day.

Originally Posted by maliaraqs

I also use Avalon Organics and MyChelle products. They've been so great for my *very* sensitive skin. I can't use the Fruit Enzyme Mask but love the Pumpkin Exfoliate mask. Also, Neroli (aka Sweet Orange) water is fantastic for a toner. My esthetician said to start using it now (I'm 26) and my skin will look fantastic when I'm older.

I've kept experimenting with products - even upscale Sephora stuff - yet I keep going back to Avalon and MyChelle. It's the only stuff that keeps my skin smooth and clear. And the ingredients are so clean.

I've never seen Neroli water, but neroli supposedly has great anti-aging properties. And it smells divine. (Neroli is an aphrodisiac!) Does Edgar Cayce (Heritage) make a neroli water? I know they make rosewater, lavender water, lilac water, etc.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I've never seen Neroli water, but neroli supposedly has great anti-aging properties. And it smells divine. (Neroli is an aphrodisiac!) Does Edgar Cayce (Heritage) make a neroli water? I know they make rosewater, lavender water, lilac water, etc.

I haven't tried that brand, but so long as it has no additives and comes in a dark container it should be fine. Right now I like Evan Healy and will continue using it since my local health store offers it.

It really does smell good too. I use it as a toner and as a refreshing spritzer throughout the day.

Definitely start with the daily sunscreen. I started doing that in my mid-20's, I'm in my early 30's and I still get carded. I'm also into the natural stuff, I really like Collective Wellbeing's daily moisturizer with SPF 15.

Don't smoke, drink in moderation make sure you get enough sleep.

Well, speaking as the oldest person in to chime in, I'm a big believer in sunscreen. I also finally had my dry skin diagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis ( always thought it was just dry skin ). Now, I switch on and off amongst different cleansers. For the seb, I use the DermaDoctor Born to be Mild cleanser and DermaZinc cream. A long time ago, I used Erno Laszlo. Now I use the Bindi skincare line, which is based in ayurvedic principles.

I also had a great aunt who used Albolene cold cream every night to clean her skin. I remember her in her early 70's and people that didn't know her thought she was in her 50's.

imo the most important are:
sunscreen every day or your life no matter what.
no smoking what so ever
sleep
lots of water
a good retinol product for night
natural skin care products without preservatives
always take your makeup off at night and cleanse properly

I use anti-acne cleanser (the cheap version of the Clearasil three in one) for a mild scrub and deep cleansing of my pores. Anti-wrinkle eye cream with retinol both day and night, I started using it when I was 24. Moisturizers are cheap products that do exactly what they should do: keep me fromlooking oiky during the day and rejuvenate my skin during the night.

I swear by salycil acids for spot treatment, it's in most of the spot tratment products on the market. The no-brand works best for me, since it's a third of what I should pay for a brand name and it works like a charm.

I know this is against the current received wisdom but I would avoid AHAs, scrubs, and any peel type treatments. Anything that removes a layer of skin exposes you more to the elements (including sun) more, has got to be a bad thing, even with the best sunscreen in the world.

My family have a history of going against current received wisdom. Which is why my Mum used sunscreen while others used 'oil' to tan more. She often gets mistaken for someone 10 to 15 years younger, and has never had any 'work' done.

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

I know this is against the current received wisdom but I would avoid AHAs, scrubs, and any peel type treatments. Anything that removes a layer of skin exposes you more to the elements (including sun) more, has got to be a bad thing, even with the best sunscreen in the world.

My family have a history of going against current received wisdom. Which is why my Mum used sunscreen while others used 'oil' to tan more. She often gets mistaken for someone 10 to 15 years younger, and has never had any 'work' done.

I agree with you to an extent. While I do think a mild and gentle exfoliate is great for removing dead skin cells, I don't agree with AHAs, retinols or salicylic acid products. They're very harsh and retinol can create dark spots on the skin when exposed to sun.

I also don't agree with extractions during a facial.

Day to day care:
Cetaphil wash, it's been reccomended by Dermatologists for years so why break tradition.
I use a tinted moisturizer with at least 15 SPF I like Neutrogena's for a little color but not over powering.
I also use Bare Escentuals Bare Vitamins serum under moisturizer.

At night Cetaphil again. I use Retin A for mild to moderate acne, (it means I have to be very careful in the sun) and that's it.

On a weekly basis I use a mild face scrub.

For pimples (if you must or find yourself to be a popper or a picker) this was suggested by my Derm, but she stressed not to over use it. She reccomend getting an extractor like they sell at Sephora. In a perfect world you would leave blemishes alone but if you're anything like me you just can't.